What was the deal with the RNZAF DC-6 Crews?

[Dave Homewood]

I just came across this article from the Press, dated 30th of May 1961:

Air Force DC6 For Singapore

(N Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 29. The first DC6 to fly in the Royal New Zealand Air Force colours is due to leave Whenuapai tomorrow morning on a proving flight to Singapore. Three DC6 airliners, formerly owned by Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., have been taken over by the Air Force.

The DC6 will follow the route normally used by No. 40 Squadron of Hastings transports—via Brisbane and Darwin to Change aerodrome, Singapore. It will arrive there on Thursday, will remain for three days, and then return on June 7. The commander of the aircraft will be Captain C. le Couteur, a senior pilot with T.E.A.L. The R.N.Z.A.F. took over the three airliners on May 12, and since then an intensive training programme has been carried out.

So did the TEAL DC-6 crews all get seconded to the RNZAF to fly these aircraft? And if so, was it a short term contract till new crews had been trained? Or was le Couteur the only one from TEAL?

[McFly]

Oct 31, 2021 13:08:05 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I just came across this article from the Press, dated 30th of May 1961:

Air Force DC6 For Singapore

(N Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 29. The first DC6 to fly in the Royal New Zealand Air Force colours is due to leave Whenuapai tomorrow morning on a proving flight to Singapore. Three DC6 airliners, formerly owned by Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., have been taken over by the Air Force.

The DC6 will follow the route normally used by No. 40 Squadron of Hastings transports—via Brisbane and Darwin to Change aerodrome, Singapore. It will arrive there on Thursday, will remain for three days, and then return on June 7. The commander of the aircraft will be Captain C. le Couteur, a senior pilot with T.E.A.L. The R.N.Z.A.F. took over the three airliners on May 12, and since then an intensive training programme has been carried out.

So did the TEAL DC-6 crews all get seconded to the RNZAF to fly these aircraft? And if so, was it a short term contract till new crews had been trained? Or was le Couteur the only one from TEAL?

Captain 'Cliff le Couteur' (Bio Here) has an interesting back story. Both he and his brother 'Phil le Couteur' (Bio Here) were both in the Air Force and both flew for T.E.A.L together. Some pics & links below..

Probably 'Phil'..?

"Group. Pilots course 8a. No. 2 Service Flying Training School, RNZAF Station Woodbourne.
L-R: Back; B Thompson, Butler, Kofoed, Reed, Watchlin, Prentice, Davenport, Wilson, Nelson.
Middle; Tuckett, Bourke, Armitage, McLaughlin, Wood, le Couteur, McDonald, Sole, C Thompson.
Front; Bonham, Hay, Stables, Newall, Pettet, Bartlay, Hesselyn."- 03/03/1941 (WbG3031-41)


"Cliff le Couteur while serving in the RAF."




"Phil le Couteur when with TEAL"


"Cliff & Phil le Couteur"


Additional 'Blogs' Here & Here

[Dave Homewood]

Yes I was aware of the le Couteur brothers.

I asked this same question on the RNZAF Past And Present group on Facebook and it seems from the guys who worked one these aircraft that that there were TEAL crews flying the RNZAF aircraft initially for a short time and then RNZAF crews took over. I guess it is possible it was mixed crews as the RNZAF guys transitioned into the crew positions.

[camtech]

Somewhere in an RNZAF News from way back in the 1960's there is an article covering this topic. I'll see if I can find it tomorrow.
As I said on Facebook, they double crewed TEAL and RNZAF to build up experience.

[avenger]

Phil (P. F. ) le Couteur certainly did fly with the RNZAF in the DC 6's.