First RNZAF Iroquois "A Gift From Peking"

[Dave Homewood]

I wonder if anyone ever worked out what this piece of graffiti meant on the first Iroquois to arrive in NZ? From The Press dated 17 June 1966.

“A Gift From Peking”

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 16. The first of the Army-Air Force Iroquois helicopters arrived at Whenuapai today in a Hercules transport.

And, as with the arrival of the smaller Sioux helicopters, it carried a cryptic message from the men in the American factory. Beside a drawing of two clasped hands, was the message: “A gift from Peking.”

[davidd]

Got me stumped! There has to be an inside story, but what is it?

[retiredav8r]

Maybe the aircraft were originally to go to China or just some weird joke. Maybe the guy at the factory didn't know where NZ is, many Americans' don't. Any photo of the message?

[Dave Homewood]

I would hardly think the US State Department would be allowing Bell to sell helicopters to China right at that point.

There was no photo with that snippet but in another edition around the same week was this photo, which I'll link to here as it's a much better copy.

fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/WhG10562-66.jpg.info#?c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Search-the-Collection%2F%3Fq%3Diroquois%2520



And well, well, when you zoom right in, there it is on the window. Scratched into the protective covering.

[Dave Homewood]

Not sure what the other message says:

CAUTION -
__________ STARTING
________ RESET IT
"__ __"

Don't know if those words are right.

[Dave Homewood]

Oh look, the front windows also had a message scratched into them.

fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/WhG10561-66.jpg.info#?c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Search-the-Collection%2F%3Fq%3Diroquois%25201966

[Dave Homewood]

Another photo here just shows the Peking handshake too

fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/WhG10565-66.jpg.info#?c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Search-the-Collection%2F%3Fq%3Diroquois%25201966

[saratoga]

Maybe the actions of Peking encouraged the US to sell NZ the Iroquois?.

[Deane B]

Mar 4, 2022 12:09:09 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Not sure what the other message says:

CAUTION -
__________ STARTING
________ RESET IT
"__ __"

Don't know if those words are right.

From one of the other pictures:

Before Starting
Ensure Pilot Is
On ??

Last bit looks like 100% or a three digit number and a fraction

[Dave Homewood]

I also wondered if that word was PILOT rather than RESET, but I talked myself out of it.

[Dave Homewood]

Could it be pitot rather than pilot?

[Barnsey]

Caution: Before starting ensure pilot is "OK 100%"?