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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 2, 2008 0:06:51 GMT 12
The following articles come from the New Zealand Herald newspaper in March 1938, I found them whilst researching other stuff. They are a fascinating insight into a 1938 airshow, 70 years ago. I note this was the first display by seaplanes in NZ, but I am wondering whether this pageant was also the first ever appearance by a US aircraft/team at a New Zealand airshow? Also, what are the Curtiss aircraft? NZ Herald 2 March 1938  NZ Herald 3 March 1938   NZ Herald 4 March 1938  NZ Herald 5 March 1938   Photo published 5 March 1938  NZ Herald 7 March 1938    Photos from 7 March 1938 paper  Even the regular Herald cartoon of 'Old Sam' got in on the act  |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 2, 2008 8:24:14 GMT 12
See the kid in the crowd picture pretending to use binoculars?
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Post by FlyNavy on Apr 2, 2008 10:01:24 GMT 12
The last news item says the seaplanes are Curtis Scouts (1st para., 3rd line).
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Post by Bruce on Apr 2, 2008 10:05:40 GMT 12
Curtis SOC-1 Seagull ( a "scout" aircraft under the USN designation system)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 2, 2008 15:43:31 GMT 12
Thanks Bruce. All those prewar US Navy planes look the same to me. What a thrill it must have been to see these at the show. I wonder if there's photos of them flying at the actual pageant anywhere.
And doesn't the DH86 Express look close to the crowd! No telephoto zoom lense effect in those days
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 2, 2008 15:57:29 GMT 12
By the way, the USS Louisville was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser, which later saw action in the Pacific war and was hit on more than one occasion by Kamikaze fighters.
Was it usual for heavy cruisers to carry as many as four aircraft, or was it because of the special Pacific tour it was doing I wonder?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 2, 2008 16:01:56 GMT 12
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Post by sniff on Apr 2, 2008 17:51:42 GMT 12
USS Louisville during WWII. Note the catapault launchers for the Curtiss. Without posting a number of pics to confirm it, there are 4 launchers - two behind each funnel. Pics from later in the war show the launchers were removed. www.navsource.org/archives/04/028/04028.htm The Scout in floatplane configuration as shown in the newpaper item, and as they would have been on the (woops!) USS Louisville.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 2, 2008 19:09:35 GMT 12
Thanks Sniff. The first photo doesn't seem to be working, but I believe you. I couldn't find any photos close enough to see detail like launchers when I searched.
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Post by sniff on Apr 2, 2008 19:33:49 GMT 12
Darn thing! I added a link to the photo site.
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