Aircraft parts in the Waikato

[43willys]

In the 70's my father lived in Hamilton and had a bit of an interest in aircraft and started to find a few bits and pieces from the Rukuhia graveyard. He got to meet other people with the same interest who were restoring aircraft but of course all of these people lived out of the Waikato area. So dad became their contact in the Waikato and things snowballed from their.
Our shed at home was permanently full of parts that he had found. They would be picked up and then he would said about filling the shed again. This went on for quite a few years until he passed away in 1979.

Here are some photos of some of it
I think im about 15 years old in them

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, those are amazing photos.

What is the large flat piece with that massive early war USAAC or USAAF roundel from?

[Bruce]

Catalina wing skin panel i think Dave, it matches up with the remains of roundel on the leading edges (although they may be off a different machine) the centre dot in the star is probably the remains of the RNZAF Roundel. I have just applied similar sized insignia to my model PB2B-1....

[Dave Homewood]

Ah yes, I never thought about it being two roundels overlaid. Cheers.

[baz62]

Just wondering if the nose ring cowl in the same pic with the large wing panel is off an Avenger? Compare with this shot of NZ2504 at Wigram: www.uswarplanes.net/images/avenger-01.jpg

[Tonys18]

Aircraft parts are still coming out of there today hahaha they have to be!

I got to say if only you could go back for those parts!