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PAC
Jan 27, 2009 19:41:48 GMT 12
Post by 43willys on Jan 27, 2009 19:41:48 GMT 12
Here is a wartime photo of what is now Pacific Aerospace, In Rukuhia, Hamilton.
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PAC
Jan 27, 2009 19:57:18 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 27, 2009 19:57:18 GMT 12
That is a fantastic photgraph of the No. 1 RD hangars. I knew that they got very busy there and often had a backlog of aircraft waiting to be serviced but there is the equivalent of a whole squadron sitting there, and who knows how many more were inside the hangars. I note that most are Venturas but the one on the grass next to the hangar at the top of the photo is a Hudson. I wonder what the date of this was. Is it an RNZAF Official (Air Force Museum) photo?
the road has been widened. Do they still have the swimming pool there?
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PAC
Jan 27, 2009 21:04:14 GMT 12
Post by 43willys on Jan 27, 2009 21:04:14 GMT 12
Yes the swimming pool is still there but i dont think it has ever been used as a swimming pool. its pretty green. I thinks its a water supply if there was ever a fire. Even the air raid siren which you can just make out on the corner of the old James hangar is still there today.
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PAC
Jan 27, 2009 21:05:42 GMT 12
Post by Bruce on Jan 27, 2009 21:05:42 GMT 12
The pool is still there- its just been converted into the water treatment plant (an attempt to remove the sandy iron bits floating in the tap water they have there!)
awesome photo!
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PAC
Jan 28, 2009 9:07:44 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 28, 2009 9:07:44 GMT 12
The main purpose of any swimming pool on any RNZAF Station was/is to provide a reservoir of water in the event of a crash. Swimming was a secondary thing. I well remember the the large sign beside the Hobsonville pool stating if you hear the base siren go, get out of the water, because if there was a fire the pool may suddenly empty as the hoses drew from there, and if you're in the pool you might get sucked into the pump. Must ahve been a hell of a good pump. I recall the PTI saying the pool could be emptied in less than two minutes if all the hydrants were engaged at once. Then they'd be running the hoses down to the sea and pumping from there.
Back to Rukuhia, not many people realise that the camp at the Narrows was taken over by the RNZAF to provide accommodation for the men at Rukuhia, and they also had classrooms there for the Aerodrome Defence Unit men (they were men awaiting their course as aircrew and were in a holding pattern where they learned about navigation, etc by day and guarded the airfields at night). One of those guys told me he soon realised never to finish his classroom work before everyone else, as the first finished was sent up the hill to Rukuhia to sweep out the hangars.
It is quite surprising, considering all the industry that has subsequently gone on there, how unchanged that area of the station remains today.
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PAC
Jan 28, 2009 18:41:54 GMT 12
Post by 43willys on Jan 28, 2009 18:41:54 GMT 12
Hi Bruce, The water in the pool is not filtered or treated at all. Its just a reserve incase of fire. The only water that is filtered at PAC is the waste water which is held in tanks in plant 2 before being released.
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PAC
Jan 28, 2009 19:48:48 GMT 12
Post by Bruce on Jan 28, 2009 19:48:48 GMT 12
ahh, that explains the rocks coming out of the taps sometimes
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