|
Post by baz62 on Jun 30, 2009 18:33:53 GMT 12
Great photos Shamus keep them coming!
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 30, 2009 18:36:06 GMT 12
Those are very historic photos of the Lancaster. I'm amazed that it looks as if they didn't close off Western Springs Road, note the cars seemingly stopped and waiting in traffic.
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Jun 30, 2009 18:52:40 GMT 12
Ok to add to the NZ2527 wing gun mystery........a photo from Temple Martins collection of NZ2527 that I haven't seen before. It looks like she has a hole in the leading edge where the gun would be. Or is it a smudge? wings.net.nz/tmartin_album5.html
|
|
|
Post by Richard Wesley on Jun 30, 2009 22:06:12 GMT 12
Great colour photos of the Lancaster being moved. Things were a lot more casual in those days it looks like. Just the local traffic cop to keep an eye on things. For the Avenger move from Dairy Flat we had to have permits, permissions and a lead car, and flashing lights, and this was in the middle of the night with no one else on the road at all? I remember the welding of a wheel stand directly onto the steel back tray of the little green truck, into which the axle of the rear wheel was attached.
Do you know Shamus if it was the first time the Lancaster wings were removed, or this second time, that the lifting attachment on the port wing broke. I have a collection of photos of repairs to the port wing but can't for the life of me remember when it happened, assume this second move after a long time in the weather.
The Avenger was in a pretty rough state by the time we moved her to Motat. But I do remember an early airshow at Dairy Flat and seeing her for the first time and thinking she looked good, but harsh weather and a cheap quick paint job just doesn't last. Also being outside she got a hammering from people climbing and playing all over her (including a much younger me).
The prop is Hudson I think. There were so many Lockheed blades at Motat they are still being used as the next best thing on the Avenger and the Mosquito. Would be nice to get some more correct looking paddle blades one day for both aircraft.
Dave, your list and knowledge is second to none. I will certainly save that mine of information. It really seems then that NZ2504 has both gun positions, while NZ2527 currently has neither, though that early photo (no dates that I could find) could show something perhaps? Could the wings have been swapped in NZ during conversion to top dressing (if this is when the extra control position was reinstalled)?
The things is, if the first hand full of Avengers came to New Zealand with duel gun positions, then there is no reason for true TBF-1 wings to every even have been in this country. That means an exchange of wings must have taken place overseas somewhere, but if NZ2527 spent all its time in Fiji, perhaps there were other Avengers there (early models also not on the front line?), and a swap made. But, perhaps another Avenger was repaired after an accident, returned to NZ with TBF1 wings. Parts are certainly easy interchangeable between the models (interesting to hear the cowl changes on NZ2504).
If only planes could talk, but then there would be no mysteries....
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 1, 2009 0:14:27 GMT 12
Richard, I've looked into what US aircraft were based in Fiji, and I know there were Catalinas, B-17's and P-39's based there, plus USAAF C-47's went in and out regularly (not sure if a unit was based there with them). But I've not yet seen any evidence of an Avenger unit there with the US Navy. That does not mean however that a set of wings were not dropped off there by a passing US ship or carrier if they were needed. Or shipped by the RNZAF up from NZ or down from Santo. You'd have to find the aircraft's logbooks to check for an engine change. I would bet MOTAT doesn't have the logbooks?
|
|
|
Post by shamus on Jul 1, 2009 12:36:14 GMT 12
Richard, do not know when the lifting attachment broke. I do know the wings were removed twice as you will see in one of these photos. Firstly arriving at Whenuapai, and then without wings on tow to Western Springs.
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 1, 2009 19:17:13 GMT 12
I can still clearly remember seeing that Lancaster flying down over Whangarei on it's transit flight to NZ. It did a fly-over over most of the towns in Northland at that time before landing at Whenuapai. Most exciting!
|
|
|
Post by shamus on Jul 5, 2009 17:20:08 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by shamus on Jul 10, 2009 11:03:56 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 10, 2009 15:46:36 GMT 12
Those are fascinating photos of the Catalina recovery, thanks for posting them. Many people in those days wouldn't have bothered with such a damaged airframe I guess, but thankfully this one was saved and will in years to come be completed.
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Jul 10, 2009 16:14:36 GMT 12
Interesting photos there Shamus. i have always assumed that this Cat was an Amphibian, and I have seen it referred to as such in several publications, And I guess I thought that the RNZAF restoration was carried out in a manner to rebuild it as a SeaCat. Looking at these pictures it is a bit murkier! It doesnt have wheel wells on the left side, but the structure of one is visible in the fire damage on the right - albiet covered over. It appears to sit on SeaCat Beaching gear. Can anyone confirm if it was a LandCat at some stage?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 10, 2009 16:18:27 GMT 12
Good point there Bruce!!
|
|
|
Post by shamus on Jul 12, 2009 13:00:33 GMT 12
Seeing Dave's photos of the Ferrymead Mosquito prompted me to post these ones of Motat's Mosquito at Marton before it was brought to Western Springs. More to come later.
|
|
|
Post by vs on Jul 12, 2009 16:14:37 GMT 12
Does the RNZAF museum hold the outer wings for the PBY? Would be a great project for their engineering students?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 13, 2009 9:15:39 GMT 12
Yes they have the outer wings but they need a centre section. When the P-40E, Oxford and Vildebeest are all completed, the Catalina will be their next project to complete.
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 17, 2009 21:22:41 GMT 12
Interesting photos there Shamus. i have always assumed that this Cat was an Amphibian, and I have seen it referred to as such in several publications, And I guess I thought that the RNZAF restoration was carried out in a manner to rebuild it as a SeaCat. Looking at these pictures it is a bit murkier! It doesnt have wheel wells on the left side, but the structure of one is visible in the fire damage on the right - albiet covered over. It appears to sit on SeaCat Beaching gear. Can anyone confirm if it was a LandCat at some stage? The PI of this Catalina airframe is quoted as VH-SBV. Assuming that this identity is correct, then it was certainly an amphibian during it's TAA service, as seen here:
|
|
|
Post by vs on Jul 28, 2009 12:18:24 GMT 12
Any idea how the RNZAF museum will display the Cat? on beach gear? cradle of some kind? what about paint scheme?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 28, 2009 12:30:47 GMT 12
Very early days yet Ian. They probably haven't made any final decisions, there's a lot of work to do yet. I mean, they've just changed their plans for the display scheme on the P-40E and they're not fixed exactly on the serial number for the Oxford, so I'd think the Catalina hasn't had any thought given seriously yet. I hope it will be in a wartime No. 6 Squadron scheme though.
|
|
|
Post by vs on Jul 28, 2009 14:22:39 GMT 12
Any idea what the new P40 scheme will be now? what about the Oxford? Oxford looks quite advanced in Gavins pics. I have said it before....how about painting the cat in one that Sir Edmond Hillary flew.
Maybe we should have another poll...what paint scheme for Oxfords and P40s do you like best? haha
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Jul 28, 2009 16:02:35 GMT 12
Sir Ed was a navigator, not a pilot.
|
|