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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 22:39:56 GMT 12
To get back on topic, CMT initial training was 12weeks then 2weeks a year annual camp. In my case the pin was pulled after 1 annual camp then put into Reserve for the next 5years. All in all a great experience, one that the youth of today sorely need.
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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 21:53:27 GMT 12
Sorry Dave, it is 11" wide across the widest part of the blade, total length blade tip to blade tip is 9feet 6& a half inches
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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 21:46:57 GMT 12
That hangar being demolished is also where the Vampires were assembled at the western end of it and the LAA Squadron was housed in the eastern end
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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 21:36:19 GMT 12
A clue to its age is the method of attaching the leading edge protector metal, it is totally different to later wooden props, ie. as on Oxford. The blades are very coarse pitch, possibly from a low rev. engine perhaps, this might explain the large diameter. The blades are 11" wide at the widest section. Over to the experts now
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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 21:26:19 GMT 12
A clue to its age is the method of attaching the leading edge protector metal, it is totally different to later wooden props, ie. as on Oxford. The blades are very coarse pitch, possibly from a low rev. engine perhaps, this might explain the large diameter. The blades are 11" wide at the widest section. Over to the experts now
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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 20:12:42 GMT 12
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Post by rone on Apr 16, 2015 19:47:45 GMT 12
This Photo Bucket site is just b/s I have been trying to set up an account to attempt to get photos on here. It accepts my name but adds figure1 to it, but my password which is classed as very strong by the likes of Ebay and many others is not acceptable on Photo Bucket. I then tried through Facebook, name accepted but password was in words for the world to see. I have a very old wooden propeller I wish to identify via photos so does anyone with an account want to put them up for me
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Post by rone on Aug 15, 2014 11:21:26 GMT 12
I do not have Chrome, only IE,I tried all that but it does not work on here, guess I miss out
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Post by rone on Aug 14, 2014 20:45:02 GMT 12
I would like to see a close up of the crew if possible
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Post by rone on Aug 14, 2014 20:41:57 GMT 12
Dave, I take it that is Clive Estcourt in the centre at back, there were 7 in a gun crew, I don't know what the trophy was, perhaps they had hit the drogue, it did not happen often, I know my crew never did and from memory the previous intake only managed 1 hit. I do recall the Avenger pilot calling up about the aim off getting a bit close. The drogue was only 1000yards behind him from memory.
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Post by rone on Aug 14, 2014 20:31:48 GMT 12
Paul,(30sqnatc), I read your thread at the start, the book you mentioned, if it is available, I would love to get my hands on it for a read and squizz at the photos. As I am not up with the play with the workings on here, perhaps Dave can pass on my email to you. And any chance of a name for the bloke you mentioned, I might just know him
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Post by rone on Aug 14, 2014 9:59:18 GMT 12
should be found, sorry sir
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Post by rone on Aug 14, 2014 9:58:15 GMT 12
I am keen to read the article concerning the LAA Squadrons mentioned in the first post. Any chance of being pointed in the right direction or where the book? may be founf
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Post by rone on Aug 9, 2014 15:17:23 GMT 12
I had thought that by now there might be other ex 51/52 LAA SQN erks on here, be great to discuss events of the past and lost youth. The last post by Davidd mentions the units were never intended for use in NZ,I can give a example of what nearly was (for want of a better way of description). While we were part way through training in 1956, we were all rounded up one morning and had Queens Regulations read to us and all had to sign papers agreeing to serve o/seas at short notice. It was during the Suez Crisis when President Nasser sunk all the ships in the Canal, the big stick was being waved about Empire and all, but he called their bluff and nothing eventuated, bugger, I didn't get a trip to Egypt. Seriously though, a good time was had by all, I have a few brownie photos of map reading exercises around Waimauku and shoots at places like Seagrove, Ardmore, Muriwai and Whangaparoa. Dave, I haven't a clue how to post photos on here, maybe if I sent them to you, you can post them.
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Post by rone on Mar 13, 2014 16:22:32 GMT 12
With regard to the Ardmore Corrections, this on the same Army land as the rifle ranges, located off Clevedon Road between Papakura and Clevedon, not too far away from Ardmore, surely some the flyers on here can pinpoint it.
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Post by rone on Jan 26, 2014 20:21:35 GMT 12
I know this thread is 3 years + old, but I have a wee bit to add. In support of kb's post regarding a Mustang at Whenuapai Air Show and when I can add some info regards when. During the latter months of 1956 I was a member of Air Force LAA Bofor Gun crew putting on a demo tracking/firing at an aircraft as part of the program at a Air Show at Whenuapai. I have a photo or two of the Mustang's (there were 2 of them) parked close to where our Bofors was set up. I clearly recall one Mustang suffering a brake lock up while taxiing, it suddenly it an about turn. I can verify the year but not the exact date as I completed CMT in first half of 1956, did an annual camp January 1957 and then CMT was scrapped. Although the CMT LAA crews were domiciled throughout NZ, the crews that were part of the show were selected and ordered to participate lived locally in Auckland
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Post by rone on Dec 29, 2013 15:47:23 GMT 12
I know this thread is 2 years old, but I am even older. I was a gunner in LAA in 1956 through to 1957 when the government ceased CMT for Navy and Airforce. We Were based at Hobsonville in No1 hangar, actually only half of the hangar, the other half was where the Vampires were assembled. The Bofors were painted blue, 2 of the guns had anti-flash shields with airforce roundels painted on them. The gun tractors were 6x4 Chevrolet, same looking as GMC but were short wheelbase vehicles. We also had Series1 Landrovers, also blue naturally. After doing basic training trainees split up, most becoming gun crew, some drivers and the rest wireless operators. We mostly all had been waiting to go into aircrew training, and following the RAF practice were shoved into LAA, or Airfield Defence, based on the RAF Regiment model. We were taught unarmed combat as part of this training. The LAA SQN's were self contained units, part of a very mobile task force able to travel to a set up at any airfield in a short time. We had gunnery practice at Muriwai with the Avenger towing a drogue, similarly at the end of Whangaparoa peninsula trying to hit a drogue towed behind a Navy vessel. OC was S/L Fraser, supposedly a Berlin Airlift pilot who mistook the lights of Grafton Bridge for Whenuapai and nearly came to grief. He was definitely a bit gung-ho, on one occasion at Muriwai using HE they were exploding not too far out, it was raining heavy at the time, and he ordered "keep firing" until it was pointed out to him it was getting dangerous. Guess that's what the anti-flash shields were for. All in all a great time was had by all.
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Post by rone on Dec 26, 2013 20:31:32 GMT 12
While doing CMT during 1956 I along with the rest of the trainees spent some time at Seagrove doing gunnery tracking etc. with a pair of Harvards which would come across the harbour at almost zero feet, up over the embankment and we were supposed to track them. Not a hope in hell. Sadly the crew of one of the Harvards were killed late 1956 at Hopuhopu Camp, Ngaruawahia doing the same caper only this time I believe a wing tip touched the ground and it was all over.
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Post by rone on Dec 26, 2013 19:25:16 GMT 12
to add a bit of history to the story of Don Subritzkys Oxford, the blue/grey high backed seat visible in 2 of the pictures is actually a seat from the A/S Consul that my father broke up at Whenuapai. He made himself a rocking chair out of it, Don informed me he was given it some time after my father passed away by another member of my family. Good to see it back in the correct environment.
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Post by rone on Dec 26, 2013 14:36:46 GMT 12
after seeing the photo of 2328 at Waipapakauri I thought I recognised the number and the code, sure enough, it was one of the Mossies my father cut up. have a photo of it in the initial stage of undress. Also the photos of the "civilian" Mosquitoes at Milson were possibly taken when my father was initially starting the dismantling as some of the underwing tanks are not all there and a spinner is off one engine and laying on the ground by the wheel. It is also possible they had been pinched but I do not recall anything other than a radio set and a few instruments being stolen
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