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Post by rone on Dec 26, 2013 13:41:26 GMT 12
re the Avenger fertilizer trials of 1949, I recall being at an open day/air show at Whenuapai when the Avenger did a fert. drop alongside the runway. It was later parked up for all to see the large tank like hopper in the bomb bay. The exact month of 1949 I do not recall.
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Post by rone on Dec 24, 2013 18:38:21 GMT 12
With reference to your first picture Dave, the gent at right rear is Morrie Kinder, I met him in 1959, he was farming out near the Bombay area by Raventhorpe Hospital, he was quite a character of a man
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Post by rone on Dec 24, 2013 18:08:01 GMT 12
Oops!, forgot to mention photos were taken at Whenuapai
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Post by rone on Dec 24, 2013 18:05:57 GMT 12
I know this is site is getting outdated now but as I have just found it I thought I should mention I have a couple of photos I took with my Box Brownie around about 1956 of a B17 that was personal transport for a US 3 or 4 star General. At the same time there was a B29(KC135) tanker. If shown how to I can try loading them on here
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Post by rone on Dec 24, 2013 16:50:32 GMT 12
I did my 3 months at Hobsonville, went in about January 1956, had 1 annual camp of 2weeks before Govt. scrapped CMT for Airforce and Navy. Posted to Reserve until 1965. Originally opted for aircrew training but after waiting a while was informed flying training was being stopped, I was given the choice of LAA or the Army,so I took lAA
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Post by rone on Nov 10, 2013 19:46:59 GMT 12
Regarding the Seafire parts listed on Trade Me back in 2011, I plead guilty as being the person who listed them. They were in fact 2 underwing .303 magazines I acquired while the Seafire was waiting for the axe. The Catalinas were also undergoing a cutting up at the same time by the same firm. Age has dimmed my memory a bit but it was around 1954/55, my father was breaking up Hobby's last Mosquitoe at the same time. Dave, I would query your report that the Catalina's were railed to Rukuhia for melting, the firm who cut them up were in Te Papapa, Onehunga, and as far as I recall they also disposed of the Sunderland and Dakota at the same time. My father broke up the Meteor at the same spot around 1959/60
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Post by rone on Oct 31, 2013 20:12:36 GMT 12
No Dave, although I only know who the first buyer was. There is a story attached to it. The first buyer refused to take delivery as between him inspecting it prior to tendering and turning up to remove it, he found it had lost it's engine. Persons unknown had backed a truck under the front and removed everything including the prop back to the engine frame mountings. There was a rumour, but only a rumour that a certain bloke that had a/c around his property at Rukahia ended up with it. From memory it was pretty well all intact prior to being sold
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Post by rone on Oct 31, 2013 19:34:08 GMT 12
Just to upset the applecart, nobody has yet mentioned the Corsair that was given to Kings College ATC based at the College, Otahuhu. It was sold for scrap around 1953 from memory. I cannot recall serial number
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Post by rone on Sept 30, 2012 10:57:30 GMT 12
Brilliant photography,last time I saw a Mossie in the air as about 1950 when 6 from 75Sqn flew over over Auckland returning to Ohakea after an exersize at Waipapakauri
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Post by rone on Oct 13, 2010 18:24:04 GMT 12
that is all very interesting concerning the reported dismantling of the Mosquitoes at Dunedin.As post #8 says he understood the 5 remaining a/c remained at Milson and were broken up there.As I have stated previously on this site,it was my father who purchased these a/c via tender and dismantled them at Milson,later to be called Palmerston North Airport.I was involved in the breaking up of these a/c and have several photos of them in various states of undress.From memory they were parked a bit away to the right of Union Airways hangar when facing the hangar doors.I also recall my father had to attend P/N court soon after taking posession of the a/c as a thief had been caught by the airfield caretaker removing the radios etc and hiding them at the side of the airfield.So I do know what I am talking about here and not reading from a magazine article.
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Post by rone on Sept 30, 2010 21:22:29 GMT 12
Re reply 31,the reference I made regarding Kermit Weeks was from an article I read in Wings some time back, so maybe they were wrong also,the rest of what I wrote is verifyable
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Post by rone on Sept 30, 2010 21:00:07 GMT 12
with reference to reply 29 (rod),the Mossies destined for the USA were originally bought by Aircraft Supplies Ltd P/N.They were then bought from the receivers of A/Supplies by my father, Mr A Elliott.There were 6 aircraft originally,1 flew away before the govt.stopped the deal.The 1 that went eventually ended up in Kermit Weeks museum but I believe was destroyed in the hangar fire a few years back.The remaining 5 to the best of my knowledge never had any connection to Rolfe Industries,and certainly none with Horrells who broke up a/c at Woodbourne.I and my brother assisted our father break up these Mossies,travelling to and from Onehunga to Palmerston North on the fuel in tanks while it lasted.Now the bit for all you recognition experts; these 5 Mossies were put on the civil register prior to hopefully leaving NZ.I have only one photo (taken with a box brownie) of 1 , ZK-BCW, all ref. to RNZAF has been painted out.The remaining Reg No`s are obscured.Some one here should be able to find that Reg on file, finding the other 5 should be easy, then the RNZAF serials can be traced
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Post by rone on Sept 7, 2010 16:24:31 GMT 12
There was actually 2 smelters in Neilsen Street,one was a foundry casting brass and aluminium,this foundry cut up and melted down TEAL S30 Aotearoa which had been used as a restaurant in Mission Bay Auckland,it was towed across the road to the beach and cut up there.The second smelter was a short distance along from the foundry but this was a scrap yard only melting metals and pouring into ingots for resale.This firm broke up the first of the Catalina a/c disposed of and also the one and only Griffen powered Seafire which had been left behind from HMS Theseus in 1947 after a hard landing
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Post by rone on Sept 7, 2010 12:33:36 GMT 12
G,day, I am a son of A Elliott,but not the author of the article referred to previously. I can confirm that one engine was set up and run in a backyard in Captain Springs Road, Te Papapa,Onehunga,the other Derwent was totally dismantled.NZ6001 was fired up at 1TTs Hobsonville and delivered personally to my father byWing Commander McKay across the airfield to "Rotten Row" where it was dismantled.I still have a few bits, ie Altimetre,Tacho etc.This was the last a/c Dad cut up,previous a/c were 5 Mosquitoes at Milson originally destined for Rausch Aviation,USA, but blocked after 1 had flown away,these were fueled up ready to go.He also bought the remains off other Mossies while down there.Previously, as a family 2 Oxfords were broken up at Hobsonville and a Consul/Oxford at Whenuapai,a Harvard at Ohakea.Along the way there several RR & Packard Merlins, Pratt & Whitney 14 & 18 cylinder radials, also Bristol Pegasus and Cheeta X radials. Hope this lays to rest the rumours
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