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Post by kb on Mar 3, 2009 20:57:31 GMT 12
I grew up at Beach Haven and in the late 40's and perhaps early 50's the kids a few years older than me used to go over to Hobby and return with all sorts from the Cats. By that time the aircraft were a bit of a mess as I remember some may have been upside down. I wonder what happened to the stuff they took?
The 5 and 6 Sqdn Cats warmed up by going round in circles between the Beach Haven wharf and Hobby. As soon as I heard the engine noise I sprinted down to the wharf to watch them. Great days.
One day I was swimming in Hellyers Creek and two 6 Sqdn boats circled round, dropped their floats and I suddenly realised they were going to land in the creek. Man, I broke a few records swimming back to the beach. It was the only time I remember them landing there. Fun!
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Post by kb on Feb 22, 2009 20:42:44 GMT 12
I see that Ian Allen Superstore has "The Road to Biggin Hill" at 7.99 pounds.
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Post by kb on Feb 22, 2009 18:38:15 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. I would apreciate it if you could find out.
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Post by kb on Feb 21, 2009 11:44:30 GMT 12
I have a typed copy of an autobiography which was given to me when my wife was seriously ill and probably because of that I didn't record the author's name. His story is unusual as he served in the Marine Section from1942, largely in Fiji. You probably have it Larry and if you do I would love to fnd out who the author is. As I lived at Beach Haven when I was a kid I found it very interesting.
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Post by kb on Feb 16, 2009 19:28:38 GMT 12
I have quite a few most of which I will never make so if you are coming to Auckland let me know and we can have a browse.
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Post by kb on Mar 2, 2007 7:57:10 GMT 12
Pan Am did fly at least some Stratocruiser flights into Whenuapai after they had reinstated DC-4s. I clearly remember seeing at least one painted in the final Stratocruiser scheme flying over and thinking, "Wow they are flying Stratocruisers again. An d a different scheme." Much more exiting than DC-4s!
Can anyone tell be how to post photos please?
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Post by kb on Mar 1, 2007 22:06:53 GMT 12
I was born in 1940 so was a bit young for the war but I do have some memories. My sisters who are quite a bit older than me remember the Cutty Sark having a major problem off the Beach Haven wharf pre war.
I couldn't remember whether it was ANA or TAA who supplied the DC-4's to BCPA. What I do remember is that the Australian airline was contracted initially to start the pacific services and was VERY upset when BCPA took over the routes. When the first DC-4 was eventually and reluctantly handed over, it had four time expired engines!
I don't think the crash of the DC-6 was the impetus for TEAL taking over from BCPA. I believe that it was a question of the 100% Australian airline wanting to spread it's wings.
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Post by kb on Mar 1, 2007 15:02:01 GMT 12
I have just found the goup and have been very interested in the comments. I lived at Beach Haven as a kid and was directly in the flight path for Whenuapai. One of my earliest aviation memories was seeing an incredibly bright PAA DC-4 droppping it's undercarriage while over my home and my uncle commenting that it was the first commercial flight after the war.
From memory the following airliners flew international services into Whenuapai:
BCPA - The airline that has not previously been mentioned. Ownership was shared between Australia, GB and us. The idea was that BCPA would fly the Pacific to Vancouver via L.A. thus linking with flights to the UK and Qantas the old prewar route to the UK through the East. Aircraft were DC-4 and DC-6. (The same DC-6's flown by TEAL and RNZAF.) The aircraft were registered in Australia.
TEAL. When TEAL was taken over by NZ BCPA was disbanded and it's DC-6s taken over by TEAL. I think Qantas started flying to NZ at that stage. TEAL's aircraft were DC-6 and L-188 Electra. At least one Electra carried combined Qantas/TEAL/Air New Zealand? titles.
Pan Am. Aircraft were DC-4, Stratocruiser and DC-7C.
CPA. Aircraft were DC-4M (DC-4 with Merlin engines and some DC-6 type upgrades. Very noisy! DC-6B and Brittannia. (Sp?) CPA were on the verge of flying Comet 1's into Whenuapai when crashes including one of theirs put a stop to it.
Qantas. I think Qantas only flew Super Constellations into Whenuapai although as mentioned elsewhere they flew DC-4's from Ak International.
BOAC I think they only flew Comet 4's.
The NZ Herald published the arrival and departures on a daily basis so I would be on the lookout for those flights arriving after school.
As an aside I remeber very clearly an Air India Constellation flying over about mid 1950's. Does anyone have information on this?
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