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Post by corsair5517 on Oct 1, 2023 10:51:38 GMT 12
Emailed you, Dave…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 30, 2023 9:42:42 GMT 12
I know of a 15Sqn RNZAF pilot who binned everything he had when he realised after the war that the chances that he would ever fly again - especially in a high powered aircraft! - were extremely low…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 27, 2023 17:17:48 GMT 12
I was being a little facetious, Dave - I’ve been in there, too, albeit a very long time ago and yeah; no dust!!
The AF digitising the logbooks and giving a copy back to the family must be a new(ish) thing, eh?? They certainly didn’t offer to do that for Dad; I had it professionally scanned and digitised in 1988…
I suppose even the most humble logbook is an historic document and yes; a museum dedicated to flight is the most suitable repository, but I cannot imagine ever not wanting these logbooks in my possession because of the personal stories therein: I am fortunate that the succeeding generations feel the same way.
I dread to think how many logbooks have been either deliberately, or inadvertently, destroyed simply because the owner of that book thought no-one would be interested in them!! Don’t laugh… I know personally how that goes; I caught Dad one day happily binning his tunics and other stuff for just this reason!! Obviously, I put a stop to that nonsense!!
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 27, 2023 10:26:57 GMT 12
I think you are thinking of the late Edward Woodward. I probably was, too, but McCallum was in ‘Sapphire and steel’…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 26, 2023 20:30:04 GMT 12
Chaps!! What does the collective know about the RADAR unit stationed on Malaita from July 43 to February 44?? My nephews paternal grandfather served with 53 Unit, RNZAF there… he was Wilf Symes.
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 26, 2023 19:52:08 GMT 12
He was also an exceptional Robert McCall in ‘The Equalizer’, and wasn’t he also in another TV spy drama?? Or am I thinking of Edward Woodward???
RIP, indeed…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 26, 2023 13:22:49 GMT 12
Thanks, chap... you know, I looked till I was blue in the face and never saw that?! Anyway... here's where I'm at with this... Screenshot 2023-09-26 at 11.14.44 am by John Stokes, on Flickr ... any suggestions as to content and layout gratefully received!! I may not use those suggestions, but I'm happy to bake other opinions...
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 25, 2023 22:49:46 GMT 12
…did 15 ever have such a thing?? Either official or not, I don’t care but I’m making a framed montage featuring Dad and his brother; Pat was 34 Sqn, RAF and Dad was 15, RNZAF.
i’d appreciate a little help, here, eh!! 😁
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 25, 2023 22:46:24 GMT 12
Yes, The Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram is the best repository for logbooks in my opinion. Only if the family, either immediate or extended, show no interest in it! I hate the idea that these documents disappear forever onto a dusty shelf somewhere, there to languish forever…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 25, 2023 11:32:12 GMT 12
From the logbook of D.E.Stokes, 15Sqn RNZAF
July 24 . Corsair . 5406 . Self . Muguai Strike . 1:05 . 20 x 250lb and 2 x 1000lb s.b.s
... sorry fellas - zombie thread!
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 14, 2023 19:29:34 GMT 12
Could be! Although these aren’t for a woman, being cufflinks and a tiepin; I’m more inclined to think they were a gift to Dad from my grandfather…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 14, 2023 14:38:37 GMT 12
…and these; I wonder if these were made from buttons??? IMG_0913 by John Stokes, on Flickr … turns out they are, in fact, gold, and hand carved, according to the jeweller who is going to polish them. I had no idea…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 14, 2023 12:41:16 GMT 12
I’m going to polish up the cap badges… would they have been polished to a high sheen?? One looks to be of a copper based alloy, the other is a brass alloy; these are the badges that go on the side caps. ... anyone???
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 10, 2023 23:26:36 GMT 12
... and so it continues; I don't know if these things are of any interest to you people, but they are of intense interest to me, only knowing Dad as a middle aged man, and not the youngster he was here... Telegram from his father by John Stokes, on Flickr Return of Army gear by John Stokes, on Flickr Acknowledgement of enlistment by John Stokes, on Flickr papCarder 3 by John Stokes, on Flickr Travel permit by John Stokes, on Flickr Souvenir; front by John Stokes, on Flickr Souvenir; back by John Stokes, on Flickr Equator crossing by John Stokes, on Flickr Card 2 by John Stokes, on Flickr Card 3 by John Stokes, on Flickr
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 10, 2023 12:59:13 GMT 12
I’m going to polish up the cap badges… would they have been polished to a high sheen?? One looks to be of a copper based alloy, the other is a brass alloy; these are the badges that go on the side caps.
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 9, 2023 16:19:41 GMT 12
He was indeed on Blenheims, with one trip in a Vildebeest. When he returned from convalescent leave he was on Gordons for a while, too…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 9, 2023 12:11:22 GMT 12
I'm back home after uplifting some of Dads' effects, and also what was left from his brother Pats' estate; his son and grandson had no use for it so I put my hand up... Flying helmet by John Stokes, on Flickr Helmet by John Stokes, on Flickr Helmet showing name by John Stokes, on Flickr Pat Stokes' ab initio class by John Stokes, on Flickr Pat's wings, and RAF badge by John Stokes, on Flickr RAF airscrew badge by John Stokes, on Flickr RAF badge by John Stokes, on Flickr loads of ephemera! by John Stokes, on Flickr More books by John Stokes, on Flickr Books and a Corsair model by John Stokes, on Flickr ... plus bags of buttons of both metal and bakelite construction and other bits and bobs; saddens me a lot to know that because I'm looking at this in person that Dad and Pat are gone, along with most of their comrades-in-arms. I also have the typewritten copy of Pats diary, which will be scanned and made available to whoever would like a copy; I haven't read it yet. According to the logbooks Pat commenced basic in 1940, and Dad in 1944. Pat ended up being seconded to 34Sqn RAF at Tengah, but was invaded out ill just before the Japanese came down the Malay peninsula...
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 3, 2023 6:00:26 GMT 12
Has come to light whilst sorting through my late fathers stuff; Dave, his training logbook has shown up, if you’re still interested Anyway, this little box is amongst the gear I’ve uplifted and I thought you might like to see it… it’s made of plastic, or perspex… IMG_0911 by John Stokes, on Flickr …and these; I wonder if these were made from buttons??? IMG_0913 by John Stokes, on Flickr Dad must have, at some stage, stripped all of his tunics of their accoutrements because there’s a hoard of buttons and shoulder flashes/epaulettes , but joy of joys… I’ve found his tropical wings, and his issue watch!
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Post by corsair5517 on Mar 29, 2023 16:32:58 GMT 12
Yeah… I’m not a quick study, but I get there eventually!! 😆
NZ5631 was the last Corsair he ever flew, from Bougainville to Rukuhia, so something of a bittersweet moment, I would imagine.
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Post by corsair5517 on Mar 29, 2023 15:20:36 GMT 12
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