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Post by chinapilot on Mar 22, 2022 18:48:07 GMT 12
The report mentions that the gear warning horn had been replaced due to false warnings. It’s possible that the problem reoccured after the throttles were retarded for the landing flare and they decided to go around.
The resultant investigative flight tests indicated that with Flap 45 this was not possible.
The manufacturer provided no information and it was a ‘verbal warning’ given to flight crew.
No flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder in those days.
Check captain on board as well as a Transport Canada FOI who fortunately for him didn’t go to the flight deck.
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 27, 2022 1:16:47 GMT 12
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 21, 2022 4:15:26 GMT 12
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 21, 2022 4:12:09 GMT 12
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 20, 2022 15:39:47 GMT 12
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 11, 2022 17:33:49 GMT 12
The ‘scoreboard’ is interesting in that it has carrier aircraft claims including the SB2C.
There was a carrier raid 11 Nov 1943 - this was the combat debut of the SB2C - although it appears from various sources that none were shot down that day.
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 11, 2022 15:40:04 GMT 12
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Post by chinapilot on Aug 12, 2021 23:53:40 GMT 12
Apart from anything else the price is going to increase worldwide, when and if airlines get back to flying anything like the amount they did pre-covid. As demand rises so will costs.
The problem for NZ could be if it’s still seen as a viable market... A the end of a long supply chain, with a total population less than most cities worldwide, an unknown future for the economy and already with costly delays at ports some companies may not consider it worth the hassle. This is not even taking into account the business ‘threat’ of a socialist government who may raise duty and taxes on a whim.
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Post by chinapilot on Jul 13, 2021 23:51:36 GMT 12
Capt. Barry Mcalley - GA Engineer and Pilot NAC/AirNZ
MCALLEY, Barry Neville. 81, passed away peacefully at Totara Hospice, surrounded by his family, on 9 July 2021 after a short illness. Much loved husband of Barbara, father of Carolyn, Sarah and Ian. Grandad of Nisha, Georgina and Louisa and brother of David, John and Roger. He will be forever in our hearts, flying free now with the sun on his wings.
A celebration of Barry's life will be held on Friday, 16 July, 11:00am at NZ Warbirds, Hangar 2, 824 Harvard Lane, Ardmore Airfield, Papakura (please enter via the side of the hangar off de Havilland Lane.
We advise to wear warm clothing.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to Totara Hospice as a sign of appreciation for the wonderful care they provided to Barry on his final approach.
All communications to Fountains Funeral ph: 09 298 2957
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Post by chinapilot on Jun 27, 2021 1:38:50 GMT 12
Really interesting Dave A reminder that after the fall of France in 1940 the French really weren’t really allies until the tide turned.
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Post by chinapilot on Jun 15, 2021 17:39:51 GMT 12
Neither the RNZAF crew nor the USMC crews lost 17 &18 respectively are in the Rabaul POW list.
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Post by chinapilot on Jun 4, 2021 1:20:04 GMT 12
Malkyc - definitely an interesting character like many in the diaspora of the interwar years looking for adventure, fame and fortune.
Errol Flynn travelled to Spain in 1937 with a Doctor friend and worked in a hospital with him for a short period so that is ,as you surmise, very likely where they met. Flynn kept a diary of his time in Spain and this was auctioned about 20 years ago - don’t know if it has been published but it may have a reference to Eric.
I first read about Eric about 25 years ago when that quirky book ‘The Flyers’ was published which has quite a bit about him and also another NZer in China.
Having an interest in the SPW , due to a family member, I was surprised to hear that Flynn had gone there.
When Eric went to Hong Kong in 1939 it was a time of great intrigue. Chiang Kai-Shek was just one of the war lords around and all of them were trying to buy aircraft.
It sounds like the scheme to steal Japanese aircraft was one of the ideas bandied around the pub one evening but evaporated as as soon as they left to go home. It probably would have been a more ‘substantial’ business proposition that he gone up there for.
Mostly HK was used as a deal making venue with aircraft delivered elsewhere.
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Post by chinapilot on Jun 3, 2021 23:44:01 GMT 12
First thing that came to mind was ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’...
Great photos.
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Post by chinapilot on Jun 3, 2021 20:47:17 GMT 12
Moot point I guess - interesting enough the NZ Govt History Combatants in Spain web page describes his death as the result of ‘an unauthorised joyride in an American airforce plane (sic)‘
As for being ‘posted’ to the squadron that’s doesn’t mean he was ‘authorised’ to fly the aircraft.
As you refer to the other post the person doing research suggests that it wasn’t authorised .
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Post by chinapilot on Jun 1, 2021 23:40:51 GMT 12
Eric Neville Griffiths went on to fly for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War and joined the RNZAF. He borrowed a P-39 in Nadi and killed himself doing aerobatics.
I’m sure Errol will have more details.
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Post by chinapilot on May 21, 2021 17:40:19 GMT 12
Surrender wasn't signed until 02/09/45 Must have stayed in MNL for a while? Or someone else?
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Post by chinapilot on Apr 18, 2021 15:35:14 GMT 12
The evidence seems to support 'Puriata River'.
By that time the Australians were pushing further south towards Mosigetta and had established an airstrip near Mawaraka for use by Auster aircraft.
Mosigetta is on the Puriata River a few miles inland so it is likely he flew over the strip (which was of reasonable length) near the coast at Mawaraka and then over the coast again near the river mouth.
All the contemporary accounts and evidently the accident report mentions the 'Puriata River'.
There is no reference to a 'Puruata River' in any gazetteers referencing WWII maps of Bougainville.
"King was safe only one mile from the enemy line(s)"... further evidence that it was the Puriata River as the Torokina Beachhead was miles inland at that stage.
Incidentally,later on there was another Australian strip near the Mobiai River mouth further down the coast.
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Post by chinapilot on Apr 17, 2021 19:09:04 GMT 12
Not having access to the accident report I suspect that the so-called Puruata River mouth is due north of the island.
None of my 1944 maps or later mention it by name but it would almost be a ‘stream’.
When I first read this I suspected that the ‘auxilary’ field was Halsey Field which was used by the Australians (Austers) and adjacent to the suspected river/stream mouth.
The immediate area had a rifle range, ANZAC Beach and Aust. War Cemetery which accounts for the Australian presence.
But of course that is all a red herring as there is a Puriata River...
However, as Dave has pointed out the actual Puriata River is across Empress Augusta Bay and is close to the other Australian ‘base’ which also had an Auster strip.
Info from July 1945 map produced by Aust. Survey Corps.
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Post by chinapilot on Mar 20, 2021 16:07:15 GMT 12
Sad to see two stalwarts of the GA scene in the '60s and beyond have passed away.
Keith was a familiar face around the Wellington Aero Club - he had just checked out as a DC-3 Captain with NAC (one of the youngest) and spent all his spare time at the aero club. He did a bit of instructing if required but mostly worked on his Avian at the back of the hangar. At one stage the club had a short nose Aztec and pilots from NAC like Keith used to fly it on charters mainly for picking up patients all over the North Island and taking them to Dunedin for specialist treatment.
Keith was a wonderful person and always encouraged everybody in their flying and I'm proud that he was my first instructor.
Rhona Fraser was very popular and like Keith, very encouraging to aspiring aviators. I think she was involved with the NZAWA in those days as well.
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Post by chinapilot on Mar 5, 2021 15:30:35 GMT 12
Great stuff - thanks aircraftclocks.
The PBJ shot down just off Namatanai and the F4U further up the coast a few weeks before are interesting and probably relatively unknown to researchers.
Photos are mentioned - Are there any clear photos in these reels or are they much like the previous ones which didn't reproduce very well?
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