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Post by shamus on Apr 5, 2009 15:43:38 GMT 12
Not much of the airfield i'm afraid but a peek at the Waikato Aero Clubs, clubhouse. This photo taken in May 1967 when I flew CGP to Hamilton then on to Taupo.
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Post by shamus on Apr 4, 2009 14:11:31 GMT 12
Here's what you've been waiting for. Don Subritzky took these photos of the Catalina in Wellsford in 1968.
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Post by shamus on Apr 2, 2009 10:55:01 GMT 12
I agree with FyingKiwi. The Grumman Trainer with its non-steerable, castoring nosewheel. Horrible little plastic rat.
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Post by shamus on Apr 2, 2009 10:40:55 GMT 12
Hi Steve. Just to get it in its correct context. The C87 with Japanese on board who were civil interns not POWs was taking off from Whenuapai when the crash ocurred after it had reached about 700 ft. The Liberator in the photo from Shorty is most probably the RAF T979 which swung off the runway and was extensively damaged. The next one was EW 620 which I think was American and was involved in a taxying accident, but I believe repaired and flew away. I have the accident report on the C87.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 22:05:37 GMT 12
Yes Dave, he was, and also tested Oxfords, Harvards, and Hudsons before joining the GR Sqn.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 22:00:14 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, i'll have to check that out. It is some years since I saw him and he could possibly have gone to a rest home. Castledene Cres. was the address I visited. I dont live far from there so will pay a visit.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 21:50:28 GMT 12
All of Don's collection is at his 11 acre block about 4 kms from the airfield with the exception of the Provost which is at the North Shore airfield.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 21:08:41 GMT 12
Hi Dave. Have just come across this thread and see you are working on a history of No. 20 AC Sqn. I may be able to help you with info on this Sqn. also photos as I have studied the Hind in depth.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 20:57:31 GMT 12
The first pilot to fly a Hind in NZ was Peter Jury (real name, Alan Victor Jury) who test flew NZ1503 on 4th. October 1940
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 20:48:13 GMT 12
Hi Mikemercury. The aircraft that crashed at Whenuapai killing the Japanese was actually a C87 the transport version of the Liberator. It had no armament, no turrets or bombays. The best person to see would be, Wesley MacDonald who lives in Castledine Crescent, Glenn Innes, Auckland, who was in charge of the Whenuapai Airbase Hospital that night. He was an eye witness to the crash and its aftermath. Dont leave it too long as like anyone in RNZAF at that time he is getting on in years. I interviewed him many years back and have a substantial file on this crash. You can contact me at, tradejamu@hotmail.com if I can help any further.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 18:59:33 GMT 12
Yes, Tonys18 Don has one of the best collections of photos I have seen. We have been friends and associates for nearly 40 years. Our trips all over NZ to collect aircraft parts are legend. We spent this morning going through some of the collection and some of them are posted today. If you have anything specifically that interests you post it on the forum and we will see what is available.
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 16:57:07 GMT 12
Some more photos of aircraft, not abandoned or unloved but in need of some caring for. Also more of the loads brought back for restoration work. The Bristol Freighter at John Fells in Blenheim The Argosy at (I think) John Walshes. The Nissan after a night near Ohakea, reloading to get on the road again. Towing part of the Proctor APH arriving back at Auckland. These two of the rest of APH brought back on a separate trip. The Proctor before we brought it back. Who is that man with a saw in his hand?
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Post by shamus on Apr 1, 2009 16:36:15 GMT 12
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Post by shamus on Mar 30, 2009 21:28:51 GMT 12
Talking of pumping the Beaver flaps up and down, their was a fatal accident in Beaver ZK CGS in 1965 at Tinui in the Wairarapa in which it was suspected the pilot had not used the lock valve and when he pumped them down to take-off position they came up again. The resulting longer take-off run caused the aircraft to hit the fence at the end of the take-off run thus killing the pilot. A similar system is used in the Mooney M20c.
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Post by shamus on Mar 30, 2009 18:38:05 GMT 12
No. Always seemed to be travelling at night and into the wee small hours of the morning. I think they were a bit more tolerant in those days.
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Post by shamus on Mar 30, 2009 16:47:07 GMT 12
You'r right about that Dave. A bit older now, but none the wiser.
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Post by shamus on Mar 30, 2009 15:30:24 GMT 12
Don't know if it quite qualifies for this thread but here are some photos of aircraft parts recovery. My long suffering Toyota Corona 1600 brought this load back from Marlborough (including some bits from Peter Coleman. This would be, I think, early 1970s. Also 3 people inside, myself, Don Subritzky and Alan Rowell of CAF. You can see part of a Hind airframe on the roof rack with Hind wingspar underneath. A Hind axle and brake drums on the trailer as well as Harvard canopy and a Hind leading edge cooling tank. Also a boot full of misc. bits. The same Corona also pulled Don's Fletcher out of the bush at Raglan, in two trips. On one of the trips we got stuck and the farmer came down with his tractor and pulled both the car and trailer up to the road. Later on we graduated to the most sophisticated form of transport and accomodation. The Nissan C20 Van shown here in the Lewis pass going to Nelson. On the roof rack is a Hind top centre section. We were able to sleep in this van but it meant that at night we had to unload all the gear and store it under the van. This van did wonderful service as on one trip we picked up a merlin supercharger in Christchurch then visited Phillip Burns in Ashburton and left with the remains of Proctor APH on the trailer and picked up other bits in Hawkes bay including a Hind prop. On the way to Taupo we got a flat tyre on the trailer and of course the spare was in the trailer under the Proctor. We finaly arrived back in Auckland intact but it was quite a trip. One of many, but thats another story. Also a photo of ZK CMC when we arrived at Dairy Flat. Quite a bit of overhang.
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Post by shamus on Mar 30, 2009 12:16:42 GMT 12
I was kindly loaned the fork hoist by James Av. but could not control the swing of the engine from behind the controls so it went every which way but the way i wanted. However new floor in the trailer looked great and more solid. Will give you some photos soon of different loads in different cars that were brought back over the years.
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Post by shamus on Mar 28, 2009 21:29:33 GMT 12
Yes Dave the Marina is long gone but she did some sterling service bringing aircraft and parts back home. I remember one instance when I went to Hamilton on my own. and got a damaged P & W 1340 from a Snow commander from James Av. I had to get it on the trailer on my own and the dam thing kept wanting to go prop shaft down. I could not turn it over so left it and when I arrived back in Auckland the bumping had pushed the shaft right through the bottom of the trailer. Had to completely rebuild the floor of the trailer.
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Post by shamus on Mar 28, 2009 12:51:57 GMT 12
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