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Post by gibbo on Mar 6, 2024 9:22:03 GMT 12
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Post by gibbo on Feb 21, 2024 16:58:42 GMT 12
Let's hope not. We do not need frigates. I suspect the Aussies will be stongly telling the NZ Govt otherwise Dave.
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Post by gibbo on Feb 21, 2024 16:54:39 GMT 12
On reflection I dout they can move awy from the War Memorial status it has & is likely obliged to, so it maybe that the top floor military colelction must remain... not that I'm confident they wouldn't try to dump it. It's a good point though about the research collections & screeds of donated papers that could be at risk.
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Post by gibbo on Feb 20, 2024 20:44:22 GMT 12
This woke nonsense is inceasingly common overseas but so far we seem to escaped the worst of it's ravages ...the Akl Museum is bloody fantastic as it is & we don't need it turned into an attempt at social engineering ... Wigram for the zero (RNZAF gifted it didn't they?) & Keith Park would've been happy to see MOTAT get the Spitty as WIgram as a similar (same?) model. Friggin nonsense! Overseas some collections have been decimated by this approach.
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Post by gibbo on Feb 16, 2024 18:00:35 GMT 12
While it is hard to argue the RNZAF is very top heavy, accuracy in reporting is still helpful. As at the 2023 nominal roll the RNZAF had 21 GPCAPTs (all branches) and 75 WGCDRs (27 OPS, 23 LOG and 25 OPSPT). Fairly obvious really, that is a way to keep them promoted & pay rises to keep them & their experience onboard.
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Post by gibbo on Feb 16, 2024 17:58:36 GMT 12
LOL can't quite beleive I sat & watched that but 1.5x speed does help! Very clear the message is finally getting thru to both sides of parliamnet but boy I hope the CDF pushes back on any capability divestment! What they overlook of course is even the most mundane of 'back room' roles supports the frontline as CDF points out & to lose them does impact the front line to varying degrees. The 2 key ponts made I thought were interesting is that CDF states the upcoming DCP is not going vary hugely from the 2019 one & is 'not proposing significant change at this time' ...clearly any focus will be on recruitment & retention initially. Also strongly hints what we expect in that the SH2G won't make it to 2028 & an interim will likely be required ...if the push capability divestment it'll be B757 & SH2G that go in my book. And finally the Secretaries' comment that discussions with Australia have been 'more intense' in the last 18 months clealrly reflecting where the new found focus on the NZDF from within Govt is being driven ...got to be a good thing!
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Post by gibbo on Feb 15, 2024 20:31:01 GMT 12
And the government is telling them to cut expenses. Ridiculous. Well to be honest I'm not surprised. There's excited chatter here & on another forum about all this wonderful kit that is likely to come ..plain truth, it ain't! $$ cuts all over meaning once inflation is taken into account there's goning to be a lot of gutting of Govt Depts & finally Willis had admitted it may be in front-line services. B757 will go really quick once, I suspect, a single leased commercial aircraft is sourced. Next will be recruitment & training ...and that will nail the NZDF to the wall! www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/01/frontline-services-could-face-cutbacks-nicola-willis-acknowledges.htmlHaving just got into the media harping about the closer defence relationship with Oz one has to ask 'what can we actually offer'? Say one thing - do another!
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Post by gibbo on Jan 4, 2024 11:50:39 GMT 12
Coincidentally with this thread kicking back into life I just found out on Xmas eve that our neighbour's father was Richard Tatham, the pilot of the 2nd prototype ZK-CKE on 1 March 1967 when it crashed in the Maungakaramea, Northland area, killing Richard. aviation-safety.net/wikibase/62842I haven't had a chance yet to chat to our neighbour in depth about what he might know and he's away at the mo but will do so (know them very well). I doubt he'll have much to add (esp. for the Te Kuiti Museum) as he mentioned he was only a few months old when his father was killed. He may however be interested to find out more himself about his father's aircraft & accident etc.
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Post by gibbo on Dec 21, 2023 15:13:14 GMT 12
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Post by gibbo on Dec 12, 2023 16:28:32 GMT 12
Ok a little belated perhaps but after 24 years living in our house I just discovered at the weekend that 'Wink' Burgess was a previous owner of our house... my old-man was a year older & a late-comer as a pilot so didn't see active service ...I suspect 'Wink' also joined the RNZAF quite late in WW2? Errol.... do you have any more detail on his service from your work? Gibbo, NZC439119 Wilfred Charles Burgess enlisted on 18 Jun 43 at Omaka as ACH (ATC. 'tis all I have about him. Cheers. Errol Ok thx Errol, all good.
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Post by gibbo on Dec 12, 2023 11:59:26 GMT 12
I suspect 'Wink' also joined the RNZAF quite late in WW2? Errol.... do you have any more detail on his service from your work? His service number indicates he joined the RNZAF in 1943. Cheers Dave, small world indeed!
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Post by gibbo on Dec 11, 2023 22:36:37 GMT 12
PARKER, Barbara Winifred: L.A.C.W. 2830336, R.A.F. On Sunday, June 24, 2018, in the care of Peacehaven Rest Home, aged 78 years. Dearly loved mother of Teresa and Ant, and Adam and Tania. Loved Nana and Great-Grandmother of Mathew and Emma, Mischa, Alister, Courtney-Teresa, and the late Amanda, and the late Robert. Loved sister, sister-in-law, aunt and friend. "Going Home" A service to celebrate Barbara's life will be held in the Southland Crematorium, Rockdale Road, Invercargill, on Friday, June 29, at 10.30am. Messages to 9 Kelso Place, Invercargill 9812. BURGESS, Wilfred Charles (Wink): (Service Number NZ439119, A.C.2, RNZAF WWII). Passed away peacefully at Coronation Lodge Rest Home on Sunday 1 July 2018, aged 93 years. Dearly loved husband of Constance and the late Jocelyn. Much loved father and father-in-law of Diane & Andy Campbell, Jennifer & Paul Lambdon, and the late Bruce. Proud Granddad of James, Alan, Brian; Richard, Michael, and Claire. Special thanks to Robyn and the staff at Coronation Lodge for their love and care of Wink. A celebration of Wink's life is to be held at Eagars Te Henui Chapel, 174 Lemon Street, New Plymouth, on Friday 6 July 2018 at 11.00am. Ok a little belated perhaps but after 24 years living in our house I just discovered at the weekend that 'Wink' Burgess was a previous owner of our house... my old-man was a year older & a late-comer as a pilot so didn't see active service ...I suspect 'Wink' also joined the RNZAF quite late in WW2? Errol.... do you have any more detail on his service from your work?
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Post by gibbo on Dec 8, 2023 20:10:44 GMT 12
Cool, ..and confirmation some/all will be fitted with underwing tanks.
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Post by gibbo on Dec 3, 2023 0:33:03 GMT 12
What, that an arms manufacturer has a stand with a model of a product that they think will meet an announced requirement? To be fair the poster above suggested there was an actual helicopter in the country. Seemed strange to me that if true it hadn't really been mentioned anywhere, no doubt the first time this type of helicopter has been in NZ. Actually no not the first time, and unbeleiveably I got to see one low & slow over Onehunga! Whenever it was the last RN vessel visited DNB it had a Wildcat on board & it did a couple of flights from Devonport. Living in Onehunga (Royal Oak arguably) hearing choppers overhead is so common it takes something unusual these days to drag me outside. Anyway I'm working from home and hear a chopper but this was a sound I had never heard before... so outside I pop. There I was staring up at a bloody wildcat...knowing full well what it was too. I seem to remember chatter on this forum that it was heading DNB to Akl Airport & back. Well it really was low & slow, very much so on both counts and I really did get a bloody great view of it... of course numpkins didn't thing to grab a photo, think I was in shock!
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Post by gibbo on Nov 27, 2023 8:01:59 GMT 12
Read earlier that these were getting some extra sensors, the hump on the roof is interesting takes me back to the first Skyhawks, what will go in there? AIUI the 'hump' is related to the wide bandwidth, high speed satellite communications system they are getting, whilst I do know the 'extra sensors' is primarily a Westcam electro-optical/infra-red camera very similar to what the P3-K2 had & the P-8A has (mounted under the nose just forward of the front landing gear. www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-06/C-130J%20Factsheet.pdf
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Post by gibbo on Nov 25, 2023 15:28:22 GMT 12
See on the RNZAF FB page that farewell flight for NZ7004 will take place on Monday (27 November) ...hope like hell 40 Sqn aren't called on for anything urgent for the next 2 years (until all 5 C130J-30 are here) ...so NZ's total transport fleet is now a paltry 5 old-timers! Guess the Govt expects the RAAF to just drop what they're doing & help!
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Post by gibbo on Nov 22, 2023 22:26:56 GMT 12
LOL and to ensure I show no favourtism I will copy my comment from another thread ... Wow...awesome, just bloody awesome! Mind blowing to think we are concurrently watching 2 ex-RNZAF aircraft of the 1940's taking flight again = NZ2423 & NZ5648
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Post by gibbo on Nov 22, 2023 22:23:42 GMT 12
Better? Wow...awesome, just bloody awesome! Mind blowing to think we are concurrently watching 2 ex-RNZAF aircraft of the 1940's taking flight again = NZ5648 & NZ2423
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Post by gibbo on Nov 21, 2023 21:06:40 GMT 12
A number of great books have been written about these squadrons 75 - Forever Strong by Norman Franks, 75(NZ) by Chris Ward and Chris Newey 485 - An Illustrated History of the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron by Kevin Wells 486 - The Wild Winds by Paul Sortehaug 487 - Through to the End by david Palmer and Assd Neeven 488 - Defence Until Dawn by Leslie Hunt 489 - 490 - A couple more publications: 75 - Royal Air Force: Bomber Command: Squadron Profiles: Number 20: 75 Squadron 75 - 75 (NZ) Squadron - RAF Bomber Command Profiles And 488 - Gone The Dark Night by Graham Clayton (pub. 2019) Look forward to getting your book Don
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Post by gibbo on Nov 16, 2023 19:47:05 GMT 12
I did not know it had been extended for the use of larger aircraft, that would have been interesting if anything large when in there, even a Hudson or Dakota. Ah yes, actually to be fair I realise now I took that away from a wiki page 'Mangere Aerodrome' so who knows if that is accurate
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