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Post by flyinghilly on Feb 29, 2024 12:35:14 GMT 12
Dave - I know quite a bit - in fact I was hoping to go there next year.
I spent a while talking to Mick Shand who was the last man out of the tunnel
I also spent quite a bit of time talking to Jack Rae DFC who was in the camp when the escape happened. I was visiting the Imperial War Museum in London with Jack and they had a big model of the camp. Jack was steading himself by holding onto the edge of the model while he looked at it. A guard yelled at him to 'not touch the exhibits' and then calmed down and asked him if 'there was anything he would like to know. Hi response was 'no not really - it is pretty much as I remember it'. mThis comment caused everyone to jump into action and they took him off (for a couple of days) and recorded his memories for them.
I have a copy of this recording somewhere if you are interested. I also have a copy of the documentary that I helped make of Jack talking about the camp and the escape - that might be useful as well
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Post by flyinghilly on Feb 29, 2024 12:20:58 GMT 12
After hunting for a few years I have manage to put together a full set of the wartime issues of Contact magazine and I am now trying locate the magazines from the 'new series' which started in 1952.
I wonder if anyone might have copies of the following magazines that they would be willing to sell:
New Series - Vol 1 No 1 - Sep 52 No 3 - Dec 52 / Jan 53 No 4 - Feb 53 No 6 - Apr 53 No 7 - May 53 No 8 - Jun 53 No 9 - Jul 53 No 10 - Aug 53
New Series - Vol 2 No 1 - Sep 53 No 2 - Oct 53 No 3 - Nov 53
New Series - Vol 3 No 1 - Oct 54 No 2 - Nov 54
Any assistance anyone can give to help me track down these 12 magazines will be most appreciated
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Post by flyinghilly on Dec 8, 2023 10:11:29 GMT 12
I know something about the Battle of Malta because of my friendship with Malta ACE Jack Rae - I went with Jack to Malta some years back so I had a first hand account of the battle- it was an amazing experience to be there with him. Conway was very hurt when he crashed his Spitfire on 21st June 1942 but the thing was that he was engaged in a fight and got hit by cannon shell from an ME109 - by all accounts he had previously bailed out 3 times before and wasn't keen on bailing out over the water so he decided to try to make it back to Takali (in the centre of the island) - he made it to Takali but he was seriously hurt in the subsequent crash. It turns out that making the decision not to bail out was the right one - his parachute had been badly damaged by the cannon shell fragments that hasd hit his aircraft. Luck was on his side
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Post by flyinghilly on Nov 3, 2023 14:01:18 GMT 12
the reference to the Antarctic crash with a reported large number of casualties was simply an editing error - something that was missed. I was pleased that so many of you picked it up. Sorry about that.
As for the picture on the cover that someone observed wasn't an RNZAF Vampire. This is true but I couldn't find a pic of an RNZAF Vampire in a similar position that would look good on the cover - I didn't think anyone would notice and since he only flew Vampires casually (he wasn't on the Squadron) I didn't think it mattered too much.
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Post by flyinghilly on Sept 15, 2023 21:49:10 GMT 12
AVM Malcolm Calder CB, CBE, LLB was Chief of the RNZAF in the early 1960s - after retirement he wrote an autobiography which has now been published by his daughter, Sue Gray. AVM Calder joined the RAF in 1932 and learnt to fly in the middle east. His first posting was to a Squadron of Vickers Victoria aircraft - a mid sized twin engined aircraft where the passengers were enclosed but the crew sat outside in an open cockpit. Typical of aircraft of this era the Victoria was ungainly and tricky to fly. By the time he retired from the RNZAF he had flown aircraft from the biplane era through to jets - Vampires. He also managed to get a flight to and from an aircraft carrier and later flew supersonic in a US air force aircraft. His was a remarkable aviation career. AVM Calder was highly regarded him by the men who served under him and he, in tern, was very proud of all of these men. The book is very rare because only one other Chief of Air Force (or Chief of Air Staff) has written an autobiography - The Restless Sky by AVM Cyril Kay. A small run of the book has been printed and card covered copies are available for $60 plus postage from AVM Calder's daughter Sue - email sueegray@gmail.com For those serious collectors there are a few hard covered copies available.
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Post by flyinghilly on Jul 5, 2023 14:05:21 GMT 12
I have been in touch with the editor of this new and exciting book, Air Marshal "Black" Robinson, and bought a signed copy. I had some correspondence with him and asked the very same question - is it based on Owen Hardy's original book. Air Marshal Robinson's response was as follows: "In answer to your questions, and further to my response elsewhere, I’d like to think the new book is a considerable improvement on the original, not least because it contains some 250 endnotes that expand on issues and people that Owen mentions. Dare I say it also compensates for lapses in an 83-year-old’s memory – hardly surprising, of course. I made any number of corrections on matters of fact but will mention just one area where I did nothing. Hardy, who I knew, notes that one of his ex-72 Sqn colleagues took the trouble to visit him at Rednal in 43. My father did just this – and flew his last RAF sortie with Hardy in a Miles Master – but he gets no mention. I suspect that Hardy may have confused him with another individual, but I left it as Hardy ‘remembered’.
I’ve reduced the original by some 20% and tried to make it more readable. You’ll be the best judge of that. The important thing as a ghostwriter is to retain the subject’s voice, which is where his daughter proved an invaluable sounding board.Air Marshal Robinson knew Owen Hardy and Owen's Daughter was involved in the process of creating this new book and I have had a recommendation from a friend in the UK that it is an excellent book. I recommend that you connect with AM Robinson via his web site . blackrobertson.com/there is a button to click on for a signed copy
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Post by flyinghilly on Jun 14, 2023 12:09:46 GMT 12
The story of Jack Rae's escape doesn't end there. The Newspaper article had him landing in his parachute back on the island of Malta. Jack was found by a couple of soldiers who took him to hospital because he had a badly wounded leg. Ten days later a guard in the hospital asked Jack if he would like to come and meet a German pilot who had been shot down and captured. Jack was keen because he had never met a German. Jack spoke to the German for around 15 minutes and in the first couple of minuted he realise that this was the 'bastard who had shot him down . He took the pilot's photograph and had him write his name on a piece of hospital notepaper. Fast for for forward to around 1998 and I was visiting Jack and he casually mentioned that he still had the picture he had taken of the German and the piece of hospital paper that the German had written his name and address on. I was quite fascinated by small items relating to an incident that happened 56 years prior but imagine my surprise when Jack revealed that he still had the "other thing" as well - it was the parachute that he had used to save his life. To cut a long story short some years later Jack gave all of this stuff to me - his parachute, the picture and of note paper and his Caterpillar Club badge and certificate. I invited a local picture framer to my house and told her that I wanted to frame the parachute which I had laid out on the ground - its 28 feet across. She looked at it for a while and said "well good luck with that". She was a master of her trade and the finished item was excellent. The painting was done by Ron Fulstow - the parachute is covered in Jack's blood however most of this has been hidden by the framer. This is not the end of the story. While I was involved in the project to frame the parachute I wondered what had happened to the German pilot after all I had his name and address on a piece of note paper. So I set to work on a side project to locate him. I quickly discovered that the British did not keep good records of their POWs so I couldn't find out anything about him and pretty much gave up. I couldn't even find his village on a map. A couple of years later I came up with an alternative approach and after a week or two I found his village and someone who knew the history of it. It was in the Sudetenland - the German speaking part of Czechoslovakia and after the war the Czechs were pissed off withe the Germans so they changed all the named to the Czech language. The pilots father was the Mayor of the town during the war. I quickly discovered that the pilot had died about the time that I started looking for him and so I had to back off my plan to have him meet up with Jack again. I did however speak at length with his son and granddaughter and grandson. How I actually found the german pilot is a testament to the extraordinary value of the Internet- you can connect with people who will connect you to others and so on. Its a marvel of modern life. The pictures are of Jack and his parachute. This is one of the most valuable things that I have - its essentially worthless yet to it if a valued connect to a man that I knew well and who I had huge respect for. I think i am just looking after it so that it is available for a younger generation to look at as they try to understand what went before.
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Post by flyinghilly on Jan 7, 2023 16:32:54 GMT 12
I was wondering if anyone has ever seen a signed copy of the book The Restless Sky by Cyril Kay CB CBE DFC - its the only book ever published by the RNZAF Chief of Air Staff or the Chief of the Air Force and I would have thought there were signed copies around as he lead an active life in civil aviation after he left the RNZAF.
There is one more book that I am aware of but is yet to be published.
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Post by flyinghilly on Nov 7, 2022 13:05:58 GMT 12
Does anyone know anything about a Harvard the Air New Zealand owned - NZ1041 - it was owned by Air New Zealand's training School and purchased on October 6th 1971
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Post by flyinghilly on Nov 7, 2022 12:58:58 GMT 12
I know a lot about Coningham and in fact I own his log book - its really interesting and I note than when he was an instructor at Cranwell he taught Frank Whittle to fly. I think it is a bit strange that I would own such a thing. Along withP ark he was the most senior RAF officer in WW2 from NZ. I have been wondering what I should do with it.
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Post by flyinghilly on Oct 9, 2022 18:33:40 GMT 12
I've only just noticed this post - being slow may be an age related thing. Ian Mackersey lived in Mt Eden, Auckland and died in 2015 - I met him a couple of times and he was a very nice man. His books were very well written and well received. His reputation was such that the Smithsonian gave him access to all the archives on the Wright Brothers so he could write his book called the Wright Brothers. He told me that the Smithsonian never gave anyone access to the Wright Brothers diaries anymore. The book covers the feud between Orville and his sister Katherine. Apparently Katherine looked after Orville a lot and she ran off to get married so he didn't talk to her again for about 25 years. Clearly he though it was rude of her to leave hims. Back to the topic in hand The Book Crusader Fox King was published in 1955 and its hard to find a copy however it was re published in 1956 under the title Position Unknown. Its a novel about an aircraft crash in the south island. www.ianmackersey.com/
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Post by flyinghilly on Jun 18, 2022 12:55:33 GMT 12
This is kind of a renewal of something I have posted on before.
I was initially on a mission to get a quality photo and the signature of every man who rose to command the RNZAF. Over time this has been extented to identify and get a phot and signature of every NZer who achieved the rank of Air Vice marshal and above in the RNZAF and the RAF. I am still looking fo the following signature if anyone has them - I am happy to pay for them if necessary.
Chiefs of the RNZAF - since 1937 there have been 28 men who have been in the role - I have photos of them all but I would like to find the signatures of AVM Arthur Nevil 1946 AVM David Carnegie 1951 AVM Bill Stratton 1969
NZ Defence Force- - 10 RNZAF men have held high positions (AVM or above) in the defence force - I have photos of all of them but lack 2 signatures - these 2 men are stil alive so I am hopeful that I can sort this
RAF -18 NZer rose to AVM or above in the RAF and I would still like to find the following signatures AM Sir Roderick Carr AVM Cuthber McLean (WW1) AM Sir Charles Broughton AVM F H M Maynard AVM H B Russell AM Sir Andrew McKee
Any help you could provide to track down these few signatures would be most appreciated
Interestingly only one NZer has ever achieved the highest possible Rank in the RAF - Marshal of the RAF Sir Sam Elworthy - I have his signature
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Post by flyinghilly on Jun 16, 2022 16:28:13 GMT 12
I tracked him down and he is still in reasonable shape at the age of 99. There cant be many old WW2 left these days. Im going to seext week and I will report back to any people intereste
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Post by flyinghilly on Jun 14, 2022 11:00:28 GMT 12
Lew Day was a personality around ardmore for many years during the 60s and 70s. He was partly responsible for setting up Waitemata Flying School.
Lew few in the RAF and won the DFC for his efforts flying Sunderlands in the Mayalan crisis in the 1960s
After he retired he and his wife Doreen lived in the Met Life Care ment Village in Takanini and I know he was there in 2018 when he was 94 - I don't think he is alive now and if he was he would be 98.
Does any one know if he has family still alive anywhere.
I recently stumbled on his DFC for sale internationally - its odd that its just the DFC and no other campaign medals etc. or log books
Perhaps its been lost from the family and they might like to know its where abouts
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Post by flyinghilly on May 31, 2022 9:45:19 GMT 12
RAF 489 Squadron was one of the NZ Squadrons - that is, most of the aircrew were New Zealanders. The Squadron sits alonside the other NZ Squadrons two of these were in Bomber Command (75 and 487), three were in Fighter Command (485, 486, 488), and two were in Coastal Command (489 and 490).
These Squadrons have a proud history of exemplary service and achievement and NZ can rightfully proud of their successes.
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 -
These books are squadron histories and there are biographies and autobiographies written by or about aircrew on all these squadronsas well. I could list these if anyone is intersted
Now Don Wilkie, of Napier, has researched and written a comprehensive history of 489 Squadron title "Forgottten Heroes". 489 flew Hampdens then Beaufighters and later Mosquitoes on coastal operations. In writing the book Don has relied heavily on first person accounts and he has supplimented the test with a large number of photos. Interestingly Don, who is an artist specialising in aviation painting, has included a number of his painting in the book.
The book is currently being editied and Don is sorting out the final details of the production but it is likely to be a substantial hard covered book the same size as David Palmer's book about 487 - "Through to the end"
I have been privileged to have been given access to a draft copy of the book and I can report that the result is an excellent book that I can highly recommend to anyone interested in history of 489 or the NZ Squadrons generally. It wil make a great addition to any NZ aviation library.
Its still early days but if you would like to reserve a copy connect with Don himself at longforgan@xtra.co.nz
Just to be clear - the book is still a few months away but it will be worth waiting for.
Larry Hill
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Post by flyinghilly on Dec 12, 2021 16:50:35 GMT 12
I note with interest that well known south Island business man Keith Neylon has recently published his biography. Its called "A Touch of Madness" Keith was an early participant in the Deer industry and flew various kinds of helicopters for various companies - he also estabished his own company. Later he turned his skills as a entrepreneur to opportunities the primary industry sector. His book provides a great insight into the early days of the Deer industry - he was there and he has written about this very exciting time in a good easy to read style. These were exciting and dangerous times when young men built a new industry. The book can be purchased on line at www.atouchofmadness.co.nz
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Post by flyinghilly on Nov 23, 2021 20:36:46 GMT 12
its available on Amazon but postage is almost as much as the book - he bought a few in to NZ to sell locally and I was just trying to help him to spread the word
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Post by flyinghilly on Nov 22, 2021 11:21:59 GMT 12
I love to hunt down new NZ aviation books. With the demise of most of our WW2 airmen new books seldom appear but I have uncovered a new gem. "Kiwis Can Fly - A Career in Aviation" by Jeremy Burfoot I have read the book and had the pleasure of meeting the author and I can highly recommend his book it is very readable and has a natural flow. Jeremy followed the path of many aviators of his generation - he joined the RNZAF as a Navigator and then having got the flying bug he left to persue a career as an airline pilot. He got his CPL and then went to Papua New Guinea to build his hours. Flying there was an adventure and dangerous but he made it. His first airline job was with Qantas. I found it amazing that he qualified as a Boeing 747 Captain at the age of 31 - he explains how how that was possible. Jeremy went on the fly various 747 models and then transferred to the Airbus 380 as a Captain. He retired from Qantas becasue of the Covid slowdown Not only did Jeremy qualify as a 747 Captrin at 31 but at retirement he has flown 23,000 hours - an amazing achievement. In the final chapters Jeremy discusses his view of the future of aviation and what new pilots must do to get an airline job. The book is a good read and I would highly recommend it. It would be a great addition to any aviation library. The book has not been generally distributed in NZ yet but the author has a few for sale . I met the author and had him sign a copy for me and I offered to put a signed copy on Trademe to give him some exposure in the NZ market. You can find the Trademe listing here www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/books/rare-collectable/nz-published/transport/listing/3357389328?bof=4oBiJhJYI think the author bought 20 or so into the country but he has sold quite a few
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Post by flyinghilly on Oct 9, 2021 14:12:44 GMT 12
What started out as a project to collect photographs and signatures of all the men who had been the Chief of the RNZAF turned into something bigger In addition to collecting photos of all the Chiefs of the RNZAF (a few of the early men were English on secondment from the RAF) I have been trying to find photographs and signatures of any NZer who rose to the Rank of Air Vice Marshal or above in the RNZAF, RAF or the NZ Defence Force I now have a definitive list of these men.. Earlier this year 3 very nice people helped me out Neil Schraeder - the son of WW2 NZ fighter ace Warren Schraeder gave me a letter written to his father by Am Sir ken Hayr John Scrimshaw - Retired RNZAF Wing Commander and first CO of 75 Squadron when Skyhawks were introduced gave me a letter of congratulations written to him by AVM Cameron Turner S ue - Gave me the AVM Malcolm Calder's signed passport - her father I was wondering of any members of the forum may have similar letters signed by other chief's of the Airforce The signatures I am still searching for are: - I have pictures of these men I just need autographs: - AVM Arthur Nevil
- AVM David Carnegie (His daughter in the UK did give me some interesting original photos of him but I still need his signature)
- AVM William Stratton - Bill Stratton died in Perth a few years back - he was a veteran of the Battle of France
There have been 28 Chief's of the RNZAF and these are the autographs I need to complete the list any help that anyone gan give me would be appreciated. Larry Hill
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Post by flyinghilly on May 31, 2021 11:05:40 GMT 12
Artie Ashworth's logbooks are quite remarkable - outstanding in fact. He was skilled in Caligraphy and every entry covers multiple lines - he lists every crewman and the role that they had along with a comment on the flight. I have seen a lot of WW2 log books over the years but never anyother like his. There are some pics of his log books in the book about him writtten by Vince Ashowrth called "Artie - a Legend in his time" - its availalbe from www.bookdepository.com
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