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Post by davidd on Feb 27, 2022 9:38:37 GMT 12
Something I had not realized before is fact that this aircraft was fitted with a metal Fairey Reed propeller (or a tractor in old-time aeronautical language). Also I notice that a gentleman looking very much like James Lloyd Findlay, MC, is standing second from left in the upper photograph. I think he was the CO of Wigram at the time in question. The mechanic standing on right looks like a pretty big chap. Possibly Bill Dini? Bill was a tall chap, with a good mop of dark hair back in the 20s and 30s. He was of course the president of the AHSNZ in 1960s, and 70s, and present at most meetings of the Society at St Elmo Courts, Hereford St (destroyed in earthquakes).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2022 6:59:26 GMT 12
Thanks MM, I'd never thought to check the AFMNZ site until someone pointed me to that photo last week, and seeing a story from the Chronicle warms my heart (even if it details the aircraft's ignoble end). Also I notice that a gentleman looking very much like James Lloyd Findlay, MC, is standing second from left in the upper photograph. I think he was the CO of Wigram at the time in question. The machanic standing on right looks like a pretty big chap. Possibly Bill Dini? Bill was a tall chap, with a good mop of dark hair back in the 20s and 30s. He was of course the president of the AHSNZ in 1960s, and 70s, and present at most meetings of the Society at St Elmo Courts, Hereford St (destroyed in earthquakes).  ZK-ACL Wigram(?) Air Force Museum of New Zealand by Zac Yates, on Flickr |
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Post by davidd on Mar 4, 2022 13:50:20 GMT 12
In case any members do not know, the late Harry Wigley in his autobiography "Ski-plane Adventure" (I think that is what it was titled) stated that Bill Dini (who was their company's engineer for a period) was "the son of a Corsican Sword swallower" which I think would be a great introductory line for anybody (even if it wasn't entirely true! However, so far as I know, it was true, although I never heard Bill confirm it). I don't think Corsicans (or Sicilians, Sardinians, etc.) particularly liked being called Italians, and neither did Napolean Bonaparte (who of course was NOT French, although many of these islands were under the thumb of France for quite a while).
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Post by camtech on Mar 4, 2022 19:35:24 GMT 12
Having worked for Bill Dini for a period at the Antigua Boatsheds, I can confirm he had quite a sense of humour and would regale us youngsters with stories of his adventures - as long as we kept working (he was a bit of a slave driver!). My memory doesn't have a replay button and this was close to 60 years ago! He had quite a collection of old radios up in the attic at the boatsheds, where we also built fibreglass boats. He never spoke about his aviation connection at the time and I found out this connection until several years later.
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Post by planewriting on Apr 2, 2022 15:42:39 GMT 12
The calendar that Zac mentions above was NOT produced by AHSNZ, in fact I have a copy of it somewhere in my office (which almost guarantees I won't find it for at least another 10 years!) And the artist for this calendar was the one and only Ron Alexander of Blenheim, killed in a Tiger crash if my memory is correct many years ago (1970s?) I think the calendar was published by NAC in the 1960s, they must have printed quite a few of them. I know that calendar too and I'm pretty certain it was NAC's calendar however I also remember it hanging up in my bedroom when our family lived in Milford and we left there in December 1958. I have an idea there is a month with a Heron depicted. Predominantly, the colours were black , white and grey. As an aside, I have Ron Alexander's accident date in Tiger Moth ZK-BDH at Motueka as 25 October 1976 however this report has 24 October 1976. aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=61697 I have found the calendar with ZK-ACL included. It was indeed an NAC calendar and was, as David stated, a 1960s one. It covers July 1963 to June 1964 and depicts sketches by John H Alexander. I was wrong in that I was confusing with another NAC calendar of the 1950s. Starting from July 1963 the sketches are: July 63 Walsh Bros biplane "Manurewa" (described as Howard Wright biplane, Aug 63 Fisher Monoplane, Sept 63 Hamilton biplane, Oct 63 Caudron biplane, Nov 63 B & W seaplane, Dec 63 de Havilland DH-9, Jan 64 Avro 504K biplane, Feb 64 Supermarine "Channel", Mar 64 Fokker FVIIB-3M VH-USU "Southern Cross", April 64 de Havilland Gipsy Moth ZK-AAA, May 64 Cierva C-19 Autogyro ZK-ACL, Jun 64 Desoutter monoplane ZK-ACJ. |
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Post by davidd on Apr 9, 2022 15:43:46 GMT 12
In above post, please note that "John" Alexander was always known as Ron. According to the details I have of No. 11 (Pilots) Course at Wigram (1952/53) his initials were R T.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2022 11:42:36 GMT 12
I'd only ever seen and heard him referred to as Ron too.
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Post by planewriting on Apr 10, 2022 23:03:36 GMT 12
I assumed it must Ron Alexander. Following a cautious safe line I was purely going by what name is quoted on each calendar page.
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Post by kevsmith on Apr 11, 2022 23:52:15 GMT 12
Ronald Trevor Alexander's gravestone at the Fairhall Cemetary has the crash (death) date as 24th October 1976.
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