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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2010 13:11:07 GMT 12
Some interesting photos there Peter, in photo 2 would that roundel on the post have been to warn US pilots not to taxi into that dispersal as it was kiwi country?
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Post by steveh on Nov 5, 2010 13:52:32 GMT 12
& if they'd been silly enough to ignore that, they'd have probably had their planes stripped out from under them. ;D Steve.
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Post by baz62 on Nov 5, 2010 14:08:49 GMT 12
& if they'd been silly enough to ignore that, they'd have probably had their planes stripped out from under them. ;D Steve. Yeah I could imagine the American pilot returning to his Corsair to find panels off and bits being hauled off for Kiwi spares suppplies ;D.
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 5, 2010 14:51:05 GMT 12
I was at work so my posting Assistant (wife) left off that these were from Les Adams album who served as a 15 Squadron fitter 1943/44. The majority are from his box brownie hence the quality ,but I thought that they were still worth posting. I am told by Les that any item too big to steal was swapped for Kiwi distilled hooch. He says that the Yanks had such a mountain of spares they were happy to give the Kiwis most anything but it was the Kiwis nature to scavange bits, especially as US write offs were often very repairable. The odd grass fire uncovered older dumps, and on one occaison the fire found a forgotten store of avgas in 44 gallon drums. Better than any skyrocket Les recalls. He would welcome any details on the photos posted.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2010 14:58:55 GMT 12
I am sure I have seen that first photo with Gloria Lyons in published before, or one very much like it.
Is that a Beech Staggerwing in the first dispersal shot, in the centre? Also there's a C-47, a B-24, a Corsair, an Avenger and a Dauntless in the foreground, plus what looks like an amphibious biplane floatplane??
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 5, 2010 15:03:30 GMT 12
Just checked with Les and the air to air is from their Squadron photographer who he followed around at times.He also has a beaut photo of a crocodile that came into camp. It was quickly killed by the locals and cooked! but I didnt think crocs belonged on the forum.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2010 15:07:03 GMT 12
Go on, post the Croc!! It's all part of RNZAF history.
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 5, 2010 16:34:13 GMT 12
Oh all right but you will have to wait a week as I am off to Melbourne now. I will include other snaps of "social events" on Guadacanal.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2010 16:46:06 GMT 12
Thanks!
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Post by steveh on Nov 5, 2010 22:44:41 GMT 12
what looks like an amphibious biplane floatplane?? Grumman Duck? They were really more of a single engine flying boat. Steve.
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Post by kb on Nov 6, 2010 7:10:41 GMT 12
Peter, the photo with all the different types is really interesting. Most interesting of all are what appear to be two A-26's on the right hand side of the photo. As Les was there in 1943/44 these must be two of only four A-26's which served in the SWPA and which were the first operational A-26's. They were operated by 13th BS of the 3rd BG but were deemed to be unsuitable for operations in the area and so all A-26's went to Europe until right at the end of the war when only one BG became operational in the Pacific.
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Post by angelsonefive on Nov 6, 2010 8:50:11 GMT 12
kb, I think you are right. When I first saw that pic. I took those two planes to be A-20 Havocs. Now looking more carefully I see the distinctive straight top to the vertical tail that indicates the Invader.
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Post by Calum on Nov 6, 2010 21:32:07 GMT 12
Great photos there Peter. Thanks for sharing them
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A4k
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
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Post by A4k on Nov 8, 2010 2:02:37 GMT 12
Echo Calum's post!
Just read this post from start to finish, some great info and photos everyone, thanks!
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 19, 2010 17:35:31 GMT 12
Gloria Lyons and the Crocodile Les Adams Guada Canal photos mainly ex the local photographer. 1. Daves Crocodile all 11'6" of it 2. the petrol dump fire. 3. Servicing Unit Picnic 4. RNZAF and locals outside the newly built chapel 5. The units rest camp on the beach 6. Service for an unknown RNZAF crewman 7. The only cool place, also liked by snakes and poisonous centipedes 8. To think our roads are bad 9. Henderson Field 10. Henderson field B24 and others 11. C47 and C54 in background 12. C46 and PV1s in background
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 19, 2010 17:38:24 GMT 12
Sorry this should be 9 Henderson Field
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2010 18:14:46 GMT 12
Great photos, thanks for the latest batch. That C-54 looks to be bare metal and thus is likely to be the Milk agon. It used to fly fresh milk up from Australia every two days to Guadalcanal apparently.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 20, 2010 1:07:55 GMT 12
No. 4 Servicing Unit was not the only RNZAF unit to adopt a poorly girl in WWII. No. 20 Squadron also adopted a young lady who had also lost the use of her legs, Miss Paulette Leaning of Auckland. The following comes from the logbook of one of the No. 20 (F) Squadron pilots, Gavin Gullery.
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Post by oggie2620 on Jan 14, 2011 8:22:15 GMT 12
What a fascinating thread... Perhaps Gary or his aunt have some pictures of Gloria even if the letters are not still extant... Does that nice young lady archivist the Air Force Museum have any pics of the aircraft as well... Dee
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Post by McFly on Jan 16, 2011 19:34:57 GMT 12
A couple of photos of NZ3148 to liven up the thread. PR2503 - Group of four airmen from 4 Servicing Unit, sitting on the wing of Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk NZ3148 with nose art 'Gloria Lyons'. Possibly Ondonga or Torokina. PR2505 - Close-up view of the nose art on Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk NZ3148 'Gloria Lyons'. Unknown location PR2686 - Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk NZ3148, with nose art 'Gloria Lyons', being readied for flight. Torokina, Bougainville (Photos - RNZAF Museum)
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