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Post by pjw4118 on May 25, 2016 11:27:38 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 25, 2016 11:57:42 GMT 12
Hmm, there was a RAF Handley Page Victor there, XM716, and there was also a USAF Boeing KB-50J which I have as 47-0163. And that is pone of the Thunderchiefs from that event too.
But what is that last plane? Is that a military DC-8?
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Post by htbrst on May 25, 2016 12:01:52 GMT 12
But what is that last plane? Is that a military DC-8? C-135B Later got pretty paintjob   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 2, 2016 15:43:14 GMT 12
Thanks htbrst. I don't think that was from the same airshow. I have done a major update to the Air Force Day 1964 entry on my Airshow Archive page, thanks to Peter Layne and Brian Lockstone kindly providing me with the AHSNZ entry in their journal all about it.There were a LOT of aeroplanes there taking part!!! See here www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_History_1960s.html#1964 |
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Post by mervturnip on Jul 29, 2016 2:48:03 GMT 12
I'm an amateur observer and found this site accidentally looking for information on the Vulcan bomber. My eyes lit up when I read of the air pageant at Ohakea in 1964 and the visit by the famous Republic F105 Thunderchiefs. My father knew the squadron leader at Ohakea, Doug Dallison, and my family had the pleasure of being invited to a 'dry run' for the air pageant. I was about eight or nine at the time. On the day we met an American airman by the name of George Simler (I think he was a Colonel at the time) and he let me sit in his F105 Thunderchief. I will never forget that as long as I live. I still can't believe how small that cockpit was. Somewhere I have some photos from that day. My late father, who was an avid 8mm movie buff also recorded the event and I have since found that film. I believe that one of those F105s broke the sound barrier that day. It was the talk of the town. One also proceeded to destroy a small hut (no doubt built especially for the event), with real ammunition, out in the middle of the grassy expanse near the airfield. I have to say that beat any of the fake pyrotechnic displays that I've seen at the Avalon International Airshows I have attended over the last 15 years.
During this period Doug Dallison brought George Simler to our house in Hautu, near Turangi, and my father took them trout fishing in the Waiotaka and Tongariro Rivers. During our time in Hautu we saw a fair bit of Doug and his family, as they had a weekender on the shores of Lake Taupo. He and dad liked nothing better than going deer stalking in the middle of the night and drinking whiskey and milk into the wee small hours. I also recall watching a RNZAF Harvard land on a small farm that dad leased down by the lake. Doug got out, a pack, a fishing rod and a .303 in hand. The Harvard took off and he came to stay for a few days for a bit of R & R. Highly irregular of course, and I'm sure it would have been frowned upon, but this all happened so long ago I feel the need to share it. Doug was a true character. Those were the days.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 29, 2016 9:48:57 GMT 12
Great memories Merv, thanks for sharing. I'd love to see your photos and that 8mm footage your father took.
Doug Dallison went on to become one of the RNZAF's first Iroquois pilots the following year.
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thud
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by thud on May 5, 2017 10:40:59 GMT 12
All, My name is Michael Simler, I am the youngest son of General George B. Simler, who was the former CO of the 18th TFW, Kadena AFB, Okinawa. At the time this event took place my father was a Colonel and had taken the first 105s into PACAF. Prior to his taking command of the 18th TFW, he was the CO of the USAF's Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, NV where he was directly involved in spinning up the F-105 program. He would lead the 18th into Vietnam to fly its first missions, which at the time were done covertly i.e. "We took the Wing South!" I have a picture of my father being interviewed by the press after the flight, he is standing next to his 105 and has a beer can in his hand. Here is some information on his career: www.nytimes.com/1972/09/10/archives/lieut-gen-george-simler-killed-in-jet-crash-at-texas-air-base-41de.html?_r=0 veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1918My best to you all! |
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Post by heinytheliney on Apr 16, 2021 8:54:28 GMT 12
I was part of the 100 Sqdn. groundcrew with the Victors. That visit to NZ sowed a seed and I have now been here since 1978. Now officially a Kiwi! I just realised I have been demoted. I actually reached the dizzy heights of corporal - but then so did Naploeon and Adolf Hitler!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 16, 2021 8:55:47 GMT 12
Welcome heinytheliney!
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Post by agile on Dec 14, 2023 19:46:39 GMT 12
My dear friend Brent George has been scanning his late father's slides, amongst which were some colour images taken at this airshow which he has generously offered to share. For a bit of background, the photographer was Ivan Lloyd George (known as Lloyd George) 1929-1999 of Rongotea, Manawatu. Amateur Photographer; Council Worker; Milk Tanker Driver; Deer Factory (Skins) Worker; Publican. There are a few shots in the collection from the late 70s and early 80s that I'll put up separately. I was rather hoping that our Vampire (or one of them at least) might have sneaked into a shot, but at least Harvard 1058 makes an appearance, and the colour is glorious. Enjoy:  RAF Bristol 175 Britannia C1 XL657 ‘RIGEL’  RAF Armstrong Whitworth AW660 Argosy C1 XP446 RAAF Lockheed C-130A Hercules  RNZAF Bristol 170 Freighter Mk 31 NZ5902  USAF Boeing KB-50 Superfortress 49-0265  USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II 51-0127  USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II 51-0127  USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II 51-0127  RAF Handley Page HP-80 Victor B2 XM715 & XM716  RAF Handley Page HP-80 Victor B2 XM716  US Navy Lockheed P3-A Orion 150519 RAAF Lockheed P2 Neptune  USAF Lockheed C-141 Starlifter  USAF Republic F-105D Thunderchiefs. 62-4224 closest to camera.  RNZAF de Havilland Vampire FB5s. NZ5765 closest to camera.  RAF Handley Page HP-80 Victor B2 XM715  RCAF Bristol 175 Britannia  RAF Bristol 175 Britannia C1 XL657 ‘RIGEL’ RNZAF Douglas DC-6 NZ3631  RNZAF Douglas DC-6 NZ3631 RNZAF North American Harvards NZ1058 & NZ1083  RAF Blackburn B101 Beverly  RAAF Lockheed P2 Neptune  RNZAF Short Sunderland MR5 NZ4114  USAF KB-50 refuels F-105Ds.  USAF Republic F-105D Thunderchief 61-0216  US Navy C-130 Hercules  RAF Armstrong Whitworth AW660 Argosy C1 XP446 |
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 14, 2023 20:34:42 GMT 12
My dear friend Brent George has been scanning his late father's slides, amongst which were some colour images taken at this airshow which he has generously offered to share. For a bit of background, the photographer was Ivan Lloyd George (known as Lloyd George) 1929-1999 of Rongotea, Manawatu. Amateur Photographer; Council Worker; Milk Tanker Driver; Deer Factory (Skins) Worker; Publican. There are a few shots in the collection from the late 70s and early 80s that I'll put up separately. Wow, fantastic! Thanks for sharing. |
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Post by oj on Dec 14, 2023 21:21:12 GMT 12
Amazing nostalgia for me in those coloured photos.
I was based at Ohakea 1963-1967 and the activities in the weeks/days preceding and post airshow were also fantastic for what we saw and assisted with.
Can I just take you to the close up of the Victor with the two Ground Power units connected to it: Notice the blue Fergusson tractor and blue Hobart GPU. Those belonged to NAC and were part of their standby equipment for NAC flights that had to divert to Ohakea if Wellington Airport was closed. That was NAC's blue colour scheme of the time for ground equipment. They had a prefab "lounge" and small tarmac area at the eastern side of the Base, which later became the Airforce Museum start-up activity.
The tractor and Hobart GPU were serviced and operated by the Ohakea Ground Equipment Bay personnel.
LAC (and later Corporal) Owen Cunliffe took care of all that.
I probably knew the photographer at the time, but without seeing his personal portrait photo cannot recall specifically.
I greatly appreciate being able to run all this through my "minds eye" again.
Thank you so much for posting it up.
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Post by Deane B on Dec 14, 2023 21:45:22 GMT 12
Those colour photos are awesome!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 14, 2023 22:19:09 GMT 12
Wow, thanks so much Alex, and Brent, for sharing these fantastic slides. It really brings the past to life seeing such vivid colour like in these shots!
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Post by agile on Dec 15, 2023 9:30:35 GMT 12
Glad you enjoyed them, and OJ thanks very much for the additional background info on NAC's gear.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2023 17:16:58 GMT 12
Oh my goodness!! What a treasure trove, thank you Brent and Alex!
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