Whenuapai Airshow - Postwar

[pjw4118]

The first is from the 45-47 era, the second is 53-54 as the 1956 show the Territorial Squadron were flying Harvards. Other details welcome.

[pjw4118]

Sorry other way around. Photos came in wrong order.

[Dave Homewood]

The ground must have been really shaking with those 14 Bristol Hercules engines running in close proximity like that.

Both interesting shots, thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

The earlier shot must be 1945, as there are Venturas present and they wre removed from service and sent to Rukuhia just after the war ended.

[kb]

I was at that show. Seeing the Mustangs close up was so exciting. It must have been the same show where I saw the Seafire III and Firefly I at Hobby. I lived at Beach Haven and went across on the Air Force ML to Hobby. I am a little confused though because I thought I saw the RN aircraft at the same show where I had the daylights scared out of me when a formation of Mosquitos flew from behind us and over our heads at a VERY low altitude. We didn't hear them coming! If the shows were only held in 53/54 and 56 I am coming around to thinking that seeing the Mustangs close up must have been in 56 because it's unlikely that I would have watched shows at Hobby and Whenuapai on the same day and as I type this I remember seeing a spectacular display by what I was told was the first Mustang assembled and that was definitely at Hobby. I can't remember off hand when we got rid of the Mustangs but unless there was another airshow or my at the time very young memory is at fault I think the Mustangs must have been at the latter show.

[pjw4118]

Thanks kb. I still have the programme from the 1957 air show and it lists Harvards as the Territorial Squadron aircraft.
I have a listing of Mustang fates and many were SOC in 1955 with a couple of 2 Sq examples lasting until 1957.
As the SOC date for many of the Mosquitos that appeared at the show you recall was 1955/6
maybe the picture is 1953 or so, perhaps to show off the new Bristols ?

[Dave Homewood]

The TAF did not fly Mustangs in 1956, they were gone by 1955 with only a couple of Mustangs at 42 Squadron till 1957. And the Mosquitoes were all gone by 1952.

[kb]

So, was there an airshow in 1951 when the Mustangs were first assembled? If there was it makes sense that I was at airshows then at Hobsonville and 1953 at Whenuapai.

That actually fits in with what I remember because casting my memory back, I don't believe the Mustangs I saw at Whenuapai had Auckland Blue and White Checks. I think I have a box brownie photo somewhere. I had a quick look and didn't find it but I did come across some small B&W prints from that era. Anyone interested in seeing them?

[rod]

yes please

[kb]

I see that the first RNZAF Mustang flew in August 1951 so that puts the kibosh on a 1951 airshow. Now I am confused. Anyway, I have found the photo I took with my box brownie. It has the bars as per the closest aircraft in Peter's photo.

The plot thickens. I have just found a magnifier which lets me read the serial. It is NZ2417 which according to "NZ Military Aircraft Serial Numbers, RNZAF P-51D Mustangs", apparently never served with the Auckland TAF, rather being based in Canterbury. Now, I took the photo and it was taken at Whenuapai!

Anthony?

I will post the photo during the week.

BTW, the photos I have found in an old box which I had forgotton I had are very interesting. Some of them are mine but I do not remember the provenence of many of them. Some WW2 but mainly late 40's and 50's including the Seafire III and Firefly I at Hobby. It is possible that you have already seen many of them as because I have only recently taken a real interest in this site, I am far from catching up on what has been posted. Also, it has made me aware that while I am reasonbly au fait with world military and aviation history I have somewhat negelected my roots. Shame on me!

[rod]

would be good to see your photos

[kb]

BTW I am not saying that 2417 wasn't with 3 Sqdn. merely that it was in Auckland for an airshow presumably put on by 1 Sqdn. If 1 Sqdn was short of a display aircraft one would think they would look closer than Christchurch for a replacement. Perhaps a WW2 ace had flown it up to see friends in Auckland? It happened in those days.

[Dave Homewood]

Contrary to popular belief I think the Mustangs actually got around the country a fair bit for different exercises and events, and were not provence bound. Don't forget the TAF squadrons had several regular RNZAF pilots attached to them who flew the Mustangs and Harvards as a day job, not just on the weekend like the rest of the pilots. If the RNZAF were holding a big airshow there is no reason why a few Stangs from down south were not flown in to bolster the numbers.

[kb]

Thanks Dave. More or less the point I made in my last post in a slightly cynical way.

[kb]

Well here is the photo in question. Taken with my Box Brownie which was very old even then. The Mustangs taxied past quite close but that is still a long way for a camera without a proper lens. ;D The aircraft occupied about a fifth of the small print.



I wish I could work out the mix up in my head about seeing one Mustang at Hobby and four or five at Whenuapai. I can't believe it was the same day but from info posted here it seems there was only the one show where the Mustangs were flown. (1953)

[beagle]

Oct 16, 2010 15:35:13 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

The ground must have been really shaking with those 14 Bristol Hercules engines running in close proximity like that.

Both interesting shots, thanks.

don't forget the 180 000 rivets shaking and making some of the noise.

[rone]

I know this thread is 3 years + old, but I have a wee bit to add. In support of kb's post regarding a Mustang at Whenuapai Air Show and when I can add some info regards when. During the latter months of 1956 I was a member of Air Force LAA Bofor Gun crew putting on a demo tracking/firing at an aircraft as part of the program at a Air Show at Whenuapai. I have a photo or two of the Mustang's (there were 2 of them) parked close to where our Bofors was set up. I clearly recall one Mustang suffering a brake lock up while taxiing, it suddenly it an about turn. I can verify the year but not the exact date as I completed CMT in first half of 1956, did an annual camp January 1957 and then CMT was scrapped. Although the CMT LAA crews were domiciled throughout NZ, the crews that were part of the show were selected and ordered to participate lived locally in Auckland