Lost Airfields Then & Now RNZAF Levin/Weraroa

[kwest]

Yep, I will try and secure any (easily rescued) items of historical interest over the next few months.

[pjw4118]

Checking through Keith Boles log book today ( he turned 98 ) once he had got back from Singapore he and 30 odd other Singapore refugees undertook a week long pilots refresher course (17-22/4/42) at Levin , the unit named 10B O T Squadron using three or so Oxfords.
Does anybody know the meaning of O T.?

[Dave Homewood]

No. 10 (Bomber) Operational Training Squadron.

It later got renamed No. 1 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit.

[Dave Homewood]

He would have been on one of the earliest courses, if not the first, at No. 10 Squadron.

[davidd]

And that unit had exactly 18 Oxfords on strength from the date of its formation (7th March 1942), not just three! And it reached strength of 19 Oxfords by April 1942, but unit establishment (authorised strength) was actually 18. However this number dropped to about 12 - 13 Oxfords by July 1942, as by this time Hudsons were on strength in some numbers, about 6 of 7 of them, later increased to about nine. As Keith Boles was there for only about six days (mighty short time for even a refresher course, perhaps their piloting skills were just being assessed), these were probably the only aircraft he flew personally. Unfortunately the notes I have for 10 BOTS do not tell us the planned lengths for these courses, but the planned trainee strength was 24 multi-engine pilots per course. Incidentally No. 11 FOTS (Fighter Operational Training Squadron) was formed on same date at Ohakea, strength of 18 Harvards, also courses of 24 single-engine pilots. I have an idea that these refresher courses were intended to run for perhaps 4 - 6 weeks. No. 11 FOTS was later (about July 1942) re-designated as No. 2 (Fighter) OTU.
David D

[pjw4118]

Thanks Dave , I will let him know. A week after Levin he was in charge of 53 AOs and 45 Wop/AGs on the Uraguay bound for Canada , and Keith onto the UK.
The other question faced today was from Arthur Joplin , how small did the Tirpitz look from 15000 ft . As Arthur was flying he couldn't see the target his Kiwi BA was aiming at.
Using Google Earth over an oil tanker at Mt Manganui pulled back to 15000 ft the tanker is about 8mm long, not bad to hit it or even get 40 yards away which is where their Tallboy hit. I have printed off a copy for Arthur to see.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow that is incredible regarding the Tirpitz, I did not realise they dropped from that high. There is some footage from one of the Lancasters, whih you can see here:

[pjw4118]

Thanks Dave

[Dave Homewood]

I just found these articles:

MANAWATU STANDARD, 20 NOVEMBER 1939

AIR FORCE TRAINING.

NEW WERAROA STATION.

A CHANGED ASPECT.

A few months ago the subject of unfavourable comment because of their dilapidation, the buildings of the Weraroa Boys’ Training Farm have been renovated, altered, and extended almost out of recognition in recent weeks for use as a training depot by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. When work that is still being done is finished there will be accommodation for 400 men, and it is proposed to pass all Air Force recruits through the depot, including the men who are to be-trained in Canada, states the Dominion.

The boys who were at the farm have been shifted to another Government farm near Levin. The Air Force has been in occupation about four weeks, during which time the first group of trainees has undergone a three weeks’ course, and a vast amount of work has been done on the buildings and their surroundings. Carpenters, painters, electricians and labourers have been at work on the extremely dilapidated and out-of-date buildings, which are now a convenient and attractive military training establishment quite unlike most barracks and camps into which soldiers are concentrated.

In the main building there is now a large hall where 250 men may mess, a kitchen, recreation rooms and lecture rooms. In another building, formerly a store, there are further lecture rooms, and at the rear of the main building three barracks buildings are being constructed. Each is an H-shaped block in which 84 men may sleep in four dormitories and contains bathrooms and drying rooms. One block is already being occupied, another is on the point of occupation, and the third is still incomplete. Seventy-five men will be accommodated in tents similar to Public Works Department tents, two men to a tent.

EVERYTHING RENOVATED.
Immediately behind the main building, sheds and outbuildings have been removed and the ground levelled and sealed to provide a small parade ground. The manager’s house has become the officers’ quarters, and the farm office building now is staffed by clerks in blue uniforms. Everything has been renovated and made bright with paint and new flooring coverings, except one building, to which people point to show what the others used to be like. The large swimming pool of the training farm remains for the use of the Air Force trainees.

Till now Weraroa has been a ground training school for airmen, but from to-day it will be expanded into the R.N.Z.A.F. training depot with two branches. One branch will be the ground training school, which will give courses for pilots and observers, hitherto the only work of the station; and the other branch will be the recruit training depot, through which men entering all branches of the service will pass. Squadron-Leader T. W. White will continue in charge of the station. Flight-Lieutenant G. A. Nichols, who has been camp adjutant, will take command of the ground training school, and Flight-Lieutenant C N. Rabone will take commend of the recruit training school. Flight-Lieutenant R. G. S. Hale is to be camp adjutant.

[Dave Homewood]

MANAWATU STANDARD, 20 NOVEMBER 1939

THE AIR FORCE.

CEREMONY AT WERAROA

UNIQUE EVENT.

Rain yesterday afternoon spoiled a military ceremony that would have been unique in New Zealand, the “passing out” from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Training Depot at Weraroa, Levin, of the first batch of trainees. It had been intended that military ceremonial lasting 20 minutes be held on the football ground, but drenching rain made it impossible to carry out manoeuvres on the grass with pleasure, while few spectators would have cared to watch. Instead, a review by Group-Captain L. M. Isitt, Acting-Chief of the Air Staff, and a march past were held on the sealed surface of the parade ground. Group-Captain Isitt addressed the men indoors after the parade, which lasted only a few minutes.

Wing-Commander G. G. Olson, who is in charge of training, accompanied Group-Captain Isitt, as also did Flight-Lieutenant C. N. Rabone; Flight-Lieutenant L. G. F. Hale and Captain F. J. Thmopson, M.C. On parade were 140 men under the command of Squadron-Leader T. W. White, officer commanding the station. The Air Force Band from Wellington provided the music. Several hundred spectators, including district residents as well as relatives and friends of the men, watched the parade and inspected the buildings.

Group-captain Isitt later expressed himself as very well satisfied with the standard of efficiency set by the trainees.

“Up to the present the training school has taken only pilots and observers.” said Group-captain Isitt, “but as from to-morrow the recruiting course hitherto carried out at Ohakea will He transferred to Weraroa, bringing the strength of the school to 250. It is the ultimate intention that all recruits will go to Weraroa for their first contact with the R.N.Z.A.F.” Within the next week Weraroa is to become a training depot operating with two distinct schools. The first will give elementary instruction to pilots and observers in R.A.F. law and discipline, the handling, of aircraft, aerodrome signals and routine, rules, aerial navigation, armament and infantry firing practice, mathematics, parachutes and reconnaissance and report-making. Secondly, Weraroa will function as a recruit training school, handling all branches of ground staff and giving trainees a disciplinary course. Squadron-Leader White is to be the officer commanding the depot, and his adjutant will be Flight-Lieutenant Hale, and Flight-Lieutenant Nicholls will he the officer commanding the training school and Flight-Lieutenant Rabone the recruiting school.”

The work of erecting the necessary buildings is proceeding at a rapid pace and within a short time the depot will have accommodation for over 400 trainees.

Two Palmerston North trainees at the Weraroa Ground Training School, Messrs. G. F. Halley and K. E. Davidson, have been posted to New Plymouth, as also has Mr R. W. Cowper, of Marton.

[davidd]

Dave, you might have to check the initials of the Wing Commander mentioned in second paragraph immediately above. This would have to be Edward (Ted) George Olson, who served with RAF 1926 - 1929, then with aero clubs in NZ, then member NZAF (Territorial) 1930, with No. 4 AC Sqdn, and finally with RNZAF 1935, till death 15/5/45 New Plymouth.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

It definitely says G.G. Olson in the newspaper. Wasn't Ted in England a that time?

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19391120.2.51?query=weraroa%20&sort_by=byDA&items_per_page=10&page=2&start_date=01-11-1939&end_date=31-12-1950&snippet=true&title=MS

[davidd]

No, E G Olson was DEFINITELY in New Zealand at that stage. To NZAF (Territorial) in rank of F/O from 10/1/30 (seniority antedated to 16/11/27), to F/L w.e.f. 7/3/32, to 4 (AC) Sqdn, NZAF from 10/1/30. Appointed to Regular Air Force (RNZAF) 18/9/35 still as F/L. Granted a SSC commission in RNZAF from 1/1/38 and promoted to rank of S/L w.e.f. from same date (to Temp W/C 1/11/39, to G/C 1/6/42, to Acting Air Commodore 15/11/43). Regular service at Wigram from 18/9/35 (as flying instructor, which had been his civilian occupation), appointed temporary CO of Wigram 19/1 - 1/5/38, then OC Base Hobsonville from 2/5/38 - 29/6/39 (Special note, Hobsonville was known as a Base rather than a Station or an aerodrome up till about 1941, as it was both a land as well as a sea aerodrome, based on RAF practice). To Air HQ (Wellington 30/6 - 15/10/39, then Acting Air Force Member for Personnel (AMP) @ Air HQ 16/10 - 22/12/39, then Chief Staff Officer, Training (Air HQ, Wgtn) 23/12/39 - 15/3/40, then appointed Air Force Member for Personnel 16/3/40 to 31/3/41. Relinquished appointment as AMP and Member of Air Board 1/4/41, not so certain of subsequent movements, but embarked for UK 17/11/41. See also Errol Martyn's For Your Tomorrow, Volume 3, page 377.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

OK, I guess it must have been him then.

[saunders]

Nov 15, 2013 15:43:46 GMT 12 fwx said:

Another wonderful group photo from ITW Wereroa (Levin), from March or April of 1941. "March" is written in pencil on the back, and this would fit with some of the enlistment and embarkation dates for individuals in the photo.

This appears to be a combined class photo, made up of 19 (or possibly 19 and 20) Observers Course, and 20 W/Op - Airgunners Course.

It came from the collection of Jack Moller DFM (75 (NZ) and 156 (PFF) Sqdns), and his son, Tony Moller very kindly allowed me to copy it and reproduce it here.
Jack trained initially as a Wireless Operator at ITW, and then in Canada, before re-training as a Bomb Aimer in the UK. He is second row from the front, 13th from the left (looking to our right).

Again, a list of signatures is preserved on the back, although these may only be from the Airgunners Course, going by the inscription. I have tried to decipher the names, and where possible, have used Google to see if I can add more detail. If anyone can fill in any of the gaps, or correct names and/or spellings, that would be great!

Interestingly, Corporal Timothy Robert Cotter (Instructor, Armaments) appears again - sixteenth from left, front row, and centre front, photo Section 2 - he was also in the Course 30 photo (21 January 1942) above (centre, front).

I have split the photo into four sections so individual faces are identifiable. Sorry about the fold!



Section 1 (from left end)



2



3



4




Signatures on reverse (right-click and open in new browser window to see full size):

Signature	Town	Identified As	Service No.	Squadrons Served On	Other	In Photo
M.W. O'Sullivan (?)	-	-	NZ411 - - -	-	-	-
S.R. Howarth	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ian Martyn	-	-	-	-	-	-
C. Todd	Palmerston North	Cecil Todd	NZ411795	R/Gnr 75 (NZ) Sqdn, then to 7 (PFF) Sqdn.	Died 5 May 1944 in training crash, age 22	-
A.J. Parkinson	Amberley	-	-	-	-
F.C. Kearns	Wellington	-	-	-	-	-
W.R. Kell	Auck	William Robert Kell	NZ411766	W/Op 75 (NZ) Sqdn	kao 17/18 Dec 1942, age 25	-
George Reid	Dunedin	-	-	-	-	-
W... J. Reid	Dunedin	-	-	-	-	-
T. Rockhouse	Ohakune	Thomas Anthony Rockhouse	NZ411780	-	survived the war, died 15.12.2009	-
J.D. Mackie (The Erk)	-	-	-	-	-	-
P.R. Karena	Hastings	Peeti Rotana Karena	NZ411793	547 Sqdn	kao 3 Feb 1943, age 23, from Opapa, Hawke's Bay	-
W.T. Dobson	Whangarei	William Trevor Dobson	NZ404905	W/Op 18 Sqdn	kao 4 July 1943, age 24. Serial number indicates earlier enlistment?	-
A.T.B. Jackson	Ch-C-St	-	-	-	-	-
A. ? Saunders	Christchurch	-	-	-	-	-
T.D. Peake	Thomas D. Peake	NZ411775	W/Op-AG 75 (NZ) Sqdn. 2nd tour in the Pacific?	-	Survived the war. More here: www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/TD%20PEAKE.htm	-
T.W. Devine	Blenheim	Thomas William Devine	NZ411745	W/Op-AG 75 (NZ) Sqdn.	Shot down 8/9 Sept 1942, POW Stalag 8B Landsdorf	-
V. A. Tunbridge	Wellington	Victor Arthur Tunbridge	NZ411788	R/Gnr 75 (NZ) Squadron	kao Kassel 28 August 1942, age 28	-
K.J.S. Smith	Wellington	-	-	-	-	-
R.C. Irving	Wellington	-	-	6 Sdqn RNZAF?	-	-
T. Stewart	Auckland	-	-	-	-	-
J.W. Henry (?) "Kiwi"	Otago	-	-	-	-	-
A.S.L. Lamont	Dunedin	-	-	-	-	-
R.R.T. Sleep	Waihi	Ronald Robert Theodore Sleep	NZ411794	W/Op 415 (RCAF) Sqdn	kao 21 November 1942	-
E.S. Thomson	Papatoetoe	-	-	-	-	-
W.S. Thompson	Dunedin	Wilfred Strachan Thompson	NZ 411107	W/Op. 102 Squadron	kao 3 Feb 1943, age 27	-
Cpl. Mitchell	Signals	-	-	-	-	-
R.W. Stewart F/C	Whakatane	-	-	-	-	-
A.W. Washbourne	Auckland	Alvah Wilkie Flansburgh-Washbourne	NZ411796	W/Op 102 Sqdn	killed 11/12 Feb 1943 in crash returning to base after engine failure, age 24	-
S.C. Donaldson	Whangarei	-	-	-	-	-
E.W. Evans	Christchurch	Ernest William Evans	NZ411751	killed in a OTU training accident (Torpedo Training Unit, Abbotsinch), 12/13 Oct 42, Firth of Clyde	-	-
V. R. Drent	Thames	-	-	-	-	-
D.C.M. Ducker	Portland	D'Arcy Clive Melville Ducker	NZ411749	W/Op 297 Sqdn	kao 12 December 1942, age 23	-
? Cawley	Christchurch	-	-	-	-	-
P.G. Nelson	-	-	-	-	-	-
V.W. Dempsey	Taumaranui	-	-	-	-	-
C.T. Day	Ngaruawahia	-	-	-	-	-
R. Crabtree	Napier	-	-	-	-	-
G.A. Russell	Marton	Grant Alan Russell, DFC	NZ411729	A/B and Bombing Leader 75 (NZ) Sqdn (F/L, second tour?)	-	Front row, second from right
N.C. Foreman	Hawera	-	-	-	-	-
G. Banks	Matamata	-	-	-	-	-
J.R. Bowen	Auckland	-	-	-	-	-
J.R. Alke	-	-	-	-	-	-
H.L. Burt	Harry Leister Burt	NZ411789	Rear Gunner, 214 Sqdn	KIA 29 March 1943, age 25, collision on return to base	-	-
B.S. Andrew	Auckland	-	-	-	-	-
Honey (A.W. Grey Wolf)	Napier	-	-	-	-	-
E.T. Pellow	Onewhero	Ernest Trevor Pellow	NZ411776	A/B 218 (Gold Coast) Sqdn	killed in a crash landing on returning from a mission on 14 September 1942	-
H.S. McCullum	Main St, Opunake	W/O H. S. McCullum, DFC	18 Sqdn	-	-	-
Ron Sparrow	Dunedin	-	-	-	-	-
H. (?) Smith (Harry)	Wellington	-	-	-	-	-
C.J. Ryan	Taumaranui	-	-	-	-	-
A.J. Rust	Wellington	-	-	-	-	-
? Roberts	Wellington	-	-	-	-	-
Cpl Cotter T.R. (Tim) Armaments	Auckland	-	-	-	-	sixteenth from left, front row
Young Robbie	Auckland	-	-	-	-	-
W.M. Jones	Woodlands	-	-	-	-	-
W.S. Thompson	William Strachan Thompson, repeat of signature above	-	-	-	-	-
R.L. Meredith	Otorohanga	Richmond Lovett Meredith	NZ411768	W/Op 115 Sqdn	kao 29 Oct 1942, age 22	-
G.R. Foster (Tester?)	Levin	-	-	-	-	-
G.S. Jennings	West Eyreton	-	-	-	-	-
K. Morrison	Hamilton	possibly Sgt K Morrison	78 Sqdn, Halifax	kao 24/25 June 1943	-	-
B. Neal	-	Bruce Neal	NZ411771	R/Gnr 75 (NZ) Sqdn	Died 30.3.43 training crash 1483 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight, RAF Marham	-
A.J. Moller	Hawera	Andrew John "Jack" Moller	NZ411770	A/B/Gnr 75 (NZ) Sqdn and 156 (PFF) Sqdn	Survived the war	second row from the front, 13th from the left

Cheers,
Chris

[saunders]

Nov 15, 2013 19:15:43 GMT 12 errolmartyn said:

The following were enlisted at Levin as AG u/t during March 1941:

NZ 411735 Andrew, B S Brian Selwyn
NZ 411736 Banks, G N Graham Nelson
NZ 411737 Brian, W L F William Leslie Fred
NZ 411789 Burt, H L Harry Leister
NZ 411739 Callaghan, R P Ronald Patrick
NZ 411740 Colbert, J W M John William Micheal
NZ 411741 Crabtree, R H Ronald Hugh
NZ 411067 Crosby, M H Mervyn Herbert
NZ 411742 Crozier, N H Noel Henry
NZ 411743 Day, C F Charles Frederick
NZ 411744 Dempsey, V W Vernard William
NZ 411745 Devine, T W Thomas William
NZ 411746 Donaldson, J C John Clifford
NZ 411747 Dowman, M G F Maxwell Graham Frane
NZ 411748 Drent, W R Walter Raymond
NZ 411749 Ducker, D C M D'Arcy Clive Melville
NZ 411751 Evans, E W Ernest William
NZ 411796 Flansburgh-Washbourne, A W Alvah Wilkie
NZ 411753 Frampton, L A Laurie Albert
NZ 411754 Frizzell, W C William Charles
NZ 411755 Frogley, B T Bernard Tansey
NZ 411791 Guest, K R Keith Rylance
NZ 411756 Hodson, R G Robert George
NZ 411757 Hollands, W N Walter Nisbet
NZ 411792 Howarth, S R Sidney Raymond
NZ 411758 Inglis, W G L William Gordon Lloyd
NZ 411759 Irving, R C Raymond Cecil
NZ 411760 Jackson, A T B Alfred Thomas Briscoe
NZ 411761 Jarvis, A W Alfred William
NZ 411763 Jennings, G S George Smith
NZ 411762 Jones, W M William McKenzie
NZ 411764 Jury, J L Jack Leslie
NZ 411793 Karena, P R Peeti Rotana
NZ 411765 Kearns, F E Frank Ernest
NZ 411766 Kell, W R William Robert
NZ 411767 Lucas, R G P Richard George Parker
NZ 411768 Meredith, R L Richmond Lovett
NZ 411769 Mills, G W A George William Alfred
NZ 411770 Moller, A J Andrew John
NZ 411771 Neal, B Bruce
NZ 411772 Newcombe, R B Ronald Blachford
NZ 411773 O'Sullivan, F W Francis William
NZ 411774 Parkinson, A I Alan Irwin
NZ 411775 Peake, T D Thomas Denbigh
NZ 411776 Pellow, E T Ernest Trevor
NZ 411777 Pullar, H W Henry Welsh
NZ 411778 Reid, G E George Ernest
NZ 411779 Reid, W J William Joffre
NZ 411780 Rockhouse, T A Trevor Albert
NZ 411781 Saunders, A M Arthur Mervyn
NZ 411782 Seay, R B Ronald Bruce
NZ 411794 Sleep, R R T Ronald Robert Theodore
NZ 411784 Smith, G S Graham Seymour
NZ 411783 Smith, K J S Keith James Stockley
NZ 411785 Stewart, L I Leslie Ian
NZ 411786 Stewart, R W Ronald Walter
NZ 411787 Thomson, E S Edward Stuart
NZ 411795 Todd, C Cecil
NZ 411788 Tunbridge, V A Victor Arthur
NZ 411797 West, F R Frederick Robert

And these as AO u/t:

NZ prefix Service No Name First names
NZ 411717 Amos, O E Orison Edwin
NZ 411718 Carncross, M E Murray Ellis
NZ 411719 Davis, A E Archibald England
NZ 411790 Dunn, G H Gordon Henry
NZ 411720 Elliott, M H Max Hilton
NZ 411721 Herbert, R E Ronald Ernest
NZ 411722 Jarvis, C J F Claude Joseph Frederick
NZ 411723 Lip-Guey, W H William Herbert
NZ 411724 McLean, A W Albert William
NZ 411725 Morton, R W Robin William
NZ 411726 Nelson, P G Patrick George
NZ 411727 Powley, H R Herbert Robert
NZ 411728 Roberts, E S Eric Samuel
NZ 411798 Rosser, L V Leonard Victor
NZ 411729 Russell, G A Grant Alan
NZ 411730 Saul, N P Norman Priestley
NZ 411731 Sinclair, B S Bruce Stalley
NZ 411732 Slocombe, F H Frank Henry
NZ 411733 Sparrow, R M Richard Maxwell


Errol

[pjw4118]

[Dave Homewood]

Hahaha, that's classic.

[psg]

Nov 15, 2013 15:43:46 GMT 12 fwx said:

Another wonderful group photo from ITW Wereroa (Levin), from March or April of 1941. "March" ......







Signatures on reverse (right-click and open in new browser window to see full size):

===============
I am pretty sure the chap 5th in from the far right (back row) is my Grandfather, Charles Strange nz417245 

[kymc]

Hello All,

I am researching W/O Ronald Colin MacPherson 417222. He appears on the list of trainees below that attended the Wireless Operator/Air Gunners, who were enlisted at Ground Training School, Levin over the weekend of 27/28 December 1941. Can anyone provide me a photo of this group or Ronald himself? I have his military records from the RNZAF and it does not contain a photograph. I would love to locate one. He flew in squadrons 14, 16, 17, and 486 between 1941 and becoming a POW on 25 May 1945. Any help would be appreciated. If any further details are required please contact me. I am aware he partly named is son after another pilot Frank Skipworth Kirke, 70547, DFC, DCM. If anyone has any details regarding the relationship between Ronald and Frank I'd love to chat. 

Thanks.

Kind regards,
Kym Cunningham
BnRN Post Grad Dip (specialty Perioperative Nursing), Student of Certificate in Genealogy Research.
[e-mail]