Forum Meet - The Subritzky Collection - March 27

[Dave Homewood]

Great shots Stu. That Oxford is such a thing of beauty too. And I love the look of the Anson skelton too.

I never realised that the Wasps carried Ned on the tail. Was he on them through their whole service?

[ErrolC]

Hart Hind detail by errolgc, on Flickr


Looong Meteor by errolgc, on Flickr


Wasp - with torp! by errolgc, on Flickr

[vs]

Aazing collection! Is the Vincent, Hinds being restored to fly?

[ErrolC]

Mar 27, 2011 21:47:30 GMT 12 vs said:

Aazing collection! Is the Vincent, Hinds being restored to fly?

The best of the Hinds yes, Vincent no.

[Deleted]

And I asked Don for the Fletcher, he said "sure, take it away!" And there I was with no towbar...."so Zac, what do you need to complete yours?" "Outer panels, stabilator, fuel tanks (on and on for several seconds" "Can you sum it up in one word?" "Kinda - 'a Fletcher'!!!"

Turns out that between leaving my parents' place in Wanganui and reaching Mokau on the coast north of New Plymouth - about 36hr - I had driven 999km according to the trip meter! Rachel took over for the rest of the trip.

We've been home for three hours resting so my photos will have to wait til tomorrow, I too want to extend my thanks to the Subritzkys for their hospitality, it was wonderful to visit after many years of dreaming, and to Dave for facilitating the visit and his exceptional navigation skills for Rach and I! And thanks to those who had already posted photos of the Fletcher ZK-BYC, you have fine taste! I was touched at the surprisingly large amount of interest in her today :-)

I was one of the converted, the Vincent is a stunning aircraft and I will attempt to hunt down any literature I can.

Many surprises in the sheds there which I hope Don and Steve will be ok with me sharing, as well as a few snaps from my first visit to Ardmore.

[Dave Homewood]

I must reiterate that the organising of this visit was all down to Don and his family, and Jim Mungall. I merely reminded people. The thanks has to go to them enturely.

And thanks to you too Zac for the lift up and back. It was fun.

[JDK]

Neato. That Vincent's come on a long way since Dave and I doorstepped Don in August 2009.

This would be a good place to say a big "Thank You" to Don for stopping his plans for an hour (he was heading off for a few days) to show the couple of us around the collection back then. Top chap.

[johnnyfalcon]

I couldn't make it this trip but I visited Steve Subritzky at the hangar a couple of weeks ago. I used to live 1km from here but moved away 2004. I too am stunned at the progress and standard of work that Steve's accomplished! A hearty 'well done'! We're all indebted to you all!! I believe the Vincent also has a combat history, hence the choice of scheme she originally wore. Hope to see you at Omaka Steve (or before) for my Provost introduction :-). Thanks again for obligingly giving us a tour the other week. John

[stu]

Mar 27, 2011 22:05:09 GMT 12 @zacyates said:

And I asked Don for the Fletcher, he said "sure, take it away!" And there I was with no towbar...."so Zac, what do you need to complete yours?" "Outer panels, stabilator, fuel tanks (on and on for several seconds" "Can you sum it up in one word?" "Kinda - 'a Fletcher'!!!"

Was that a quick longing glance to your left just then Zac? ;D

Focus and exposure - so overrated in photography.

[ErrolC]

Dave guarding the Vincent by errolgc, on Flickr

(Hmm, my laptop screen really isn't up to scratch for setting brightness levels - my gf was using the one real screen that we have access to at the moment).

[Dave Homewood]

Combat history? Whereabouts? Was that in africa/Middle East?

[johnnyfalcon]

Hi Dave, Africa I believe, in the RAF. Steve was telling me they felt that historical fact made her all the more significant and has brought her much to the attention of people in England who would LOVE to have her back! Evidently that can't happen due to NZ law.

[Dave Homewood]

Great stuff. It had a very interesting career in the RNZAF too, serving with many different units and in different roles.

Originally serial K6357, it served with No.55 Squadron, RAF in Iraq from 1937-1939. It was purchased as part of an expansion plan by the RNZAF which bought around 200 second-hand biplanes that had been retired from the RAF (Vildebeests, Vincents, Baffins, Gordons and Hinds).

It arrived at Auckland aboard the vessel "Gamaria" on 17 July 1939. Assembled at No. 1 Aircraft Depot, RNZAF Station hobsonville and Brought On Charge with Unit 1, Hobsonville on 17 July 1939, it was assigned to the Auckland (Territorial) Squadron which was expanding with twelve additional Vincents to suppliment its six Baffins. When the war began this squadron was mobilised and became the Auckland (General Reconnaissance) Squadron. It was the first squadron in the RNZAF to mount an operational scramble against suspected German raiders (false alarm). the aircraft was re-serialled as NZ311, an RNZAF number

This aircraft and several others plus a Flight of the squadron were sent to the new RNZAF Station Ohakea in mid-November 1939 to form the Air Gunners and Air Observers School, which was part of the Empire Air Training Scheme.

In October 1940 the aircraft joined the New Zealand general Reconnaissance Squadron at RNZAF Station Whenuapai. This unit at the time was the country's main air defence squadron.

In January 1941 the NZGR Squadron was split to form No's 1 and 2 (GR) Squadrons, and NZ311 went to No.2 (GR) Squadron, at Nelson in on the 2nd of January 1941. This unit ran the original School of General Reconnaissance at Nelson and then Omaka, and NZ311 was there till around October 1942.

The Vincent then served with No.22 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, at Ohakea.

Subsequent to this service it became a target tug for No.1 (Bomber) OTU, at Ohakea in April 1943 for drogue towing.

It was one of the last Vincents in service and was finally converted to spares and produce at Ohakea on the 4th of November 1944 as a result of deterioration.

[skyhawkdon]

Stunning collection and thanks for the photos guys. Has Don put his name down for a Skyhawk and Macchi?? Given his skills at aquiring retired aircraft I hope so! So how did he get that Wasp??

[vs]

What are they going to do with the Vincent once it is complete? What sort of condition was it in before they started working on it? Are they going to keep a flying Hind for themselves?

Does their Proctor fly out of their home strip?

[Deleted]

Don said every one of his aircraft has a story behind it, the Wasp's being the most humorous, hopefully one of the other members present can remember enough to relate the story.

[Deleted]

VS they have a Provost hangared at North Shore airfield, I'm not too sure I saw anything resembling a Proctor in the family sheds.

[vs]

opps.....thats right, Provest! What are their plans with the Meteor?

[Deleted]

Thanks to Don and family for the great morning yesterday and to Dave for pulling it all together, was great to meet other members at long last. I'm still having trouble deciding whether I enjoyed the planes or the story telling the most.

Here is the story teller in full flight




Here are some of the photos I took and hopefully from different angles and not to many repeats of others already posted, all of which are great shots.

One for Zac !!!!





And now the rest

[johnnyfalcon]

If I remember rightly, one of the truck drivers contracted to remove the Wasps got in touch with Don on the day and managed to divert one his way. Evidently no other contact made prior by the authorities or anyone else! The Vincent was one of a bunch buried under some squash courts in Marton (where I used to live also...) not far from Ohakea where my Dad was based at the time. Three or four Hinds are possible from the collection (thank goodness for stainless steel parts!) Steve indicated that the sale of their complete Spitfire was to bankroll the Hinds, wit the longterm goal of financing a flyable Spitfire! The Vincent is too precious to let go overseas but likely will end up in a NZ museum. Hope my memory is reliable, I stand to be corrected :-)