RNZAF Hinds

[alexcrawford]

Hi,

I'm carrying out some research into the RNZAF Hawker Hinds. Would anyone have any details of the colour schemes and markings the aircraft wore?

I understand that there were three schemes, overall yellow, yellow with dark earth dark green uppera and halfway down fuselage and later these colours were extended all the way down the fuselage.

I have seen photos of the latter two schemes but none in the overall yellow.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Alex

[Dave Homewood]

Some apparently were overall silver dope too I believe - that may be the scheme they arrived from Britain in. There's a piece of National Film Unit footage of a squadron of Hinds flying line abreast and then peeling off down under the camera plane, and there's various schemes in that one clip, both camouflaged and what looks like silver (possibly overall yellow?)

Four different units used them as far as I know, trainer versions were used at Ohakea by No. 3 SFTS. These were the overall yellow and later green/brown uppers and yellow lowers. No. 6 (AC) Sqn used them coded XX- from Milson, with RAF style green, brown and sky scheme. This later split into two squadrons, No. 20 (AC) Sqn at Onerahi, and No. 21 (AC) Sqn at Milson, then Ohakea, then Milson again.

I have an inkling that later in the war the RAF Dark Brown was replaced with the NZ Pacific Blue, but I cannot find the reference to that. I know 21 (AC) Sqn Harvards certainly carried that scheme.

Have you seen Charles Darby's book "RNZAF: The First Decade"?

I know a chap who flew as a gunner in them in No. 6 (AC) Squadron at Onerahi if you're interested. I think the other experts would be Charles Darby and the Subritzky family.

[alexcrawford]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your reply. I haven't read Charles Darby's book, it sounds very interesting.

I've been in touch with the Subritzkys, but so far no reply.

If you could put me in touch with the 6 (AC) gunner that would be great. It's always good to have first hand knowledge of what it was like to fly and maintain these aircraft.

Regards,

Alex