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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 14, 2014 17:00:20 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 14, 2014 17:52:33 GMT 12
Just a note, I have merged the recent thread and the already established thread on Unusual Visitors To Whenuapai together to form one thread. There are loads of interesting shots in this thread now, great stuff. Keep them coming.
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 14, 2014 19:27:14 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 14, 2014 19:48:11 GMT 12
Like to see some more of those NewCal Cats. They used to fly down here for servicing, I believe.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 15, 2014 18:32:39 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 15, 2014 19:54:30 GMT 12
That Hudson was based there so not an unusual visitor, as such.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 16, 2014 9:01:34 GMT 12
I agree , but hose markings are new to me . Can you add some details Dave please.
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Post by camtech on Feb 16, 2014 10:01:31 GMT 12
It is one of the Search and Rescue Hudsons, Peter
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Post by davidd on Feb 16, 2014 10:04:59 GMT 12
That view of the Aerovan (which was actually a resident of Whenuapai at the time, with R&D Flight of 41 Squadron) is seldom seen, which is a pity as this is the one that shows both the eyes and teeth, to give a very convincing impression of a tadpole! I presume the eyes were simply paper ones "to be removed before flight". Also seldom seen in photographs of the Aerovan is the British Air Registration Board logo painted on the rear loading door, which is normally applied to the tail surfaces or on rear fuselage under the tailplane of more conventional British-built aircraft in the immediate post-war era. Incidentally a photograph of the "tadpole face" Aerovan appeared in the magazine NZ Flyimg , dated 14/10/50, page 5, almost certainly the photo on the thread was taken. And what is that sitting on the ground behind the tadpole - is that the V-1 "Doodlebug" gifted to NZ as a war trophy - or is it something else? This "aircraft" was trundled around NZ during much of 1949 as a feature of the large recruiting campaign being conducted by RNZAF at that time. Is this the one on display at MoTaT? David D
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Post by davidd on Feb 16, 2014 10:08:56 GMT 12
The photo of the three TRAPAS "land-cats" at Noumea almost certainly shows the same site where RNZAF Catalinas were sent to have their time-expired P&W Twin Wasps exchanged for overhauled ones as alluded to in another thread on this forum. David D
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 16, 2014 10:27:54 GMT 12
Thanks for the info , appreciated. David , I have looked at an enlarged shot of the Aerovan and that "VI" is sitting on a heavy duty frame that looks like it is lifting gear. I cant see a part of a vI motor assembly. I will email you a hi res shot.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 16, 2014 10:50:25 GMT 12
The Hudson's special markings was an international symbol used on search and rescue aircraft for a while, under some international agreement. This was immediately postwar and into the late 1940's that the Hudsons and Venturas were used in this role, flying from Wigram, Whenuapai and Norfolk Island as bases. I have a mate who was crew on one of these. In fact that aircraft at Whenuapai was his one I believe. He was wireless-op.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 16, 2014 10:51:10 GMT 12
Oh, and the markings were dark blue with a yellow cross. Someone made a model of this recently, in the modelling section.
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Post by shorty on Feb 16, 2014 11:55:54 GMT 12
BTW, the first Cat photo (of the refuel) is reversed.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 17, 2014 18:28:15 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 18, 2014 7:55:06 GMT 12
Thanks pj.
There was a lot of marine aircraft activity in French Polynesia just after WW2, as the only sizeable land airfield available was the ex-US bases at Bora Bora and Magenta. What few international flights came into the area landed there, and to get anywhere else (including Papeete) you needed to travel either by ship or flying boat.
Societe Francaise de Transports Aeriennes du Pacific Sud - TRAPAS - Air Transport South Pacific - was formed in 1947 with two ex USN Catalinas F-BCJG and F-BCJH. One of these aircraft, 'JG, was destroyed in a storm at Magenta in March 1948, so a third Catalina F-BDRN joined the fleet.
TRAPAS lasted until the end of 1950.
F-BCJH then went to Taiwan, and was scrapped in 1972. F-BDRN became involved in Air America's covert operations and was destroyed at Mapanget airport, Indonesia, in 1958.
In the water, near the international airport at Papeete, there is a sunken Catalina which is a popular scuba dive. I have never been able to work out which Catalina this actually is.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 18, 2014 10:00:38 GMT 12
Interesting times Peter, and just think of the piles of used aircraft on those strips across the Pacfic and PNG at that time.
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Post by TS on Feb 18, 2014 20:57:25 GMT 12
Ok gents, I have been looking at the Cat pics here and on other threads of restored flying Cats,most of them have the front turret installed. My question is ( apart from the obvious cost) why was the turret not put into our Cat here in NZ to make it look more like she would have. Now knowing that she is not in the best of shape at present can this be done, or is it not allowed to be done in NZ because she might land in water.... go figure.
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Post by saratoga on Feb 18, 2014 21:14:36 GMT 12
I understand a front turret was not fitted to the Catalina as it would cause regulatory problems these days if the Cat was still used as a sight seeing/passenger aircraft.
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 19, 2014 18:43:29 GMT 12
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