|
Post by phil on Aug 5, 2011 18:31:11 GMT 12
But Payah Lebar also has armed guards on the gate, we put the Seasprite there for a few days while Te Mana was in drydock. We drove past the museum but unfortunately didn't call in there.
|
|
|
Post by Officer Crabtree on Aug 5, 2011 18:36:52 GMT 12
I have a lot of misconceptions about our air force, is there not a role called 'airfield security'?
|
|
|
Post by Tony on Aug 5, 2011 21:15:46 GMT 12
I have a lot of misconceptions about our air force, is there not a role called 'airfield security'? Yes there is - you will find it at civilian airfields. I wonder if the woman at Whenuapai that had a budgie on her shoulder still works at the gate?
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 5, 2011 21:47:39 GMT 12
"We haven't guarded bases in my career."
In my time at Whenuapai in 1990 the baggies all got a turn at guarding the airfield, doing the gate guard roster. Apparently all the GSH Elephant Trackers had up and left and so we had to do it. Bloody boring job it was too. We also had the Ground Defence Force in those days to roam the base at night and weekends with guns and warry things to guard the base too.
|
|
|
Post by phil on Aug 6, 2011 12:15:05 GMT 12
Actually I stand corrected, Whenuapai personnel did do base security after the C17 got tagged. I recall getting a dirty look from an air security CPL when I asked him why his trade wasn't doing it, they love going overseas to places like Bagram to guard Hercs on what must be the most securely guarded base on earth, but wont do it at home.
Apparently it's everyone's job.
I asked him when I could expect him to pop into the bay to service a couple of Iroquois rescue hoists for us, since his job is apparently my responsibility. He didn't seem to think it was a two way street.
They weren't any use as elephent trackers (provos), they weren't any use as air security, I bet they'll be bugger all use as force protection, their latest rebranding. At least they'll be fitter now the PTIs have been merged with them in the new trade structure.
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 6, 2011 17:51:52 GMT 12
NZ5772 undergoing work at Ohakea 16Mar2008 I recall seeing the Vampire in the hangar a number of times over the years, being remanufactured largely in fibreglass, from moulds taken off the original gate guard. So we now have a fibreglass replica of NZ5772 up on the pole? (That's OK by me, obviously a plywood airframe will have a limited life exposed to the weather).
|
|
|
Post by jonesy on Aug 6, 2011 22:12:26 GMT 12
Similar to Dave's story when I was at Wigram (3TTS) the baggie-arses had to do gate duty over the weekends. One of the guys on my course was on duties fell asleep early one Saturday evening and woke at sunrise next day-the gate had been open all night! Even when the civvies had moved in it wasnt much better. I rocked up at OH one Saturday and explained to the security guy that I was expected at the Corporals mess, he just waved me thru, no signing in, no ID, and it had been a few years since I had got out...
|
|
|
Post by skyhawkdon on Aug 7, 2011 16:14:25 GMT 12
"So we now have a fibreglass replica of NZ5772 up on the pole?" Only the nose section is fibreglass, the rest of the aircraft is original. Doesn't she look great back up there. Hopefully to be joined by a Skyhawk in the near future
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2011 16:54:59 GMT 12
Even when the civvies had moved in it wasnt much better. I rocked up at OH one Saturday and explained to the security guy that I was expected at the Corporals mess, he just waved me thru, no signing in, no ID, and it had been a few years since I had got out... Last time I went to Whenuapai to meet McFly at the 485 Squadron reunion the gate civvie simply ticked me and my mate off the list, checked ID and waved us on. It was when we got to the event on the base I realised we were meant to have been issued visitor ID tags, which the guard had failed to do. It used to always amuse me how Wigram, Ohakea and Whenuapai all had stringent checks at the main gate by the provos, but all three had side entrances that you could walk through unchecked, and Wigram's you could drive through in daytime. Good old kiwi spirit. Don, is the Ohakea Museum composite hoped to be mounted up there, or are they getting a real one from Woodbourne?
|
|
|
Post by skyhawkdon on Aug 7, 2011 18:52:24 GMT 12
Yes NZ6257 the ex Ohakea Museum Skyhawk was being talked about as a gate guard at Ohakea. But I'd rather see it displayed indoors as it has deteriorated badly sitting outside (as has the Strikemaster). If the other 8 Skyhawks and 13 Macchis fail to sell then there will be plenty of gate guards to go around ;D
|
|
|
Post by camtech on Sept 3, 2019 22:03:35 GMT 12
Just to revive this thread, can someone confirm the current status of Vampire NZ5772? Is it still on the pylon?
|
|
|
Post by delticman on Sept 4, 2019 9:49:54 GMT 12
Yes, it was still there last Sunday.
|
|
|
Post by camtech on Sept 4, 2019 9:59:11 GMT 12
Great, thanks. Just working on updates for NZDF Serials and working through the Vampire page
|
|
|
Post by snaphead on Sept 4, 2019 11:43:12 GMT 12
Someone asked about guarding airfields, anyone remember the PYM movement in the mid 1970's. The current mayor of Invercargil was the leader. A lot of LandRovers were written off during this tme racing aroud the perimeter of RNZAF Base Ohakea. It was surprising how at 0200 hours, chasing rabbits, you couldn't see the ditches.
Another item I would like to add, Vampire NZ 5772 was originally chosen as a "mount" as it had shot itself down, a 20 mm cannon shell makes a nice hole in the main spar. I was in SEMS when it was orinally mounted, Wally Munroe was the NCOi/c the installation. I do have some pix of this event if I can find them. the crane used was a "gay-lion". sic.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2019 14:54:13 GMT 12
How did the Vampire shoot itself down, Pete?
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Sept 4, 2019 15:18:39 GMT 12
Dave, from what I remember during a firing run with guns, the aircraft accelerated and went nose down into the path of the departing shells
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Sept 4, 2019 15:33:27 GMT 12
Dave, let me revise the above, the accident does not appear in the NZAP201 (aircraft accident records) but there were a few Vampires damaged by rocket debris at Raumai over the years. On reflection the damage caused to NZ5772 was more probably a canon shell ricochet, not from accelerating in the path of the speeding buillets
|
|
|
Post by camtech on Sept 4, 2019 16:32:45 GMT 12
Looking back to my records, I see that damage was caused to the starboard wing upper surface, Ieading edge and the leading edge fuel tank. During a rocket firing exercise, all rockets appeared to have left the launchers normally and neither the pilot nor the range safety officer noticed any inconsistencies. The damage was apparently caused by a fragment from one of the rockets but it could not be established whether this was a ricochet or a piece which separated from the missile during its flight to the target. This was noted as the last accident/incident suffered by Vampire aircraft in RNZAF operational service
|
|
skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82
|
Post by skyman on Sept 4, 2019 16:46:28 GMT 12
I was working as an armourer in maintenance hangar (ASF) at the time and recall seeing this Vampire when it came in for assessment. From the look of the damage in the starboard wing leading edge and hearing the explanations I understood it was a 20mm shell ricochet which caused the damage during a air-to-ground gunnery exercise at the nearby Raumai weapons range.
After the damage assessment it was deemed no longer fit to fly and set aside for display beside the (then) main gate at Ohakea.
Al.
|
|
|
Post by snaphead on Sept 5, 2019 11:18:03 GMT 12
How did the Vampire shoot itself down, Pete? I think there are a few better explanations here. I was told the story by a cracker stacker on the squadron. I do recall after doing an afterflight on a T 11, finding a nose hood catch seriously damaged after activity on the range. I believe the bonnet was removed and repaired at the skin bay.
|
|