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Post by phil on Sept 5, 2019 21:02:59 GMT 12
There are other cases of aircraft shooting themselves. In 98 a Skyhawk managed to collect one of its own rounds, I seem to recall Jug Jackson may have been the pilot. We had to stop gunnery from the macchis in 99 or 2000 as the 50 cal rounds were hitting the airframe when ricocheting. One impacted the front canopy which is the incident I think that finally woke everyone up to the fact it was happening.
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Post by sailorsid on Sept 6, 2019 20:54:56 GMT 12
There are other cases of aircraft shooting themselves. In 98 a Skyhawk managed to collect one of its own rounds, I seem to recall Jug Jackson may have been the pilot. We had to stop gunnery from the macchis in 99 or 2000 as the 50 cal rounds were hitting the airframe when ricocheting. One impacted the front canopy which is the incident I think that finally woke everyone up to the fact it was happening. I can remember a T11 coming back from gunnery with 5 holes in the front, not the usual 4, A richocet and it stopped just in front of the oxogen bottles, About 1965/66
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Post by angelsonefive on Sept 7, 2019 13:16:05 GMT 12
I recall, far back in the days, 1965 I think ( the memory banks are a bit clagged in nowadays ), witnessing a firepower demo. by Hawker Hunters up from Singapore. I think 1RNZIR was still in Sarawak at the time or we could have been back on the Malayan Peninsula by then. Anyways, on each strafing run the Hunters did on the target I noticed the premature detonations of one or two cannon shells in the air ahead of the aircraft. It occurred to me that this was (1) the waste of a round that should have exploded on the target and (2) a hazard to the aircraft if the the detonation had occurred a moment before. Probably getting a bit OT, but I thought y'all might be interested.
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Post by vansvilla on Sept 8, 2019 11:14:30 GMT 12
Just read Snapheads take of roving patrols at Woodbourne during the PYM days. The first I recall was Sep 71, not sure we wrote any Landrovers off but I do recall one individual chasing said rabbits following one and going through the eastern crash fence at the end of the runway. Damage was limited to a broken park light lens going in and bending a steering rod while backing out, a waratah standard had been bent ove by the axle housing, reversing out meant this pushed against a steering rod, bending it. Another highlight.? Mushrooms were sprouting like crazy, put the L'rover in granny gear and walk behind filling several boxes with them. After shift ended, take them into the market. A few Bob in our pockets. After a morning nap out to a tame orchard to do some apple picking for a little extra beer money. Snap head mentioned the Mayor of Invercargill, yip he was the main protagonist and I can only imagine the faces in the hierarchy when he was first elected Mayor of Waitemata and thus an honoured guest in the O's Mess.
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Post by oldgunny on Sept 9, 2019 14:13:50 GMT 12
As for Skyhawk NZ6257, it had been rumoured ( and articles in the local papers) that it was going to sit outside the new town hall in Bulls when it was completed. NZ6257 currently sits on the island in the roundabout outside of the Ohakea officers mess, pointing down the road to where the old main gate used to be. The old main gate was dismantled a few weeks ago now.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 4, 2019 13:43:25 GMT 12
Mention of the Skyhawk has prompted member Thax to send these RNZAF Official photos through to add here. The details are as follows: - Date: 15 Mar 19
- Dedicated by CAF (AVM Andrew Clark) and WGCDR (Rtd) John Scrimshaw, MBE, AFC
- Dedication attended by a small gathering of serving and retired aircrew and technicians from 75 Sqn, along with reps from 2 and 14 Sqns
- The dedication plaque reads: ‘This TA-4K Skyhawk replica is displayed in memory of all those who served with the RNZAF Air Combat Force which operated from this base from 1942 to 2001’.
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