research

[robbie]

I have just joined this board for the purposes of seeking any assistance members may be able to provide. My father Eric Robertson (known as Robbie) was one of the early pioneers of ag flying in NZ. He enlisted in the RNZAF during WW11 and on returning home went farming near Palmerston North but quickly returned to aviation when the crop dusting industry got underway. He was poached to come here to Australia in 1954 and was one of the pioneers over here as well. He died many years ago and mementoes have been lost. I was wondering if anybody has any info they can pass on to me. I also understand that there may be some type of display at Palmerston North in which my Dad is featured. Many thanks for any assistance received

[errolmartyn]

Robbie,

For his WWII service a good starting point would be to obtain a copy of the papers that survive on his RNZAF service record, as held by the Personnel Archives, New Zealand Defence Force. Details may found here at
www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/

From the appendices in my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices) I can add provide some details regarding his journey NZ-UK in 1944:
31 Aug 44 Port Huon Bluff-London via PC, arr c.26 Oct.
RNZAF for att to RAF: 3 Air Gunners: Herlay, F B; Mann, T G; Watson, J D; (3).
3 Navigators: Harris, B D; Hore, R W; Wilkie, D B; (3).
2 Pilots: Lush, P; Robertson, E T W; (2).
5 WOp/AGs: Bainbridge, H (2nd trip – qv 20.10.41); Harrison, E; Hoffman, A A; Horton, H G; Peacock, F W; (5).
RAF rtg to UK: 1 Signals Officer: Ward, P W; (1).
All of whom survived the war.

Your father is also mentioned in the following two books:
The Topdressers by Janic Geelen, pub by NZ Aviation Press 1983
Aerila Agriculture in Australia by Derrick Rolland, pub by Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia.

Errol

[kiwibeavers]

Hi Robbie, I'm unsure if this is your father or not, I have a E.A. (Robbie) Robertson working for Fieldair as below.

E.A.Robbie Robertson 16.11.60 to 31.8.76 Started as Fieldair's second General Manager - became General Operations Manager 11.2.64 - Operations Manager 1.7.72 - Asst. to General Manager 1.2.73 retired 31.8.76 aged 62

A complete history of Fieldair is on this page of my website
www.kiwibeavers.com/information.html

I have contact details of several people in NZ who worked with him, PM me if you want phone numbers. Hope this helps.

[thomarse]

Hi Robbie

There is only a quick mention of your father in "The Topdressers" - that he lived in the Waitahora Valley at Dannevirke and flew for Airspread Ltd which was actually a Tauranga company but operated around Dannevirke as well, and details of his departure for Australia and subsequent passing. There is also mention of his younger brother Roy who also topdressed at the time.

What may be of more help though is that the item mentions two other pilots - Dave Cohu and Rod Dahlberg - both of whom are still listed in the Mount Maunganui phone listings.

Hope this helps.

[Dave Homewood]

A note sent by email to me from topdressing afficianado Ray Deerness:

"See page 223 of The Topdressers for info about Eric Robertson. I dont have any info about Roy.


Bit murky here,

Ray"

[errolmartyn]

Aug 13, 2011 8:50:32 GMT 12 kiwibeavers said:

Hi Robbie, I'm unsure if this is your father or not, I have a E.A. (Robbie) Robertson working for Fieldair as below.

E.A.Robbie Robertson 16.11.60 to 31.8.76 Started as Fieldair's second General Manager - became General Operations Manager 11.2.64 - Operations Manager 1.7.72 - Asst. to General Manager 1.2.73 retired 31.8.76 aged 62

Not a Robertson but Edward Arthur RobINson, born 10 Apr 1914 and also known as Robbie. Previously with East Coast Airways LTd, Union Airways Ltd, Tasman Empire Airways, Whites Aviation.

Errol

[robbie]

Thank you all very much for this information. It has been most helpful and enlightening. Are the 2 book mentioned, "The Topdressers" and "Aerial Agriculture in Australia" still in print does anyone know?

And thank you errolmartyn for his war service details.

With regard to the possible display commemorating early pioneers at Palmerston North, does anyone know who I can contact to verify this? Is there a museum there or maybe an aero club etc?

I thank you all again.

[Dave Homewood]

I think there is an Airways museum at the Palmerston North airport at Milson.

[Peter Lewis]

I think that the E A Robertson of East Coast AW/Union AW/Fieldair is a red-herring. As far as I know he was a successful business promoter and executive, but never an aviator himself.

The Palmerston North aviation 'museum' is, as far as I know, a display of photos and other mementos in the upper level of the air terminal there. Presumably the airport management would be the ones to contact for information on that.
[e-mail]

[errolmartyn]

Aug 15, 2011 18:28:33 GMT 12 robbie said:

Are the 2 book mentioned, "The Topdressers" and "Aerial Agriculture in Australia" still in print does anyone know?

There are a dozen or so copies of the Aussie book starting at reasonable prieces available via bookfinder.com

Topdressers is harder to come by but appears from time to time on TradeMe but usually at rather high prices.

Errol

[errolmartyn]

Aug 15, 2011 20:21:57 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

I think that the E A Robertson of East Coast AW/Union AW/Fieldair is a red-herring. As far as I know he was a successful business promoter and executive, but never an aviator himself.

As I mentioned in an earlier, this man is a Robinson - not a Robertson.

Contrary to the above, Robbie Robinson was indeed an 'aviator' - 'A' Licence Oct 1935 with Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club, 'A Endorsed' Licence Nov 1935 with same club, then 'B' [i.e. commercial] Licence Jul 1936 while with Union Airways.

Errol

[Peter Lewis]

I stand corrected.
Thanks Errol.

[thomarse]

Hi Robbie

I was in Palmerston North yesterday and took a look at the display in the terminal. It appears to be almost entirely very early airline stuff (Union Airways) plus some Kingsford-Smith etc.