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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 5, 2005 19:49:02 GMT 12
hey there a cadet from the atc based in whenuapai with a story to tell. on the 24th of november a u.s air force globe-master was stranded on one of the two bases making up rnzaf base auckland. luckily it was whenuapai, and even luckier it was on the day of 30 sqns parade night and to top it off i had a camera. i have pictures and our sqn was even invited to get as close to the monster as safety permit (the chaffs were going off). apparently the globemaster broke down on its way to only the u.s af know where, i believe they mentioned some thing about one of the engines malfunctioning. but if there are any questions i will try my best to answer. (we had a camp on the same weekend and the globemaster was still there i was prepared and had my digital camera, i have a video (its rather short) for anyone interested)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 19:57:35 GMT 12
That's an interesting aircraft to see in Auckland. I'd love to see one up close. The Starlifters and Galaxy that used to fly into Harewood were huge enough.
Do you know, was it from Operation Deep Freeze in Christchurch? Or wouldn't they say where they came from?
You do see the occasional odd bird at Whenuapai. One I enjoyed seeing in 1989 was an RAF stretched Hercules. Great planes they were.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 5, 2005 20:11:11 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum, Angelica!
You never know, it may have been on its way back to the States after visiting the Pine Gap station in Australia, or vice versa? The USAF have supply flights that visit Pine Gap on a regular basis, so maybe that's why they were so hush hush.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 20:17:11 GMT 12
What's at Pine Gap that's hush hush then? Nuclear stuff?
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 5, 2005 20:17:52 GMT 12
well i am not to sure exactly of where they were off to, they sent 2 (that i counted) of the rnzafs boeing 757's off for parts i believe (well for something we were told for parts) and on the weekend the sas's unimog (i dont know how to spell it) was seen on base and there were what were believed to be sas members boarding, since hobby (where the sas is based) is not to far away from whenuapai it is not too little to assume it was nothing more than a "show around" we do not know if the sas left with them so for now we shall assume it was nothing but a day trip. (although you can't help but wonder)
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 5, 2005 21:08:40 GMT 12
Pine Gap is an US-Australian satellite tracking/control facility about 20km South-West of Alice Springs, and has been linked to the Star Wars program. It is also apparently used for electronic monitoring of telephone, VHF,UHF, HF etc, communications.
Its official name is the United States-Australian Joint Defence Space Research Facility and it employs about 700 people.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2005 21:12:30 GMT 12
Thanks Craig, interesting stuff.
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 7, 2005 17:48:04 GMT 12
wow that really is interesting ;D
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Post by steve on Dec 8, 2005 21:45:20 GMT 12
The USAF Globemaster at Whenuapai was apparently returning some SAS troops on rotation from the middle East...I was hoping that that they were participating in the recent army exercise...nope..still a break through...I for one would warmly welcome any signs of a return to normal friendly country military co-operation with the American forces
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 8, 2005 21:53:14 GMT 12
Friendly co-operation often leads to friendly fire with them though
Ducks for cover...
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 9, 2005 9:19:47 GMT 12
Dave, the USAF have a B-52 on the way to your house right now, so if you hear a loud knock at the front door later on today, do not open the door! ;D ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 9, 2005 10:41:33 GMT 12
That's ok, I don't like any of my neighbouring towns anyway. I feel safe if it's the USAF bombing my house!
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 9, 2005 12:31:57 GMT 12
But they're using offset bombing: the aiming point is Twizel so there's a chance that at least one bomb will land within 20 feet of your place in Cambridge! ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 9, 2005 14:46:58 GMT 12
So long as they don't hit the fish and chip shp in twizel - it has the best chips I've ever tasted!
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Post by steve on Dec 9, 2005 22:09:35 GMT 12
Oh..you guys..you give the yanks such a hard time..!!! its a subject in itself...Much of the anti american sentiment in this country stemmed from our 2nd Army division being overseas and many rotating US diversions coming here in return for our middle east army boys not tieing up vital resources to come back and take on the japs in the pacific...( over paid over sexed and over here)Our 3 army division and the RNZAF on the whole found those yankies good guys to work with ...that stuff aside which airforces in the world are 1. the most professional and 2 (besides USAF} the most capable...worthy of a new thread>
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 18, 2005 17:42:42 GMT 12
yeah, my uncles (on my mothers side) are all in the u.s defence force. but then again i can't help but take a bite at them once in a while.
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Post by dpdouglas on Dec 18, 2005 18:20:54 GMT 12
well apparently the Globemaster may have returned from picking up an L.A.P.D Car and S.W.A.T Truck from Where els but Los Angeles and yes there was a UniMog and a few other vehicles present. American S.W.A.T personel and police force were also present. this was all seen at the RNZAF and NZ Police Childrens Christmas Party the other Day. but apart from that the day was a great day and all enjoyed. apart from the R.I.P.P.E.D Crew
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 18, 2005 18:29:01 GMT 12
Ah the chrisumisu (christmas) party, my that was a spectacular day. Minus the Craton-Brown but oh well who said anything was perfect. Santa arriving on a sea-sprite and cruising around base on a fire truck, who could ask for more? Oh and that 757 fly by was absolutely fantastic! I think gorringe got photos.
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Post by dpdouglas on Dec 18, 2005 18:55:08 GMT 12
Very True and the fact that gorringe is now a CPL is not good. no bads to him but he already holds me being a basic against me
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 18, 2005 18:59:16 GMT 12
woah really? well well just tell him "im in proficiency now" in that loud and proud voice with plenty of gusto and he'll tone down.
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