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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2015 19:03:39 GMT 12
On Wikipedia it states HERE that "Some RNZAF pilots flew Sioux helicopters with the Australian 161st (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight (161 Recce Flt) which was formed in 1965, supporting the New Zealand artillery, infantry and NZSAS units." The name Mike Jameson has been mentioned in this thread in connection to the No. 161 Recce Flight Sioux operations, Does anyone know who else might have been sent to fly these smaller helicopters from the RNZAF?
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Post by phil on Feb 21, 2015 20:22:47 GMT 12
There is this excerpt from No front line - Inside stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War by Claire Hall:
'The first two Kiwi helicopter pilots took to the skies in Vietnam in 1965, without government approval. Operating with an Australian squadron flying Sioux helicopters, they were artillery officers attached to 161 Battery. In theory they were supporting the battery's operational duties. When the government learned of the situation in 1966, the pair were withdrawn. Around a year later, army pilots were officially replaced by RNZAF pilots on the condition that none 'were employed on operations over North Vietnam or Cambodia or in dealing with civil disturbances'. According to one pilot this rule was repeatedly broken to fulfil operational directives.'
That 'one pilot' is listed in the notes as Robin Klitscher.
It then goes on to talk about kiwis flying Iroquois with 9 SQN, and mentions Brian Senn, and has some recollections from him of flying Hueys.
Unfortunately no specific mention of the names of the pilots flying Siouxs.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2015 22:29:11 GMT 12
Thanks Phil.
Robin was flying with No. 9 Squadron, RAAF, and he's talked a little about that here on the forum.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Mar 5, 2015 14:52:32 GMT 12
In my forthcoming book "SEEK and DESTROY" The history of No.3 Squadron there is an Annex devoted to the history of the NZ Army Air Corps written by Colonel (Retired) Roger Pearce that covers all the Army pilots activities including Malsysia/Borneo and Vietnam will be on the streets at the end of June
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Post by noooby on Mar 6, 2015 7:10:15 GMT 12
Mike Jameson has a building (unoffically) named after him at Waiouru. Jameson shed. Where building and Sioux combined
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Post by trimotor on Mar 9, 2015 4:36:34 GMT 12
Maybe the Napier NDB (is there is one still) should be renamed 'Thax' (was it Napier?) is rememberance of the lowest recorded overhead of an NDB of an aircraft not fitted with an ADF..
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Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 18, 2015 11:04:45 GMT 12
Napier NDB long gone.
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thax
Warrant Officer
Posts: 31
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Post by thax on Mar 18, 2015 21:15:53 GMT 12
It may be gone from Napier but a small piece of it still hangs on my office wall (along with a section of severed tail rotor drive shaft)!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 18, 2015 21:48:07 GMT 12
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Mar 19, 2015 9:56:45 GMT 12
It may be gone from Napier but a small piece of it still hangs on my office wall (along with a section of severed tail rotor drive shaft)! I remember it well, I was only 100m away helping set up a tent with a bunch of other ATC cadets! Still, any landing you can walk away from......
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Post by trimotor on Mar 22, 2015 1:39:55 GMT 12
Ah, I still have some brain cells left then: it was NR...then there was the same officer ground looping the Harvard on the taxiway (piston runway) next to me when I was landing on the 27 at OH in the 339..all I saw was a rotating aircraft out of the corner of my eye, so the student's landing became a QFI's touch and go!
Bit off the topic I know, but I'm not sorry..
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Post by baronbeeza on Mar 22, 2015 4:04:43 GMT 12
I can do off topic also. Talk of hitting the NDB reminded me of an incident at Nairobi Wilson where one of my ex-workmates was cleared via the Ngong NDB. It would be a similar geographical situation to the Christchurch TV tower and Wigram but with the airfield elevation of 5,500 feet. Long story shortened, the Chieftain departed in marginal weather and the inexperienced pilots may have been struggling with a gear indication issue. Anyway the climb rate was such that with the relatively short distance involved the aircraft tracked to the NDB striking the fence surrounding the beacon. I am pretty sure the 'official' report depicts a different version. Because the wreckage (apart from one wing) was located in a gully on the other side of the hills the 'officials' claimed the aircraft was returning with hydraulic issues. The three pax were a high profile Japanese TV current affair team. aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=27470
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 27, 2015 22:20:27 GMT 12
Pilots Attached to No. 9 Squadron RAAF (Iroquois)F/O Ian George Brunton - 21 April 1970 - 24 Jul 1970 F/O Trevor Keith Butler - 15 Oct 1968 - 9 Oct 1969 F/Lt I. MacG. Clark - 07 Oct 1970 - 10 Sep 1971 F/Lt J. B. Clements - 10 Nov 1967 - 11 May 1968 F/Lt E. Y. Creelman - 12 Sep 1968 - 15 Oct 1969 S/Ldr Graham Colin Derby - 30 Jul 1969 - 26 Jan 1970 S/Ldr Robin John Klitscher - 02 Sep 1970 - 03 Sep 1971 F/Lt A. R. Mills - 29 Jul 1967 - 17 Feb 1968 F/Lt G. A. Oldfield - 15 Oct 1968 - 30 May 1969 F/Lt Douglas Ian Paterson - 01 Sep 1969 - 03 Apr 1970 S/Ldr John Lambert Alexander Pendreigh - 06 Oct 1969 - 08 Oct 70 F/Lt C. R. J. Peters - 30 Sep 1970 - 01 Oct 1971 F/O John Douglas Peterson - 20 Mar 1969 - 24 Apr 1970 F/O B H Senn - 29 Mar 1971 - 23 Dec 1971 F/O Kenneth James Wells - 15 Jan 1968 - 16 Dec 1968 F/O Gordon Lennox Wood - 20 Apr 1970 - 01 Apr 1971 The above list came from a sheet I found at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand some time back with full names, where known, added by me. I have discovered another RNZAF member attached to No. 9 Squadron during the Vietnam conflict, who was sadly killed in a crash before he got to there. This article comes from the Canberra Times dated Friday 31 January 1969" Second helicopter victim named The Department of Air announced yesterday that the second victim of Wednesday's Iroquois helicopter crash was Flight-Lieutenant William Waterhouse, 25, of Hastings, New Zealand, a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flight-Lieutenant Waterhouse was on a familiarisation course with the RAAF before being posted to the 9th Squadron, RAAF, Vung Tau, South Vietnam.
Flight-Lieutenant Waterhouse and Flying Officer Ronald George Enders, 23, RAAF, of Holland Park, Brisbane, died when the helicopter crashed on a training flight midway between Queanbeyan and Captains Flat. An RAAF court of inquiry into the accident, presided over by three senior RAAF officers, sat throughout yesterday.Also see this www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C142080?rs=%2fwar-memorial%2fonline-cenotaph%2fsearch%2f%3fn%3dWaterhouse%26w%3dVietnam%2bWar%252c%2b1961-1975&ck=76239f1ed2ccb1dc4ecd46536f7e160b&ordinal=0
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 27, 2015 23:02:50 GMT 12
. . .I have discovered another RNZAF member attached to No. 9 Squadron during the Vietnam conflict, who was sadly killed in a crash before he got to there. This article comes from the Canberra Times dated Friday 31 January 1969" Second helicopter victim named The Department of Air announced yesterday that the second victim of Wednesday's Iroquois helicopter crash was Flight-Lieutenant William Waterhouse, 25, of Hastings, New Zealand, a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flight-Lieutenant Waterhouse was on a familiarisation course with the RAAF before being posted to the 9th Squadron, RAAF, Vung Tau, South Vietnam.
Flight-Lieutenant Waterhouse and Flying Officer Ronald George Enders, 23, RAAF, of Holland Park, Brisbane, died when the helicopter crashed on a training flight midway between Queanbeyan and Captains Flat. An RAAF court of inquiry into the accident, presided over by three senior RAAF officers, sat throughout yesterday.Also see this www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C142080?rs=%2fwar-memorial%2fonline-cenotaph%2fsearch%2f%3fn%3dWaterhouse%26w%3dVietnam%2bWar%252c%2b1961-1975&ck=76239f1ed2ccb1dc4ecd46536f7e160b&ordinal=0Better still read his entry in Vol Two of my For Your Tomorrow !: Wed 29 Jan 1969 AUSTRALIA Training flight 5 Squadron RAAF (Fairbairn, Canberra, ACT) Bell Iroquois UH-1B A2-719 - took off at 1245 piloted by Fg Off R G Enders, RAAF, and was over the Woolcara property with another helicopter at 1330 when the main rotor separated, causing it to crash near Captains Flat, about 15 miles south of Queanbeyan, New South Wales. The two crew died instantly, the co-pilot’s body being transported to New Zealand, burial taking place at Hastings on 5 February. Co-pilot: 81179 Flt Lt William Arthur WATERHOUSE, RNZAF - Age 25. Waterhouse was on exchange duty undergoing a short training course prior to joining 9 Sqn, RAAF, in South Vietnam.Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 27, 2015 23:04:33 GMT 12
Thanks Errol.
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Post by ZacYates on May 27, 2020 16:33:54 GMT 12
Did any Kiwis fly the Bird Dog in Vietnam, or was it all in O-2s (and OV-10s?)?
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Post by tbf25o4 on May 28, 2020 10:01:48 GMT 12
By the time our pilot's reached SVN the Bird dog had been replaced by the O-2 and later the OV-10 as far as my recollection is
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Post by davidd on May 29, 2020 16:26:07 GMT 12
Just noticed in Errol Martyn's post of July 27, 2015 (above) relating the death of an RNZAF pilot in a RAAF UH-1B in Australia on 29 January 1969. The brief details seem to be describing the infamous "mast bumping" phenomenon which was peculiar to certain types of rotorhead designs, including those installed on certain Bell and Robinson helicopters. So far as I know, the RNZAF Iroquois fleet was never blighted by this very dangerous condition, although I think several Robinsons in NZ were. David D
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