tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 8:39:20 GMT 12
"Disembarking from USS Alkaid, Hamburg Bay, 28th October 1944 at 10.30 am". He was in the 2nd landing barge to go ashore. They had arrived at 1800 hrs on the 27th. He always said that the USS Alkaid was later sunk along the New Guinea coast in 1945, but I have discovered that was incorrect and the Alkaid (AK-114) was decommissioned 1-6-46.
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 26, 2012 8:48:24 GMT 12
It's great to see these, please continue.
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 9:07:34 GMT 12
From the above booklet...
Boarded ship "USS Alkaid" on Sunday 2pm the 1st October (1944). Sailed from Auckland at 0630hrs Monday 2nd Oct. Arrived at Noumea (NC) on 7th Oct 0700, Saturday. Departed from Noumea on 8th Oct 0600 Sunday. Arrived Russells Islands on Thursday 12th at 0730hrs. Temp here about 109deg in shade. (Fahrenheit) Departed at 5.30hrs on 14th Oct, Saturday. Arrived at Bougainville at 1000hrs, 16th Oct, Monday. Departed Bougainville at 0700hrs, Tuesday 17th Oct. Arrived at Munda Island (NG) at 0820hrs, Wednesday 18th Oct. Departed Munda at 2025hrs, 18th Oct. Arrived at Green Island 0830hrs, 20th Oct. Departed from Green Island 1450hrs, 26th Oct. Arrived Emirau at 1800hrs, 27th Oct. Disembarked 28th at 10.30am, 2nd landing barge.
Boarded L.S.T on 18th August 45 at 1700hrs at Emirau. Left Emirau 1430hrs Sunday 19th. Arrived at Los Negros 1130hrs, 20th August.
Dad later spent 2-3 days on Bougainville on the way home, leaving there via a C-47 from Torokina airstrip, Sept/Oct 1945.
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 9:33:07 GMT 12
While not Emirau, this photo is of the 5SU Engine & Airframe bay at Momote airstrip, Los Negros.
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 9:35:27 GMT 12
This is 5SU's Engine Repair Service at Los Negros, 1945, near the war's end.
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 9:37:15 GMT 12
This is the 10SU revetment on Emirau, 1945.
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 26, 2012 9:53:33 GMT 12
This is outside Dad's tent. Note the Coke bottle's as a garden edging!! The sign above the door read 'Vulture's Roost', I recall him saying years ago it was because they were constantly scavenging parts from the US discard pile, the Yanks couldn't believe the RNZAF bothered, when they just pushed their planes aside & abandoned them ;D Left to right rear..Jim Crarer, Alister Abernethy, Harry Bruce. Left to right front...Lloyd Cranstone, Jack Irwin. The following additional info on those pictured may be of interest: NZ4214173 James Stewart Crarer, enlisted Harewood as ACH (Tech) 31 Oct 42 NZ4211839 Alister Scott Abernethy, enlisted Ashburton as ACH (ADU) 19 Sep 42 NZ4211484 Harry Archie Haldon Bruce, enlisted Harewood as Driver (Petrol) 25 Sep 42 NZ391037 Lloyd Cecil Cranstoun [note spelling], enlisted latter third of 1939 NZ43859 Francis Jack Irwin, enlisted Levin as ACH (Tech) 9 Jan 43 Errol
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 10:54:46 GMT 12
Fantastic, thank you so much Errol Dad actually joined the Territorials in 1938, then the WECMR in 1939, was transferred into Divisional Signals, then battled with the Army to transfer to the RNZAF, which he achieved in 1942. After the RNZAF found out he had suffered from double pnuemonia a few years earlier, they deleted him from aircrew, so he became LAC, Fitter IIA. I still have his Corsair toolkit/roll ;D Also, I see Lloyd's surname was incorrectly spelt by Dad, so will correct this post & his photo caption
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 26, 2012 12:32:30 GMT 12
Fantastic photos, many thanks for posting these, what a treasure they are.
I'd love to see a photo of your Dad's Corsair tool kit please.
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 26, 2012 13:00:54 GMT 12
Great photos. I am most surprised to see the lack of shade-sails or similar. The Engine Bay had something but the rest seemed to have been done in the open.
Perhaps it was just the season for it at the time. I have done two engines changes in those parts, both out in the open... not much fun. We found ourselves having to go for a cold shower to cool down midday, and of course the tools get very hot to handle.
Did they ever take advantage of the vegetation for shade or camouflage ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 26, 2012 17:33:39 GMT 12
People were tough back then.
When needed the RNZAF did use canvas shade covers but they must have gotten so damned hot inside I reckon.
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 17:54:31 GMT 12
Ok, will try & get one up tonight
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:25:59 GMT 12
Sorry guys, didn't see your posts and replied to Dave's one about the toolkit. Dad always said how hot it was & how it usually rained every day at 2.00pm!!! He always had quite bad skin cancer on his hands for the rest of his life & blamed this on his time at Emirau. He also said you always had to check your bed every nitght to make sure no massive land crabs had gone for a quiet snuggle in your blankets ;D ;D I could never work out how they managed to do rebuilds, etc in such a non clean environment!!
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:40:15 GMT 12
Right, here's the toolkit, can get more specific shots if anyone requires it. Of note, in the mid 90's Dad attempted to give the toolkit to Sir Tim Wallis when there was an aircraft display in Napier, but he wasn't interested . That's worked out well for me though
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:42:09 GMT 12
Inner roll removed from the bag..
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:43:36 GMT 12
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:45:02 GMT 12
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:46:39 GMT 12
Overall this is 1150mm x 650mm
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tc64
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by tc64 on Feb 26, 2012 18:47:55 GMT 12
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