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Post by Gary. on Mar 28, 2012 18:27:32 GMT 12
Where on earth is Tiger moth ZK-AJV? Gavin Grimmer and myself are taking a new look at the mystery of tiger moth ZK-AJV in a new effort to solve it. But we could use some help. we have uncoverd a few clues and think that it may have crashed in the mohaka valley near the Te hoe river. JUST A THEARY ...have any of you ever flown down this valley under low cloud in an atempt to reach the coast?. Do any of you have any old dusty news papers lying around in your man caves that mention the mystery of poor John Tacon and his moth?. if so please contact Gavin Grimmer or check out his most exelent web site www.findlostaircraft.co.nz grgrimmer@inhb.co.nz gary.leonie@xtra.co.nz |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 28, 2012 19:34:53 GMT 12
Just to clarify the above, Tiger Moth ZK-AJV ex-NZ895 of the Hawkes Bay & East Coast AC went missing in the Taupo/Rotoma area 7Jun47, pilot John Tacon.
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Post by The Red Baron on Mar 28, 2012 20:04:35 GMT 12
After 65 years there wont be much left to find,an old engine block maybe?.
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Post by angelsonefive on Mar 28, 2012 20:38:58 GMT 12
I would imagine, Herr Rittmeister, that the Tiger's steel tube fuselage frame, undercart and gas tank might have survived also, albeit in a very rusty state. I wonder if John Tacon was related to the distinguished RAF and RNZAF pilot Air Commodore E.W. (Bill) Tacon DFC, AFC. Bio. here www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Tacon.htm |
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Post by shorty on Mar 29, 2012 6:46:55 GMT 12
The rigging wires (being stainless) should also have survived
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Post by grgrimmer on Mar 29, 2012 8:34:01 GMT 12
Going by other photographs I've seen, and wreckage that has been found in a creek (constantly wet) at known aeroplane crash sites, I would expect to find a complete fuselage framework, rigging wires, engine, fuel tank, gauges, undercarriage, etc.
The original searches did extend right up to Rotoma, but I've found out that he was on his way to Taupo (from Bridge Pa) to pick up another pilot, and also have lunch with his parents and siblings who were on their way to Auckland (from Hastings), so why would he be that far north? There were a couple of Tiger Moths based not that far from Rotoma that had very similar Registrations so it could easily have been one of these that was seen up there. In general, these planes are never found because they look in the wrong places! John Dennis Tacon was seen from the Napier-Taupo road flying very low towards Taupo and then turn and fly back towards Napier. This I believe was where he decided the weather was too bad to continue and so was returning to Bridge Pa. From all the sightings east of there, I believe he attempted to fly out to the coast via the Mohaka River as the Titokuras were socked in with cloud and the wreckage will hopefully eventually be found somewhere there.
Gary's theory of it being in the Te Hoe river area, and how and why it got there, is the best and most logical I've seen so far.... I may do an article on his theory on my website, when I get time. Gavin Grimmer
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 29, 2012 9:43:57 GMT 12
I wonder if John Tacon was related to the distinguished RAF and RNZAF pilot Air Commodore E.W. (Bill) Tacon DFC, AFC. I'm sure I have read somewhere that John Tacon was a nephew of Bill Tacon. Errol |
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Post by The Red Baron on Mar 29, 2012 16:09:14 GMT 12
Good luck with your hunt.
Did you ever look closer into the disappearance of ATL,thats always one that that intrigues.
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 29, 2012 17:50:00 GMT 12
I wonder if John Tacon was related to the distinguished RAF and RNZAF pilot Air Commodore E.W. (Bill) Tacon DFC, AFC. I'm sure I have read somewhere that John Tacon was a nephew of Bill Tacon. Errol I've since found a Tacon family tree at joannewarbymarkingtime.com/758563c4-e9b6-4633-99ba-6c85b48bebb2.htmlthat identifies Bill and John as being brothers: (6) Ernest Richard Tacon (1889-1976) m Margaret Ann Arnott ( -1948) (7) Richard Henry Tacon (1916-1976) m Elsie Joan Nicholls ( - ) (8) L A Tacon ( - ) (8) R M Tacon ( - ) (7) Ernest William (Bill) Tacon (1917-2003) m (1) Clare Keating ( - ) m (2) Bernadine Leamy (Also visit Ernest's Service Record & Military Photographs ) (7) Margaret Moncur Tacon (1919- ) m John S Hastings ( - ) (7) Peter Arnott Tacon (1923- ) m Madeline Abrahams ( - ) (8) K Tacon ( - ) (8) M Tacon ( - ) (8) W Tacon ( - ) (7) John Denis Tacon (1924-1947) missing in plane crash (7) J M Tacon (1926- ) m Bryan Joseph Cameron ( - ) (7) A T Tacon (1931- ) m (1) Patrick Hanley ( -1979) m (2) Patrick Hook ( - ) (7) Sister of Mercy B J Tacon (1931- ) (7) P R Tacon (1933- ) m T J Maher ( - ) John also served with the RNZAF, as NZ438665, having enlisted at Harewood as an ACH (AD) on 19 Jun 43. Errol |
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Post by Gary. on Mar 29, 2012 18:29:03 GMT 12
Thanks for your comments i have had a close look at a beautiful tiger moth just last weekend in an attempt to get an idea of what would survive in the bush and yes it seems quite a bit such as engine, fuselage framing, under-carriage, fuel tank and instruments. its just a matter of getting that picture in your mind of what to expect I've looked at alot of other aircraft finds to get an idea. What we really need is a ball park search area and some clues are coming in we are talking with hunters and old school locals and chopper pilots from the deer recovery days in order to get a bigger picture of what may have happend way back in 47. It is certainly true that hindsight is 20/20 as it seems from reports at the time of the disappearance that they were grasping at straws as where to actually search. However later reports with the leisure of time to examine them and plot out some ideas certainly points to the Mohaka Valley. I would love to here from any of you bush pilots who may have flown down this valley in crappy weather. Whatever the out come we will keep talking and keep asking and ever theory is just a theory until its proven.
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Post by Gary. on Mar 29, 2012 18:35:34 GMT 12
Thank you Errol for that family tree you are a legend....
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Post by raymond on Mar 29, 2012 21:09:56 GMT 12
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Post by angelsonefive on Mar 29, 2012 23:37:12 GMT 12
Thank you Errol for that family tree you are a legend.... Seconded. Thanks, Errol. Much appreciated. |
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Post by Gary. on Mar 30, 2012 6:34:24 GMT 12
Thanks ray it seems there is a hunter in the south island who has seen an aircraft wreck in the bush a number of years ago. he is going back to try and find it and there is a few articals floating around in south island papers all speculating as to just which aircraft it is. the corsair? the aoteroa? or something else?
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Post by Gary. on May 24, 2012 20:17:08 GMT 12
OK Boys if you head off to Gavins cool web site  www.findlostaircraft.co.nz and check out the update for ZK-AJV we have added our theary as to where we belive the poor old tiger moth may have ended up. Please read it and let me know your ideas and criticise our theary even if it helps then its ok with me. I've always thought that john may have crashed on steep terrain as this would help explain why hunters have not stumbled across it yet. the area from the Te hoe river down the Mohaka to willow flat is very steep with some pine forest up to the edge then very steep areas down to the river. it seems hunters never go here. Also at the junction of the Te hoe river is Te kootis look out a area held sacred by the maori folk of this region. I've read some of the history of what went on around Te kootis look out in the 1860s and i can fully understand why the maori locals won't go near the place. I have visited this area and its a spooky place. Some local chopper pilots have told me this area is prone to very nasty wind shear if the weather is bad. So we have a area thats steep where hunters hardly ever go the maoris avoid it to and its a bad place to fly in anything other than good weather. But ifn your stuck under low cloud the Mohaka valley may have been johns only way out to the coast.  still its just a theary?  ? |
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Post by Gary. on May 24, 2012 20:35:27 GMT 12
Just noticed Ive been spelling Theory wrong all day long. Dislexia is just one of the many diseases i have.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on May 25, 2012 20:16:14 GMT 12
"Dyslexics of the world: UNTIE"!
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 25, 2012 20:25:12 GMT 12
;D
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Post by gunny on May 25, 2012 21:00:30 GMT 12
I knew a dyslexic he fell out of touch with dog and sold his soul to santa. Very sad  |
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Post by eieio on May 25, 2012 21:30:16 GMT 12
Dyslexia.......sorry guys I dont find it funny having seen thestruggle of a dyslexic son, he has achieved an engineering degree and may be designing the repairs to aircraft[Boeings] that you may fly in so dont laugh
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still its just a theary?
?
