RNZAF Museum Quiz

[Dave Homewood]

Here's a quiz relating to the RNZAF Museum at Wigram

1. In which year was the RNZAF Museum first established?

2. When the Museum's purpose built building was opened to the public in 1987, who was the public figure who officially opened it by unveiling the plaque at the front?

3. Name the three volunteer organisations within the Museum restoration team who got many of the exhibits ready for display

4. Where did the A-4 Skyhawk displayed in the Museum's Atrium come from, and what model was it originally?

5. Which aircraft did the Walt Disney Corporation donate to the RNZAF Museum?

6. Which RNZAF Museum aircraft, past and present, were sourced from Motat?

7. Name the bomber that was on loan to the RNZAF Museum for many years but has returned to its owner

8. Who were very instrumental in raising money for the RNZAF Museum to purchase their Hudson?

9. Which two twin engined aircraft represent the RNZAF contribution in the Vietnam War?

10. Name the type of glider that was restored and displayed to represent 50 years of the Air Training Corps?

11. What was the long term exhibition upstairs in the Museum about bomber crews entitled?

12. What major addition to the Museum was unveiled with some pomp and ceremony in late 1991?

13. How many replica aircraft are displayed in the Museum?

14. Which three types are currently under restoration, each representing major types in RNZAF history.

15: This is one I do not have an answer too. In March 1988 a report in RNZAF News states they had a Puss Moth under restoration. It shows a photo of one at Wigram "during the war years" though clearly before the war. I have never ever seen or heard any more about this restoration. What became of it? Where did they get it too?

[turboNZ]

I'm guessing here but is 10. a Slingsby glider ?

[Dave Homewood]

Sorry, no.

[Bruce]

#1 1977?
# 2 HRH Prince Charles
#4 A-4L ex McDonnel Douglas corp
#5 F4U-4 Corsair (since swapped to Aussie)
#6 Catalina, Thunderbolt,
#7 Hind
#9 Cessna O-2
#11 Boy in a Bomber
#13 -2 Bleriot XI and Sopwith Pup
#14 P40 Kittyhawk, Vickers Vildebeeste, Airspeed Oxford

[Dave Homewood]

#1 1977? Incorrect

# 2 HRH Prince Charles Incorrect, though he is the Patron of the RNZAF Museum, he didn't open it

#4 A-4L ex McDonnel Douglas corp Correct

#5 F4U-4 Corsair (since swapped to Aussie) Correct although it was an F4U-5N I believe. They did consider backdating it to an F4U-1 standard but decided it was more lucrative as a swap. They hoped to swap it with another Corsair but ended up getting the P40 instead.

#6 Catalina, Thunderbolt, Correct for two of them, there are others too

#7 Hind Correct, owned by the Subritzky family

#9 Cessna O-2 Correct for one of them, and the other is? Hint - it's more general than just Vietnam but wears it's Vietnam colour scheme and still bears bullet holes in the cockpit from that war

#11 Boy in a Bomber Correct

#13 -2 Bleriot XI and Sopwith Pup Correct

#14 P40 Kittyhawk, Vickers Vildebeeste, Airspeed Oxford Correct

Well done Bruce. I thought the O-2 may trip people up, I'd forgotten they had that there till researching for this quiz. Is it still there? I don't recall seeing it last year (probably crammed into Hangar 2, the storage hangar - we were rushed through there on the tour)

[corsair67]

Geez, Dave, there's some good ones in this quiz. Here's my bash!

1. 1980?

2. HRH Duke of Edinburgh?

8. Air Training Corp?

9. Bristol Freighter?

[Dave Homewood]

1. No

2. No

8. correct, the Dunedin Branch of the ATC I believe

9. correct, Bristol Freighter and Cessna O-2

[corsair67]

1. 1979?

[Dave Homewood]

Correct - The RNZAF Museum began in 1979

[Dave Homewood]

So questions still to answer are:

2. When the Museum's purpose built building was opened to the public in 1987, who was the public figure who officially opened it by unveiling the plaque at the front?

3. Name the three volunteer organisations within the Museum restoration team who got many of the exhibits ready for display

6. Which RNZAF Museum aircraft, past and present, were sourced from Motat?

10. Name the type of glider that was restored and displayed to represent 50 years of the Air Training Corps?

12. What major addition to the Museum was unveiled with some pomp and ceremony in late 1991?

and

15: This is one I do not have an answer too. In March 1988 a report in RNZAF News states they had a Puss Moth under restoration. It shows a photo of one at Wigram "during the war years" though clearly before the war. I have never ever seen or heard any more about this restoration. What became of it? Where did they get it too?

[Dave Homewood]

OK, here are the answers...

2. When the Museum's purpose built building was opened to the public in 1987, who was the public figure who officially opened it by unveiling the plaque at the front?

Governor General Sir Paul Reeves

3. Name the three volunteer organisations within the Museum restoration team who got many of the exhibits ready for display

The Black Hand Gang
The Geriatric Air Force
The Moth Doctors

The Black Hand Gang were the chaps who helped the small team of regulars in the restoration hangar. They were mostly ex-RNZAF or airline engineers. their symbol was a black handprint, one of which you'll see on the Motat Mosquito which they helped restore!

The Geriatric Air Force was a group of ex-service types, mostly from WWII, who looked after the logistics and stores of the museum. It was they who sorted out all the nuts and bolts and publications, and all the donated items, etc. their HQ was Weedons, and they considered Wigram a satellite to their main station! Their symbol was based on the eagle that used to be worn on the wartime uniform shoulders, but it had glasses, cobwebs, and a bowler hat instead of the crown. It also had a publication in its talon from memory.

The Moth Doctors were created because when the RNZAF was offered a derelict Tiger Moth for the Museum, the owner said he'd give them two so long as both were restored and one would fly. This required experts so they were formed of ex-servicemen who remembered how to work on Tiger Moths. One of them was the Spitfire Ace Johnny Checketts. So one of their Tiger Moths went into the Atrium, the other still flies today at Ohakea in the Historic Flight.

Today few of the originals of these groups remain and I believe they are no longer extant as groups, but I'd be very pleased to hear otherwise.


6. Which RNZAF Museum aircraft, past and present, were sourced from Motat?


Catalina
P-47D Thunderbolt
Vincent parts
Vildebeest wreck
Auster Antarctic
Mosquito parts I believe

10. Name the type of glider that was restored and displayed to represent 50 years of the Air Training Corps?

A Ronlerche Glider, a type used extensively in early ATC units. The RNZAF Museum repaired it and painted it into authentic ATC colours, and it was then made available to all ATC units to use for 50 year reunions around the country. I wonder where it is now, anyone know?

12. What major addition to the Museum was unveiled with some pomp and ceremony in late 1991?

The RNZAF Roll of Honour. When you enter the Atrium, it is on the right hand wall, and has names of every airman and airwoman to have died in the service from its beginnings to today

and

15: This is one I do not have an answer too. In March 1988 a report in RNZAF News states they had a Puss Moth under restoration. It shows a photo of one at Wigram "during the war years" though clearly before the war. I have never ever seen or heard any more about this restoration. What became of it? Where did they get it too?

Has anyone got the answer to this? Was the Puss Moth sold on? Traded? Restored? Scrapped? Stored? Where is it now?

[Dave Homewood]

Further information just for interest on the badge of the GAF, or Geriatric Air Force. It was designed by the GAF's unofficial Commanding Officer "MAX BOOST" (aka Max Ruane), and it was as described, the eagle with glasses and bowler hat. No cobwebs though, and in one claw is a radio valve, whereas in the other claw is a copy of "Tee Emm". It's all circled with a wreath of juniper, and the scroll boasts the motto "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi" which they claimed translated to "Sick of Work, leaving Monday."

[Dave Homewood]

Actually a pedantic point I have only just picked up on, but the Skyhawk in the RNZAF Museum was actually originally an A-4C model. It was later modified to an A-4L model, and it was then modified again at Wigram to become an A-4K. So it's had three lives as such.

[Dave Homewood]

For those interested in the ATC glider mentioned, here's a photo, scanned from RNZAF Museum News dated December 1991