The Harvard Pile

[NZ1009]

With regard to the possibility of red Harvards, about the only reason I can think of for them to be painted red is, given the training airfields were busy, an experiment to evaluate if the red was more visible than the yellow. This was done in later years with Harvards and Devons at Wigram and also the Airtrainers at Ohakea.

With regard to the two photos of NZ923 and NZ927, the fin flash is (from left), blue, white and red (same as roundel going from outside in). For both photos, the blue and white stripes are visible on the fins but no red stripe is visible as it appears to have merged in with the main colour of the aircraft. The centre of the roundel (red) in these two photos also appears to be close to that of the main colour of the aircraft. I agree that the photos were taken with orthochromatic film which shows red as almost black and yellow as dark grey. The difference between orthochromatic yellow and red can clearly be seen in the photo of NZ903 where the yellow (main colour of the aircraft) is dark grey and the two red portions (centre of roundel and stripe on fin flash) are black. The other photos of NZ923 and NZ927 mentioned by Shorty may have been taken after the trial, when they had been repainted yellow, and clearly with panchromatic film.

Anyway, I will see if there is any info on this during my next visit to the RNZAF Museum.

Some more MkIIs and one MKIIA. All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official:

NZ958 BOC 20 May 1941. To No.2 SFTS Woodbourne. WFU Woodbourne 03 November 1943. Written off books Woodbourne 25 November 1943 as reduced to spares.


NZ963


NZ966


NZ966


NZ967


NZ1028 Crashed near Lake Ellesmere when aircraft struck ground vertically during training flight at 1042 hours on 28 May 1957. This accident is described in detail in Ted Arundel's book "Sport of Kings"

[Dave Homewood]

My goodness that last photo of NZ1028 looks to have been an appauling crash. Fatal I guess? I feel sorry for the poor people who had to pick up all those bits and transport it back to the hangar and piece it back together to investigate the cause.

[NZ1009]

For those that are interested, the following URL is a pdf version of NORTH AMERICAN HARVARD 2A,3 RNZAF Pilots Notes (56 MBytes)

tinyurl.com/Pilots-Notes

and the following URL is a pdf version of RNZAF FLYING INSTRUCTORS HANDBOOK HARVARD AND DEVON (136 MBytes)

tinyurl.com/Instructors-Handbook

[angelsonefive]

Feb 4, 2011 23:23:30 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

My goodness that last photo of NZ1028 looks to have been an appauling crash. Fatal I guess? I feel sorry for the poor people who had to pick up all those bits and transport it back to the hangar and piece it back together to investigate the cause.[/quote

Fatal accident. 1 POB. P/O Patrick Hilson. R.I.P.

Regarding NZ958, NZ Archives has two records of accidents.
18/12/41. Flaps down take-off at "Blenheim."

3/11/43. Forced landing. Woodbourne.
Looks like the latter.

[Dave Homewood]

A very heavy force in that forced landing.

[NZ1009]

Some more MKIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents from NZ Archives:

NZ972 Mk II 76-3829 Previously AJ859. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To No.2 SFTS Woodbourne. Collided with Vincent NZ344 at Lake Grassmere landing strip on 11 March 1944. Written off books Woodbourne 15 April 1944 as reduced to spares.



NZ973 Mk II 76-3830 Previously AJ860. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To No.2 SFTS Woodbourne. Crashed during training flight at Woodbourne after pilot bailed out following engine failure 26 May 1943. Written off Woodbourne 29 June 1943 as reduced to spares.


NZ975 Mk II 76-3832 Previously AJ862. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To No.2 SFTS Woodbourne. Crashed into sea during training flight from Woodbourne 24 November 1943. The aircraft struck the ground target with it's port wing during a camera gun exercise. A portion of the wing broke off and the aircraft rolled over into the sea. LAC Robert McLintock killed. Written off books at Woodbourne on 16 December 1943 as reduced to spares.
NZ975 12-Apr 1943 Woodbourne Landed undercarriage up
NZ975 24-Nov 1943 Lake Grassmere Hit target crash in sea, 1 dead


NZ982 Mk II 76-3839 Previously AJ869. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. Used as instructional airframe at Woodbourne but no INST serial recorded apart from INST948. Transferred to Ohakea as INST143 with No. 2 TAF Squadron 31 August 1950. Converted to "hydraulic mock up" at Ohakea 21 May 1953. Disposal details not known.
NZ982 21-Apr 1942 Blenheim Coarse use brakes
NZ982 11-Aug 1943 Seddon Engine failure
NZ982 1-Mar 1945 Wigram Heavy braking
NZ982 11-Jun 1945 Wigram Starting accident



NZ983 Mk II 76-3840 Previously AJ870. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. With No.2 SFTS, Woodbourne by March 1942. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for forty pounds.
NZ983 22-May 1945 Wigram Undercarriage not locked


NZ984 Mk II 76-3841 Previously AJ871. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To ATS, Woodbourne by May 1944. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for two hundred pounds. Price included Pratt and Whitney R1340-ANI engine serial number 8738.
NZ984 21-Dec 1942 Mangere Struck pole taking off
NZ984 9-Aug 1944 Delta Undershot landing
NZ984 8-Dec 1944 Wigram Taxy accident

If that is Mangere in the background then the damaged wingtip is presumably from the first accident.



NZ990 Mk II 76-3847 Previously AJ877. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To ATS, Woodbourne by May 1944. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for two hundred pounds. Price included Pratt and Whitney R1340-ANI engine serial number 9027. Remains noted at scrapyard in Bexley, Christchurch in January 1962 prior to melting down.
NZ990 22-Nov 1944 Wigram Crash take off


NZ991 Mk II 76-3848 Previously AJ878. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To No.2 SFTS Woodbourne. Crashed during training flight at Woodbourne 23 October 1943. Written off Woodbourne 02 November 1943 as reduced to spares.
NZ991 30-Jan 1943 Masterton Engine failure
NZ991 23-Oct 1943 Renwicktown Crashed, night

[baz62]

My eye is drawn to the nose of the prop on NZ982. It looks like a prop dome similar to Hamilton Standards on DC3/C47s for example instead of the prophub with the external counterweights you normally see. Trick of the light and the spinning prop??

[Dave Homewood]

I think that photo of the Harvard NZ972 is of the accident in which John 'Snow' Barr was taking off and a Vincent trundled across the strip in front of him. I hope he wouldn't mind, this is his description from an email to me, and he later talked about this incident on film with me when I interviewed him:

"It was at Lake Grasmere I was to experience my first air accident. I had taxied down to end of runway, parked x-wind waiting for green light to take off. The green light flashed, I turned into wind, opened the throttle and headed for take off. Meantime the Vincent that was to tow the drogue for my exercise was parked half way down the runway up on a slope on my right side. When the pilot started his Vincent and after suitable warm up opened the throttle to spin his aircraft round 180 degrees. Unfortunately the momentum carried his aircraft on to the slope and he could not stop it from running onto the runway. Looking out to his left brought bad news. I was well into my take off. He could not stop, there were no brakes on the Vincent, so he opened his throttle with a view to taking off across the runway. Meantime the nose of the Harvard had come down as it assumed a take off position only for me to see this Vincent rumbling across the runway. Our closure was very rapid. I began a left turn to try and head him off. The Harvards port wing was crumpling on the ground. The upturned starboard wing was struck by the Vincent’s propeller which tore out his engine. Both aircraft came to rest on the ground not far apart. No one was hurt. But the airforce dealt swiftly with the incident. The pilot, a flight Lieutenant, was court marshaled, convicted and reduced in rank. "

[NZ1009]

Some more MKIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives:

NZ992 Mk II 76-3849 Previously AJ879. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To ATS, Woodbourne by May 1944. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for forty five pounds.
NZ992 11-Jul 1944 Lake Grassmere Heavy braking


NZ996 Mk II 76-3853 Previously AJ883. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To ATS, Woodbourne by May 1944. Converted to INST166 with No.2 TAF Squadron at Ohakea in February 1950. Brought back on charge in May 1953. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for two hundred pounds. Price included Pratt and Whitney R1340-ANI engine serial number 8994.
NZ996 22-Aug 1944 Delta Landed undercarriage up
NZ996 11-Sep 1944 Omaka Damaged in air
NZ996 9-Apr 1945 Nelson Precautionary landing


NZ999 Mk II Previously AJ886. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To ATS, Woodbourne by May 1944. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for forty five pounds. Remains noted at scrapyard in Bexley, Christchurch in January 1962 prior to melting down. Forward fuselage stored at Kumeu but was reported as having been "stolen" during late 1980s.
NZ999 11-Jul 1945 Wigram Engine failure


NZ1001 Mk II 76-3858 Previously AJ888. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To No.1 SFTS Wigram. Crashed at Harewood when struck vehicle while landing 10 January 1945. Written off books at Harewood 08 February 1945.
NZ1001 and NZ1002 24-Apr 1944 Woodbourne Collision in air
NZ1001 10-Jan 1945 Wigram Collided with van




NZ1003 Mk II 76-3860 Previously AJ890. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. Used as instructional airframe at Woodbourne but no INST serial recorded apart from INST1003. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for forty pounds. Remains noted at scrapyard in Bexley, Christchurch in January 1962 prior to melting down.




NZ1004 Mk II Previously AJ891. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To ATS, Woodbourne by May 1944. Declared surplus on SR416/58 and sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti for forty pounds. Remains noted at scrapyard in Bexley, Christchurch in January 1962 prior to melting down.
NZ1004 7-Dec 1944 Wigram Hit tree low fly

[Dave Homewood]

More excellent photos there, thanks. The damage to the wing on NZ1001 looks quite serious. i wonder if that was the air to air accident, or from when it struck the van.

[Damon]

Thanks very much for posting the early pictures of the Harvards.I have enjoyed them very much.Many more?

[baz62]

Feb 14, 2011 9:47:04 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

More excellent photos there, thanks. The damage to the wing on NZ1001 looks quite serious. i wonder if that was the air to air accident, or from when it struck the van.

Looks Van Shaped to me. ;D

[NZ1009]

Some MKIIAs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives:

NZ1006 Mk IIA Previously EX184. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.25 Squadron, Seagrave from September-December 1943. Twenty seventh Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Declared surplus and sold by GSB tender number 022110 dated 30 May 1978 with approximately 1700 hours total airframe time. Sold to F. Pike, Maroubra, NSW, Australia for $2000 09 October 1978. Price included propellor but no engine. Shipped to Melbourne in July 1978. To R. McFarlane, Lidcombe, NSW on 02 May 1986. To C Sperou, Eastwood, SA on 02 July 1988. To A. Schmidt, Leanyer, NT on 26 April 1990. Airworthy and flying in Australia.


NZ1007 Mk IIA Previously EX185. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.25 Squadron, seagrave from late 1943. With No.4 (TAF) Squadron 19 June 1953-25 August 1955. Thirty third Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. Converted to INST188 with No.4 TTS Woodbourne 22 August 1963. Written off books Ohakea 19 September 1963. Sold to Engine Support Inc., Florida, USA in 1978. To The Aircraft Preservation Group, Auckland. Sold and shipped to Australia in February 1980. To B. Simpson, Glenhaven, NSW as VH-HAR on 22 April 1987. To R.P. Walker, Heathcote, NSW 11 September 2002. Airworthy and flying in Australia.
22-Feb 1944 Seagrove Panel blew off high speed
4-Jul 1944 Ardmore Collided with Kittyhawk NZ3218
5-Mar 1950 Taieri Undercarriage not locked
23-Sep 1951 Invercargill Swung landing
9-Jun 1955 Levels Precautionary landing





NZ1009 Mk IIA Previously EX187. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.2 FOTU, Ohakea late 1944. With No.3 (TAF) Squadron 21 December 1950-20 August 1951, 29 October 1951-07 July 1952. Twenty fourth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. In storage Wigram 1973. Converted to INST211 with No. 4 TTS Woodbourne 1976. Fuselage presently in storage with RNZAF Historic flight at Ohakea.
NZ1009 and Kittyhawk NZ3019 26-Jan 1944 Ohakea Collided on ground

[NZ1009]

Some MKIIAs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives:

NZ1010 Mk IIA Previously EX188. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 06 December 1948-04 May 1950, 11 August 1950-29 February 1952, 26 May 1952-07 July 1952. With No.42 Squadron 22 August 1952-17 August 1955. With No.4 (TAF) Squadron 17 August 1955-24 February 1956. Thirtieth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. Crashed on PAR training flight near Feilding at 1415 hours on 28 October 1965. The aircraft stalled and spun into the ground on approach in deteriorating weather. Pilot Officer Lawrence Fitzmaurice killed. Written off books at Ohakea 20 December 1965 as reduced to spares. Engine number 101196. Remains noted at scrapyard in Bexley, Christchurch in January 1962 prior to melting down.
15-Nov 1943 West Melton Hit hedge on Army exercise
12-Aug 1950 Whenuapai Undercarriage retracted
19-Jul 1954 Rongotai Engine failure
11-Sep 1954 Ohakea Undercarriage retracted





NZ1012 Mk IIA 88-9269 Previously EX190. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.2 FOTU, Ohakea late 1944. With No.2 (TAF) Squadron 17 December 1948-29 August 1952. Nineteenth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. Used by CFS Wigram until 1962 when placed in long term storage. Declared surplus to requirements and sold by GSB tender 022102 to Ashburton Aviation Society for $2500 on 03 July 1978. Price included engine and propellor. On display as NZ1012 at Ashburton Aviation Museum.
4-Jan 1944 Ohakea Undercarriage collapsed
13-Mar 1944 Ohakea Taxy accident
30-Mar 1944 Ohakea Undercarriage malfunction
14-Oct 1951 Paraparaumu Ground looped

[Dave Homewood]

Great stuff. Where was that NAC hangar that is behind NZ1009? Is that Harewood?

It's good to see that there are a lot of old shots of NZ1009 around, considering it's one still preserved in the RNZAF.

That's a great shot of NZ1012 in its camouflage colours, obviously with No. 2 (F) OTU I guess. But what's the story of it sitting outside the Salvation Army hall? Where, when, why? By the Hillman Hunter and the Morris/Austin 1100, it looks to be 1970's.

[corsair67]

This has been such an interesting thread, and there is a lot of information on here that I never knew about the Harvard; especially the number of different colour schemes they wore in RNZAF service.

I thought I knew everything about everything - but then a thread like this proves me wrong.............again! ;D

Great photos too.

By the way, I notice on the sad images of the remains of NZ975 lying on the beach, that it appears to have the serial number painted on several belly panels. I assume this is to identify which particular aircraft these panels belong to when they are removed during maintainance?

[NZ1009]

Dave - It is quite possible it is Harewood but cannot be 100% sure. I think in that photo NZ1009 has a life raft in a canister under the wing? Can think of no reason why NZ1012 would be parked in front of a Salvation Army Hall!

For some reason I have had a fascination with the RNZAF Harvard - probably from living in Christchurch up until 1972 or so, being in the ATC visiting Wigram often and also spending quite a bit of time around Lake Ellesmere. I had an uncle who was a commercial flounder fisherman at the lake and lived down the other end of the lake from Birdlings Flat (at Taumutu). I remember one day when we were in his boat checking the nets I spotted two Harvards down the Birdlings Flat end and he became dead keen to head back home 'before they see us". I guess he had experienced some close encounters with them previously. Anyway, I have a goal of obtaining photos of all 202 RNZAF Harvards(!) and currently have around 1,000 photos but only of 170 different aircraft. The RNZAF Museum has a collection, including two substantial albums that have been contributed (one is the Des White album) and I am paying (a heavily discounted price) for most of the collection to be digitised. Posting them on this website is a great opportunity for them to become more widely available rather than being restricted to the odd visitor to the museum and myself. As the CDs become available I will continue to post them.

I am still trying to track down other Harvard photos. I intent to visit the National Archives in Wellington and the RNZAF Photographic Unit at Ohakea in the future. The only other substantial collection that I am aware off is the D.P.Woodhall collection, which I have not seen, but which apparently contains photos of 110 different RNZAF Harvards.

Some MKIIAs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives:

NZ1013 Mk IIA Previously EX191. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 14 February 1949-09 August 1950, 03 October 1950-26 August 1952. With No.42 Squadron 26 August 1952-24 August 1956. Thirty sixth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. Crash landed at Ohakea on 22 October 1969 and written off when sudden wind change caused heavy landing. Converted to INST199 and believed used for firecrew practice.
10-Jul 1949 Whenuapai Swung on take off






NZ1014 Mk IIA Previously EX192. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.2 FOTU, Ohakea late 1944. With No.2 (TAF) Squadron 06 March 1949-18 August 1955. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 19 August 1955-06 August 1956. Thirty fifth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Declared surplus to requirements and converted to INST191 with No.3 TTS at Wigram for firecrew training in early 1963. Written off books 13 February 1963 and reduced to scrap by 1964.
28-Jun 1943 Ohakea Collision on ground with Kittyhawk NZ3002
6-Jan 1944 Ohakea Stalled landing
1944 1944 Ohakea Collision on ground
27-Jun 1945 Ohakea Taxy collision with NZ1043
27-Nov 1953 Rongotai Heavy braking

[Peter Lewis]

Feb 19, 2011 13:50:11 GMT 12 NZ1009 said:

Can think of no reason why NZ1012 would be parked in front of a Salvation Army Hall!

Does Ashburton have a Salvation Army Hall?

I'm thinking that the photo of NZ1012 could have been taken after the purchase by the Ashburton group during their early fund raising activities.

[NZ1009]

Well done Flyernzl - the picture below is the Google street view of the Salvation Army Hall in Ashburton - perfect match

[NZ1009]

Some MKIIAs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives:

NZ1015 Mk IIA Previously EX193. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.2 FOTU, Ohakea late 1944. With No.3 (TAF) Squadron 21 December 1950-03 September 1954. Sixth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. In storage Wigram 1973. Reactivated with Flying Training Wing, Wigram 1974. Flown Woodbourne to Wigram 31 July 1979 for use by RNZAF Historic Flight. Airworthy and flying in New Zealand with RNZAF Historic Flight, Ohakea.
12-Oct 1943 Ohakea Landed undercarriage up
28-Oct 1943 Ohakea Taxy accident
1-Sep 1944 Ohakea Undercarriage not locked
30-May 1945 Ohakea Heavy braking
25-Jun 1954 Wigram Struck by seagull



NZ1016 Mk IIA Previously EX194. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.4 (TAF) Squadron March 1949-18 October 1951. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 12 December 1951-10 July 1952. Fourth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Declared surplus and disposed of through GSB tender 26 October 1962. No further details known.
22-May 1945 Ohakea Collided pedestrian
21-Jun 1952 Whenuapai Damaged wing tip
14-Jul 1953 Wigram Undercarriage failed
24-Mar 1956 Wigram Engine failure



NZ1017 Mk IIA Previously EX195. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Waiotapu" in September 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 22 September 1942. With No.2 FOTU, Ohakea late 1944. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 25 July 1949-02 October 1950, 17 November 1950-28 April 1952, 29 August 1952-22 August 1955. Thirty fourth Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. Fitted out as FAC aircraft with No.14 Squadron in 1965. Force landed after engine failure approximately 9 miles north of Taupo during FAC exercise 12 December 1972. Crew unhurt and aircraft retrieved to Ohakea by road 14 December. Stripped of all useable components and scrapped.
16-Nov 1943 Ohakea Collided with Kittyhawk NZ3024
19-May 1944 Woodbourne Forced landing
15-Feb 1951 Ohakea Stalled landing
10-Mar 1956 Whenuapai Collide marker light








NZ1018 Mk IIA Previously EX326. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "USA TV No. 389" in November 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 01 December 1942. With No.4 (TAF) Squadron 05 August 1949-15 June 1953. Third Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Declared surplus and disposed of through GSB tender 26 October 1962. No further details
2-Oct 1944 Ardmore Taxy accident
20-Feb 1945 Ardmore Ground looped