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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 8, 2011 9:34:55 GMT 12
I wonder if that was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Catalina, I think from memory that an admiral in charge of the British Pacific Fleet had a Catalina which he sometimes sent across the Tasman to tak NZ members of the FAA home on leave with.
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 8, 2011 16:42:14 GMT 12
Some MKIIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives: NZ1090 Mk III Previously EZ359. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Epprichbank" in July 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 24 July 1944. Stored at Woodbourne after withdrawal from service with No.1 FTS. Converted to INST178 with No.4 TTS Woodbourne 24 October 1957. Sold by GSB tender during 1978 to Engine Support Inc., Florida, USA. To C. Darby, Auckland 1978. Stored at Dairy Flat by December 1979. To Australia for C. Pay and H. Brunton in May 1983. Entered the Australian Civil Aircraft Register as VH-VFM on 21 January 2004 to F. Murray, West Cessnock, NSW, Australia. NZ1090 7-Apr 1954 Wigram Canopy blew out  NZ1091 Mk III 88-16505 Previously EZ360. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Epprichbank" in July 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 24 July 1944. Eighteenth Mk III to be converted to Mk 3* between May and November 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Took part in Harvard 30th Anniversary Flypast over Christchurch on 22 March 1971. Took part in final Harvard Flypast over Christchurch on 24 June 1977. Declared surplus to requirements and sold by GSB tender number 022107 to W. Williams, Mount Maunganui for $6300 on 17 July 1978. Price included engine and propellor. Registered to W. and S. Williams as ZK-ENC on 20 June 1978. To W. Williams, Mount Maunganui, on 08 September 1993. Airworthy and flying in New Zealand. NZ1091 15-Jan 1945 Wigram Swung on take off      |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 12, 2011 23:42:44 GMT 12
Some MKIIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives: NZ1092 Mk III Previously EZ361. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Epprichbank" in July 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 24 July 1944. Seventeenth Mk III to be converted to Mk 3* between May and November 1957. With No.2 (TAF) Squadron 07 September 1956-27 March 1957. With No.1 (TAF) Squadron 27 March 1957-22 August 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Took part in Harvard 30th Anniversary Flypast over Christchurch on 22 March 1971. In storage at Wigram by 1977. Declared surplus to requirements and sold by GSB tender number 02103 to NZ Warbirds Association, Auckland for $1000 on 27 June 1978. Price included engine. Registered to T. Bland and G. Smith as ZK-WAR on 07 September 1978. To Harvard 92 Syndicate on 28 May 1985. Airworthy and flying in New Zealand. NZ1092 5-Sep 1952 Wigram Heavy landing NZ1092 13-Feb 1953 Wigram Heavy braking NZ1092 17-Sep 1954 Wigram Canopy damaged NZ1092 7-Feb 1956 Wigram Drop wing landing NZ1092 8-Sep 1956 Ohakea Pilot error - faulty technique    NZ1093 88-16507 Mk III 42-84726Previously EZ362. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Epprichbank" in July 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 24 July 1944. Crashed Wigram when overshot runway and was landed wheels up during training flight 02 February 1956. Written off books at Woodbourne 18 July 1957 as reduced to spares and produce. NZ1093 9-Sep 1952 Wigram Electrical fault  NZ1094 Mk III Previously EZ363. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Epprichbank" in July 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 24 July 1944. Fourth Mk III to be converted to Mk 3* between May and November 1957. Crashed into sea 70 miles off New Plymouth after engine fire on 10 November 1962. Pilot rescued by Tourist Air Travel Grumman Widgeon which landed in rough seas and failing light to uplift him. Written off books at Whenuapai. NZ1094 18-Nov 1953 Wigram Cross wind landing NZ1094 26-Nov 1954 Wigram Fuel shortage NZ1094 15-Feb 1955 Wigram Undercarriage failure   NZ1095 Mk III 88-16894 Previously EZ439. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. With No.3 (TAF) Squadron 1949-16 December 1950. Crashed at Wigram while practising aerobatics at 1422 hours on 16 December 1950. The aircraft spun into the ground near the airfield boundary. Pilot Officer Joseph McGloin killed. Written off at Wigram 20 January 1951. NZ1095 16-Dec 1950 Wigram Crashed, 1 dead  |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 13, 2011 7:30:25 GMT 12
As an additional note on the accident to NZ1095, the following appeared in NZ Wings, May 1990, p12. Harvard NZ1062 on 16 December 1950 at Wigram. TAF Pilot Flying Officer McGroin was caught by a wind gust during a low run across the field. That afternoon he was killed on the southern perimeter of the airfield while performing low level aerobatics in NZ1095.  |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 16, 2011 8:44:09 GMT 12
Some MKIIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives: NZ1096 Mk III Previously EZ449. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. Sixth Mk III to be converted to Mk 3* between May and November 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Took part in Harvard 30th Anniversary Flypast over Christchurch on 22 March 1971. Took part in final Harvard Flypast over Christchurch on 24 June 1977. Declared surplus to requirements and sold by GSB tender number 022107 to W. Williams, Mount Maunganui for $6300 on 17 July 1978. Price included engine and propellor. To W. Bell and R. Dahlberg, Mount Maunganui and registered as ZK-END on 20 June 1978. To R. and J. Gordon, Tauranga 01 February 1999. To The Flying Machine Company, Tauranga 07 June 2000. To R. and J. Gordon, Tauranga 16 June 2000. Airworthy and flying in New Zealand. NZ1096 2-Sep 1949 Wigram Undercarriage retracted NZ1096 30-May 1952 Wigram Damaged wing tip NZ1096 9-Feb 1954 Wigram Stalled landing        NZ1097 Mk III Previously EZ453. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. Crashed at Eyrewell Plantation near Christchurch at about noon on 17 April 1953. The aircraft stalled at a height of about 600 feet after a simulated forced landing and crashed into the plantation, catching fire. Acting Pilot Officer Douglas Law killed. Written off books 08 May 1953. NZ1097 and NZ1095 23-Sep 1948 Wigram Collision on ground NZ1097 25-Feb 1949 Paraparaumu Swung on landing NZ1097 16-May 1950 Ohakea Taxy accident NZ1097 13-Dec 1951 Marton Forced landing NZ1097 17-Apr 1953 Eyrewell Crashed aerobatics, 1 dead  |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Oct 16, 2011 9:45:22 GMT 12
Stalled during a simulated forced landing, yet the summary shows aerobatics?  |
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Post by baz62 on Oct 16, 2011 10:19:02 GMT 12
Stalled during a simulated forced landing, yet the summary shows aerobatics? AFTER a simulated force landing he stalled it so must have done aeros straight afterwards. Anyway crashed is crashed isn't it? Your not French or anything are you? ;D ;D |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 16, 2011 13:47:56 GMT 12
There appears to be differing versions re the NZ1097 accident. Ted Arundel, in his book "The Sport of Kings" had the following comments to make about the accident to NZ1097:
Page 30:
"Yet another Harvard inexplicably dived into Eyrewell Plantation across the Waimakariri River. An unusual aspect of that investigation was the testimony of the Fire Watcher who claimed the aircraft had been doing low level aerobatics when it crashed, but with engine cylinders spread over a hundred feet from the main impact point, this evidence did not appear to match the facts. It transpired that he had been absent from the Watch Tower for several hours when he should have been there. His sins caught him out and caused some confusion for the Court of Inquiry.
Rumour had it that the Student's Instructor had indulged in low level aerobatics the morning before. Perhaps the Fire Watcher was mislead into thinking the accident stemmed from a repetition of these events which was never brought to light.
The Harvard had in fact dived in from above 5000 feet. It was thought most likely the Pilot had become trapped in the inverted position when the release pin on his harness was somehow withdrawn during aerobatics. These harnesses were subsequently replaced with a British Harness, each strap being located separately in a Twist to Release Box."
Page 33:
"The Eyrewell Plantation accident followed a Dining-In Night, consequently Dining-In Nights were relegated to other than nights preceding flying training."
Page 217: (when discussing the accident involving NZ1028 which dived steeply from 2000 feet directly into the ground on 28 May 1957)
"Having seen the scene, there was no doubt his aircraft had plunged straight in near to the vertical from a great height and at a high speed. It was not unlike the Harvard accident in the Eyrewell Plantation some years before."
Errol Martyn, in his "For your Tomorrow", Volume 2 states:
Page 382:
"Solo Practice - forced landings and aerobatics
Flying Training School, RNZAF (Wigram)
North American Harvard III NZ1097 - tok off at 1100 and after a simulated forced landing in Eyrewell State Forest on the north bank of the Waimakariri River shortly after midday, climbed away, appeared to stall at about 600 feet and crashed into the plantation, where it burned out."
This agrees with the ADFSerial entry which is the one I used for the photo. However I can also recall another version where it stated that the Harvard did a low pass on the Watch Tower, the Fire Watcher and the Pilot waved to each other and the Harvard performed one climbing roll but crashed when a second one was immediately attempted.
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Post by errolmartyn on Oct 16, 2011 15:38:46 GMT 12
Re NZ1097's demise. The RNZAF accident card records:
"Pilot was authorised to carry out simulated force landing practise. Afer a force [sic] simulated force landing the a/c was climbing away but when at about 600 ft. appeared to stall and crash into a plantation, where it was burnt out.
Would appear that speed of a/c was allowed to become too slow and the a/c spun into the ground. Court of Inquiry."
The 'Court of Inquiry' reference could signify that the above was a summary of its findings or that a CoI was to follow?
Errol
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Post by shorty on Oct 19, 2011 8:42:34 GMT 12
Regarding the Birdlings Flat airstrip. Does anyone know where it was in relation to the current settlement? I believe that all that exists now are the concrete steps for the buildings.
I've used google maps tp try and find any clues but could not see anything that helped.
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 19, 2011 9:05:57 GMT 12
The only evidence I have been able to find of the RNZAF presence at Birdlings Flat was a two-storey concrete blockhouse, presumably associated with the bombing range. The following image shows basically where it is and the second is a close-up. I think the airfield was further down the spit and closer to the lake from the blockhouse. On the photos that I have seen of Birdlings Flat when the airfield was active none of the paddocks or farms seemed to exist.   |
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Post by shorty on Oct 19, 2011 10:09:32 GMT 12
A couple of other questions, was this site that was used for the launching of the ARCUS rocket in 1962 and 63.? When was the airstrip closed down? Harvards were still having incidents there in 1956.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 19, 2011 19:22:22 GMT 12
I have explored the Birdlings Flat area, both from the air and on the ground, and found nothing it indicate exactly where the strip was located.
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 20, 2011 0:07:22 GMT 12
The Birdlings Flat airfield was still available in 1959 however the Air Weapons Camps had come to an end before that. The airfield was used by RNZAF Austers and a Harvard in 1959 for an Army Artilitery exercise. However by 1969/1970 it was being described as the 'old satellite airfield' so I imagine it stopped being used in the 1960 - 1969 timeframe and probably closer to 1960 than 1969. As regards position, the following Google Earth picture shows: - the site from where the sounding rockets were launched (from www.astronautix.com/sites/birsflat.htm) - the site of the concrete blockhouse (which was not associated with the rocket launching).  From the following two pictures, from the shape of the Lake Ellesmere coastline (assuming that it has not changed too much), I would place the airfield buildings shown in the second picture at Marker A (Latitude 43°49'0.54"S, Longitude 172°36'23.08"E). However, from the third picture I would place the airfield buildings at Marker B (Latitude 43°48'48.88"S, Longitude 172°38'9.96"E). This is based on assuming the road coming in has not been relocated.    |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 20, 2011 21:26:35 GMT 12
Some MKIIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives: NZ1098 Mk III Previously EZ455. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. Tenth Mk III to be converted to Mk 3* between May and November 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Took part in Harvard 30th Anniversary Flypast over Christchurch on 22 March 1971. Took part in final Harvard Flypast over Christchurch on 24 June 1977. Sold by GSB tender in 1978 to D. Reidpath, Auckland and registered as ZK-ENJ on 14 September 1978. To Harvard 98 Group, Auckland on 19 December 1980. To K. Brooking, Auckland 21 August 1981. To Harvard 98 Ltd., Mount Maunganui 09 September 1997. Airworthy and flying in New Zealand. NZ1098 16-Jul 1948 Wigram Collided tractor NZ1098 30-Nov 1951 Wigram Damaged by tractor NZ1098 1-Jul 1952 Wigram Undershot landing NZ1098 29-Jul 1952 Harewood Swung on landing NZ1098 21-Jul 1953 Wigram Heavy braking NZ1098 21-Oct 1954 Wigram Engine failure NZ1098 25-Jan 1955 Wigram Engine fault        |
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Post by ngatimozart on Oct 22, 2011 18:30:51 GMT 12
It is a bit difficult to place everything because of time and cannot use the Te Waihora's (Lake Ellesmere) water edge for that because it has moved over time. Secondly the Wahine Storm (April 1968) breached the barrier beach and closed off the outlet, so now the lake is only opened to the sea occasionally by digger. The Selwyn River which runs into the lake also has suffered decreased water flow possibly due too irrigation uptake. This means that the lake water level has changed and not all changes are known. Be neat if could come up with an aerial photo that shows the airfield and the Port Hills. I'll wander out to the Museum @ Wigram in December after I've done other things (exams & symposium) & see if they have any there. If I can get one then I might be able to rectify it and put it into a GIS to get the Lats & Longs to the nearest 20 or so metres at a guess. Depends on the original photo and how much info I can get out of it. I'll raid the LINZ website too to see what they got.
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 23, 2011 8:42:19 GMT 12
Some MKIIIs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials, accidents (up until 1956) from NZ Archives: NZ1099 Mk III Previously EZ456. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. Eleventh Mk III to be converted to Mk 3* between May and November 1957. To storage at Wigram July 1962. Took part in Harvard 30th Anniversary Flypast over Christchurch on 22 March 1971. Took part in final Harvard Flypast over Christchurch on 24 June 1977. Sold by GSB tender in 1978 to D. Reidpath, Auckland and registered as ZK-ENK on 14 September 1978. Stored at Dairy Flat by December 1979. To C. Darby, Auckland 25 January 1983. Restored to flying condition by Gulf Aeronautics by 1990. To Westerfield Holdings Ltd., Auckland 03 June 1998. Advertised for sale in March 2003. To VH-NZX with Best Aviation Pty Ltd, Clark, South Australia on 28 November 2003. Ferried to Australia via Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island on 10 November 2003. NZ1099 19-Dec 1951 Wigram Taxy accident NZ1099 14-Feb 1952 Wigram Heavy landing NZ1099 22-Jun 1954 Wigram Brake not released       |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 24, 2011 23:31:17 GMT 12
Some MKIIBs - All RNZAF or RNZAF Museum official, comments from ADF Serials NZ1100 Mk IIB Previously KF403. From RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. Operated by TTS Hobsonville. Converted to INST149 at TTS Hobsonville in November 1951. Written off books Hobsonville 12 November 1951. Sold by GSB tender number 7078 to Bennett Aviation Ltd., Te Kuiti. Purchased by Jaycees and installed in childrens playground at Takapau in August 1963. To store at Ardmore with R. Jowitt. To Southair Aviation, Timaru with NZ1102. Sold by receivers of Southair to unknown buyer. Swapped with RNZAF Museum in exchange for parts to return NZ1040 to airworthy condition. In storage at RNZAF Museum early 1990s. Fuselage presently stored at Omaka with B. Black and D. Lochead awaiting restoration.  NZ1101 Mk IIB Previously KF407. From RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. To No.6 Flying Boat Squadron, Hobsonville 15 May 1952. 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. Believed sold in Australia for restoration.     NZ1102 Mk IIB Previously KF410. From RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "Empire Castle" in September 1944 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 10 October 1944. Converted to INST138 at TTS Hobsonville 19 January 1950. Sold by tender from Hobsonville in August 1965 in unairworthy condition and used in childrens playground at Morrinsville. Purchased by R. Jowitt mid 1985 and stored at Ardmore. To Southair Aviation, Timaru. Sold by receivers of Southair to unknown buyer. Swapped with RNZAF Museum in exchange for parts to return NZ1040 to airworthy condition. In storage at RNZAF Museum during 1990s. Presently stored at Ardmore with Greg Ryan.  |
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Post by NZ1009 on Oct 27, 2011 17:12:11 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 27, 2011 19:02:07 GMT 12
Wonderful photos there NZ1009. That coloured shot of the five ship Red Checkers team is great. Have you any idea what year that was, obviously late 1960's. It's neat to think that NZ1065 and NZ1078 are still flying today in the Harvard team.
That aerial view of the No. 2 Hangar flightline with the huge line up of Harvards is great too. What is that between the Harvards and the Devon? Is that a T6 Airtourer? It looks too big though, it's almost as big as the Devon.
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