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Post by shorty on Aug 17, 2008 10:04:13 GMT 12
These next two were taken during an ATC visit to Whenuapai about 1962. The activity was a loading exercise for the Territorial Army. The driver was being guided by a marsheller and I inadvertantly stood right in front of while taking the photo. It was not appreciated! Hastings 01 is lurking in the corner.  NZ 5907 Loading by Neville Mines[
 NZ 5907 by Neville Mines, on Flickr That first shot could be a nice diorama setting for a Airfix Superfreighter conversion, using the landrover out of their C 130 kit. Getting the doors thin enough would be a challenge though. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2008 13:01:46 GMT 12
Great shots, well done for getting in the way to get a good angle.
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Post by shorty on Aug 17, 2008 17:22:48 GMT 12
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Post by shorty on Aug 17, 2008 18:59:04 GMT 12
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Post by shorty on Aug 17, 2008 20:36:29 GMT 12
Just looking at those photos of Baffin S1573/NZ155 again and I notice that they weren't taken at the same time as I thought they were. In the top photo there is a structure (tail hook attachment?) forward of the tail skid which is not present in the later photos.I have not seen this in any other photos except for the one photo in Darby's book of the same aircraft (S1573) in it's full FAA markings as delivered to Hobsonville.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2008 20:53:41 GMT 12
That is a good spot there Shorty. I have noted a few other little things on the various Baffins shots you've posted too, such as in the photo of one at Rongotai in front of the fence at the bottom of the previous page it had black outer wing pillars, coloured wingtips and spinner tip, no serial on the tail and a large 6 on the mid-fuselage. An odd paint scheme, must be FAA colours too.
I know there were a few mods done to the Baffins in NZ too by the TAF and RNZAF, but I'm not sure what that piece of gear is in front of the skid in the photo you mention. I wonder if it had somethign to do with towing a banner, if not part of the hook gear? They certainly did tow a banner from one at Omaka in 1938 I believe.
Note also it has the little flags on the wing pillar like I have noticed and posted in a thread elsewhere, it must have been part of the FAA markings but what did it mean - they don't match the alphabetical flag system of the Royal navy or US Navy.
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Post by shorty on Aug 17, 2008 21:41:29 GMT 12
Peering intently at all the Baffin photos I can find I doubt very much if the item was for drogue towing, its on the photo when it arrived and first flew on 1-2-38 but not later. I can't see any little flags on the wing struts (not pillars)all though these were often flown on flight commanders aircraft for identification..
Did you notice in the Rongotai picture the pair of floats leaning against the fence?
I can't identify what is hanging under the aircraft by the exhaust. it may be a can to collect oil drips although it also looks a bit like a sign. Also notice it has flare holders under the wing tips (sticking down at the tip colour line)
Also one of the photos of NZ155 posted earlier shows that the chocks were labelled 155 so each aircraft had it's own chocks at that time.
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Post by angelsonefive on Aug 17, 2008 21:55:59 GMT 12
I am not sure exactly what the RNZAF intended to use the Baffin for, but if it was what was called in those far off days, " Army Co-operation " then that bit of gear may well have been a hook for picking up messages from the troops on the ground.
With the advent of radio equipment for front line troops it may have been decided that the message
snatching gear was no longer required and was thus removed.
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Post by shorty on Aug 17, 2008 21:56:35 GMT 12
Ok how would you guys like some Corsair photos? These first three also appear in Warren Russell's book but I'll put them up here anyway. First is a RNZAF Museum photo of 2 SU aircraft at Bouganville 1945. they are NZ5418,NZ5405, NZ5484,unidentified, NZ5423  NZ 5418 by Neville Mines, on Flickr Next is NZ5255 of 4 SU/18 Sqn June/July 1944 at Emirau. The "Irate Donald Duck"marking is on the cowl (it was also on NZ5248) Phot via Ross Montgomery  NZ 5255 by Neville Mines, on Flickr Last one is NZ5332 of 5 SU at Ardmore 1944  NZ 5332 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2008 22:22:05 GMT 12
I can't see any little flags on the wing struts (not pillars)all though these were often flown on flight commanders aircraft for identification.." On the first photo on this page, the nice clear one, look at the far strut (starboard). You can see the markings there, and they're the same as (may be the same aircraft) this I blew up from a group photo of officers in front of a Baffin at Woodbourne:  They look like the phonetic alphabet flags the navy used, but are not. I've checked the flags used at that time and they don't match. Yes, I wonder what they were off. They're quite large. I've seen variations of something hanging under the chin, I think they are drip tins. I wish the scan of that Rongotai one and the one at the tiop of this page were larger. Hadn't noticed that, thanks. Interesting. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2008 22:25:18 GMT 12
I've just realised that shot of the Baffin at Rongotai was possibly taken after the aircraft was removed from service in 1941 and is sitting there awaiting its fate, near the TTS. I have seen a photo somewhere of the Baffins lined up along the same fence while awaiting breaking up. So those markings of black struts, the number 6 and the wingtip colours might be in fact from service in No. 3 GR Squadron.
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Post by Martin Wienert on Aug 18, 2008 8:13:43 GMT 12
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Post by shorty on Aug 18, 2008 9:27:23 GMT 12
Dave, sorry, I was looking for cloth type flags, I'll play with the photos later and see whatelse turns up
Martin, that looks like a great site which I'll have an explore of.
I'll post some more Corsair photos later when I have some more time.
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Post by shorty on Aug 18, 2008 16:50:57 GMT 12
The original of the Rongotai Baffin photo is only a 3" x 2" but I scanned it again at the highest resolution I could and blew it up as much as it would stand. The item hanging from it is a notice of some sort but is unreadable. it appears about 10 letters on top and then three word of 5, 4 and 2 and a black panel underneath. If I had to guess at what it said I would suggest it reads "Serviceable Please Keep Off" with a panel underneath for chalk extras. In other words the aircraft had been readied for flight so don't fiddle with it!
I don't think it is awaiting scrapping as it is too complete looking, no panels missing or torn fabric.
I don't go with the message hook idea either, where these have been used they are mounted further forward, where this device is the crew wouldn't be able to attach or remove messages and the Baffins were used for general reconnaissance and maritime patrol.
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Post by shorty on Aug 18, 2008 17:06:19 GMT 12
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Post by shorty on Aug 19, 2008 9:01:49 GMT 12
Here is another of my Box Brownie collection of NZ5648 circa 1956. The Hudson that was alongside was no longer there. Even though it was 50 plus years ago had the Hudson been there I would have been made aware of it as I was their with my Dad who had worked on Hudsons. If you compare this shot with the Hudson one posted by Hairy you can see that the hedge behind is much higher and the signwriting in the flap fence has faded a lot.  NZ 5648 Asplins c by Neville Mines, on Flickr Next view of it taxying is after it had been restored as NZ5611 "Josephine" for the opening of Hamilton Airport. Note the the forward u/c doors are missing.  NZ 5648 by Neville Mines, on Flickr |
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Post by shorty on Aug 19, 2008 9:58:51 GMT 12
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pa18
Warrant Officer
Posts: 37 
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Post by pa18 on Aug 19, 2008 10:29:02 GMT 12
Frank Bish at the helm,amazing he got the tail up with no flap out
Who was J. Larsen, Palmerston North ?
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Post by shorty on Aug 19, 2008 10:40:41 GMT 12
Jim Larsen, a scrappie, although registered at Palmerston North his main operation was based at Rukuhia. Apparently he recovered his initial outlay just by selling the gas in the tanks of all the aircraft
.He bought most of the sircraft and Asplin took a smaller number. With the extension to the Hamilton runway the area had to be cleared (By this stage only P-40s were left), so the wings were torched off and they were moved to Asplins yard (photos to come later) It was from there that John Chambers and John Smith got theirs
Notice Frank is holding a reasonable amount of up elevator.
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Post by shorty on Aug 19, 2008 15:58:49 GMT 12
After the show it stood outside in the AESL area for quite a while. Whilst it was there some turkey backed a truck into it and crumpled the base of the rudder, the damage can just be seen in the top photo by the guys shoulder.  NZ 5648 Rukuhia by Neville Mines, on Flickr  NZ 5648 as 11 at Rukuhia by Neville Mines, on Flickr Later it was loaned to MOTAT (photos later when the slides are converted) and then this happened.  NZ 5648 Asplin sale to US by Neville Mines, on Flickr Interesting to compare the price involved when it left NZ as opposed to what it cost to come back here! |
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