Intact Crashed Corsair

[hrvd1068]

Any one got any rough idea where he may have crashed? start looking at aerial maps if it really can be seen on them. But i would of thought some one would have found it by now if it can be seen from the air.

[axelford]

Yeah seeing as Stephanwind said he saw the Corsair on "A high quality map" and he said not the latest imagery I suppose that eliminates some sources, Retrolens has an array of aerial photos but I suspect it is not the one he is referring to. Edit: Just remembered Stephanwind said it looked grey, that would suggest the photo is in colour?

I think a good first step to finding it is to get the details of his flight plan if possible. If we knew what area he was practicing maneuvers in we could know which direction he was returning to Whenuapai from and therefore get an approximate direction in the circuit he was travelling. And if we could get the prevailing wind that day we could find which runway and therefore which side he had to approach from. At the moment not knowing those details I cannot even give a rough idea. Maybe grgrimmer has some ideas on this?

[retiredav8r]

Very simple solution, if Stephanwind claim of seeing the aircraft on a high quality photo, stop the BS and make the photo available. So many others also stating of existing photo imagery. I repeat my statement, stop the BS and produce the evidence. I personally feel that the RNZAF, the relatives of the lost pilot would be most grateful to put this tragedy to rest, not have Bullsh*ters making statements that prolong the final closure.

[Dave Homewood]

Hear hear. There is no gain in hiding evidence if there is any, the wreckage is undoubtedly a war grave so no-one can touch it till the RNZAF and Police have been informed of it being located.

[hrvd1068]

Sept 15, 2021 14:19:36 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Hear hear. There is no gain in hiding evidence if there is any, the wreckage is undoubtedly a war grave so no-one can touch it till the RNZAF and Police have been informed of it being located.

Correct dave and agree hiding real evidence is just stupid as im sure every one would like this mystery to be over and the family to finally have some answers and lay him to rest instead of being lost somewhere.

[chrism]

I see stephanwind hasn't been online on this forum for 10 months. Do the moderators on here have any access to any details about him? Any way of contacting him?

[Dave Homewood]

I do have his email, from his profile. I tried contacting him directly a while back, no answer. I am very suspicious to be honest.

[axelford]

Sept 16, 2021 8:53:07 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I do have his email, from his profile. I tried contacting him directly a while back, no answer. I am very suspicious to be honest.

Me too. That is why I think moving on with a separate investigation is best. I was rereading "MISSING" and it states that NZ5544 was cleared to join the circuit, so drawing on Google earth an anti-clockwise oval around the airfield (The Circuit) with a mesh at a set altitude (Still need to figure out that variable) might reveal any high points that would have made NZ5544 meet a sudden end. I am leaning towards the idea that in turning to be anticlockwise and north east of the airfield, terrain was between him and his course.

I have heard people throw around Riverhead as a location but seeing as it is logged and used for recreation, I just have a hard time imagining a crash site being overlooked. 

[FlyingKiwi]

I doubt there's anything to this. I've seen untold numbers of photos of supposed mystery aircraft wrecks on satellite photos that are almost certainly just fallen trees or piles of rocks and whatnot. Not to mention realistically what is the likelihood of an aircraft that crashed so long ago still clearly resembling aircraft wreckage. Most of the aircraft that do still resemble aircraft from that time period were either abandoned intact or subject to controlled forced landings, ditchings etc. At the risk of being blunt there's a very high chance NZ5544 was an unrecognisable pile of mangled wreckage even immediately after it presumably crashed, let alone now. You'd probably be looking for things like the engine block or propeller rather than an intact fuselage/wings etc.

[axelford]

Oh definitely, once again I am saying we should ignore the claim of spotting it in one piece, but it would not hurt to plot out potential crash sites. I should have said that when I am checking for flight paths and probable crash sites I am not looking for a "Corsair shaped object," I've been to plenty crash sites now and none resemble aircraft barring ZK-AOE which in all fairness merely clipped a grass covered hill thus leaving the entire tail and left wing. Still, many metal skinned aircraft I have found to have large pieces of outer wing intact and tail but they are often covered in moss or fallen material.

And seeing as it was not found back then, it likely crashed in a way that broke it up rapidly rather than ploughing along in one piece, leaving an obvious site.

[shorty]

You mention outer metal skinned wings and suggesting that they are often visible but,however, a Corsairs outer wings are fabric covered

[axelford]

Good point, I suppose my point is invalid then, still it would make for a more visible object if wedged off the ground as has happened with other wrecks. A more likely candidate for large wreckage then could be the robust wing center section perhaps? I am only spit balling as there is so many variables. None of this would be visible from the air, there is no point looking solely on maps. In the end a ground search would be the only real way.

[baz62]

Sept 19, 2021 20:48:35 GMT 12 shorty said:

You mention outer metal skinned wings and suggesting that they are often visible but,however, a Corsairs outer wings are fabric covered

Yes that's right. From the main spar back but sheetmetal from spar to leading edge. Catalina is the same.

[pjw4118]

As we are all guessing , my thought is a large aircraft hitting the ground would have been heard by locals unless it was in a very remote area, and Riverhead really isnt that remote. Theres plenty of water around the west, so thats my guess. Just as cars have attractions to lampposts , so many aircraft have found water hard to resist , especially if there is nowhere else.

In looking for "lost " Corsairs , why have the RNZAF not rescued the one up in the Solomons ? Its position known and presumably is still NZG property.

[Dave Homewood]

Are Lend Lease aircraft operated by the RNZAF that crashed actually owned by the NZ Government though? While in service they were owned by the US Government, and as the Corsairs were supplied by the US Navy's supply system, there is likely US Navy rules over a crashed one. Unless the crashed examples were transferred to NZ ownership when the Lend Lease deal was all squared away after WWII?

[Mustang51]

Just have a look at the posts in the US about retrieving US Navy aircraft....keep away from that nightmare.

[pjw4118]

Dave , in the new Corsair book there is a section on the cleaning up of lend lease equipment agrrements at the end of the war and balancing of the books.. It seems title was given to the NZG .

[Dave Homewood]

OK, that is interesting. The book is still on my pile to read.