RNZAF Museum Quiz Mk II

[Dave Homewood]

OK, since Wigram's my favourite museum, here's some more quiz questions for you:

1) When the museum's Skyhawk was unveiled and handed over to the Museum officially on the 8th of November 1988, who was the very important and interesting celebrity present from the USA at the ceremony?

2) Again the Skyhawk, the Museum spent six months heavily modifying the early model aircraft to the later A-4K standard. It was perfect in every way to match an RNZAF aircraft apart from two things in the end. One of them is missing, and the other (actually a collection of three various object types) is replica. Which are they?

3) In which year was the RNZAF Museum at Wigram awarded the first prize in the Tourist Attraction Category of the American Express New Zealand Tourism Awards?

4) Further to the Black Hand Gang, Moth Doctors and Geriatric Air Force mentioned in the previous quiz, there were actually some other volunteer groups within the RNZAF Museum organisation too. There are three other groups I have discovered Can you name them?

5) Wellington modeller Rex Crawford donated to lovely large models to the museum. What were they?

6) From where did the RNZAF Museum purchase it's second Avenger, NZ2505, which is now on permanent loan to GAPS in Gisborne?

7) The Catalina on the collection was sourced from Motat, but where had that museum got it from?

8) In around 1993 the RNZAF Museum News newletter that the museum puts out every so often changed its name to what?

9) Who was the original founding Director of the RNZAF Museum? And when he retired in 1991, who replaced him?

10) On a similar note, who was the original director of the Ohakea Museum, and when he retired in 1991, who replaced him?

[corsair67]

Okay, some of these are tough, but a couple caught my eye.

9. Sqn Ldr J Barry was founding director. Not sure who replaced him though.

10. Peter Strugnell? Again, not sure of his replacement.

[Dave Homewood]

Hi Craig, both are correct - 1/2 a mark each

[corsair67]

Okay here's another stab in the dark.....

2. Replica ECM aerials?

[turboNZ]

2. Does it not have the "hump", perhaps...

[Dave Homewood]

Not the aerials nor the hump for the Skyhawk. It has a hump. It was restored to the earliest configuration as NZ6207, the first to crash in service.

[corsair67]

2. It doesn't have an engine??

[turboNZ]

;D ;D ;D ;D

oh,...you were being serious, corsair67....

[corsair67]

Of course I was, Turbo: I'm always serious - not! ;D

This question has got me stumped. I keep looking at photos of 'NZ6207' to see if I can pick up what's missing or different, but I can't work it out.

[Dave Homewood]

Correct - the thing missing is the engine - removed due to weight considerations on the loading on the Atrium floor. The other consession where replicas were installed also was done for weight on the floor reasons. Can you work it out now?

[corsair67]

Okay, I think I'm on to it now!

2. Bombs, rocket pod and Sidewinder!

By the way: does anyone know whether the A-4C/L had the same model of P&W J52 engine that the RNZAF A-4K Skyhawks have? I was just curious.

[turboNZ]

I would have thought they could have made fibreglass replicas so the A-4 could still look armed.

[Dave Homewood]

Correct - the underwing attachments are replicas made from a lighter material (not specified but probably GRP)

The A-4C/L had the less powerful P&W J65 engine.

[corsair67]

1. Buzz Aldrin?

[Dave Homewood]

No. But close!

[corsair67]

No one else seems to want to have a go at these!

3. 1994?

5. Was one a C130 Hercules?

9. ? Angelo?

[Dave Homewood]

Sorry, all are incoreect mate.

A clue, Q. 3 go earlier. Also the models are large for plastic kits, not necessary models of large aircraft

[Dave Homewood]

Well, it looks as if this quiz has stumped everyone in most questions, so I'll give you the answeres. All info is sourced from various editions of RNZAF Museum News:

1) When the museum's Skyhawk was unveiled and handed over to the Museum officially on the 8th of November 1988, who was the very important and interesting celebrity present from the USA at the ceremony?

Appollo 12 Lunar Astronaut and Commander Charles 'Pete' Conrad

2) Again the Skyhawk, the Museum spent six months heavily modifying the early model aircraft to the later A-4K standard. It was perfect in every way to match an RNZAF aircraft apart from two things in the end. One of them is missing, and the other (actually a collection of three various object types) is replica. Which are they?

This one has been answered

3) In which year was the RNZAF Museum at Wigram awarded the first prize in the Tourist Attraction Category of the American Express New Zealand Tourism Awards?

1991

The award was made by then Tourism Minister, John Banks, about the only thing he ever got right

4) Further to the Black Hand Gang, Moth Doctors and Geriatric Air Force mentioned in the previous quiz, there were actually some other volunteer groups within the RNZAF Museum organisation too. There are three other groups I have discovered Can you name them?


The Museum Guides - those wonderful people who give up a day or two every week to show vistors around. They are volunteers, there purely for the enjoyment of it all.

The Gophers, also known as the Search and Recovery Team, whowere the ones who found and recovered aircraft bits from crash sites, etc.

And

The Hungry Enzymes - This was at least a nickname for the volunteers who kept/keep the aircraft and displays all polished and dusted and looking fantastic.

Additionally there was also the Friends Of the RNZAF Museum - a national group where people could join and receive the newsletter and other priviledges, and they did fundraising for the museum. I'm not sure if this is still going.

5) Wellington modeller Rex Crawford donated two lovely large models to the museum. What were they?

A 1/48th scale Lancaster in the "Boy in a Bomber" display, and a 1/24th scale Hurricane in the colours of a New Zealander. Since making this question I've found Rex Crawford became a modelling consultant to the museum so probably was involved in more than just these two, but I think these are the two large ones.

6) From where did the RNZAF Museum purchase it's second Avenger, NZ2505, which is now on permanent loan to GAPS in Gisborne?

The Silverstream Vintage Transport Society in Wellington

7) The Catalina on the collection was sourced from Motat, but where had that museum got it from?

Papua New Guinea, where it was rescued from a fire dump, hence it was full of holes. It was considered a big repair job, too big for Motat, and later proved too big for the RNZAF it seems.

8) In around 1993 the RNZAF Museum News newletter that the museum puts out every so often changed its name to what?

Contact - reflecting the wartime RNZAF magazine

9) Who was the original founding Director of the RNZAF Museum? And when he retired in 1991, who replaced him?

Original - Sqn Ldr John Barry
Replaced by - Sqn Ldr David Provan

10) On a similar note, who was the original director of the Ohakea Museum, and when he retired in 1991, who replaced him?

Original - Peter Strugnell
Replaced by - Peter Calkin

[phil82]

Wg Cdr Dave Provan was the guy who replaced J Barry as Director.

Pete Strugnell died a few years ago.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Phil. Dave Provan was a Sqn Ldr at the time he took over the job, as noted in my last post.

Is he still with the Museum now? Sad to hear Mr Strugnell has passed away. I met him just once while on temporary attachment to Ohakea during my SEQ course in 1991. He was a nice man and had achieved a heap with the museum he started. That was before it moved off the base.