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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2021 17:12:56 GMT 12
Hamilton Airport yes, the area is called Rukuhia (it's between Hamilton and Cambridge). RNZAF Station Rukuhia closed down around 1949 I think.
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Post by ngirl5 on Apr 26, 2021 20:03:51 GMT 12
Oh right. Thanks that's great to know. I wondered if history buffs and cool kids still call it Rukuhia after the station.
Thanks about Beavers too, that's tripped me out haha.
Sounds like you might get to see BVA more than us : ) I'm a bit out of Gis though and not near the airport, maybe just not on her usual flight paths. But that's neat to know. A Gis - Hamilton classic aviation link : )
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2021 20:02:26 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 6, 2021 8:01:05 GMT 12
There are some surplus Boeing 777's going nowadays...  |
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Post by ngirl5 on Sept 6, 2021 9:44:13 GMT 12
Hahaha  That would be magnificent over our little entrance Should have made the new airport terminal out of one. It's probably about the same size. Or is it smaller |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 24, 2021 13:35:14 GMT 12
GISBORNE HERALD, 14 JANUARY 1947
MORE CIVILIANS
SERVICE PERSONNEL
NUMBERS DWINDLING
GISBORNE ’DROME STAFF
The assimilation of members of the R.N.Z.A.F. into civil aviation is still going on, and the Gisborne aerodrome, although still under the control of the R.N.Z.A.F., is now largely staffed by civilians.
This week four air force men constituting the staff of the Gisborne airadio station will become civilians, but will continue the work they have been doing whilst in uniform.
The meteorological staff of two working at Darton Field were recently demobilised from the service, and only three members of the R.N.Z.A.F. now remain on the field. Two of these are flying control personnel, one being the officer in charge of the station. The only other man in uniform on the station is the cook. These men expect to enter “civvy street” again soon, but at present are a detached flight controlled from Ohakea.
During the war years, the Gisborne aerodrome was one of the busiest flying fields in New Zealand, and in 1943 the peak number of personnel stationed there was almost 1000. This consisted of men and W.A.A.F.s directly connected with the main flying station and members of the Aerodrome Defence Unit, which consisted of men waiting to enter aircrew training. These men were housed in separate camps on the outskirts of the airfield.
A general reconnaissance squadron equipped with Vickers Vincents was the first to use the airfield in 1941-42, and later these were replaced by American Harvard machines, which were partly used for training and partly for operational patrols over the sea.
A training school for torpedo bombers was established in the middle of 1943, and two squadrons were trained at the Gisborne field before taking part in the air war against the Japanese in the Pacific.
Corsair and Kittyhawk fighters were the next machines to use the aerodrome for a short time, and these were replaced by Ventura bombers, which were the last operational type of aircraft to be stationed at Gisborne.
The main camp which had been established in the Park racecourse was closed in 1945 and the quarters moved to the airfield for those few members of the R.N.Z.A.F. who have remained to carry out essential services. The number has gradually dwindled, as civil aviation has become predominant in the country, until this week only three of the former 1000 men in blue will remain.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 24, 2021 13:43:36 GMT 12
GISBORNE HERALD, 6 MARCH 1948
GISBORNE’S LAST LINK WITH THE R.N.Z.A.F. BROKEN
With the discharge from the Royal New Zealand Air Force this month of two flying control officers, the last link between Gisborne and the R.N.Z.A.F. — a link which has lasted for over six years — will be broken: All posts connected with Darton Field will then he under civil administration.
Since Darton Field first came under air force control early in the war many types of aircraft have used the runway and hundreds of New Zealanders can look back on the time they spent here. From its wartime peak of nearly 1000 personnel, the strength of the station has gradually shrunk until for the past nine months only two uniformed men have formed the detached flight under the headquartership of Ohakea.
This month Flying Officer R. Greening will be demobilised and will remain as flying control officer at Darton Field with a newly-appointed assistant, Mr. M. A. Carter. Corporal W. Faithfull, who has been assistant control officer since November, 1946, also will be discharged and will take up a position as assistant control officer at Mangere.
When Japan entered the Second World War in December, 1941, Gisborne, in view of its easterly location, became an important base for the air patrol of the east coast of the North Island.
It was at the beginning of 1942 that the R.N.Z.A.F. moved into Darton Field, taking over from Union Airways the large hangar and other buildings. Large houses in the vicinity of the airfield were requisitioned as messes and a full camp was established in the Park Domain. The first R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft to be stationed at Darton Field were a squadron of Vickers Vincents, one of Britain's oldest but most reliable reconnaissance machines still flying at that time.
Reconnaissance Patrols
Flown Patrols from Gisborne up and down the coast were carried out by these machines, while shipping convoys were also escorted, and an air watch kept for Japanese submarines, which were known to be in the vicinity.
As American aid was granted New Zealand and war supplies began to flown into the country. Harvard aircraft gradually replaced the Vincents. Although built primarily as a single-engined training machine, the Harvards were pressed into service as operational reconnaissance aircraft, owing to the lack of more suitable aeroplanes. As the Japanese menace to New Zealand gradually abated, so the importance of Gisborne as an operational station diminished and in mid-1943 it changed over to training.
T.B.F. Avenger aircraft were flown to the airfield and 30 Squadron, consisting of about 20 aircrews and a large servicing unit, was formed. After several months’ training from the field, the squadron was made operational and towards the end of that year flew north, finally being stationed on Bougainville. The squadron made many strikes over Rabaul and lost several aircraft during their operational period. A replacement unit, 31 Squadron and servicing unit, also with Avenger aircraft, commenced training at Gisborne early in 1944 and about April of that year proceeded to the Islands. The peak of activity at the Gisborne airfield was over by that time and it was successively used as a fighter gunnery training school with Kittyhawk machines and a reassembling base for Ventura squadrons returning overseas after a rest period.
Airfield Enlarged
By the end of 1944 practically all service flying from the airfield had ceased. The ’drome had been considerably enlarged, about 250 acres being added to the pre-war 110 acres, and several light hangars had been built by the air force around the perimeter of the field.
In March, 1945, civil flying, which had been abandoned during the war years, commenced again with a daily D.H. 86 service between Gisborne and Palmerston North. The only service personnel remaining at Darton Field then was a flying control officer, several radio operators, three meteorologists, and a small servicing party.
In 1946 the meteorologists were discharged from the R.N.Z.A.F. and came under Government control in the meteorological service. In November, 1946, Union Airways decided to extend their services and placed the speedier Electra aircraft on the run. An assistant flying control officer was then stationed at Gisborne by the R.N.Z.A.F.
Early last year it was decided to place the radio operators under civil aviation administration, which left four uniformed men at the field—two flying control officers, a driver and a cook. The mess was closed in July of last year and since then only two servicemen, both engaged in flying control, have remained at Darton Field. Flying control officers, in future, will come under civil aviation administration.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 24, 2021 14:26:51 GMT 12
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Post by davidd on Sept 28, 2021 11:53:49 GMT 12
The Indefatigable (which was of course just postwar in NZ, November 1945) hosted Seafires (Merlin), Fireflys (Griffon) and Avengers (radial engines!) from memory, but I cannot think of a V-12 engine that would weigh 2 tons, even a Griffon would not weigh that much. The Griffon-powered Seafires carried by the later arrival (HMS THESEUS) could have been the culprit, but again, 2 tons seems too heavy, even with a propeller, but that weight was probably just a rough estimate anyway.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 17, 2021 12:31:05 GMT 12
I think that must be the same Avenger in which, I think from memory due to engine failure, the crew were forced to perform a ditching, which was done so perfectly the three crew members managed to step out of the plane and into their raft without even getting a drop of water on them. They were not far from the coast and I think from memory they simply paddled to shore.
Of course that it not the only Gisborne-based aircraft that ended up in the sea. Sadly No. 8 (GR) Squadron Vickers Vincent NZ332 vanished on a patrol off the Wairarapa coast and the three crew were marked as missing, presumed killed. No-one has ever discovered what happened. One theory is they may have been shot down by a German raider - as their mission was to hunt for an unidentified ship that had been seen - but this is a longshot.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 20:34:07 GMT 12
What progress has been made on the restoration of the Fletcher, ngirl5? I'd be keen to hear about the other projects too.
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Post by ngirl5 on Jan 24, 2022 12:56:08 GMT 12
Thanks so much Zac : ) I've asked for an update. Thanks for prompting that: )
I've been meaning to ask.
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Post by nuuumannn on Feb 4, 2022 11:15:51 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2022 14:07:22 GMT 12
Lovely shots taken on what looks like a superb day, thanks for sharing Grant! I'm glad she's down and undercover - it's surprising that there are only three Fletchers with museums.
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Post by nuuumannn on Feb 4, 2022 14:09:22 GMT 12
Hi Zac, yup, was a glorious day. The guys at GAPS flung the hangar doors open and there was also a vintage and classic vehicle rally. Quite a few people went.
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Post by ngirl5 on Mar 10, 2022 8:30:52 GMT 12
Hey @zacyates I asked for an update from GAPS for you but I think they're pretty busy.
If you're interested you could message through their FB page or email them at gapsmuseum@gmail.com : )
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 20, 2022 22:27:48 GMT 12
The Canterbury Avro 504K was almost certainly E9432, later G-NZAF. A Government-loan aircraft, despite being described as 'new' in the article it had just been repaired after an incident at Pahiatua on 21st October 1921. It survived its time as a civil machine, and was returned to military service in 1923. Photo from the 'Gisborne Photo News'  |
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Post by ngirl5 on Mar 25, 2022 1:05:25 GMT 12
Thanks so much Peter : ) : ) : ) So amazing to see this and imagine it happening. I always hope someone will do it again one day.
I gather it may not be allowed now but we can hope : )
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2022 15:36:35 GMT 12
I have a fantasy of going barnstorming with a Tiger Moth (a rotary Avro isn't quite as achievable?), ads/stories in local papers to let them know you're coming, "RIDES" painted under the wing, all done on the smell of an oily rag to spread the joy of aviating. I'd like to think it's possible...
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 25, 2022 19:04:54 GMT 12
For a real-life write-up on the realities of a barnstormers life, get and read a copy of Richard Bach's book 'Nothing by Chance'.
It was a hard way to graft a living.
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That would be magnificent over our little entrance 
