Episode 45 - The Mosquito Honour Dinner

[Dave Homewood]

On the eve of the de Havilland Mosquito KA114 making its debut flight at its new home at Virginia Beach, USA, we look back to the evening of Saturday the 29th of September 2012, the Mosquito Honour Di...nner.

This was the grand dinner event following the Mosquito's debut airshow at Ardmore Airport, Auckland, New Zealand. The Honour Dinner was held in the New Zealand Warbirds hangar, and the guest speakers included the following, in the order that they are heard:

Peter McQuarters - MC
Frank Parker - New Zealand Warbirds President
Peter Fahey - Mosquito First Flight
Peter Anderson - co-MC
Allan George - Pathfinder Veteran
Glyn Powell - Restorer from Mosquito Restorations Ltd
Warren Denholm - Restorer from Avspecs Ltd
Jerry Yagen - Mosquito Onwer
Richard Gates - Former Ardmore Airport CEO
Keith Skilling - Mosquito pilot
Dave Phillips - Mosquito pilot

As this is recorded at a live event the audio quality is as best could be achieved in a hangar with over 400 people, and dinner being prepared by caterers. However it is still a great record of that exciting evening.

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show_Two.html#Ep_45_Mosquito_Dinner

[No longer identifiable]

Dave, thanks so much for making the effort to record this. I've just finished listening to it, and although I had heard a lot of the story behind KA114 it was still wonderful to hear things first-hand from Glynn, Warren and Jerry as well as the other speakers. As you acknowledged, the sound quality could have been better but with careful listening I heard most of it, and it made me feel very proud to be a kiwi (even though I had absolutely nothing to do with it ). Here's hoping it flies well and safely in the US, and that it is enjoyed as much as it was here.

[Damon]

I missed the evening dinner. I am sure it was a great success. Thanks for taking the mike Dave.