Galatea Airfield

[zkdex]

I'm doing some research on Galatea Airfield, and am interested in establishing the following:

1. SIZE OF ORIGINAL AIRFIELD: reference "A" suggests "around 170 acres", while a Whakatane District Council publication in 2000 mentioned 42 hectares (around 104 acres). NOTE: the boundaries of the original field were Galatea Rd (west), Mangamate Rd (south), Haumea Stream (east) and private property (north). Most of the field is now leased as farmland.

2. NUMBER OF RUNWAYS USED: the field is big enough to support more than just the present-day runway. Just wondering if there was more than just runway 01/19?

3. LENGTH OF RUNWAY 01/19: reference "A" mentions 3700 feet (1233 yards or 1127 metres); Whites Air Directory 1985 mentions 1219 metres (1333 yards or 3999 feet); while the Whakatane District Council Handbook 2000 mentions that the runway was extended in the 1960's to 1082 metres, and at 2000 was now 1025 metres.

Any help appreciated.

[thomarse]

I've only flown off it once, about 1992 from memory.

According to my old White's Air Directories, all through the early 60s it was listed as longest run 17/35 4800ft, altitude 635ft, but by 1969 it had shrunk to 4000ft and mysteriously lowered itself to 550ft AMSL

It must once have been about a mile long as Daks topdressed off it

[philip]

I fly in there at least once a year to visit a dairy farm client. My client actually leases a large proportion of the airfield from the council which is part of his fully irrigated dairy operation and has been for many years. There is also areas along the strip that appear to have been used sporadically for grazing and cropping. Here is a picture I took of the strip and his farm. The lease block is between the strip and the rows of trees. I'm not sure of cross runways but the original area would have been quite some size. I can ask, although my client has only been there about 6 years.

[Peter Lewis]

Whites Air Directory 1963 gives 17/35 4800ft, by 1968 it had reduced to 4000ft.

The place now seems to be mainly used by training flights from Rotorua.

[Bruce]

Bruce McDonald (eieio on the forum) is the expert on Galatea Airfield history - he grew up alongside the place. Drop him a message...

[eieio]

Galatea airfield........ I believe it was 140 acres ,could well be 170 ,was 1 mile on 17/35 [If thats paralell with Galatea road . .The eastern boundary [viewing from 270o as .in the photo is [was]a water course at the near end of the 3 rows of poplars. out of the picx [ left ]the airfield narrowed and came around to the 17/35 .At times a runway was mown from S.E corner [where sealed road becomes less distinct. to existing runway left of picture .It would appear some gravel was introduced to 17/35 as a wartime effort . I always understood we were 550 ft ASL and we were 2 miles up toward those great lumps of greywacke. The Air Department hut was a source of interest to school kids,[across the roads from existing buildings] .I suspect the telephone was broke more often than not . Thats some of the basics any way.

[zkdex]

Many thanks to all who have replied so far. Trawling through early Public Works Department reports did not give me ANY of the above information!
AIRFIELD SIZE: calculating area based on legal descriptions gives an area of 167 acres, this does not include the riparian strip along the Haumea stream (east side). At the time of completion in 1937/38, Galatea was certainly the largest airfield in the Bay of Plenty!!
RUNWAY 17/35: I suspected that such a runway could have existed, it certainly is the longest run on the airfield. Thanks for the details!
FACILITIES: The reference to the Air Department hut is interesting - was this during the war of after? Given that Galatea was officially an Emergency Landing Ground duirng the war, I figured there were few, if any, facilities present.

[thomarse]

ZKDEX

If you're into all airfields in the general area, I'd love to know what you turn up about Wainui/Ohiwa.

[eieio]

galatea again.......I think the hut was there when I started school 1950 .Same style as various military/Govt design . The nearest phone,if not on the airfield would have been at the Lands and Survey developement depot 1/2 a mile to the east on Mangamate road. The valley farmers had to wait until 1952 for auto exchange phone .Perhaps different history ,the local traffic cop wheeling in and ploughing 1/2 the field and sowing barley apparently without any ones permission ,the Black and white HD holden was often seen at work ,in a paddock ! And then the following year ripping up the other 1/2 of the field ,[and leaving it rough as guts] . Also home of Avian ACM for several years ,at that time the oldest flying aircraft in NZ

[Peter Lewis]

Apr 3, 2014 19:08:26 GMT 12 eieio said:

. . home of Avian ACM for several years . . .

As far as I can tell, the Avian is the only 'real' aircraft ever to have lived there.

All the others have either been microlights or helicopters.

[zkdex]

Re Wainui-Ohiwa, I had forgotten all about this! At one time I though it might have been an airstrip on Burma Road, not far from Wainui Road/Ohiwa Harbour. I'll see what I can dig up!

[pjw4118]

I seem to recall reading Galatea was formed as a fall back airfield like Wahoroa if the Japs invaded Northland , but for heavies. I will try and find the reference but the plan was to keep the US/Australia link open via NZ so long as Fiji and Tonga werent invaded. It probably was the aerodomes board that planned all the diversionary strips here and in the islands.

[eieio]

" As far as I can tell, the Avian is the only 'real' aircraft ever to have lived there."

Gary Dixon had a Cherokee there for several years ,more recently a C177 for some time .

[avenger]

I also recall Galatea and Rotherham intended as dispersal fields in the event of japanese invasion. Unable to find a reference.

[Peter Lewis]

Avian ACM

So who was W M Harray? A well known local?

[pjw4118]

If you want to see a huge diversionary airfield , google earth up Haast

[eieio]

W M Harray , a dairy farmer ,don't know his personal aviation status ,except that he thoughtflying to Matamata regularly was better than driving.

[errolmartyn]

Apr 4, 2014 20:19:54 GMT 12 eieio said:

W M Harray , a dairy farmer ,don't know his personal aviation status ,except that he thoughtflying to Matamata regularly was better than driving.

The 1946 Waikato electoral roll records one William Matthew Harray, radio mechanic of Te Poi.

There may be a connection with him and the following (from my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices):

HARRAY, Lieutenant (A) Thomas Ian.
(no No.) (prev NZD1160); b Te Puke 3 Mar 16; Matamata JHS (1st XI/XV & Sports Champ); student. NZNF [redesignated RNZN 1.10.41] HMS Philomel/Auckland as Seaman Boy 2nd Class 15 Jul 32, light cruiser HMS Diomede 21 Jul 33, cruiser HMS Achilles 1 Apr 36, HMS Pembroke/Chatham I 21 Apr 36, battleship HMS Ramillies 7 May 36, HMS Victory I/Portsmouth & Pty Off 7 Jun 37, t/frd to RN & Comm 1 Sep 37, HMS President/RN Coll Greenwich 29 Sep 37, Portsmouth for cse 5 Sep 38, submarine net layer HMS Guardian 19 Jun 39, t/frd to RN/FAA & HMS Excellent/Whale Island as Observer u/t 17 Nov 40, HMS Condor/Arbroath 3 Feb 41, Air Observers Badge, emb for Egypt & HMS Grebe/Dekheila c.17 Jul 41, 826 Sqn (Albacore) 18 Oct 41, kao 13 Dec 41. Fleet Air Arm Memorial - Addenda Panel 7, Lee-on-the-Solent. Son of John & Violet Ann Harray (née Douglas), of Te Poi; h of Jean Harray (née MacKenzie), Kensington, London, England. [phot. TWN 7.1.42].

Errol

[thomarse]

Since this thread is on the wander, I'll recall the first time I saw ACM at Fenton Street in about 1961. It was in the rear hangar, and was emblazoned with (from memory) a flying horse which may have been the logo of the time of an oil company - Atlantic?

It may also have been Pegasus - 1961 is a few hot meals ago.

[Dave Homewood]

Mobil Pegasus?