The NZPAF at Wigram in 1933

[Dave Homewood]

In a letter to the RNZAF Association News magazine in Spring 1993, Noel Baty listed all the personnel at Wigram when he joined the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. I thought some researchers here might find this of interest, and I will add my own notes in beige. if you can add further, please do.

GROUNDSTAFF

Flt Lt T. Denton - Equipment Officer

W/O S. Simpson - Engineering Officer

W/O F. Hiscock - Stores

Cpl H. Yeadon - Photo Section

Cpl W. Temple - Flight Fitter

Cpl C. Merrin - Transport

Cpl W. Dini - Workshop Rigger (This will be William 'Bill' Dini)

Cpl R. Thornton - Workshop Rigger

Cpl D. Symes - Workshop Fitter

LAC R. Leonard - Flight Rigger

LAC H. Salmon - Flight Rigger

LAC I. Rowe - Flight Fitter

LAC F. Fennessy - Pay Clerk (I wonder if this is meant to be Kevin Fennessy who was a pay clerk in the prewar and wartime RNZAF?)

AC2 R. Devin - Stores

App N.J. Baty - Workshop Rigger (this is Noel Baty who supplied the list)

W/O F. Sorrel - In charge of Rigging Workshop

F/Sgt W. Townsend - Admin (Station Warrant Officer)

LAC T. Sayers - Stores

Cpl F. Goldsmith - Flight Rigger

Cpl O. Gibson - Workshop Fitter and Turner

Cpl R. Gibbs - Radio

Cpl R. Meynell - Flight Rigger

Cpl C. Kingsford - Flight Rigger

Cpl F. Brookes - Workshop Fitter

LAC J. Hinton - Flight Rigger

LAC J.J. Simpson - Flight Fitter

LAC R. Wells - Flt Rigger

AC1 R.R. Smith - Metal Worker

App F.E. O'Leary - Workshop Fitter

AIRCREW

Sqn Ldr Findlay - Commanding Officer

Flt Lt H.B. Burrel - Staff Pilot

Flt Lt M. Buckley - Staff Pilot (This was Maurice Buckley)

Fg Off Thomas Somerset - Staff Pilot

[Dave Homewood]

Note no Chefs or Mess Stewards are mentioned. At that time there was no Mess. The Officers Mess was actually at the Bush Inn at nearby Riccarton. I don't know where the airmen messed. Perhaps they were billeted out to boarding houses?

[beagle]

Flight Rigger
todays equal to an aircraft technician.??

[Dave Homewood]

A modern Aircraft Technician is basically a combination of the two prewar/wartime trades although pre-war and during World War II this trade was split into "Airframe" and "Aero Engine" trades, as "Flight Rigger" and "Flight Mechanic" respectively.

When these tradesmen were ready for their senior course they were posted to the TTS at Rongotai (or Nelson from June 1943 onwards) to complete the "Fitter" equivalent of their basic trade, to Fitter IIA or Fitter IIE respectively.

Hence the senior tradesman designation when they were fully trained of Fitter IIE (engines) or Fitter IIA (airframes, who was the Rigger).

The Riggers looked after the airframe (specialists might include "instrument bashers" and "sparks" to look after instruments and electrical systems). The Fitter looked after the engines and associated controls and fittings.