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.

[stevechch]

Jun 16, 2007 22:21:25 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

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?

I've found reference to airmen being billeted to Canterbury College (uni). Dare say turning breaks in semesters.

[davidd]

F/O Thomas Somerset - I have the idea that this man was actually F/O Somerset Thomas (was this ever hyphenated?) In which case he must have had another (given) name.

[snaphead]

My next-door neighbor was C Merrin when I lived in Vickerys Road in the 1970s &1980's He had a fantastic photo collection in his home, what happened to them I wonder?

[Dave Homewood]

Apr 23, 2024 13:22:49 GMT 12 davidd said:

F/O Thomas Somerset - I have the idea that this man was actually F/O Somerset Thomas (was this ever hyphenated?) In which case he must have had another (given) name.

There was a Lieutenant-Commander V. J. Somerset Thomas mentioned in the HAWERA STAR, on 17 December 1930:

With probably more flying hours to his credit than the average pilot, Lieutenant-Commander V. J. Somerset Thomas arrived at Wellington by the Corinthic yesterday to join the New Zealand Air Force. During the last six months he has been engaged in civil flying as chief pilot of Kent Air Services, but prior to that he was for seven years in the Royal Air Force. His war service was with the navy and the last three and a-half years in the Air Force.

[errolmartyn]

Apr 23, 2024 17:04:01 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Apr 23, 2024 13:22:49 GMT 12 davidd said:

F/O Thomas Somerset - I have the idea that this man was actually F/O Somerset Thomas (was this ever hyphenated?) In which case he must have had another (given) name.

There was a Lieutenant-Commander V. J. Somerset Thomas mentioned in the HAWERA STAR, on 17 December 1930:

With probably more flying hours to his credit than the average pilot, Lieutenant-Commander V. J. Somerset Thomas arrived at Wellington by the Corinthic yesterday to join the New Zealand Air Force. During the last six months he has been engaged in civil flying as chief pilot of Kent Air Services, but prior to that he was for seven years in the Royal Air Force. His war service was with the navy and the last three and a-half years in the Air Force.

Vyvyan John Somerset-Thomas was born in England in May 1899. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in April 1916 and was later commissioned. He resigned or retired from the Navy in 1923 and then joined the RAF on a 7-year short service commission. He relinquished his SSC on completion of service in Mar 1930, at which time he had accumulated at least 786 flying hours.
He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant in the NZPAF and Flying Instructor at Wigram on 1 Jan 31, and also appointed as Adjutant to 4 (Army Co-operation) Squadron as of 3 Feb 31.
He resigned his commission with the (now) RNZAF on 15 Jul 35. The resignation came about as a result of his being in a 'minor degree' affected by alcohol whilst attending the Coroner's inquest into the fatal crash of ZK-ADO at Hokitika. At the time of his application to join the NZPAF in 1930 he was described as being a hardworking and excellent instructor and a very good officer, keen and hardworking well up in Navigation. Other reports referred to the excellent results he obtained from his pupils in navigation.
He appears to have been back with the RAF for a short time during c. 1 Jan 1937 - 1 May 1938 but was not with that service during the war, it seems.

Errol