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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 19, 2005 0:36:24 GMT 12
Where are all the monuments, plaques, statues, memorials and similar stone, brass or otherwise remembrance pieces in New Zealand relating to aviation? There must a be a few around, can we list them? I'll start with Cambridge - the plaque for Cambridge Airmen and Airwomen who served in WWII which I instigated and had unveiled last year (Nov 12th). Photo by Bruce  The new memorial at former RNZAF Station Waipapakauri (C-47 propeller mounted on a monument) See www.northnz.co.nz/News%20Archives%202004-05/April%202005.htmI recall reading that Gp Capt Maclean de Lange unveiled a plaque at his former station, RNZAF Station Seagrove, in the early or mid 1990's. The plaque rememebring the tragic Kaimai DC-3 crash, put in by Richard Waugh two years ago. There's a nice plaque commemorating Jean Batten on the entrance to the Aviation Hall at Motat.  Also at Motat's aviation side there are plaques beneath the Hurricane replica rememebring both Sir Keith Park, and the RNZAF pilots killed in the infamous Green Island affair. Sir Keith Park Memorial  Green Island Memorial  Also the Jean Batten statue outside the Auckland Airport international terminal that bears her name. And a statue of Richard Pearse's plane was erected at Temuka, wasn't it? There used to be a stone tablet on the spot on the airfield of Wigram's runway where the Southern Cross first touched NZ soil. It was removed to the RNZAF Museum as it was getting damaged by the mower, and a replica put in the spot. Where else can we find NZ aviation related memorials? |
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 19, 2005 18:10:22 GMT 12
Isn't there a memorial to Richard Pearse at Waitohi? I have never seen it, but I believe there is one near the site where he 'lifted off' on his first flight.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 19, 2005 18:29:50 GMT 12
Ah, that might be what I was thinking of, rather than Temuka.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 19, 2005 18:45:00 GMT 12
From memory, it's a small metal model of his plane mounted on a pole above a stone cairn? Don't quote me on this though! ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 19, 2005 19:12:30 GMT 12
Yes, that's what I was remembering too. I think another was unveiled somewhere down south on the 100 years of his 'first flight' in March 2003 too, wasn't it?
There must be more monuments, can anyone else think of any?
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 19, 2005 19:21:51 GMT 12
Isn't there a memorial to Capt. Edwin Musik (sp?) up near Auckland somewhere? I think he was the pilot of a Boeing Clipper that crashed in the Pacific on its way from NZ to the USA in the late 1930s.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 19, 2005 19:35:09 GMT 12
I guess another lasting memorial to prominent airmen and airwomen is the naming of aerodromes after them. Such as Hood Aerodrome at Masterton, after Hood who died crossing the Tasman.
And though not a flyer himself, Wigram after Sir Henry Wigram, father of military aviation in NZ
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2006 14:33:30 GMT 12
Another to add to the list - the February 2006 issue of New Zealand Aviation News reports on the uinveiling of a new plaque at Westport Airport, commemorating the Air Travel (NZ) Ltd DH90 Dragonfly ZK-AGP that crashed on the 21st of December 1942.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 6, 2006 22:12:05 GMT 12
There is a plaque at Mechanics Bay (Auckland) near the helicopter base referring to TEAL operations there. The Musick memorial is at Musick Point (of course) which is accessable by road through Pakuranga.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 11, 2006 7:58:02 GMT 12
On this page library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/LocalHistory/Fendalton/statues.aspI found "Plaque on grass area by Brevet Club, corner of Memorial Avenue and Russley Road. Dedicated to the memory of those who died on 21 November 1957 when a Bristol Freighter of SAFE Air crashed nearby on the Russley Gold Course, killing all four people on board. This was the only fatal accident in the forty years that SAFE Air flew. The company’s founder and General Manager, Tom O’Connell, died in the crash. The plaque was placed by their families and friends 21.11.92. " |
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Post by Bruce on Mar 11, 2006 22:02:15 GMT 12
There is a nice monument on Old Te Aroha Rd, Gordon (near Matamata - just past the hot pools) comemorating the 1963 crash of DC-3 Skyliner ZK-AYZ. It is complete with two DC-3 Propellor blades donated by the Warbirds DC3 syndicate. The site is close to the old Gordon Quarry, where search efforts were based, and has a line of sight to the ridge where the aircraft struck. There is a plaque at the actual crash site as well, but its a bit of a job to get to it.....
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 29, 2006 18:48:58 GMT 12
I snapped these photos of the Bristol Freighter accident memorial near the former sight of the Brevet Club. Sorry about the clarity - light wasn't too good, and it's amongst a small grove of silver birches.   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 29, 2006 19:58:01 GMT 12
Wow, that's a sad memorial.
Craig, as a Christchurchian you could probably answer this, on that corner where the Spitfire replica stands, cnr Russley Road and Memorial Ave, didn't the Brevet Club building used to be right there too? My memory tells me it was but when in Chch recently I note the corner is a big empty paddock. Was the building removed when the Brevat Club moved to Wigram?
It's like the historic King Edward Barracks right in town, I was aghast to see the whole complex is now just a carpark, called KEB Parking of all things! It seems all of Christchurch's military history is being systematically demolished.
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 29, 2006 21:15:57 GMT 12
Dave, you are spot on. There used to be a building there which was the Brevet Club, but it was demolished sometime in the 1990's: all that remains now is the Brevet Club sign, the Spitfire replica and the memorial wall to all the RNZAF personnel who have died during wartime. The wall features an image of Icarus falling from the sky as his wings are melting.
The Brevet Club members now meet in the Donaldson Room (above the entry to the RNZAF Museum), once a month I believe.
To tell you the truth, I am surprised that the Christchurch City Council hasn't allowed someone to knock down the Bridge of Remembrance!
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 29, 2006 21:25:56 GMT 12
Does anyone know anything about a memorial just outside of Masterton that apparently commemorates some feat of early aviation in that area? It's located on a country road S/SW of Masterton, I think (sorry to be so vague, but I can't remember exactly which way we were heading at the time).
I travelled out to Cape Palliser with a mate of mine while I was across the ditch, and he mentioned something about such a memorials existance, but we didn't have time to go and have a look.
Just thought one of you people from the North Island might know something about it?
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