Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 18, 2015 19:25:42 GMT 12
I wonder if any photos exist of the Indefat in Auckland's Prince's Wharf? I found several taken by Leo White from the air as she and her escorts Wizard and Urchin were approaching the harbour but none in the actual city wharf.
Here's an article from the New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25382, 11 December 1945, Page 4
CARRIER'S VISIT
ARRIVAL TOMORROW
TODAY'S AIR DISPLAY
OVER 60 PLANES ENGAGED
The first large British aircraft-carrier to visit Auckland, the Indefatigable, of 31,000 tons, in company with the destroyers Urchin and Wizard, is due off Rangitoto Beacon at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. On board the carrier, which will berth at Prince's Wharf at 11 o'clock, is Vice-Admiral Sir Philip Vian, flag officer of the First Aircraft Squadron and second in command of the British Pacific Fleet.
The ship is commanded by Captain I. A. P. MacIntyre, C.B.E., D.S.0., R.N. Prior to the carrier's arrival tomorrow there will be a flypast of approximately 50 of her aircraft this afternoon. The aircraft, including Seafires, Fireflies and Avengers, will be joined by the 16 naval planes now visiting the Royal New Zealand Air Force station Ardmore and all will fly over the city in company between 4 and 4.30 o clock. They will then return to the carrier.
Exchange of Calls
After the "carrier has berthed at Prince's Wharf tomorrow and the two destroyers have made fast alongside Hobson Wharf, the greater part of the day will be occupied in the exchange of official calls. Members of the ships' companies will come ashore on leave at one o'clock in the afternoon, and all-night leave will he allowed for the duration of the visit, which will conclude with the departure of the ships for Sydney next Tuesday.
The Indefatigable will be open to organised parties of school children on Thursday and also next Monday. She will be open to the public on Friday afternoon from three o'clock until six and on Saturday afternoon from one o'clock to six. On Sunday, members of the ship's company will be permitted to have guests on board, but the ship will not be open to the public.
Entertaining Ships' Companies
A ceremonial march through the city is scheduled for Friday at noon. The saluting base will be at the Town Hall, where the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, will take the salute. There will be some 600 officers and men in the parade and they will be drawn from the carrier and her escorting destroyers, H.M.S. Barfleur and H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia, Philomel and Tamaki.
Varied entertainments have been arranged for members of the three ships' companies. A party of 350 will visit Rotorua by train on Saturday, and on Sunday there will be a motor-bus trip to west coast beaches. A club has been established in the supper room at the Town Hall. It will be open for 12 hours from 11 o'clock each morning, and will be the centre at which residents wishing to offer hospitality to the visitors may contact the men.
----------------------------
GREAT HOUR FOR GISBORNE
CARRIER IN THE ROADSTEAD
(0.C.) GISBORNE, Monday
Preceded by swarms of planes which zoomed over the town at speed and in formation, the carrier Indefatigable and her destroyer escort presented an impressive picture this afternoon as she cruised in the Gisborne roadstead. There were thousands of admiring spectators on the hill and waterfront vantage points.
-----------------------------
NAPIER DISAPPOINTED
SHIPS WELL OUT TO SEA
(0.C.) NAPIER, Monday
Thousands of people from all parts of the province lined the shores of Hawke Bay this morning to see the British aircraft-carrier Indefatigable and her escorting destroyers. Between eight and nine o'clock the Napier- Hastings main highway bore a packed mass of vehicles conveying people from inland districts to the coast. In brilliant sunshine a number of aircraft from the carrier in tight formation flew low over Napier and Hastings, heralding the arrival of the ships shortly before nine o'clock. The carrier and her escorts slackened speed, but did not stop. After a blast of sirens that awakened the echoes from Bluff Hill the ships moved out to sea at 10 o'clock. It was anticipated that the vessels would approach close to Marine Parade, but they passed four and a-half miles from the land. At this distance it was impossible to distinguish any feature of the great ship.
Disappointment that the snips remained so far offshore and stayed for such a short space of time was expressed by the Mayor of Napier, Mr T. W. Hercock. Thousands of people were disappointed in not having a better view of the vessels. A party of 400 schoolboys from various Napier schools and members of civic and patriotic organisations sailed on the Richardson Line steamer Pukeko to meet the convoy in the middle of the bay.
Here's an article from the New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25382, 11 December 1945, Page 4
CARRIER'S VISIT
ARRIVAL TOMORROW
TODAY'S AIR DISPLAY
OVER 60 PLANES ENGAGED
The first large British aircraft-carrier to visit Auckland, the Indefatigable, of 31,000 tons, in company with the destroyers Urchin and Wizard, is due off Rangitoto Beacon at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. On board the carrier, which will berth at Prince's Wharf at 11 o'clock, is Vice-Admiral Sir Philip Vian, flag officer of the First Aircraft Squadron and second in command of the British Pacific Fleet.
The ship is commanded by Captain I. A. P. MacIntyre, C.B.E., D.S.0., R.N. Prior to the carrier's arrival tomorrow there will be a flypast of approximately 50 of her aircraft this afternoon. The aircraft, including Seafires, Fireflies and Avengers, will be joined by the 16 naval planes now visiting the Royal New Zealand Air Force station Ardmore and all will fly over the city in company between 4 and 4.30 o clock. They will then return to the carrier.
Exchange of Calls
After the "carrier has berthed at Prince's Wharf tomorrow and the two destroyers have made fast alongside Hobson Wharf, the greater part of the day will be occupied in the exchange of official calls. Members of the ships' companies will come ashore on leave at one o'clock in the afternoon, and all-night leave will he allowed for the duration of the visit, which will conclude with the departure of the ships for Sydney next Tuesday.
The Indefatigable will be open to organised parties of school children on Thursday and also next Monday. She will be open to the public on Friday afternoon from three o'clock until six and on Saturday afternoon from one o'clock to six. On Sunday, members of the ship's company will be permitted to have guests on board, but the ship will not be open to the public.
Entertaining Ships' Companies
A ceremonial march through the city is scheduled for Friday at noon. The saluting base will be at the Town Hall, where the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, will take the salute. There will be some 600 officers and men in the parade and they will be drawn from the carrier and her escorting destroyers, H.M.S. Barfleur and H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia, Philomel and Tamaki.
Varied entertainments have been arranged for members of the three ships' companies. A party of 350 will visit Rotorua by train on Saturday, and on Sunday there will be a motor-bus trip to west coast beaches. A club has been established in the supper room at the Town Hall. It will be open for 12 hours from 11 o'clock each morning, and will be the centre at which residents wishing to offer hospitality to the visitors may contact the men.
----------------------------
GREAT HOUR FOR GISBORNE
CARRIER IN THE ROADSTEAD
(0.C.) GISBORNE, Monday
Preceded by swarms of planes which zoomed over the town at speed and in formation, the carrier Indefatigable and her destroyer escort presented an impressive picture this afternoon as she cruised in the Gisborne roadstead. There were thousands of admiring spectators on the hill and waterfront vantage points.
-----------------------------
NAPIER DISAPPOINTED
SHIPS WELL OUT TO SEA
(0.C.) NAPIER, Monday
Thousands of people from all parts of the province lined the shores of Hawke Bay this morning to see the British aircraft-carrier Indefatigable and her escorting destroyers. Between eight and nine o'clock the Napier- Hastings main highway bore a packed mass of vehicles conveying people from inland districts to the coast. In brilliant sunshine a number of aircraft from the carrier in tight formation flew low over Napier and Hastings, heralding the arrival of the ships shortly before nine o'clock. The carrier and her escorts slackened speed, but did not stop. After a blast of sirens that awakened the echoes from Bluff Hill the ships moved out to sea at 10 o'clock. It was anticipated that the vessels would approach close to Marine Parade, but they passed four and a-half miles from the land. At this distance it was impossible to distinguish any feature of the great ship.
Disappointment that the snips remained so far offshore and stayed for such a short space of time was expressed by the Mayor of Napier, Mr T. W. Hercock. Thousands of people were disappointed in not having a better view of the vessels. A party of 400 schoolboys from various Napier schools and members of civic and patriotic organisations sailed on the Richardson Line steamer Pukeko to meet the convoy in the middle of the bay.
