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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 17, 2016 23:21:47 GMT 12
The Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 19, 25 July 1928, Page 18, reveals his address in a tender advert
TENDERS are invited, closing 4th August, for the Purchase for Removal of Wooden Buildings occupied by; Trades and Labour Council, Vivian street. Particulars from
HAROLD EDWARDS,
Seater's Buildings, 105, Customhouse quay.
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 17, 2016 23:29:20 GMT 12
Can anyone elaborate on the activities of one Harold Edwards. He lived in the Wellington area at least from 1937 to 1947, and obviously had connections with the Wellington aero club. Edwards bought Miles Whitney Straight ZK-AFG into NZ in mid-1937 and either leased or sold it to WAC. When the Whitney was released back ito civilian life in 1946 after serving as NZ579, Edwards again took ownership of it. However, he did not then keep it for long as it went to Airwork in Christchurch by 1947. Who was Edwards? I am assuming he was a Wellington bisinessman who needed to get around the country a bit, and thus either flew the Whitney or arranged for a WAC pilot to fly him in that aircraft. Any leads welcome. This was William Harold (Harold) Edwards. According to the 1938 electoral rolls he was a builder resident at 33 Marine Parade, Wellington. He was granted 'A' Licence No 742 on 12 Dec 34, having trained with the Wellington Aero Club. His licence was endorsed for passenger carrying on 5 Apr 35. Leo White makes brief mention of him on p96 of his Wingspread: 'Harold Edwards, of Wellington, a well-known contractor had a Miles Whitney Straight and as he was particularly interested in the construction of aerodrome buildings he was able to land right on the job.' Edwards died on 18 Jan 49, aged 61, and was cremated at Wellington. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 17, 2016 23:32:38 GMT 12
His company also build the new Trades Hall in Wellington in 1928.
In 1929 the company made alterations and extensions including a new showroom to the premises of Mr R. Hannah and Co, High Street, Wellington.
In 1933 the company constructed and did earthquake strengthening in the J.R.McKenzie's Ltd department store building.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 18, 2016 19:07:43 GMT 12
Thanks Dave and Errol.
That's excellent information.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 18, 2016 19:10:06 GMT 12
Peter, Harold Edwards was a builder. From memory he built either Cook Strait Airways hangar or passenger terminal at Nelson and if I recell correctly he also constructed the Wellington Aero Club club house which was still standing when I last visited Wgtn about a decade ago. I do have information on Harold back home in Oz but I will not be there for anther three weeks. If I come across any interesting additional info I will post it then That would be usefull. Thanks. |
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Post by catwilson on Aug 13, 2016 20:29:46 GMT 12
Hi there, Harold was my great grandfather. He used his plane for business - specialising in construction in NZ and Melbourne, in particular theatres. He was unable to take his plane to war as he was missing fingers due to an altercation with a circular saw.He had four children - with two surviving daughters, one in Warkworth, one in Plimmerton.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 14, 2016 0:04:20 GMT 12
I love the personal connections that this forum produces! Welcome to the forum Cat.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 12, 2016 11:45:11 GMT 12
A very cool photo here  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 29, 2016 21:02:17 GMT 12
Still making slow progress on the Miles research.
A couple more queries:
Miles Gemini ZK-AUA crashed at Whangarei airfield (presumably Onerahi) while landing on 17Jul1956.
Does anyone know any further details on this event - was Mac Maguire the pilot, was he alone in the aircraft, given that he was a professional pilot what was the cause of the crash, etc.
Miles Hawk Trainer III ZK-BBA is said to have crashed at Harewood (Christchurch) on 1Jul1956. Was this terminal? Any further details, and did this lead to its eventual demise at Timaru 11 years later?
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Post by errolmartyn on Dec 29, 2016 22:21:09 GMT 12
Still making slow progress on the Miles research. A couple more queries: Miles Gemini ZK-AUA crashed at Whangarei airfield (presumably Onerahi) while landing on 17Jul1956. Does anyone know any further details on this event - was Mac Maguire the pilot, was he alone in the aircraft, given that he was a professional pilot what was the cause of the crash, etc. Miles Hawk Trainer III ZK-BBA is said to have crashed at Harewood (Christchurch) on 1Jul1956. Was this terminal? Any further details, and did this lead to its eventual demise at Timaru 11 years later? AUA crashed between two houses at Onerahi just after noon on 17.7.56. Pilot McGuire [note spelling] and passenger Fr Cullen unhurt. He landed OK but the brakes failed and when the aircraft began to take off again a swing devloped in a cross wind and the aircraft arrived between the houses upside down minus wings. [Notes made by Derek Woodhall from The Press of 18.7.56] I have no info relating to a July 1956 crash of BBA, if there was one it did not involve a fatality. Peter, I'm sending you some 1967 newspaper clippings that include mention of its final demise. Cheers, Errol |
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Post by madmax on Dec 30, 2016 9:00:50 GMT 12
Hi Peter, Re the Magister BBA crash at Harewood on 1/6/56 it could not have been too serious as it was alive and well just a few years later. I photographed it in the CAA hangar at Wellington in 1960 or 61 when it was owned by Bruce Bonner who was an NAC engineer. It was painted blue and white at the time.
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Post by planewriting on Dec 30, 2016 15:30:47 GMT 12
Still making slow progress on the Miles research. A couple more queries: Miles Gemini ZK-AUA crashed at Whangarei airfield (presumably Onerahi) while landing on 17Jul1956. Does anyone know any further details on this event - was Mac Maguire the pilot, was he alone in the aircraft, given that he was a professional pilot what was the cause of the crash, etc. Miles Hawk Trainer III ZK-BBA is said to have crashed at Harewood (Christchurch) on 1Jul1956. Was this terminal? Any further details, and did this lead to its eventual demise at Timaru 11 years later? AUA crashed between two houses at Onerahi just after noon on 17.7.56. Pilot McGuire [note spelling] and passenger Fr Cullen unhurt. He landed OK but the brakes failed and when the aircraft began to take off again a swing devloped in a cross wind and the aircraft arrived between the houses upside down minus wings. [Notes made by Derek Woodhall from The Press of 18.7.56] I have no info relating to a July 1956 crash of BBA, if there was one it did not involve a fatality. Peter, I'm sending you some 1967 newspaper clippings that include mention of its final demise. Cheers, Errol |
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Post by planewriting on Dec 30, 2016 15:57:04 GMT 12
There are two references to L St John "Mac" McGuire in the book "Taking Off" co-authored by Yours truly. The first one is a reference to the above accident on 17 July 1956 at Onerahi however the second one is quoted below. When I was researching the larger of the regional airlines at Archives New Zealand, when writing the book, I stumbled on a file of licence applications for other companies. Some of these succeeded and some did not. Realising that this would most likely be the only occasion that many of these hopefuls would ever get mentioned in print, I wrote down all the main details of nearly fifty applicants.
Here is what I recorded for McGuire's enterprise:
NZ AERIAL SIGHTSEEING CO LTD
Another company which did not get a permanent licence was New Zealand Aerial Sightseeing Co Ltd, also known as Mac's Air Charter. This proposed operation was the dream of L St. John 'Mac' McGuire who owned Miles Gemini ZK-AQO. He intended to fly non-scheduled freight and passenger services, air taxi, joyriding, ambulance and charter services from Whenuapai, Ardmore and Mangere in the late 1950s to anywhere in New Zealand. The hearing was heard at the same time as Coastal Airways which, along with TAT and Auckland Aero Club, opposed his application. During the hearing, the Gemini was criticised by some to be unsuitable and not as desirable as NAC's DC-3s for travelling round New Zealand. Although not recorded at the hearing, this same Gemini had been owned by NAC only a few years earlier.
McGuire could not convince the Licensing Authority that there was sufficient work. He could only show about forty hours work in the foreseeable future and the existing operators were able to prove that they already served the requested area quite adequately. Even though the application was declined, there was a good-natured feel to the hearing, even acknowledged by the participating counsel. It was clearly shown too that those involved had a high regard for his airmanship despite having had the misfortune to lose another Gemini ZK-AUA as recorded in the Northwest Airlines chapter.
A light-hearted exchange occurred between a witness, Mr A. J. Paterson and Authority member, 'Tiny' White. White asked, "Are you a member of the Auckland Aero Club? ... Yes. Are you a flying member? ... Yes. Do you have a current licence? .. _Yes, I trained with you during the war in Canada, sir!
White responded, "Glad to see you are still alive!"
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Post by errolmartyn on Dec 30, 2016 17:56:21 GMT 12
There are two references to L St John "Mac" McGuire in the book "Taking Off" co-authored by Yours truly. The first one is a reference to the above accident on 17 July 1956 at Onerahi however the second one is quoted below. When I was researching the larger of the regional airlines at Archives New Zealand, when writing the book, I stumbled on a file of licence applications for other companies. Some of these succeeded and some did not. Realising that this would most likely be the only occasion that many of these hopefuls would ever get mentioned in print, I wrote down all the main details of nearly fifty applicants. Here is what I recorded for McGuire's enterprise: NZ AERIAL SIGHTSEEING CO LTD Another company which did not get a permanent licence was New Zealand Aerial Sightseeing Co Ltd, also known as Mac's Air Charter. This proposed operation was the dream of L St. John 'Mac' McGuire who owned Miles Gemini ZK-AQO. He intended to fly non-scheduled freight and passenger services, air taxi, joyriding, ambulance and charter services from Whenuapai, Ardmore and Mangere in the late 1950s to anywhere in New Zealand. The hearing was heard at the same time as Coastal Airways which, along with TAT and Auckland Aero Club, opposed his application. During the hearing, the Gemini was criticised by some to be unsuitable and not as desirable as NAC's DC-3s for travelling round New Zealand. Although not recorded at the hearing, this same Gemini had been owned by NAC only a few years earlier. McGuire could not convince the Licensing Authority that there was sufficient work. He could only show about forty hours work in the foreseeable future and the existing operators were able to prove that they already served the requested area quite adequately. Even though the application was declined, there was a good-natured feel to the hearing, even acknowledged by the participating counsel. It was clearly shown too that those involved had a high regard for his airmanship despite having had the misfortune to lose another Gemini ZK-AUA as recorded in the Northwest Airlines chapter. A light-hearted exchange occurred between a witness, Mr A. J. Paterson and Authority member, 'Tiny' White. White asked, "Are you a member of the Auckland Aero Club? ... Yes. Are you a flying member? ... Yes. Do you have a current licence? .. _Yes, I trained with you during the war in Canada, sir! White responded, "Glad to see you are still alive!" Leo St John McGuire was born on 21 Apr 1901 and diedon 17 June 1970. Paterson was NZ4213919 Alexander James Paterson who embarked for Canada on 12 Oct 43. 'Tiny' White was Air Commodore Trevor Watts White and Chief Liaison Officer at the New Zealand Air Mission in Ottawa from March 1942. He served with the RFC/RAF as a fighter pilot in WWI but his role in Canada was administrative, not flying, so it is not quite correct for Paterson to say he 'trained with' White. Errol |
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Post by NZ1009 on Dec 30, 2016 18:07:16 GMT 12
I read it as the conservation was between Mr A.J.Paterson and "Tiny" White and "trained with" as meaning they were both trainees.
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Post by planewriting on Dec 30, 2016 18:35:51 GMT 12
Correct NZ1009. The quoted conversation did not involve Mr McGuire. A light-hearted exchange occurred between a witness, Mr A. J. Paterson and Authority member, 'Tiny' White."
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Post by errolmartyn on Dec 30, 2016 18:38:54 GMT 12
I read it as the conservation was between Mr A.J.Paterson and "Tiny" White and "trained with" as meaning they were both trainees. My fault. Failed to read the post properly. Have now amended reply to same. Errol |
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Post by planewriting on Dec 30, 2016 18:44:26 GMT 12
It was probably, more than anything, a bit of court room banter. As I quoted from the file, "even though the application was declined, there was a good-natured feel to the hearing, even acknowledged by the participating counsel."
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 7, 2017 17:04:46 GMT 12
While scrolling through the history of the Whitney Straight in New Zealand, I have come across at least one mention of these aircraft flying with 3POB.
Question: was there a legal mod that then allowed pilot and two pax, or was this simply a case of cramming as many as would fit?
I am aware that the Miles Monarch was basically a three-seat Whitney.
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Post by davidd on Jan 7, 2017 17:40:22 GMT 12
The Canterbury Aero Club MWS (AJZ postwar) was legally modified to a three-seater, which meant you no longer had a baggage compartment behind the front seats, but I believe the MAUW remained the same. The MWS I am more familiar with (AUK) had two x 22 Imp gallon fuel tanks in the centre section, occupying all the space between the fore and aft box spars, which at a nominal 7 GPH fuel consumption gave a pretty fair sort of endurance (economical cruise was about 110 - 120 MPH I think). Michael Bevan (when he was still a guide at the RNZAF Museum) told me he flew AJZ to Blenheim in about 1950 when it was a three seater and with 2 passengers, and they subsequently took off from Omaka without doing any serious checks of their weight, etc (all on board were rather too young to bother about things like that according to Michael). They just managed to scrape over the fence after an extended take off run, and duly pondered on their narrow escape due to their neglect of such important but boring things as MAUW. Shortly after this incident the same aircraft met its fate at Loburn, with three aboard, although the accident was probably not due to overloading as such. I believe that AJZ was the only MWS operated as a 3-seater in NZ.
David D
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