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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 15, 2006 15:27:19 GMT 12
In the August 1982 NZ Wings it states in two different news items that:
The RNZAF Museum sent a team to survey the possible recovery of sunderland NZ4111 from the Chatham Islands. It says the team had checked the remains and reported it was feasible to get enough components for display purposes. They were asking for any interior fittings for the restoration... what happened to this plan?
And...
an RNZAF team lead by Wg comm Brian Knight had dived on the wreck of Catalina NZ4031 at Funafuti in the Tuvalu group , to survey it and evaluate the possibility of recovering it. When they got there they found souvenir hunters had already nicked the instrument panel, instruments and guns. Did anything more ever come of this? Was a recovery considered? Was it in salt water of a fresh water lagoon? Did any photos of the wreck get published?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 15, 2006 18:46:53 GMT 12
NZ4111: Hit rock during taxi to t/off to Chatham Islands 4Nov59. Remains on Chathams by W & C Powell; recovered by RNZAF Museum early-1994. NZ4031: Cr on t/off Funafuti Lagoon 12Apr45. 3 killed. Pilot F/L A R Tuckett. I have no record of any recovery on file - the one at Wigram is a PBY-5A ex 44-34081/VR-HDH/VH-SBV Looking at the map, I'd say salt water:   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2006 14:11:23 GMT 12
NZ4111. Remains on Chathams by W & C Powell; recovered by RNZAF Museum early-1994. Thanks Peter. How much was recovered? I know from a FlyPast article there was a substantial amount still there in the early 1990's, but was widespread and being used as sheds, etc. What does the reference to W & C Powell mean? |
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Post by corsair67 on Aug 16, 2006 15:43:44 GMT 12
Dave, the museum have a wing float from a Sunderland, and I'm pretty sure it's from NZ4111.
Last time I was at the museum it was on display in one of the rooms above the Atrium.
I'll have a look to see if I took photos of it.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 16, 2006 21:54:29 GMT 12
Subject to informed contradiction, W & C Powell would have been the guys who gained salvage rights.
Sorry, I don't know how much was recovered - or indeed what was available in a recoverable state after thirty years.
Contrary to common beliefs, most aircraft that are left stranded in remote areas do not survive intact for very long. Due to the cost and difficulty of getting their hands on building materials, the local population in these places are usually adept at 'reclaiming' any suitable materials that are left lying around and converting them to a more practical use. I found this out when I was trying to track down the Percival Princes left in Samoa. 'Sorry mate, all gone!'
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 16, 2006 22:47:28 GMT 12
Just so everyone knows what we are talking about, NZ4111 in happier days overhead Lauthala Bay  |
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kiwiwreckdiver
Squadron Leader
Still military and aviation history mad
Posts: 124
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Post by kiwiwreckdiver on Jun 20, 2024 12:08:58 GMT 12
there was rumour of a crushed Sunderland hull sitting at the old Glusena scrap yard in West Auckland covered in blackberry. heard that about 20 years ago from the owner of company
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Post by curtiss on Jun 22, 2024 10:53:05 GMT 12
Correct- I visited the scrap yard about 25 years ago. I cut the NZ serial out of the crushed fuselage. There were a lot of other parts such as fuel tanks and a
shed with piles of new parts still in original packaging.
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kiwiwreckdiver
Squadron Leader
Still military and aviation history mad
Posts: 124
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Post by kiwiwreckdiver on Jun 28, 2024 4:37:10 GMT 12
which serial was she any pics ??
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Post by curtiss on Jul 1, 2024 17:46:55 GMT 12
which serial was she any pics ?? It was NZ4107. I didnt take any photos as the fuselage was crushed flat and partially buried. |
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Post by Antonio on Jul 1, 2024 17:59:29 GMT 12
which serial was she any pics ?? It was NZ4107. I didnt take any photos as the fuselage was crushed flat and partially buried. Fincastle Trophy winner back in 1964. |
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