Situations Vacant

[Dave Homewood]

I just happened upon this old advert in a newspaper from the Press, 4 November 1933

NEW ZEALAND MILITARY FORCES.
VACANCIES exist for a limited number of men for-- (
a) Permanent Staff and Regiment of Royal N.Z. Artillery. (Age 20-23 years; single; height 5ft 7½ in or over; physically fit; 6th Std. Certificate. Preference to present serving Territorial soldiers. Apply nearest Defence Office before 31st January, 1934.
b) Permanent Air Force, as aircraft mechanics. (Age 18-35 years: practical experience in fitting, turning, or rigging essential: physically fit.) Apply Headquarters, Military Forces, Wellington, for particulars and form, before 9th December. 1933.

Who's keen?

[Dave Homewood]

From the Evening Post, 4 November 1933

PERMANENT FORCES
FILLING VACANCIES
AIR FORCE AND. ARTILLERY

In view of the Government's decision to increase the air defences of New Zealand, applications are being called to fill sixteen vacancies on the staff of the Permanent Air Force. The Air Force is to be increased by sixteen bomb-machines and the first flight of four machines is expected to arrive in New Zealand before the end of the financial year.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and must possess practical experience in fitting, turning, rigging or allied trades. The term of service is for five years with a possible re-engagement at the end of that period. The successful applicants will be stationed at Auckland.

There are also a limited number of vacancies on the Permanent Staff and in the Regiment of Royal N.Z. Artillery. Applicants, must be between the ages of 20 and 23. They must be physically fit and have had a sixth standard education at least. Their minimum height must be 5ft 7½in, Preference will be given to members of the Territorial Force. The term of enlistment is for five years, with a provision, for re-engagement up to the age of 55.

[Dave Homewood]

So these extra NZPAF staff members were being taken on to work on the Vickers Vildebeests and Airspeed Oxfords. I'm in!

[Dave Homewood]

I wonder who the sixteen successful candidates were...

[Dave Homewood]

Wow!! Popular gig! I'd bet the current recruiters wished the Air Force was this popular. We need to buy more Vildebeests!

New Zealand Herald, 25 November 1933

DOMINION AIR FORCE

VACANCIES ON STAFF

OVER 1000 APPLICATIONS

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION]
WELLINGTON, Friday

Over 1000 applications were received by the Defence Department in Wellington to fill 16 vacancies on the permanent staff of the New Zealand Force. Included among the applications are some from Royal Air Force men, and others are from men and boys in all walks of life. Many have had aviation experience.

[errolmartyn]

It appears that only 15 were actually enlisted, on 5 Apr 34.

Adams, F J Frederick John
Bishop, F F Ferguson Frederick
Bitossi, F D Ferdinand Daniel
Bowyer, A H Alfred Horace
Griffiths, V H Vincent Herbert
Hansard, A L Albert Lawrence
Harper, J F H James Frederick Henessy
Henry, A C Alfred Chaplin
Holliday, T J Thomas Joseph
Holmes, P S Patrick Stevenson
Johnstone, B G T Bruce Gordon Thiele
Kinzett, R H Reginald Hedley
Lawn, F R Frederick Robert
Roser, L J Leonard John
Spring-Rice, N A Noel Alexander

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Aha, I had wondered if Fred Lawn was one of the 16. I have met his daughter who lives here in Cambridge.

I wonder is that the same Frederick John Adams who became Flight Commander of No. 30 Squadron?

[Dave Homewood]

Today at the Tauranga airshow I saw the RNZAF recruiting bus and I was tempted to go and inquire after the advert I'd seen in the newspaper this morning to join up and work on Vildebeest bomb-machines.

[errolmartyn]

Jan 23, 2016 21:16:29 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I wonder is that the same Frederick John Adams who became Flight Commander of No. 30 Squadron?

Adams' took his discharge from the RNZAF in October 1935 and joined the Southland Aero Club as a ground engineer, and later served there as flying instructor/engineer. He re-joined the RNZAF in September 1939. He had held a Ground Engineer's Licence (No 75) since Oct 1931 and a Pilot's 'A' Licence (No 450) since Jun 1932. While with the Southland Aero Club he obtained his Pilot's 'B' Licence (No 126), in Feb 1937. According to Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds (which accidentally omitted Adams' pre-war RNZAF service), Adams' was flight commander of 31 Sqn.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Actually Adams was in both squadrons and I think he was flight commander on both, but definitely with No. 31 Squadron. He had also flown with No. 30 Squadron's predecessor, No. 8 (GR) Squadron.

[Peter Lewis]

And presumably was the fellow who operated Adams Aviation Ltd. of Invercargill (Tigers ZK-BAO & ZK-BEE plus PA18A ZK-BTB) in the 1950s.

Invercargill, 1958

[errolmartyn]

Adams first appears in Whites Air Directory for 1957-58:

ADAMS, Frederick J.
Managing director, Adams Aviation Ltd. Trained with Wellington Aero Club 1930. Commercial Pilots Licence 1936. 9 yrs. RNZAF Pacific W.W.II. 16 and 31 Sqdns. Ferrying Mosquitoes UK/NZ 1946. Formed own aerial work company 1949. Over 8,000 hours flying time. Holds A, B, C, and D Engineers Licences. One of the pioneers of aerial topdressing in Southland. ADD: P. O. Box 844, Invercargill. TEL.: 3254, Invercargill.

The entry was repeated but not updated in some subsequent edtions of the Directory.

Errol

[davidd]

Freddy Adams was also reputedly the pilot photographed in a well-known photograph of P-40E (NZ3095?) taxiing at Rukuhia in about October 1944 after a complete repaint (and maybe also a major inspection!), this association was more or less confirmed by reference to his logbook! NZ3095 was of course one of the aircraft taken over by 15 Squadron in Tonga, October 1942.