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10 SU
Aug 18, 2024 15:38:31 GMT 12
fwx likes this
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2024 15:38:31 GMT 12
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10 SU
Aug 18, 2024 15:40:41 GMT 12
vs and fwx like this
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2024 15:40:41 GMT 12
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Post by ErrolC on Aug 18, 2024 16:04:22 GMT 12
What a great collection!
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Post by camtech on Aug 18, 2024 17:21:59 GMT 12
Wow, what an insight into life in the Islands during WW2.
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10 SU
Aug 18, 2024 18:32:17 GMT 12
fwx likes this
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2024 18:32:17 GMT 12
I have a feeling that one of the No. 1 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron air gunners who I talked with years ago, Merv Brown, was the son of the owners of the Mon Desir. It was definitely a popular pub in Takapuna that his parents owned, and while they were based at Whenuapai the crew and their squadron mates regularly went to the pub where his parents treated them all like family. I am sure he told me they named their Ventura after the pub but he did not have a photo of it, so the shot on the previous page is most likely it. It actually looks like it says Mon Desir 3?  |
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10 SU
Aug 18, 2024 18:46:00 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2024 18:46:00 GMT 12
I was looking at this photo...  Logic tells me that should be NZ4507, which was with No. 10 Servicing Unit and operated by No. 1 (BR) Squadron... however zooming in on the serial number..... whhhaaatttt?  That looks a lot like NZ4307! This makes no sense as the RNZAF Venturas only fell in the serial range of NZ45xx and NZ46xx. Thoughts anyone? |
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Post by camtech on Aug 18, 2024 22:13:54 GMT 12
Dave, I think it is a visual mismatch. The quality of the image as well as the quality of the actual marking is deceptive. When I zoomed in, the apparent smudging of the stenciling created the illusion of a "3", but could be vaguely discerned as a "5".
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2024 22:42:17 GMT 12
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10 SU
Aug 19, 2024 18:39:40 GMT 12
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2024 18:39:40 GMT 12
What a wonderful collection and record! Thank you Dave and Sonia for sharing.
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10 SU
Sept 28, 2024 10:14:22 GMT 12
Post by davidd on Sept 28, 2024 10:14:22 GMT 12
Yes, quite an eye opener! I was also trying to figure out why so many soldiers seemed to be serving with the RNZAF in WW2, and overseas at that! Of course it turned out to be that old bogey, with Americans these days calling ANYBODY in ANY UNIFORM a soldier, something which irks me rather. I can see that personnel serving in the (United States) Army Air Forces during WW2 would be referred to as soldiers, in a general sense, but this would never happen in the British Commonwealth air forces during that era, or even now! (at least I hope that is the present situation).
Did anybody recognise J J de Willimoff in the Corsair photo immediately below, almost certainly when he was commanding "his" squadron (No. 23), and the style of marking on the FG-1D behind tham confirms this was at Emirau, Corsair thus with 5 SU (which normally carried the "last two" of serial aft of the colling gills on side of forward fuselage). There was also a (rather below average) photo of an aircraft preparing to land at Emirau which was labelled as a PV-1, but am pretty certain it is a PBJ (Mitchell of USMC). I think the provider of these images has guessed correctly in majority of cases as to the place or time certain photographs were taken, with rare exceptions.
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10 SU
Sept 28, 2024 10:43:49 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 28, 2024 10:43:49 GMT 12
Did anybody recognise J J de Willimoff in the Corsair photo towards the beginning of this long parade of images (taken oversaas I think, probably when he was commanding the squadron (No. 23 I think). This shot. Jesse de Willimoff in the dark overalls, right. I wondered too if that was Noel Pirie next to him, but Noel did not serve with No. 23 Squadron so probably not.  |
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10 SU
Sept 28, 2024 15:29:50 GMT 12
Post by Antonio on Sept 28, 2024 15:29:50 GMT 12
Is anyone able to identify the second Corsair?  |
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10 SU
Sept 28, 2024 16:37:28 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 28, 2024 16:37:28 GMT 12
I am trying to make out what the words are on that cowl.
MY OLD
? ? ?
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10 SU
Sept 28, 2024 21:01:58 GMT 12
via mobile
Post by chrism on Sept 28, 2024 21:01:58 GMT 12
I am trying to make out what the words are on that cowl. MY OLD ? ? ? Flame? Slave? Brawl? Hard to make out! Looks like a "2" on the main landing gear door. Looks like the stall strip on the RH wing has been freshly attached or repaired? |
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chrisr
Squadron Leader
Posts: 134
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10 SU
Sept 29, 2024 8:44:11 GMT 12
Post by chrisr on Sept 29, 2024 8:44:11 GMT 12
What about? Rather crass but......
spawl - Scattered or ejected spittle.
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 29, 2024 10:19:29 GMT 12
According to Warren P Russell's Corsair book, there were two 3SU-allocated F4U-1Ds at Green Island in 1945 that were named "My Old Flame" and "My Old Brave" - however, the serials of these aircraft were not known at the time this book was published. It appears that the F4U-1D in this picture has a "2" on the oleo door, which possibly means it's from the NZ5420-29 serial range.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 29, 2024 10:25:40 GMT 12
Thanks Craig! Based on what you say, I think it has to be MY OLD BRAVE.
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Post by davidd on Oct 7, 2024 16:13:12 GMT 12
Dave H has got it in my opinion, I have also believed this aircraft was christened as "My old Brave", but cannot really see what particularly it alludes to. I believe all the Corsairs in this photo are F4U-1Ds, with the overall dark sea blue scheme, but am not inclined to offer a positive location/unit at this stage, but does not appear to be Bougainville. Maybe Green or Los Negros, Jacquinot Bay? As is fairly common in such scenes, a good selection of typical tropical dress is on display.
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