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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 29, 2018 22:34:56 GMT 12
Recently I acquired a small collection of aviation photos from an estate. These seem to date from just postwar through to the Mangere airport opening in 1969.
Although the photos are in good order there is usually no indication as to where and when.
Thought I'd randomly post some of these here, and you can have the fun of sleuthing out more details.
First up is what was called a 'Miles Magister'.
Turns out to be Proctor 5 ZK-APH.
It is carrying the Waikato Aero Club livery, so that dates the photo to somewhere betwen 1947 and 1953.
There is a large permanent hangar in the background to the right, and a four-engined aircraft nose on behind the Proctor.
Given the civilian crowd, an airshow? Possibly at Whenuapai, Woodbourne or Harewood?
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Post by delticman on Jul 29, 2018 23:06:36 GMT 12
Recently I acquired a small collection of aviation photos from an estate. These seem to date from just postwar through to the Mangere airport opening in 1969. Although the photos are in good order there is usually no indication as to where and when.
Thought I'd randomly post some of these here, and you can have the fun of sleuthing out more details. First up is what was called a 'Miles Magister'.
Turns out to be Proctor 5 ZK-APH.
It is carrying the Waikato Aero Club livery, so that dates the photo to somewhere betwen 1947 and 1953.
There is a large permanent hangar in the background to the right, and a four-engined aircraft nose on behind the Proctor.
Given the civilian crowd, an airshow? Possibly at Whenuapai, Woodbourne or Harewood? That's a concrete hangar, that must narrow it down? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 29, 2018 23:26:31 GMT 12
They look like the concrete hangars at Whenuapai or Ohakea.
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Post by camtech on Jul 30, 2018 14:32:08 GMT 12
Looking at the orientation of the hangar, the tree line to the rear and the 4-engined beasty in the background, my thought is more likely Whenuapai
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Post by planewriting on Jul 30, 2018 15:47:27 GMT 12
I'm inclined to agree it is Whenuapai. Could the four engine aircraft be one of the BCPA DC-6s? They were operating here until their accident in 1953.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 30, 2018 20:45:24 GMT 12
Next up - Handley Page Herald G-AODF. I recollect that this aircraft visited NZ as part of the sales drive for the NAC DC-3 replacement. The Herald lost out to the Fokker Friendship. So presumably this dates from the late 1950s.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 30, 2018 20:54:51 GMT 12
1959, it was at Wellington when the airport was opened on the 25th of October 1959. it was flown by Sqn Ldr Hedley Hazelden (Handley Page's chief test pilot).
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 31, 2018 19:47:58 GMT 12
Next up is a couple of photos of a Douglas DC-7C in PanAm livery. The nosewheel serial is '741' and fortunately the second shot clearly confirms the registration as N741PA. There is a small segment of a TEAL Electra tail visible on the far right, so I would assume this is Whenuapai. Any ideas as to the years when PanAm flew DC-7s into NZ? And did they go to Christchurch as well?
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Post by scrooge on Jul 31, 2018 20:09:52 GMT 12
Peter, there's a few shots of the Herald in Graeme Cossgrove's collection, labelled as 'Whenuapai 1960('s)'
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 2, 2018 22:55:08 GMT 12
DH89B Dominie c/n 6654 flew with the RNZAF as NZ526 until sold ex-No.1 Stores Depot in April 1952. It then went to the Auckland Aero Club as ZK-BAU and was apparently employed on their charter work. The name City of Auckland can clearly been seen here, as the pilot get the 'thumbs up' to depart, presumably from Mangere.  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 5, 2018 16:40:34 GMT 12
North American P51D-25-NT Mustang NZ2415 was shipped to NZ in 1945, but along with all the other Mustangs, was immediately stored.
Activated in 1952, it was flown in the early 1950's by Squadron Leader Ray Archibald, the CO of No. 3 Squadron (TAF).
NZ2415 was damaged in landing accident at Wigram after losing power on approach on 23 January 1954.
Stored unrepaired at Woodbourne, it was eventually sold (without engine) to A.N.A.S.Co. of Nelson for £25 in May 1958 & scrapped.
The current Warbirds Mustand ZK-TAF was imported in 1986 and carries the markings of NZ2415 but has no direct relationship to the original.
I do not know where or when this photo was taken, or which of the two aircraft is portrayed. Can anyone tell?
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Aug 5, 2018 18:21:51 GMT 12
Are those portaloos in the background? And the clothing style appears to be too modern for 1950s.
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Post by Brett on Aug 5, 2018 18:37:42 GMT 12
Definitely ZK-TAF. In RNZAF service the P-51 had a toothpick radio aerial rather than the more modern bent wire. There is also a fairing behind the tailwheel which is not present on the RNZAF Mustangs.
Judging by the markings I would say between 2000-2010.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 5, 2018 20:48:39 GMT 12
Its Ardmore, on the old 07/25 Seal. My pick would be the 1990 air show.
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Post by Venomnut on Aug 6, 2018 18:55:27 GMT 12
No headrest or canopy cross brace either.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 6, 2018 22:03:07 GMT 12
This is the sort of photo I both love and hate. Nice clear shot of an RNZAF Mosquito, back in the day. You can also see a C-47 parked behind the children on the right. However - the photographer seems to have carefully positioned himself to obscure part of the serial - NZ23 can be clearly seen, but not the last two digits. Grrr.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2018 0:11:36 GMT 12
It is a great photo though, but I share your pain.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 7, 2018 18:13:15 GMT 12
Another from the Mosquito batch. This time, NZ2349 is quite evidently the lead aircraft. The serial can be seen on the rear fuselage, and the '49' is repeated on the nose.
The second on very much looks like NZ2328, when you enlarge the shot. Unfortunatly, this one does not seem to carry the 'last two' on the nose cone. How inconsiderate.
At least one other following, just the wingtip visible.
Presumably at an RNZAF base station?
While NZ2349 was declared surplus at Ohakea in April 1953 and sold as scrap, parts of NZ2328 are still with us - it was stored at Woodbourne 22Apr52, Surplus at Woodbourne Apr53, sold as scrap. To T L Hayman of Oamaru, J W Clark of Oamaru. Fuselage to Ferrymead Museum 1972, restoration with parts of NZ2382 as HR339.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2018 19:42:33 GMT 12
Oh that is a marvellous photo! It looks to be Whenuapai, from that tell tale hexagonal block apron. I think Ohakea's is all square blocks, but I am sure someone can confirm?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 8, 2018 18:07:18 GMT 12
A nice lineup here. Two Mosquitos and two C-47s. The first Mossie is YC-Z which Geoff Goodall's website tells us was T Mk 43 NZ2308. This aircraft was declared surplus 30Jun55 @ 479.35hrs ex-Woodbourne. Sold to Ansa Orchard Equipment Co. of Upper Moutere, b/up for parts. To John Morgan of Riwaka, Nelson, 1956; Parts to Auckland Restoration Group (Glyn Powell) for rebuild to airworthy.
Unfortunately, there are no identifying marks on the second Mosquito in this lineup.
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