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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 23, 2018 14:22:34 GMT 12
In The Wings Over New Zealand Show Episode 192 I sat in the sunshine chatting with former RNZAF Safety and Surface Worker Denis Pothan, who called into Cambridge on his way home after attending the Safety and Surface Trade Reunion at Ohakea. Denis worked initially as an Aircraft Finisher (the RNZAF name for a spray painter), and he worked on an array of aeroplane types from Sunderlands, Vampires and an Avenger, to the Devons, Bristol Freighters, Canberras and even the Zero. He served at Hobsonville, Ohakea, Woodbourne, Lauthala Bay and Tengah during his career, and he has some fascinating and funny stories from a twelve year career in the Air Force. Denis went on to work at AESL in Hamilton when they were building Airtourers, and then he had a panel beating and spray painting business in Cambridge in the early 1970’s, before moving to Whangarei and carrying on with the same trade. He retired and sold his business two years ago. He is also an artist and enjoys painting New Zealand aviation subjects, some of which you can see if you follow the link below. Denis’s wife Judy is in the background prompting a few memories. Here's the link: www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2018/10/denis-pothan/
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 25, 2018 19:22:59 GMT 12
So, does anyone have a photo of the fantastic 'zap' that Denis talked about on the TEAL Solent?
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Post by oj on Oct 29, 2018 13:24:57 GMT 12
I enjoyed this as I knew Denis at Ohakea and of course AESL/NZAIL. Pleased to see he ratified my earlier post about the Canberra painted in reverse camoflauge by mistake.
Dave, you didn't ask him whether he was at Lauthala Bay when they did the five ship formation as filmed by Barry or whether he had viewed the film on the Forum.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 29, 2018 13:34:58 GMT 12
Ah bugger, that slipped my mind OJ.
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