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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 3, 2006 21:19:35 GMT 12
1) On what day did Sockburn Aerodrome become officially known as Wigram?
2) At the outbreak of war on the 3rd of September 1939, how many permanent oficers were there in the RNZAF?
3) How many wartime RNZAF stations were there in Fiji during WWII?
4) RNZAF Hamilton had a satellite camp near the river which was nicknamed after a place in a popular radio series. Name the place and the series.
5) At the outbreak of war No. 2 Squadron was based at Rongotrai. Within weeks they became the first RNZAF squadron to be deployed. They got a send off at Wellington docks from the RNZAF Band and mayor of Wellington, etc. Where did they deploy to?
6) the Public Works Department created three types of dummy aircraft for several RNZAF aerodromes in NZ to confuse the enemy from the air. What three aircraft types did the dummies represent?
7) What type of aircraft were flown by No. 23 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron?
8) What type of aircraft were flown by No. 33 (Fighter Bomber) Squadron?
9) What was the only biplane trainer aircraft sent to NZ under the EATS that didn't see some sort of defensive operational service in the RNZAF when Japan entered the war?
10) Which American camp in central Wellington became an RNZAF establishment when the Marines shipped out?
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 5, 2006 17:37:58 GMT 12
I'll have a bash! ;D
5. Woodbourne: to provide cover for shipping in Cook's Strait.
6. Hudson? Hurricane?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 5, 2006 18:03:21 GMT 12
5) correct
6) correct on both counts, one to go
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Post by turboNZ on Jun 7, 2006 14:24:42 GMT 12
10. Shelly Bay ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2006 14:28:40 GMT 12
Hi Chris. No, Shelly bay was used by the RNZN during WWII
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Post by turboNZ on Jun 7, 2006 14:37:16 GMT 12
The only other one I know of is Anderson Park Camp in Kelburn.
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Post by corsair67 on Jun 7, 2006 15:12:12 GMT 12
1. 1923?
3. 2 - Nausori and Nandi?
6. Spifire?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2006 15:13:31 GMT 12
Correct!
Anderson Park was originally used by the USMC and was handed over to the RNZAF when they went north to the Pacific. Previously several hotels in town were commandeered as WAAF barracks, and I assume the same for men. But the men and women working at RNZAF HQ in Stout Street and places in Central Wellington like the Museum moved to Anderson park for accommodation.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2006 15:17:47 GMT 12
1. 1923?
What day, not year... - you got the year right though.
3. 2 - Nausori and Nandi?
That's two of them. There was another before Nausori was completed.
6. Spifire?
No. A bit closer to home than that.
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Post by turboNZ on Jun 7, 2006 16:25:31 GMT 12
The other dummy aircraft was a Kittyhawk.
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Post by turboNZ on Jun 7, 2006 16:26:25 GMT 12
9. Was it the Vincent/Vildebeest ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2006 17:07:51 GMT 12
Kittyhawk dummy is correct
9) No, the Vincent and Vildebeest were our MAIN operational aircraft from 1940-41 and remained operational till 1943.
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Post by turboNZ on Jun 7, 2006 17:33:05 GMT 12
9) No, the Vincent and Vildebeest were our MAIN operational aircraft from 1940-41 and remained operational till 1943. Betcha the Zero's would have made mincemeat of them in combat !!  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2006 17:56:08 GMT 12
Yes, and the very sad thing is, the crews knew it full well after the Vildebeests were slaughtered in Singapore. Yet, that's all we had to defend NZ with apart from the Baffins, which had only half the range, and trainers, so they had to keep flying them and hope for the best, putting it out of their minds that it was almost certainly a suicide mission if they were needed.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 8, 2006 21:31:20 GMT 12
OK, time to put anyone interested out of their misery...
1) On what day did Sockburn Aerodrome become officially known as Wigram?
The 14th of May 1923
2) At the outbreak of war on the 3rd of September 1939, how many permanent oficers were there in the RNZAF?
91 Officers (regular)
3) How many wartime RNZAF stations were there in Fiji during WWII?
At least four - RNZAF units served at:
Nausori - Unit 30, 4 Sqn, (plus 5 Sqn I think)
Lauthala Bay - 5 and 6 Sqn
Nandi - 4 and 5 Sqn
Suva Harbour (Princes Wharf) - 5 Sqn
There was also a strip at Narewa near Nandi but I'm unsure if the RNZAF made any use of it. It may have been fully USAAF
4) RNZAF Hamilton had a satellite camp near the river which was nicknamed after a place in a popular radio series. Name the place and the series.
Snake Gully (near Fairfield Bridge, Hamilton)
Named after the famous farm 'Snake Gully' in the very popular 1940's Australian radio comedy Dad and Dave. I'd like to track down some copies of that show.
5) At the outbreak of war No. 2 Squadron was based at Rongotrai. Within weeks they became the first RNZAF squadron to be deployed. They got a send off at Wellington docks from the RNZAF Band and mayor of Wellington, etc. Where did they deploy to?
Answered correctly
6) the Public Works Department created three types of dummy aircraft for several RNZAF aerodromes in NZ to confuse the enemy from the air. What three aircraft types did the dummies represent?
Answered correctly
7) What type of aircraft were flown by No. 23 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron?
Airspeed Oxfords, then Avro Ansons. This was one of the little known FAFAI squadrons
8) What type of aircraft were flown by No. 33 (Fighter Bomber) Squadron?
Harvards - This was one of the little known FAFAI squadrons
9) What was the only biplane trainer aircraft sent to NZ under the EATS that didn't see some sort of defensive operational service in the RNZAF when Japan entered the war?
The Fairey Gordon
Baffins, Vincents, Vildebeests, Hinds and Tiger Moths all spent time in operational squadrons
10) Which American camp in central Wellington became an RNZAF establishment when the Marines shipped out?
Answered correctly
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