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Post by ZacYates on Aug 16, 2020 22:59:41 GMT 12
Thanks again to the Fighter Flights/Full Noise team on Facebook a look at the (forward) belly of the beast, Mosquito NZ2336:
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Post by Mustang51 on Aug 17, 2020 8:09:37 GMT 12
Is that Harrison being changed to the modern Matrin radiator in the rebuild
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 17, 2020 13:57:37 GMT 12
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Post by tbf25o4 on Aug 17, 2020 14:02:48 GMT 12
What a fantastic effort by a bunch of dedicated aviation enthusiasts and professional aeronautical staff. Looking forward to seeing the aircraft dismantled and on its way to Omaka. Well done all!
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 17, 2020 14:19:08 GMT 12
It seems like a real Dream Team has been assembled and I'm very envious of all involved. Although it was pointed out on Facebook (and apparently at Mapua) that the deployment of said team left Omaka seeming rather abandoned!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2020 19:30:45 GMT 12
Tony Stallard sent this through that he got from his uncle. He will be able to explain it better.
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 17, 2020 19:37:04 GMT 12
That answers questions I’ve had since I was a kid! Wow!
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Post by harvard1041 on Aug 17, 2020 20:05:32 GMT 12
Quick update - and I'll ask Dave to post some photos...but Project has been moving along steadily, and the end is in sight. It has been 10 months of work to date... about Qty 40 trips for Curtiss & I - supported by several friends & colleagues - thank you! As you have heard, Brendon Deere & his Biggin Hill Trust, have bought the P-51D NZ2423 from the Smith family with the intention to return this great machine to flight - a 2 Sqn Fighter ! ... We've already loaded up a 20ft container of Mustang parts, with the aircraft due to head North soon. The AHC Mosquito team has had their first day at Mapua and disassembly seems to be going well - a big job, but a good bunch to make it happen... taking the wing/fuselage off and transporting it to Omaka is still a ways off, however. Overall everyone seems pretty happy with the outcome - a combination of preserving the Smith family legacy with the Mosquito, P-40N Gloria Lyons, and John's Tigermoth heading for display in the AHC. The surplus parts going to good warbird people with the expectation they will be used in future flying projects...and three aircraft sold - Harvard 1068, P-40E NZ3043, and the above P-51D-25 NZ2423 all being returned to flight..... in NZ Cheers Hvd1041 PS - meant to say, this great outcome is due in no small part to the wisdom of George Smith, John's older brother, who has balanced up the various requirements of his family, John's legacy...and the practical aspects of clearing out the hangar and property.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2020 20:30:11 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2020 20:36:56 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2020 20:41:01 GMT 12
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Post by TS on Aug 17, 2020 20:44:37 GMT 12
Tony Stallard sent this through that he got from his uncle. He will be able to explain it better. Hi All, Today I visited my uncle who was in the TAF in Auckland as a wireless operator with the Mustangs.( I will now try to convey how he explained his very first meeting with Mr John Smith). So on one of his many trips around NZ years later he called into Mapua and gave Mr John Smith a visit out of the blue. Now as we know JS didn't like people just turning up to kick tyres on planes and just wanted a look. The first greeting was tense. My uncle then mentioned very quickly that he used to serve in the RNZAF, TAF as a ( as mentioned wireless operator). Not sure if this part is true but my uncle said the shotgun was lowered and he was welcomed into his Aladdin's cave of history gone by. The first thing John wanted my uncle to do was to check out the radio gear on the Mosquito which worked back then, well at least would light up. After a many hours going through all sorts of stuff JS gave my uncle two pieces of paper, with the set up of what he had in his shed/hangar and how to get there (the later not showing for obvious reasons). Apparently JS said to my uncle that this is what the RNZAF think I have from people that I have let in and then went back and told them, from that they made up the picture that I forwarded to Dave and now for all to see. JS also at the time said to my uncle that no way he was going to let them ( RNZAF) get hold of any of it... I guess that's fair enough cause they didn't want it in the first place... Now in my defense, I am only passing on what I think is interesting and--- NOW ----historical and in NO WAY trying to derail or defame the Smith family for the amazing work and foresight Mr John Smith had.And his family now have to preserve these aircraft and keep them here in NZ were they rightfully belong. Well done to all that are now involved in their restoration. One thing that I can add from the second page is this. All aircraft in the Big Shed, Hudson NZ 2049 Harvard NZ 1068 Tiger Moth NZ 14?? P40N Warhawk NZ 3220 P40E Warhawk NZ 3043 Mosquito NZ 2336 P51D Mustang 2423 Part Harvard in pieces NZ 909 All aircraft except Mosquito have had their wings removed and stacked. Again this nothing new as the amazing team from Omaka are onto it. Cheers. T.S.
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nz104
Pilot Officer
Posts: 54
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Post by nz104 on Aug 17, 2020 21:00:57 GMT 12
Well done to all involved hope it all goes smoothly
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Post by Richard Wesley on Aug 17, 2020 21:01:01 GMT 12
Tony Stallard sent this through that he got from his uncle. He will be able to explain it better. That's a fantastic picture which clearly lays out how all these airframes were fitted in. I visited John two times and always thought I should have made a little drawing like this. It's wonderful to see the Mosquito in the sunlight and really seeing the Mustang for the first time (I could never get over to it on my visits). Couldn't be a better outcome in terms of the aircraft staying in New Zealand and having wonderful new homes.
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Post by camtech on Aug 17, 2020 21:37:44 GMT 12
An amazing outcome for New Zealand aviation history. These pieces of history deserve the result that the Smith family have outlined to recognise the efforts of John Smith. He has rightly earned his place in our aviation hall of fame.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2020 22:25:48 GMT 12
This right now is a point in time, a marker on the timeline, of our aviation heritage movement in New Zealand that in years to come people will look back on with pride and wonder. The end of one extraordinary era for the reclusive John Smith collection, and the beginning of another. The fact that the aircraft are at this stage all staying in New Zealand and some of the collection will soon be accessible to the public to view at the AHC, and others will be restored to fly again and be seen by people all over New Zealand at airshows is just a wonderful legacy. Whilst we acknowledge the extraordinary foresight of John Smith in collecting and saving so many aeroplanes from destruction, we should also acknowledge George Smith and his family for the current extraordinary happenings that are seeing these aeroplanes emerge. And it's also important to remember the massive amount of work by the team who've been clearing out the sheds, moving the aeroplanes, sorting what is what, helping the Smiths make the decisions and find homes for things. New Zealand owes you all our gratitude. Especially Curtiss, Hvd1041 and Bill.
I am also very proud and grateful that the team decided to make the WONZ Forum the main site for news and photos. I really appreciate that, it's a true honour.
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Post by planewriting on Aug 18, 2020 8:50:25 GMT 12
Regarding the above list of aircraft. I understand the Tiger Moth is ZK-BQB, which in its RNZAF days was NZ1467.
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 18, 2020 10:11:37 GMT 12
It’s been phenomenal to follow progress on the forum, and I want to add my thanks to the team on thr ground for sharing it here. And a big thank you too to George and the Smith clan for facilitating all this. It is a very exciting - momentous time! Well said, Dave.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2020 14:00:01 GMT 12
For all those who had issues seeing the photos, I have spent the past hour re-uploading them to my own server and re-posting them. I hope you can see them now. I removed all the comments about missing photos to tidy the thread up.
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Post by Mustang51 on Aug 18, 2020 14:35:07 GMT 12
Just loving those Mustang shots !
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