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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2020 16:43:14 GMT 12
So you can see them now?
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Post by joey05 on Aug 18, 2020 16:53:09 GMT 12
Yes, just had to mop up the drool before replying! Thanks Dave
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Post by Damon on Aug 18, 2020 16:53:09 GMT 12
They seem to be showing Dave.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Aug 18, 2020 17:23:56 GMT 12
Very special (historic) photos. A true Aladdin's cave.
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Post by baz62 on Aug 18, 2020 17:34:30 GMT 12
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. Very well said Dave, I think you have summed up everyone's feelings in a nutshell. And really this is the perfect forum to follow the continuing story of the John Smith collection.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 19:53:15 GMT 12
Thank you Hvd1041 for the photos, and Dave for hosting them. I too had to take some time before replying! It's also so strange to now have photographs of the shed where you can discern more than what's in the immediate foreground!
And thanks too to TS for sharing your uncle's recollections. It's a fascinating look back at an experience quite a few of us never had.
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Post by TS on Aug 18, 2020 21:07:27 GMT 12
Thank you Hvd1041 for the photos, and Dave for hosting them. I too had to take some time before replying! It's also so strange to now have photographs of the shed where you can discern more than what's in the immediate foreground! And thanks too to TS for sharing your uncle's recollections. It's a fascinating look back at an experience quite a few of us never had. Your welcome Zac. Glad you enjoyed it and others. Life is a funny thing, when the time is right, you know its time to share. 😉
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Post by obiwan27 on Aug 19, 2020 8:40:24 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2020 20:33:27 GMT 12
Yes, thank you very much Dave! I forgot to say earlier: Sean Perrett trying the Mustang for size This pic made me smile. The shape of things to come?
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Post by angelsonefive on Aug 20, 2020 1:25:26 GMT 12
It will be wonderful to see a TAF Mustang flying again. When my family was living in Wicksteed St in Wanganui back in the days, my brother-in-law to be worked in a bank in Wellington. Keith had a bank colleague who was a pilot in the TAF, and Keith told him he knew a kid who was " mad about planes " so one unforgettable Saturday morning Wicksteed St received a Mustang beat up from about, I guess, 200 or 250 feet.
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Post by planecrazy on Aug 20, 2020 8:47:57 GMT 12
Those territorial squadron chaps had it good, 9 to 5 Monday to Friday and flying Mustangs on the weekends, how good is that!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 20, 2020 10:01:44 GMT 12
Those territorial squadron chaps had it good, 9 to 5 Monday to Friday and flying Mustangs on the weekends, how good is that! What a lot of people tend to forget or do not seem to know is a proportion, perhaps 1/3rd, of the TAF squadron members were actually regular Air Force pilots and ground staff posted into the unit. So those guys' job during the week was also flying or maintaining Tiger Moths, Harvards an Mustangs, or on No. 6 Squadron TAF it was Sunderlands and an Auster. Bryan Gault, Simon's father, who we used to see displaying the Thunder Mustang quite beautifully, was a full time regular RNZAF member who spent time on a Mustang squadron.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 20, 2020 16:31:38 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Aug 20, 2020 17:23:40 GMT 12
Apart from the rather obvious wing "mod' she does look in excellent condition.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2020 20:43:36 GMT 12
Great to see! I'm excited to see photos of her at Ohakea for the first time since 1957. Just wonderful stuff.
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Post by Mustang51 on Aug 21, 2020 11:12:44 GMT 12
Can we have a separate thread on this complete restoration incorporating historical in-service shots, pics from the shed, its disassembly, transport to Ohakea etc. I am VERY interested in this one !!!!!
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Post by rayo on Aug 21, 2020 12:38:37 GMT 12
Can we have a separate thread on this complete restoration incorporating historical in-service shots, pics from the shed, its disassembly, transport to Ohakea etc. I am VERY interested in this one !!!!! Good idea I agree I think all the individual restorations to Flying Status could each have there own thread and the Static resorations at Omaka (and any other peripheral work) could then retain this thread.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2020 14:14:39 GMT 12
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Post by vultee43 on Aug 21, 2020 14:59:10 GMT 12
Thanks Zac. Looks right at home there.
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Post by thebrads on Aug 21, 2020 21:49:27 GMT 12
Only slightly related: I just stumbled over this photo while looking for something else; Several years ago i was building a model Typhoon, and came into contact with the now late Pete West, well known aviation artist. I had him whip up a drawing of the plane i was building. Since postage was the same, i got him to add a couple of extra pics to the order, the brief was i recall "a Spit and a P-40 with a NZ connection, not really fussed on what". Identified the name at the time, but only just realized on looking at this pic that the P-40 was one of the stars of this thread.
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