Wings Over Britain

[Dave Homewood]

Wings Over Britain

The Wings Over New Zealand Show will be heading to the UK in June 2020, to record a special sub-series entitled "Wings Over Britain". This will be in a similar style to the 2015 "Wings Over Australia" sub-series, and will involve me, the show host, travelling around the aviation museums, warbird collections, war memorials, airfields and airshows recording interviews with interesting aviation people along the way.

This is very similar to the highly successful and popular Wings Over Australia series that I made with James Kightly in Australia in 2015. 

The plan is for me to interview pilots, aircraft owners, veterans, museum curators, historians, and others involved in the aviation scene in Britain, and whilst I'll be unfolding their stories and the history of their particular areas of interest, a key focus of the tour and series will be on remembering the New Zealand contribution to the air defence of Britain in WWII, as well as in WWI and even the present day. There are so many great stories to be told, and so many episodes just waiting to be recorded.

During WWII New Zealand aircrew members served in RAF Fighter Command, Bomber Command, Coastal Command, Transport Command, Ferry Command, Training Command, the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and many other key roles. It is said that at least one New Zealander served on every operational squadron of the RAF during WWII, and it's a fact that by 1945 one in every four aircrew members of the Fleet Air Arm were Kiwis. The New Zealanders served in big numbers in the Battle of France, and were the largest number of non-British airmen serving in the crucial defence of Britain in the Summer of 1940. Next year marks the 80th Anniversary of that battle, so the Kiwi contribution will be covered in WOB.

As a bonus, on the way back from Britain Dave will also be attending the world famous EAA Airventure airshow at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, so there will also be the Wings Over Oshkosh episodes from there too, hopefully.

It's planned that the Wings Over Britain and the Wings Over Oshkosh sub-series's will be a mix of both audio podcasts and short films. They will be released through the Wings Over New Zealand Show site subsequent to the tour.

To make this series happen, Dave needs your assistance. Can you please donate towards the costs of making this series, which will cover some of the costs of travelling around the UK, food and accommodation, and other expenses that arise. Any help will be hugely appreciated. There is a pending Givealittle page to donate here which should go live soon:

givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-wings-over-britain-series

And failing that, there is also PayPal which you can find directions for here rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/14936

I will be in the UK from the 19th of June through to the 18th of July, so this should result in a lot of great episodes. If members in the UK wish to help out with offers of places to stay and local guiding/transport, I'd like to hear from you, as this trip will be conducted on a very tight budget so every couch to crash on will help so long as it's near the places I plan to go. I have a few places lined up already from great people too.

Some of you will recall I tried to get this happening for this year with the hope of also covering the D-Day 75th Anniversary in France, but it just did not come together at the time and the plan was cancelled. Well now it is on again, and I am very pleased to announce I have sponsorship to help make some of this happen from the fantastic folks at Aviation Tours NZ. It is brilliant that they have come onboard to support this. Please check out their upcoming tours at their site here: www.aviationtoursnz.com/



And also sponsorship from the New Zealand Bomber Command Association Trust who are very keen to assist in making this series happen:

[Dave Homewood]

I should mention the places on my list that I hope to visit, and record interviews or shows at:

Museums
RAF Hendon
RAF Cosford
East Kirkby
IWM Museum Duxford
IWM Museum Lambeth
IWM Museum Cabinet War Rooms
The Science Museum
The de Havilland Museum
Biggin Hill Museum, Westerham
RAF Wyton Pathfinder Museum
Hawkinge Battle of Britain Museum
Brooklands Museum, Weybridge
Tangmere Aviation Museum
Solent Sky Museum
Portsmouth HMS St Vincent Museum
D Day Museum
Yeovilton FAA Museum
International Bomber Command Centre


Flying Aircraft Collections or Restoration Projects/Workshops
Duxford – flying collections
Stirling Project, RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon
Navy Wings
Shuttleworth Collection
Hawker Restorations, Elmsett Airfield, Ipswich
RAF Scampton 617 Sqn, Red Arrows
RAF Coningsby BBMF


Memorials
Sir Keith Park Memorial statue
Bomber Harris Memorial statue 
Battle of Britain Memorial (Westminster)
The Bomber Command Memorial, Green Park, London
The New Zealand War Memorial, Hyde Park

Ex-Airfields
Feltwell – No. 75 (NZ) Squadron station
Mepal - No. 75 (NZ) Squadron station
Newmarket - No. 75 (NZ) Squadron station
Hornchurch – Battle of Britain airfield, Colin Gray, Al Deere, etc
Hunsdon – No. 487 (NZ) Squadron station, memorial, and group
Stow Maries – WWI airfield

There are other things that I might get to, and I probably won't get to visit every place on this list, but this is the basics of where I hope to get to and at most of them I hope to find local experts to interview too if possible. 

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks very much Les, who has made the first donation! That is really appreciated, thanks mate!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks to the "Guest Donor" who has contributed to the fund too!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Campbell for the donation today too! So much appreciated!

[erica]

I am writing a book about my father Flying Officer H. E. (Eric) Hunter who was stationed at RAF Methwold/Feltwell 1941 with Bomber Command until he crashed in Northern Ireland in March 1942. Does anyone have any information about 75 Squadron?

I notice that you are visiting Feltwell for your Wings over Britain series, where the Airfield Historian Philip Barnes will be of much help to you as he was to me.

My father was on a training operation to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland when he crashed into the Mountains of Mourne. He is buried at Belfast along with six other NZRAF men and was thew subject of a short BBC Television and 2 BBC radio stories when I visited his grave and the crash site in 2015. Parts of the Wellington he was flying are still visible on Mt Thomas near Newcastle. Any anecdotes or information is most welcome.

[Dave Homewood]

Regarding No. 75 (NZ) Squadron there are two squadron associations. This is the site of the NZ based association
www.75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com/

And their Facebook page (which is closed but as the daughter of a member you can apply to join)
www.facebook.com/groups/213227175365096/


And the other association is UK based and called "Friends of No. 75 Squadron".

There's also this very good blog with loads of squadron history
75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/

Do you have contact details for Philip Barnes please?

[ZacYates]

Dave, I know how important this project is to you so it’s fantastic to see the team at Aviation Tours NZ getting in behind you. I was excited to read the new posts - the itinerary looks amazing! I can’t wait to hear and see the gems you’ll be able to produce.

I just wish I was able to contribute more than enthusiasm and good wishes! Bravo to those who have donated so far.

[JollyGreenSlugg]

A most worthy enterprise, good on you Dave! I'll see if I can find some of my riches that have slipped down behind the lounge cushions!

Seriously, thank you for your work to record and present histort, Dave.

Cheers,
Matt

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Zac and Matt for the encouragement, it means a great deal.

[JDK]

Good stuff, Dave! I'll have a rummage for some really old British money and send it your way!

[Dave Homewood]

Hahaha thanks James.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks very much to Chris, Jason and Carlos for your donations too!

[planecrazy]

Great stuff looking forward to your reports, if you visit Hawkinge
the Battle of Britain memorial is not far away, very emotional place
to visit and a Sir Keith Park bust there as well.

[robertm]

Hi Dave I've done a brief war history of a NZ gunner/wireless operator who was in 106 Sq and blown to bits over Rhens Germany 1942. Information has come from a German aircraft historian who has found parts of the Lancaster and helped fill in the gaps. Anyway I'm happy to send you a digital copy if you would like. Interesting what I found out from knowing nothing but his name and serial no.

Robert

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Robert. Please do send it through and I'll see if I can use anything in the series. Cheers!

Also thanks to Stewart for the contribution too.

[11SQNLDR]

My pleasure mate, I had the pleasure of touring around the UK with my son and two mates last July during 'airshow season' picking up 5 airshows and a great number of museums and places of aviation interest.

It was one of the most enjoyable 3 weeks of my life and I know you'll have a blast, as will we as we listen to your podcasts

[Dave Homewood]

I have made a map with all the main places I'd like to try to get to, to make episodes hopefully. There are sort of clusters in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and London, with a few other more widely spread out places. If I manage to get the money and can work it into the schedule i may press north to the Yorkshire Air Museum too, but at this stage it's unlikely.

[fwx]

Nov 26, 2019 16:54:45 GMT 12 erica said:

I am writing a book about my father Flying Officer H. E. (Eric) Hunter who was stationed at RAF Methwold/Feltwell 1941 with Bomber Command until he crashed in Northern Ireland in March 1942. Does anyone have any information about 75 Squadron?

I notice that you are visiting Feltwell for your Wings over Britain series, where the Airfield Historian Philip Barnes will be of much help to you as he was to me.

My father was on a training operation to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland when he crashed into the Mountains of Mourne. He is buried at Belfast along with six other NZRAF men and was thew subject of a short BBC Television and 2 BBC radio stories when I visited his grave and the crash site in 2015. Parts of the Wellington he was flying are still visible on Mt Thomas near Newcastle. Any anecdotes or information is most welcome.

Hi erica;

I can't see any reference to a Flying Officer H.E. Hunter in the 75(NZ) Squadron records, nor to that crash.

Was he the Pilot, and was he RNZAF?

Is it possible that he served with 57 Squadron, which was also based at Feltwell around that time?

Cheers, Chris

[errolmartyn]

Dec 9, 2019 19:24:31 GMT 12 fwx said:

Nov 26, 2019 16:54:45 GMT 12 erica said:

I am writing a book about my father Flying Officer H. E. (Eric) Hunter who was stationed at RAF Methwold/Feltwell 1941 with Bomber Command until he crashed in Northern Ireland in March 1942. Does anyone have any information about 75 Squadron?

I notice that you are visiting Feltwell for your Wings over Britain series, where the Airfield Historian Philip Barnes will be of much help to you as he was to me.

My father was on a training operation to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland when he crashed into the Mountains of Mourne. He is buried at Belfast along with six other NZRAF men and was thew subject of a short BBC Television and 2 BBC radio stories when I visited his grave and the crash site in 2015. Parts of the Wellington he was flying are still visible on Mt Thomas near Newcastle. Any anecdotes or information is most welcome.

Hi erica;

I can't see any reference to a Flying Officer H.E. Hunter in the 75(NZ) Squadron records, nor to that crash.

Was he the Pilot, and was he RNZAF?

Is it possible that he served with 57 Squadron, which was also based at Feltwell around that time?

Cheers, Chris

Chris, yes, he was a 57 Sqn man.

From my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices):

HUNTER, Flying Officer Harold Eric.
NZ402060 (prev A402060); b West Melton 23 Mar 16; Timaru BHS (1st XV & Boxing Champ); clerk - Mt Cook & Southern Lakes Tourist Co, Timaru. RNZAF Harewood as Aircrafthand (GD) 9 Jul 40, GTS 24 Nov 40, remust as Airman Pilot u/t 25 Nov 40, 3EFTS 27 Dec 40, 1FTS 8 Feb 41, Pilots Badge [wef 1.4.41] & Comm 3 May 41, att RAF & emb for UK 26 May 41, 3PRC 3 Jul 41, 11OTU (Wellington) 19 Jul 41, 57 Sqn (Wellington - 17 ops) 21 Sep 41, kaa 16 Mar 42. Belfast City Cemetery - Glenalina Extn. Sec.A.S. grave 127, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Son of Eric Douglas & Amelia Rose Hunter (née Watson), Timaru; h of Maire Ethel Hunter (née Fear) & f of 1 child, Heathcote Valley, Chch. [OHT1 & phot. TWN 6.5.42].

Errol