RNZAF Test Pilots

[davidd]

Still on the subject of ordinary squadron pilots being requested/ordered to test standard types of military aircraft, two cases of RNZAF pilots in the South Pacific theatre during 1944, both involving aircraft which were NOT the property of the RNZAF, seem strangely similar in many ways. These cases concerned Pilot Officer Ernest Charles ("Annie") Laurie, DFM, of 16 Squadron on 30th April at Torokina strip, Bougainville, and Flight Sergeant Kenneth McGowan of 23 Squadron, on 13th December at Momote Strip, Los Negros. Both cases concerned F4U-1 aircraft, and the general circumstances of each case were strikingly different in some respects, and seemingly very similar in others. There were also some serious lapses in the legality and control of RNZAF personnel in one instance by US personnel, although the NZ pilot in this case seemed not to be fully aware of his responsibilities and, particularly, his own limitations. It seems that an American officer requested him to undertake a test flight of an American Corsair aircraft, believed following maintenance. This request seems to have been in contravention of arrangements between the RNZAF and the Americans, as the RNZAF was completely unaware of this flight, which seems to have been arranged on the spur of a moment. This was exacerbated by fact that Laurie had absolutely no experience of E4U aircraft (only being conversant with the P-40 series), and under normal circumstances he should have refused outright to fly the aircraft concerned, as no RNZAF officer had authorised the flight, and he had never completed a conversion course to this type. Why Laurie agreeed to the flight can only be speculated on, although he was on his third Pacific tour, so could be considered as a reasonably experienced and competent fighter pilot. McGowan's case was also marked by a lack of completing certain normal administrative actions, and, much worse, practically all the normal actions required for testing the aircraft's engine prior to take off were also ignored. And in both these cases, the respective aircraft were seen to make what appeared to be perfectly normal take offs, but these both ended disastrously, probably for very different reasons. Laurie was in a completely strange aircraft of which his technical knowlege was practically nil, although he probably thought (hoped?) he could manage the flight, by relying on his accumulated flying skills. McGowan on the other hand had much less experience (operational and general flying) than Laurie, being on only his first Pacific tour, and may have been a victim of the "apparent take off" mentioned in previous post due to the runway hump. However he did possess the advantage of having completed the normal Corsair conversion course earlier in his career. Both pilots seemed to have been caught out by unexpected circumstances (especially Laurie, who perhaps thought he was simply assisting the Americans by testing their Corsair). Only certainty was that one pilot ended up drowned in the sea off end of the strip, the other died in a fiery crash just off end of the runway. Both aircraft on their take offs were seen to initially climb normally, then to apparently throttle back and sink towards runway, only to proceed to their doom. All RNZAF pilots, when converting from P-40s to F4Us, had to complete at least a week (later 2 weeks) of classroom study of the Corsair, familiarisation with cockpit instruments, and all systems and controls, then a short examination, with perhaps up to ten or more hours of flying before proceeding to an operational squadron.

[angelsonefive]

For more on the tragic loss of P/O E.C.Laurie DFM RNZAF :

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 65597

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, the loss of Ernest "Annie" Laurie has puzzled me. He should never have been in the Corsair. It is really quite bizarre. Such a good pilot with loads of experience should theoretically have known that you do not simply jump into a whole new, more powerful type with no preparation or training. Such a shame.

[Dave Homewood]

A little piece on Frank "Spud" Murphy from The Press, dated 11th of January 1956.

N.Z. Test Pilot Was Poliomyelitis Sufferer

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 10.

Mr Frank Murphy has been in the public eye for the last 13 years, first as a war-time fighter pilot with four German planes and a Distinguished Flying Cross to his credit and later as chief production test pilot for Hawker’s in England; but only today was it revealed that he is one of the small band of sportsmen and others who have performed feats of great physical endurance after being stricken with poliomyelitis.

This unknown episode in former Squadron Leader Murphy’s background was disclosed by his mother, Mrs B. A. Murphy, of Strathmore Park. Wellington, after reading an article about sportsmen who fought off the effects of poliomyelitis and became champions.

Mrs Murphy said that when her son was 15 he was experimenting in the back garden with some chemicals when an explosion occurred and a glass jar smashed, cutting him extensively over the chest, taking a piece off one finger and almost amputating the thumb of his right hand.

“The doctors succeeded in saving the thumb, but he was not able to use it, as it became inflexible and lay close to the first finger,” she said. “In spite of all this, Frank was eventually — after much trying on his part — accepted as a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

“Frank was stricken with poliomyelitis as a toddler at the age of 18 months.” said Mrs Murphy. “We thought he would never walk again.”

Although this was in 1918, long before the modern weapons to fight off poliomyelitis were developed, the help given by doctors and nurses, coupled with perseverance and exercises, combined to lead eventually to an almost complete cure.

Mrs Murphy said that poliomyelitis struck at her son in England, for although he had always identified himself as a New Zealander, he was born in Bolton, England, and came to New Zealand with his parents when he was five.

He was treated at the Salford Children’s Hospital in Manchester.

"After lying on his back for nearly two years, Frank was eventually able to walk again unaided,” she said. “At the age of 12 he had further treatment for his legs at the Wellington Hospital, and throughout his life has walked with an almost imperceptible limp.”

[Dave Homewood]

Oct 11, 2021 11:10:20 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

N.Z. PILOT TO TEST FLY

{From the London Correspondent of “The Press”} LONDON, May 23.

A New Zealand pilot, Osborne James Hawkins, has been appointed a test pilot of A. V. Roe, Ltd., the manufacturers of Britain's giant Vulcan bombers. He will be based at Woodford. Formerly he was a test pilot for the Gloster Aircraft Company and engaged on the development of Javelin aircraft. Now aged 34, Mr Hawkins joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942 and flew P-40s and Corsairs in the Pacific during the war. In 1951 he joined the R.A.F. serving in night fighters. He went later to the Empire Test Pilots' School.

TEST PILOT:— Mr O. (“Ossie") J. Hawkins, an old boy of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, who has been appointed an experimental test pilot with the Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd., England, builders of the Javelin all-weather fighter. Since 1951, when he left Christchurch, he has served in the Royal Air Force.
PRESS, 26 FEBRUARY 1957

[errolmartyn]

Feb 29, 2024 23:51:46 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Oct 11, 2021 11:10:20 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

N.Z. PILOT TO TEST FLY

{From the London Correspondent of “The Press”} LONDON, May 23.

A New Zealand pilot, Osborne James Hawkins, has been appointed a test pilot of A. V. Roe, Ltd., the manufacturers of Britain's giant Vulcan bombers. He will be based at Woodford. Formerly he was a test pilot for the Gloster Aircraft Company and engaged on the development of Javelin aircraft. Now aged 34, Mr Hawkins joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942 and flew P-40s and Corsairs in the Pacific during the war. In 1951 he joined the R.A.F. serving in night fighters. He went later to the Empire Test Pilots' School.

TEST PILOT:— Mr O. (“Ossie") J. Hawkins, an old boy of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, who has been appointed an experimental test pilot with the Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd., England, builders of the Javelin all-weather fighter. Since 1951, when he left Christchurch, he has served in the Royal Air Force.
PRESS, 26 FEBRUARY 1957

Enlisted with RNZAF as NZ4210194 on 29 Jul 42.
Commissioned in RAF as 502217 Flying Officer on a short service commission on 28 Jan 52 (seniority 20 Feb 51)
Died in UK on 10 Jul 2010 aged 86.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Ossie Hawkins' son Richard was writing a book on his father's life and Air Force career. I helped Richard with some info years ago. I had not heard anything from him in a long while and last year I emailed to see how he was going and if the book was still in progress. Sadly, I heard back from Richard's daughter who said Richard had become ill and had died. So sad. And his book remained unfinished. She suggested the family might look at finishing the book. I hope they do.

[Dave Homewood]

Here is a wartime RNZAF pilot who became a test pilot postwar in Canada. From The Press, 24 Feb 1959:

MUCH TRAVELLED PILOT

Home Visit To N.Z. Planned

"The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, Feb. 23.

Since he left New Zealand for Canada in the first months of the war as a trainee under the Commonwealth air training plan, Mr R. M. Kidd has flown far, variously and adventurously.

“Bill,” as he is known on world air routes, is back in Canada again, as test pilot for Canadair, grooming the big Argus submarine hunters which have been in the news recently.

He has plans to visit his parents, Mr and Mrs A. M. Kidd, of Christchurch, soon, and to renew friendships in the football, cycling, and athletic fields.

From the Commonwealth training course, Mr Kidd was posted to Bomber Command, R.A.F., and next to New Zealand’s famous 75 Squadron. Shot down in Northern France, he was four months in getting back to England, via Spain and Gibraltar.

Soon afterwards he was transferred to the Transport Command of the R.A.F. and. based at Montreal, flew the North and South Atlantic, South American and African routes in the ferry service until he was transferred to the trans-Pacific section, flying regularly to Auckland and Sydney by way of Honolulu, Canton, and Fiji.

After the war, Mr Kidd joined B.O.A.C. and flew on the North Atlantic routes before being transferred to the Comet I proving flights, as one of the first pilots in the world licensed to fly commercial jets, between England and Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Back again in a short job in Canada, he test-flew Sabre fighters, piston, jet and propjet transports until the middle of last year, when the long-distance Argus became his special field. His licence probably covers as many types of aircraft, military and civil, piston, propjet and jet, as any pilot anywhere.

[errolmartyn]

Mar 19, 2024 23:17:12 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Here is a wartime RNZAF pilot who became a test pilot postwar in Canada. From The Press, 24 Feb 1959:

MUCH TRAVELLED PILOT

Home Visit To N.Z. Planned

"The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, Feb. 23.

Since he left New Zealand for Canada in the first months of the war as a trainee under the Commonwealth air training plan, Mr R. M. Kidd has flown far, variously and adventurously.

“Bill,” as he is known on world air routes, is back in Canada again, as test pilot for Canadair, grooming the big Argus submarine hunters which have been in the news recently.

He has plans to visit his parents, Mr and Mrs A. M. Kidd, of Christchurch, soon, and to renew friendships in the football, cycling, and athletic fields.

From the Commonwealth training course, Mr Kidd was posted to Bomber Command, R.A.F., and next to New Zealand’s famous 75 Squadron. Shot down in Northern France, he was four months in getting back to England, via Spain and Gibraltar.

Soon afterwards he was transferred to the Transport Command of the R.A.F. and. based at Montreal, flew the North and South Atlantic, South American and African routes in the ferry service until he was transferred to the trans-Pacific section, flying regularly to Auckland and Sydney by way of Honolulu, Canton, and Fiji.

After the war, Mr Kidd joined B.O.A.C. and flew on the North Atlantic routes before being transferred to the Comet I proving flights, as one of the first pilots in the world licensed to fly commercial jets, between England and Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Back again in a short job in Canada, he test-flew Sabre fighters, piston, jet and propjet transports until the middle of last year, when the long-distance Argus became his special field. His licence probably covers as many types of aircraft, military and civil, piston, propjet and jet, as any pilot anywhere.

Some notes made by me and the late Colin Hanson some years ago:

Sat 23/Sun 24 Jan 1943
Bomber Command – 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF (Newmarket, Suffolk – 3 Group)
Stirling I R9248 AA-H – took off at 1746
KIDD, Flight Lieutenant Robert Miln
NZ412700. Born Christchurch, 29 Sep 1919. RNZAF 4 May 1941 to 19 Jun 1946, Pilot. Reported missing on the night of 23-24 Jan 1943 with 75(NZ)Sqn RAF (Stirling) during a mining sortie to Lorient., being the sole survivor. The aircraft was hit by flak after releasing its mines and crashed at St-Thégonnec (Finistere). 11 km SE Morlaix, France. Flt Lt Kidd successfully evaded capture and was safe in UK 8 May 1943. He had baled out of his burning aircraft and landed unconscious in a ploughed field being missed by the Germans in their search. Local French people helped him with food, clothing and shelter and eventually arranged his journey through France and over the Pyrenees into Spain. He later served with 45 Group, RAF, Transport Command at Dorval, Canada. Post-war he was a test pilot for Canadair, in Canada.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Errol. Interesting that he evaded capture and made a 'home run'. I don't think many Kiwis achieved that.