RNZAF Museum Photo gold

[mit]

Many of you will be enjoying the RNZAF Museums recent decision to digitize and share their photo collection online (here of those of you who missed it: fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/)

I would like to start a thread where members can share, discuss and enlighten us on the stories, people, history, hidden gems that are now been shown to us for the first time.

It would be great if these where not only wartime stuff but also personal experiences, i know a lot of people here are current and ex service members too.

I think this thread, should be limited to RNZAF offical picture only, unless the pictures are supporting of the story/photo which the post is about, also please copy the RNZAF link and description

[mit]

I will start with something I read in Bryan Cox's book, "Too Young to Die" which sparked my interest so I did a little research and was amazed to find evidence right there in the collection, which I willing to bet everyone has over looked.

From Bryan's book page 119:
"When the Americans shifted out they indiscriminately destroyed masses of fully operation equipment, and there were stories of landing barges taking vehicle of every type - Jeeps, GMCs, aircraft, fridges, washing machines and other refinements which we never had - and pushing them into the lagoon. We however benefit slightly in the our damaged Corsairs were sometimes repaired with discarded parts left by the marines - after a while we had the odd Corsair which had one New Zealand wing marking, and the other side American, while another sported New Zealand wings and forward fuselage, and an American rear Fuselage complete with five-point star! (there was stories that this particular item had been purchased by an enterprising New Zealander for a bottle of Scotch.)"

No I have never heard of RNZAF aircraft with mixed markings and I think would make an wonderful subject for a model. So I got on the collection to see if I could find any thing and to my delight I found these!

PR4875 Groundcrew perform 320 hour maintenance to a No. 4 Servicing Unit Corsair NZ5324. Mokerang, Los Negros.

I do know that some of the Corsairs had US marking applied when they arrived and where overpainted with RNZAF markings which wore though which is also evdant here on the wing in the foreground,

Image from the Keith Hubert Kendon personal album collection.
ALB940767033
Air to air of No. 21 Squadron Corsairs in formation. Bougainville. Aircraft on charge to No. 31 Servicing Unit.

So there is the challenge, what else have you spotted or what story/ personal experience can you add to these wonderful photos.

Cheers Mit

[Dave Homewood]

May 24, 2020 13:00:10 GMT 12 mit said:

I do know that some of the Corsairs had US marking applied when they arrived and where overpainted with RNZAF markings

I think ALL the RNZAF Corsairs arrived at the Corsair Assembly Unit with factory applied US markings, and they were repainted into RNZAF markings when they were assembled.

[davidd]

The Corsair in the Los Negros photograph (5324) was originally assembled at Espiritu Santo in about mid-1944, so would have been in service at least six months by time this photo taken, so the mainplane with the American star on it may have been a recent replacement. Overpainting the stars was probably a "when time available" touch-up job. Also noticeable in this photo is the curious and devious employment of the stencil for the number "5" which has been used on top of rudder to approximate a rather unusual "2". I think other shots were taken of this aircraft on this occasion which make this practice clearer.
David D

[Damon]

As David has mentioned NZ5324 seems to have been given a replacement starboard wing around the time the picture was taken. Also noticed are many of our early F4U in the NZ52?? range have the short tail wheel while in the NZ53?? the extension to the tail gear appears.

[Dave Homewood]

These two posted today are really interesting and fun.

"The Base Commander, Group Captain DA Bamfield, arriving at his final parade by 'Iroquois'. RNZAF Base Woodbourne."

I do not recall any parade in the RNZAF in my time where the Base Commander arrived in anything but his white Base Commander's car with his flag on the bonnet. I also do not recall ever seeing a commanding officer showing up to a Base parade wearing shirtsleeves and an FS cap rather than full Service Dress. He must have been a fun boss?


Link to Page


Link To Page

[Dave Homewood]

I have bee enjoying the daily updates on the Wigram photo archive sight since it began, and have to say it has been one of the highlights of lockdown for me to dip into the page to see what is new. My huge thanks to Keeper of Photographs Matthew O'Sullivan for the brilliant work you're doing to provide this incredible resource.

I have been a huge fan of the P-40, especially the RNZAF P-40's, since I was a kid on my first visit to MOTAT aged about 10, and I totally fell in love with NZ3009 there when it used to be at MOTAT 1. I have always taken a big interest in the history of our Kiwi Kittyhawks and Warhawks, both in the Pacific and at home. I have had the honour to talk with many veterans who flew then and serviced them. And I love the warbird ones flying. One of the joys of this online archive for me is seeing 'new' P-40 photos that I'd never come across before. This is one of my favourites right here.

"Image from the GH Berry personal album collection. line up of No. 16 Squadron Kittyhawks at RNZAF Station Gisborne."


Link to Page

I love it because i have read the No. 16 (Fighter) Squadron Operations Record Book for the period they were based at Fairhall (where these ones are visiting from) and it's the best ORB I have come across, so much great social detail of the squadron as well as flying detail. Also look at the photo, the aircraft do not have Sky coloured codes as you might expect. Barf Bosher reckons they're likely grey. And even better is two of the P-40's have nose art that we'd never seen before. Sadly someone walked right in front of one of them, and the other is too far away to make out. But I really hope more photos of 16 Sqn's nose arts surface someday.

[noooby]

May 25, 2020 15:30:17 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

These two posted today are really interesting and fun.

"The Base Commander, Group Captain DA Bamfield, arriving at his final parade by 'Iroquois'. RNZAF Base Woodbourne."

I do not recall any parade in the RNZAF in my time where the Base Commander arrived in anything but his white Base Commander's car with his flag on the bonnet. I also do not recall ever seeing a commanding officer showing up to a Base parade wearing shirtsleeves and an FS cap rather than full Service Dress. He must have been a fun boss?


Link to Page


Link To Page

Dave, if you look a bit closer, you'll see that NOBODY on the parade is in SD's. Well, one guy is wearing a tie but still with FS had and that's it. Many are in shorts and there is even a Navy bod hiding in there.

It's like a roll call but with the BC. Lol.

[Dave Homewood]

A very good point Graham

[baz62]

Love that they've even taken the doors off the car! He must have been well liked!

[davidd]

Are the markings on the "Iroquois" to honour active service with this "Cavalry" unit? Bamford probably too young for Vietnam, so more likely an exchange posting with US Army unit somewhere in the World? Apologies if I have that wrong.
David D

[davidd]

And yes Dave, that is a fantastic new photo of 16 Squadron at Gisborne, never even suspected it existed (and I have been through the P-40 photo folders a few times!) Does the unit history (very detailed as you say, and the only one of the early squadrons to have any really good comments on the early days of 1942, and into 1943.

Also just noticed that several of those Kittys have something painted on the tips of their spinners. No. 15 Squadron at Whenuapai had tiny roundels (red/white/blue) in this location -if somebody had not thought to take a portrait of a pilot in front of one of their aircraft, I would never have known this. Perhaps 16 Squadron are copying 15, or would it be the other way around?
Dave D

[Dave Homewood]

I doubt the Iroquois was built just for this parade. It is probably a Village Green prop or some other thing that was built by airmen, and just happened to be a great way to deliver the Base Commander informally.

I found this about the Gisborne visit in the ORB for No. 16 (F) Squadron:

31/10/1942: A Flight on week-end leave.
A formation of 6 KITTYHAWKS led be F/Lt Robins proceeded to AUCKLAND via OHAKEA. The weather was good for this trip. In the afternoon the formation went to have a look at WAIPAPAKAURI and returned to AUCKLAND without landing. No-one saw much of the aerodrome at WAIPAPAKAURI as the flight flew in tight formation over the area. On the return to AUCKLAND a lookout was kept for a missing aircraft but nothing was seen.

1/11/1942: In the morning the flight of 6 KITTYHAWKS proceeded from AUCKLAND to GISBORNE via TAURANGA - all the pilots were very impressed with GISBORNE as being the ideal location for an Air Force station. In the afternoon the return was made to WOODBOURNE via WAIPUKURAU. An interception was made by No. 14 Squadron and a few moments of dogfighting was carried out.

The flight arrived back over base at about 1600 hours flying this strange formation.
...............................+
..................................+
..................... +....................+
................................................ +
.............+

Apparently B Flight require lots of formation practice. The two day trip was enjoyed by all the pilots and rumour hath that although the R/T was severely overtaxed the R/T gear stood up exceedingly well.

I love that ORB in those early days, the banter recorded is gold.

Also just noticed that several of those Kittys have something painted on the tips of their spinners.

Oh yes, so they have. I wonder if they had Flight colours (the traditional red and blue for A and B Flights).

No. 15 Squadron at Whenuapai had tiny roundels (red/white/blue) in this location -if somebody had not thought to take a portrait of a pilot in front of one of their aircraft, I would never have known this. Perhaps 16 Squadron are copying 15, or would it be the other way around?

I did not know that! I shall have to look more carefully at spinner tips from now on. I did know that some other No. 16 Squadron P-40E's had little artworks under their cockpits, which can be seen in the following clip but they're not sharp enough to make out sadly. 



David, is there any chance when you're next at the museum you can check out that G.H. Berry photo album that the P-40E photo came from and see if there are any others of the Kittyhawks in it please?

[davidd]

I'll have to get back to you on that Dave.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

I love this photo, not just because it shows a rare shot of a No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit Harvard, FE-6; and not because of the cunningly disguise fuel bowser dressed up as a hay cart; but also because in the background you can see the almost legendary camp called "Siberia". I knew it was there, No. 2 (BR) Squadron lived there when they were posted to Ohakea, and I believe most of the OTU students who passed through Ohakea also lived there, in its huts. But till I saw this photo I had no idea that Siberia was so huge! It's like a small town!!

Link to Photo

[baz62]

I presume there is nothing left of it now?

[Dave Homewood]

I wouldn't think so. Just like all the other dispersed camps adjacent to RNZAF Stations, long gone. Whenuapai had three I think, Waipapakauri had three, Gisborne had at least one, I'm sure there were others too.

[Dave Homewood]

Oh an No. 1 Repair Depot in RNZAF Station Hamilton had dispersed camps at Palmerston Street and at 'Snake Gully' on Victoria Street. Plus RNZAF Station Rukuhia had one at The Narrows, which is actually still a camp for children, but I do not know if any of the buildings are original RNZAF, because I have never been there despite it being about ten minutes from here!

[davidd]

At RNZAF Station Harewood there were three dispersed camps, including one on Burnside Park, one on Russley Golf course, and the third over past where Deep Freeze was later set up (Orchard Road?) Whenuapai naturally also had several dispersed camps, and Wigram had at least three, probably also Woodbourne. Most of these camps comprised fairly large numbers of small huts (probably designed originally for Army), manufactured in kit form I think by such firms as Pollards. Quite different huts were also manufactured for tropical service and shipped overseas.

They were all standardised designs (appropriate to climate), the 'temperate service' ones all wood with steeply pitched malthoid-covered roofs. Would also have latrines, and largish messes, complete with cooking facilities I would imagine, unless they had centralised cooking facilities plus vehicles to deliver hot food to dispersed camps, but this just a possibility, have no particular detailed knowledge of this subject. Must see if anything mentioned in the Wartime History of the PWD Aerodrome Services Branch, might give some general ideas. Do you have a copy of this very useful little history Dave?

My dad had an example of one of the temporary huts at our Pigeon Bay farm, called "the Army hut", I think intended for four men, although we did not have the bunks which were probably supplied separately. Although considered only "temporary" buildings, not expected to last for much more than 5 years, our little hut lasted until well into the 1970s by which time severe deterioration was much evident, almost certainly accelerated by the attentions of (wrecking-addicted) small boys of several generations. As it received no maintenance whatsoever (it seemed pretty watertight during our tenure!) - if it aint broke, don't touch it!
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Oh yes I remember the Harewood camps now. I was not aware that Wigram had any though, but of course it makes sense. Do you now where they were situated?

I have never come across any such camps at Woodbourne, other than the separate stations at Fairhall and The Delta. Although I have vague feeling I have seen aerial photos with a hutted camp north of Woodbourne where the Camp Pack Up and firing range is/was.

Lots of those RNZAF four-man huts were wooden sided only up to about a metre and a half high and the rest of the sides and te rood were canvas. Great in summer as the sides rolled up, but I'd hate to be in there on a frosty night!

Sadly I do not have a copy of that book, David.