|
Post by davidd on Dec 29, 2020 11:39:01 GMT 12
Anybody expecting a Wellington or even a Stirling bomber would have been bitterly disappointed! Only thing the Oxford had in its favour was a genuine (manual) gun turret! David D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 29, 2020 11:58:29 GMT 12
It could and did drop bombs though. Little bombs.
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Dec 30, 2020 22:37:14 GMT 12
Quite right Dave, they did. Little known, however, is that our Oxfords were equipped to also carry 250 pounder GPs, on Universal carriers, when the German surface raiders were sneaking about 1940/41, also for the FAFAI scheme in 1942/43. David D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 10, 2021 12:08:02 GMT 12
Here's an interesting photo of Sunderland III NZ4104. It looks to have a blue cheat line and maybe a red stripe on the tail? "Image from the Des White personal collection. High 3/4 rear view of Sunderland NZ4104 on the hardstanding at Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Hobsonville." DWNZ4104b Link
|
|
|
Post by tbf2504 on Jan 10, 2021 13:36:20 GMT 12
Fred Tucker while carrying out a war patrol of Cook Strait during the Jap scare bombed a whale which he thought was a submarine!
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jan 10, 2021 16:52:39 GMT 12
Here's an interesting photo of Sunderland III NZ4104. It looks to have a blue cheat line and maybe a red stripe on the tail? From the Short boat thread: After its service with NZNAC, ZK-AMK was returned to the RNZAF, where is was placed in storage at Hobsonville. It was bought back on charge as NZ4104 so that it could be offered for sale by tender on 28May1951, but it was not sold at that time. By now, the purchase of the ex-RAF Sunderland Mk.5 fleet was imminent so NZ4104 was repainted back into military colours and used by 6 Squadron to train crews in the water handling and beaching procedures of these aircraft. Deemed seaworthy but not airworthy, NZ4104 carried out these duties from May 1952 until mid-1953.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 10, 2021 17:23:51 GMT 12
Thanks Peter.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 23, 2021 21:59:16 GMT 12
This is a great photo from 27/01/1966 of a visiting RAF Vulcan climbing out after a low pass over Wigram. It's great to see these familiar buildings, No. 6 Hangar in the distance on the right was where I worked for a couple of years. No. 7 Hangar's side offices can be seen on the right in the foreground. The little building on the left was the Armoury where weapons were stored. The concrete hangar, No. 5 hangar, is the only building still standing now. Note the small boys racing down the road (undoubtedly from Married Quarters families) to see the Vulcan - what a thrill for them. And also several RNZAF personnel have come out for a look too, sans their hats and one slacker with hands in pockets - they did not have Terry Wereta as Base Warrant officer back then, clearly! Here's the LINK
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Jan 24, 2021 12:12:30 GMT 12
When "Moi" was in the ATC in about 1965 (perhaps just a year prior to when the above photo was taken) the Armoury (was there only one?) was definitely in the annex to 7 hangar, eastern end, in other words quite close to where the photographer is actually standing. And it was fairly chocker with ranks of SMLE's, Bren guns and Sterling LMG's (latter an "improved" Sten gun). I think we actually entered this armoury to get our "weapons" for drill purposes. We also learned to dismantle the Bren (probably should be spelt BREN as the name was an acrynom), and that was all good, clean fun, but were never permitted to handle the Stirlings. We did quite bit of drill, and it was not too bad when you got into the swing of it. Thursday night was the regular night for parades of No. 17 Squadron, in 7 Hangar. No. 6 Hangar at this time had about 20/30 Harvards stored in it, semi-dismantled, in a good variety of colour schemes, including all silver (no bare-metal ones then!), with yellow bands, or with orange "dayglo" bands, and most roundels had silver "fernleaf" (decals) in their centres. In 1965 I saw my first Hercules close up. It was just sitting there on the ground, minding its own business, between 6 and 7 Hangars, whilst an elderly looking (to us 14/15/16 year old cadets) warrant officer, who protectively rode a Wigram bicycle between the approaching swarm of uncouth youth-types and the precious, naked aircraft. He spoke to us gently, but firmly, stating "just keep away from the aeroplane boys". Believe it or not, we obeyed him, so I don't think we ever got close enough to actually touch it, but maybe we did. Doubt that this "encounter" was entered into the formal Wigram "Unit History Sheet". Most of the hangar (No. 7) was out of bounds (and locked) to cadets, apart from the armoury (but only to obtain and return our rifles), and some lecture rooms on far (air) side of hangar (when we had lectures of course), and the toilets. Strangely I recall that the remains of an Avro Anson could be seen on the southern edge of field, no idea why it was there, and all around interior of the hangar were hung largish paintings of RNZAF aircraft through the ages, although I think these were painted during WW2 so there were no images of "modern" aircraft on display. I was not greatly impressed by these illustrations, but have often wondered since just what happened to them; perhaps somebody burned them all. David D
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Jan 24, 2021 13:50:13 GMT 12
I too was in the ATC young David.....18 Squadron and 7 hangar (we are talking late 70s) was completely empty. All the parades were held there until Air Movements came along and we lost the Eastern end to use. Yes the armory held the SLRs and I think our drill rifles I think. I recall seeing an AK47 in there and I think a .50cal Browning too.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2021 16:15:20 GMT 12
When "Moi" was in the ATC in about 1965 (perhaps just a year prior to when the above photo was taken) the Armoury (was there only one?) was definitely in the annex to 7 hangar, eastern end, in other words quite close to where the photographer is actually standing. And it was fairly chocker with ranks of SMLE's, Bren guns and Sterling LMG's (latter an "improved" Sten gun). I think we actually entered this armoury to get our "weapons" for drill purposes. Yes, that is where the Armourer's workshops were when I was at Wigram in the 1990's, and it was indeed called the Armoury. I used to often pop in there as part of my job, dropping off and picking up pyrotechnics that they serviced from our life preservers. But that little concrete building I pointed out was where the hundreds (?) of SLR rifles and later Steyr rifles were securely kept. I guess I should have said Armoury gun store? The only weapons I recall seeing in the Armoury's workshops were those that the three armourers - Mike Karsten, Pinetree Renton and Sgt Pope - were working on. The No. 7 hangar annex at the far eastern end when I was there was the offices for Air Movements, and Camp Pack Up, run by GSH Laurie Sadler who was ex-SAS and a top bloke. And at the western end was the Photography Section, run by F/Sgt Mike Provost. So the Armoury in my time was between those two sections.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2021 16:38:38 GMT 12
We used to line up every first Monday of the month at 07.30hrs outside that concrete room to collect a rifle and bayonet and then march down to the parade ground in front of the headquarters (aka the control tower car park), as we were expected to once a month drill with rifles and bayonets so we did not forget how to. Every other Monday of the month Tech Squadron paraded on the same parade ground without rifles. And different days of the week different sections paraded for their weekly formal parade, I guess Admin one day, Supply another, PTS/CFS workers another day, etc. So I remember that armoury gun store vividly.
|
|
|
Post by johnnyfalcon on Jan 24, 2021 19:02:10 GMT 12
We used to line up every first Monday of the month at 07.30hrs outside that concrete room to collect a rifle and bayonet and then march down to the parade ground in front of the headquarters (aka the control tower car park), as we were expected to once a month drill with rifles and bayonets so we did not forget how to... From Blackadder Goes ForthBaldrick: "And I loved the training. All we had to do was bayonet sacks full of straw. Even I could do that. I remember saying to my Mum, "These sacks'll be easy to outwit in a battle situation.""
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2021 19:05:34 GMT 12
The only thing our bayonets were good for was tearing little holes in the right hand shoulder if your woolen jumper. Many airmen had a wee darn there thanks to the bayonets. Other than that they were not eleven sharp and not even that good for show as they were black.
|
|
|
Post by johnnyfalcon on Jan 24, 2021 19:08:08 GMT 12
Darn these bayonets...
(gets his coat)
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 26, 2021 11:02:57 GMT 12
Here is an interesting one. In the photo Cyril Kent looks like a little old man, but I found a newspaper article from The Press dated 29th of April 1944, detailing his bravery. "Cyril Kent GM (centre) with Leading Aircraftman PF Johnson and Leading Aircraftman LM Gemmell (right) in the Warrant Officers and Senior NCOs mess at RNZAF Base Ohakea. The Ohakea Unit History, October 1986, reads "A small ceremony was held in the Warrant Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers Mess on 15 October to present Mr Cyril Kent (recipient of the George Medal) with his newly refurbished medals. Mr Kent's medals were at first thought lost after a fire in his home in Tangimoana, but two firemen from Base, after an extensive search through the rubble, found the medals and they were sent to Wellington for refurbishing and mounting." These medals are now held in the Air Force Museum collection." LINKGEORGE MEDAL AWARDEDBURNING FLARE REMOVED FROM EXPLOSIVES“AN ACT OF OUTSTANDING GALLANTRY”(P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 28. The Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) has announced that His Majesty the King has approved the following awards to personnel of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in recognition of acts of gallantry performed in the south Pacific area. The awards are;— George Medal Corporal (Temporary-Sergeant) Cyril George Kent. Next of kin, Miss L B, Kent, New South Wales (relationship not stated). Commendation Pilot Officer Joseph Rowland Stanley. Father, Mr J. B. Stanley, Hamilton. The citations state that Sergeant Kent performed an act of outstanding gallantry on January 6, 1944, when he prevented an imminent explosion involving grave danger to both personnel and aircraft. “When a flare accidentally became ignited among a stack of bombs and depth charges, Sergeant Kent, well aware that a major explosion was likely, hurried to the spot and endeavoured to remove the flare. In the first attempt he had his left hand burned, but, regardless of his own safety, he persisted and removed the flare, still burning fiercely, to a place of safety. He suffered further severe burns before succeeding in an action which ensured the safety of other personnel and saved a number of aircraft from almost certain destruction.” Sergeant Kent was born in England, and came to New Zealand from Australia. At the outbreak of war he joined the R.N.Z.A.F. as a flight-rigger. He later became a fitter and armourer, gaining non-commissioned officer’s rank. He is 38. Pilot Officer Stanley, an armament officer, also assisted in preventing what would have been a most serious explosion. “Well knowing the danger to personnel and aircraft in the vicinity, Pilot Officer Stanley hastened to the scene and promptly removed another flare, which was exposed to intense heat. He also assisted in removing bombs and depth charges from the burning flare, and finally moved the flare itself to a safe distance from nearby aircraft. Throughout he showed a complete disregard of danger.” Pilot Officer Stanley was a school teacher. He joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940 as an armourer, and in October, 1943, was granted a commission. He was born in Auckland in 1920.
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Jan 26, 2021 12:00:46 GMT 12
When "Moi" was in the ATC in about 1965 (perhaps just a year prior to when the above photo was taken) the Armoury (was there only one?) was definitely in the annex to 7 hangar, eastern end, in other words quite close to where the photographer is actually standing. And it was fairly chocker with ranks of SMLE's, Bren guns and Sterling LMG's (latter an "improved" Sten gun). I think we actually entered this armoury to get our "weapons" for drill purposes. We also learned to dismantle the Bren (probably should be spelt BREN as the name was an acrynom), and that was all good, clean fun, but were never permitted to handle the Stirlings. We did quite bit of drill, and it was not too bad when you got into the swing of it. Thursday night was the regular night for parades of No. 17 Squadron, in 7 Hangar. No. 6 Hangar at this time had about 20/30 Harvards stored in it, semi-dismantled, in a good variety of colour schemes, including all silver (no bare-metal ones then!), with yellow bands, or with orange "dayglo" bands, and most roundels had silver "fernleaf" (decals) in their centres. In 1965 I saw my first Hercules close up. It was just sitting there on the ground, minding its own business, between 6 and 7 Hangars, whilst an elderly looking (to us 14/15/16 year old cadets) warrant officer, who protectively rode a Wigram bicycle between the approaching swarm of uncouth youth-types and the precious, naked aircraft. He spoke to us gently, but firmly, stating "just keep away from the aeroplane boys". Believe it or not, we obeyed him, so I don't think we ever got close enough to actually touch it, but maybe we did. Doubt that this "encounter" was entered into the formal Wigram "Unit History Sheet". Most of the hangar (No. 7) was out of bounds (and locked) to cadets, apart from the armoury (but only to obtain and return our rifles), and some lecture rooms on far (air) side of hangar (when we had lectures of course), and the toilets. Strangely I recall that the remains of an Avro Anson could be seen on the southern edge of field, no idea why it was there, and all around interior of the hangar were hung largish paintings of RNZAF aircraft through the ages, although I think these were painted during WW2 so there were no images of "modern" aircraft on display. I was not greatly impressed by these illustrations, but have often wondered since just what happened to them; perhaps somebody burned them all. David D It must have been 1967 that you were recalling Dave as the Anson was NZ 412 which I purchased from Charly Dodge of Swannanoa on behalf of MOTAT whilst I was on my recruit course. The MT section shifted it to Wigram as a training exercise and it sat there until it was loaded on a Herc on a "space available" basis for transport to Whenuapai. It is now with Don Subritzky Photos are here: rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/17636/photos-stash?page=12
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Jan 26, 2021 13:20:24 GMT 12
You are undoubtedly correct shorty, I remember seeing the lone Anson at Wigram, but obviously not during my brief and undistinguished membership of the ATC! I also remember seeing official pictures which include the Anson in the background, always used to wonder what it was doing there! David D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2021 15:58:13 GMT 12
One of the things that stands out to me in 1970's RNZAF photos is the length and scruffiness of hair and sideburns compared with the days when I served when we strictly had to have much shorter, tidier hair. This photo though takes the cake, surely that bloke behind the injured rugby player cannot actually be an airman? That hair! It's touching his collar! Would he have been a civvie? And if so why is he playing in an Officers vs Sergeants match? Is he a ringer? Original photo HERE
|
|
|
Post by baronbeeza on Feb 1, 2021 16:35:59 GMT 12
The fellow with the tie looks like Wally Nash. He was NCO I/C SEMS about 5 years after this pic was taken. A F/S and from Murchison. Not sure of the reason for the smiles, having a laugh at the injured player's expense. No help with the hairy one but I hate to admit how my hair looked in 1975. I was more Phil Goff'y and I guess the servicemen still managed to stand out.
|
|