zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
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Post by zkdex on Jul 24, 2020 9:07:10 GMT 12
Query regarding former venison hunting helicopter operator Dougas R Bushby, Christchurch.
Earlyish 1970's he was operating four Hiller UH-12E's. I've identified two of these: ZK-HAP (2076) and ZK-HES (2197). Can anyone help with the registrations of the other two?
Also, there's a Douglas R Bushby buried in the Waimaire Cemetery, Christchurch; date of death 6 June 1974. Coincidentally, there was a helicopter crash on that same date - Hiller UH-12E ZK-HEE (2517) at Devil's Creek, which I understand is near Culverden. Any connection?
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 24, 2020 11:50:31 GMT 12
Douglas Richard Bushby was killed in the crash of Hiller UK-12E ZK-HEE on 6 Jun 74. The other occupant, Gary Francis Minnell, survived.
Errol
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zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
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Post by zkdex on Jul 24, 2020 14:17:59 GMT 12
Thanks for the information re Mr Bushby and ZK-HEE. Just by pure coincidence, I bought a book in Opotiki today about helicopter pilot brothers Steve and Chris Podjursky. Called 'Blood Brothers', on page 129 there's a copy of a situations vacant advert (for shooters) placed by Douglas R Bushby & Co, Christchurch!
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Post by delticman on Jul 24, 2020 14:19:37 GMT 12
Query regarding former venison hunting helicopter operator Dougas R Bushby, Christchurch. Earlyish 1970's he was operating four Hiller UH-12E's. I've identified two of these: ZK-HAP (2076) and ZK-HES (2197). Can anyone help with the registrations of the other two? Also, there's a Douglas R Bushby buried in the Waimaire Cemetery, Christchurch; date of death 6 June 1974. Coincidentally, there was a helicopter crash on that same date - Hiller UH-12E ZK-HEE (2517) at Devil's Creek, which I understand is near Culverden. Any connection? To add to your list. ZK-HAP 2076 72-75 ZK-HEE 2517 72-74 crashed Glencoe River ZK-HES 2197 72-75 ZK-HFI 2011 73-75 ZK-HGB 2351 74-75 ZK-HGI 2109 leased 73-74 Is Gary still around? He did fly for Garden City for a while. |
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Post by kiwi172 on Jul 25, 2020 21:26:51 GMT 12
Yep I spied Gary a couple of weeks back
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Post by spitfire3 on May 29, 2023 0:02:55 GMT 12
Douglas Richard Bushby was killed in the crash of Hiller UK-12E ZK-HEE on 6 Jun 74. The other occupant, Gary Francis Minnell, survived. Errol Hi, I know I am really late to this forum but I am the eldest grandson of D R Bushby and I was wanting to know more information about my grandad. I understand he died in a helicopter accident and have been told he was an excellent pilot, but don't know much about him otherwise. Could anybody help? Kind regards, Spitfire3 |
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Post by russkiechopper on Jun 7, 2023 20:24:54 GMT 12
Douglas Richard Bushby was killed in the crash of Hiller UK-12E ZK-HEE on 6 Jun 74. The other occupant, Gary Francis Minnell, survived. Errol Hi, I know I am really late to this forum but I am the eldest grandson of D R Bushby and I was wanting to know more information about my grandad. I understand he died in a helicopter accident and have been told he was an excellent pilot, but don't know much about him otherwise. Could anybody help? Kind regards, Spitfire3 Seeing your message had spun me out. I believe that my grandfather was partners with your grandfather in the early 70's. He had gone by the name Wally Vlasoff. He was a Hunter who migrated from China (prior to that from Russia). His wife, my grandmother forbid him from flying again after he survived a crash with the Canadian pilot at the helm. He was thrown from the chopper and ran to get help as the pilot was stuck. |
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Post by sikorsky on Feb 8, 2024 22:11:25 GMT 12
Douglas Richard Bushby was killed in the crash of Hiller UK-12E ZK-HEE on 6 Jun 74. The other occupant, Gary Francis Minnell, survived. Errol Hi, I know I am really late to this forum but I am the eldest grandson of D R Bushby and I was wanting to know more information about my grandad. I understand he died in a helicopter accident and have been told he was an excellent pilot, but don't know much about him otherwise. Could anybody help? Kind regards, Spitfire3 Hi Spitfire3 I should be able to fill you in on any details of the life of Doug Bushby you would like to know. As mentioned above, he was tragically killed in a helicopter accident at Devil's creek back in June 1974, with Gary Minnell as the pilot (survived), and is buried at the Waimairi cemetery in Christchurch. He, along with his wife at the time, Jennifer Mavis Bushby, ran a successful deer recovery operation on the west coast out of Rotomanu operating a number of Hiller UH-12E's, and had a Hughes 300 on order. I believe four of the Hiller aircraft were owned outright, with two being leased. The information you have that he was an excellent pilot is incorrect - he was the manager of the company and a shooter & gutter, but did not hold a pilot's licence as such. He was well respected and admired by those who worked for him and knew him, and had an outgoing and adventurous character. One of his brothers, Jim Bushby passed away some years ago, however his other brother, Robert is still around, as well as his sister Valerie who now lives on the outskirts of Melbourne. All three brothers were keen and experienced hunters and outdoorsmen. He was survived by his second wife, Jenny, and eldest son Richard, with his youngest son, Michael born about a week after the accident, and thus grew up never knowing his father. Richard has gone on to a successful career as a multi-engine helicopter pilot with CHC, while Michael works as a computer programmer for a large international telecommunications company. After his death, the deer recovery operation was wound up and the aircraft sold on. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to know any further information. Sikorsky |
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Post by NZ1009 on Feb 13, 2024 8:58:52 GMT 12
Not sure if you are aware of the following book: Forgotten Years : Helicopters and Hunting Stories Brian Conroy & friends Printed by The Copy Press, Nelson, New Zealand, www.copypress.co.nzThere is a 49 page chapter written by Jenny Bushby / McPhee about her life with Doug Bushby. A part of the chapter is shown in the following photos. There is also a few pages on Doug Bushby in the early 1960s in the book: A Deer Cullers Tale, Dave Drangsholt, The Halcyon Press, 2007  IMG_0662 by , on Flickr  IMG_0664 by , on Flickr  IMG_0661 by , on Flickr  IMG_0660 by , on Flickr |
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