axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
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Post by axelford on Dec 22, 2020 14:51:23 GMT 12
Hello all, I'm going on holiday soon to the Nelson-Takaka region and was planning on checking out the C-47 wreck at port Underwood but sadly the land has been sold and access is difficult and it looks like its not going to happen. So the other wreck I wanted to check out was Hudson NZ2007 but I've been having trouble finding details. I know that it's on farm land so I was wondering if any of you guys know of who I can contact to get access? (I have tried the Collingwood museum but they're probably on holiday already ) Any ideas would be appreciated! Ps I know this topic doesn't quite fit "preserving aircraft" but idk what topic wreck exploration goes under.
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Post by denysjones on Dec 22, 2020 19:12:16 GMT 12
Four of us from Ferrymead visited the site way back (possibly 20odd years ago) and there wasn't much left above ground as it appeared the hillside had slipped and buried things. There were bits of stuff sticking out of the ground here and there. One Cyclone was accessible (the other supposedly was over the other side of the ridge but after a quick recce we gave up trying to go over and look for it) along with the rearmost of the fuselage with part of the tailplane attached. We salvaged a few bits and pieces and gave up on the exercise. We were guided to the location by Greg Olsen who lived in or near Mapua and who had been to the site several times. He in fact commented that there was now a lot less to see than when he first went there. You might try tracking him down. This may interest www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/95225278/farmer-makes-shocking-find-in-wartime-tragedySorry can't contribute any more but I've dropped a line to one of the others who was with me and might have photos. If he comes back with something I'll post them here. hth
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Post by nuuumannn on Dec 22, 2020 21:22:58 GMT 12
Hello all, I'm going on holiday soon to the Nelson-Takaka region... If none of your plans transpire, axelford, there is a small consolation prize in that the prop from Hudson NZ2029 that struck the water on 30 September 1942 has been recovered and is on display outside the building in Pioneers Park on Hastings Street - opposite Spotlight. It is on the park side of the building not visible from the road. There used to be an undercarriage leg outside the airport fire station airside, but its long gone. Dunno what happened to it. You might wanna head to the airport as there are a few memorials at the entrance commemorating the RNZAF history of the site. Two of the former RNZAF hangars still stand, one is used by Air New Zealand (Hangar Two) and the other is empty (Hangar Three), opposite the cadet squadron building. The original RNZAF Main Store still exists as a car rental building next to Hangar Three and the wartime civil terminal building is still there, too. On Bolt road heading to Tahunanui from the airport is Cohen Place, named after 'Nugget' Cohen, which was the site of the RNZAF personnel accommodation buildings. There is also a small memorial at Saxton Field, Stoke, which was the site of the first airport in Nelson - that is, if that sort of thing floats your boat.
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Post by markrogers on Dec 22, 2020 22:05:04 GMT 12
I went to work on that farm at Westhaven in the mid 1980's (35 years ago!) and was told about the wreckage of NZ2007 up on the hillside by the farmer at the time. He was the one as a young man who discovered the wreckage when it crashed into the hillside on his farm. Told me that he heard the Hudson crash, but didn't know and thought it was thunderclaps or gunshots from a hunter as it was very foggy and bad weather at that time. He went to look a week later for stock to round up and discovered the wreckage. The RNZAF drove over from Nelson to recover the airmen's bodies and the crash was kept quiet during the war - because it was wartime and the threat of a Japanese invasion was very real at that time. I went for a walk up there and found a starboard wing section from just outboard of the engine, still had all the fowler flap canoes on it and the rubber boot on the leading edge, and the tail section with the tailplane attached. Most of the wreckage had burnt in the crash. The camouflage and RAF markings were still quite good on them and its RAF serial was visible on the tail, starting with a V and followed by a number. Haven't been back there since - may be still there but don't know. I know the farmer's grandson personally quite well as he now runs the farm.
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Post by denysjones on Dec 23, 2020 14:31:51 GMT 12
Our man Rob came up with the goods. The largest bit left was this outer wing panel section, which is bigger than I recalled it and this is what remained of what I think looks like the aft of the fuselage other bits were lodged away in rock crevices and the site is right on the water's edge and pretty steep cheers
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Post by mit on Dec 23, 2020 14:53:42 GMT 12
There is a bit of the story and a bent blade at the Collingwood museum ( I think someone has posted it on here before) there is also part of the elevator in the Takaka flying club hangar. This is the site from above. IMG_6091 by Mit Brereton, on Flickr The two magnified parts are the two wings and largest parts left IMG_6091 by Mit Brereton, on Flickr
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Post by angelsonefive on Dec 23, 2020 16:18:02 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 23, 2020 16:35:59 GMT 12
Very sad to see that wreckage. This was the first RNZAF Hudson to be lost in service. Pilot Officer Alexander MacFarlane, Pilot Officer Louis Volzke, Sergeant Keith Jack and Sergeant Phillip Harrison were all killed in the crash.
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Dec 23, 2020 16:53:42 GMT 12
That wreckage looks in remarkably good condition given how long it's been out in the elements for, I was thinking it would just be a pile of unrecognisable rust.
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axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
|
Post by axelford on Dec 23, 2020 20:11:02 GMT 12
We salvaged a few bits and pieces and gave up on the exercise...He in fact commented that there was now a lot less to see than when he first went there. I wonder why...hope you didn't take that cyclone... nuuumannn Sadly the members of my group (my family) have voted against visiting heritage park or even lingering in Nelson Thank you denysjones for those pictures-they supplement the ones from Pacific wrecks and give a great overview of the site! Also thanks mit for the aerial photos they really pinpoint the area. FlyingKiwi You'd be surprised how intact many wrecks are-the aluminium and other parts holds up well-I've been to many wrecks that have shiny components and original markings! Also might as well say today it all got sorted I called the museum 3 more times and finally got someone who forwarded me to someone who forwarded me to someone!...and they were more than happy to give us access so it's happening! bonus is that the lady from the museum said she had some photos etc that haven't been put on display yet (of the aircrew and I believe from Harrison's family) that she'll show us. Thank you all for responding, and if you guys want I can post pictures of the expedition afterwards (that is if I can figure out how to post images)
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Post by markrogers on Dec 23, 2020 21:18:49 GMT 12
That's great Axelford, good outcome in your favour. Yes, please feel free to post pictures. The wreckage appears to have degraded a bit since I last saw it in the 1980's - not as much there now as was before. Yes Dave I felt a sense of sadness too when I was there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 24, 2020 8:00:28 GMT 12
Yes, we'd like to see any photos you can share please.
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axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
|
Post by axelford on Jan 4, 2021 7:45:18 GMT 12
I'm back! hopefully today I'll upload some photos (sadly from phone as I don't have card reader for my camera) a bonus is that miraculously we did get last minute access to the C-47 at Port Underwood so I'll try to upload photos of that as well.
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Post by nuuumannn on Jan 6, 2021 12:29:36 GMT 12
Good stuff Axelford, at least you got there. Looking forward to seeing the photos. Yup, there is a pprop blade in the Collingwood museum. I think I posted a pic of it on this site from photobucket.
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axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
|
Post by axelford on Jan 11, 2021 12:15:10 GMT 12
Finally found the photos on phone, cannot get the Hudson NZ2007 ones at moment but have the photos of ZK-AOE so will make a separate topic for those in meantime.
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axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
|
Post by axelford on Jun 29, 2021 10:55:17 GMT 12
Hello again , finally getting around to posting the photos! The circle top left is the crater, the small circle middle was where a small piece was found, the two other circles are the wing and debris trail. The arrows indicate out of picture debris. Check out the Flickr album to see the rest. Sadly didn't find the engine and didn't get to the crater. The land owner was pretty friendly so I'm sure a sequel trip by me or someone else would be fine. It is interesting seeing how the wreckage has deteriorated between the 2000s and now. In the above photo you can make out the RNZAF serial number NZ 2... (NZ2007) and the V of the RAF serial: V9235 After the crash a bomb landed on top of peak along the ridge unexploded. When detonated the fin/tail flew (From the arrows direction) and landed in the Orange circle. Its said that later the fin had the names of the crew painted on and is now with the family of one of the crew. I thought that was a pretty cool story. Also seeing as I've now been to ten crash sites and will be heading to an eleventh one this weekend I've been thinking of making a database of what remains at each, would people be interested in such a resource? The link to the album: www.flickr.com/photos/184374707@N05/albums/72157719524209840/with/51276620327/
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 29, 2021 11:52:30 GMT 12
Hi Axel, I have repaired your photo links. You have to copy the BBCode link from Flickr, and past it into the BBCode version of the reply box, rather than the Preview version. Then his Preview and see if it worked.
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Post by Richard Wesley on Jun 29, 2021 13:57:32 GMT 12
A database of crash sites and a record of what is at each site would be invaluable in my view! As we have already seen, the change in these sites over the years is interesting as well.
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axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
|
Post by axelford on Jun 30, 2021 21:02:23 GMT 12
Hi Axel, I have repaired your photo links. You have to copy the BBCode link from Flickr, and past it into the BBCode version of the reply box, rather than the Preview version. Then his Preview and see if it worked. Ahhh okay, maybe I'll get it right next time! So is BBCode not the url for a photo? Because I do that it doesn't seem to work. Thanks Richard Wesley I'm glad to hear you think such a index would be useful.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 30, 2021 21:33:06 GMT 12
Yes that is what I find works. Put the BBCode link into the BBCode Post/Reply box and it looks like a written link. Hit the Preview button and it should appear as a photo, and you can then post it.
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