Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 13, 2021 19:15:38 GMT 12
I have always loved this photo, ever since I got my copy of The History of New Zealand Aviation by Ross Macpherson and Ross Ewing back in 1988 for Christmas. It's in that book. This is an open day at the Technical Training School at RNZAF Station Nelson on the 25th of February 1944. This photo if from the Air Force Museum of New Zealand's collection HERE
I spent many hours painstakingly colourising it over a couple of nights, aiming to make it as good as I possibly could, and completing it last night. I went to save the file as a Jpg from the PSD file I was working in, but I got the blue screen of death - most unusual on that PC. And when it rebooted and I opened the PSD file, it had corrupted and was just all black. đłđ¤Źđ¤Źđ¤Ź And so I had no PSD or Jpg version.
So last night I started again and colourised it once more, not in as fine a detail as the first version, but here it is, and I am happy with it.
I posted it to Facebook and have had a wonderful reaction to it. So I decided to see if I could find anything about the event and I discovered this brilliantly detailed article on this event from the Nelson Evening Mail from the 21st of February 1944. I am not sure if it was an event that ran several days or if the date the AFMNZ has on the photo is slightly out.
AIR FORCE DISPLAY
TRAINING SCHOOL MOVED TO CITY
THOUSANDS ATTEND TRAFALGAR PARK SPECTACULAR
ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS
Thousands of Nelsonians will have a far greater appreciation of the training and work of the R.N.Z.A.F. ground staff, which has earned a proud reputation in the battle areas, as a result of the Air Force display at Trafalgar Park. Up to Saturday the general public had little idea of the type and extent of the instruction carried out at the Nelson Aerodrome which is now an Air Force Technical Training School. For the display the principal parts of each training section at the school were transferred to the city and the people of the district were able to make a close inspection of the work carried out by each draft of trainees which passes through the school.
All classes of equipment, from the fully equipped and armed Hudson bomber, the Kittyhawk fighter and other types of planes, down to examples of the wood and metal work done in the workshops, was expertly displayed in the many exhibits and ably demonstrated by members of the station personnel. The proceeds from the display will make a handsome contribution to the Nelson Returned Services Associationâs Gratitude Building Fund, which will be used to provide a social club and recreational centre in the city for the members of the services in the whole district when they return to civilian life.
Features of the full dayâs programme included the morning march through the city by the station personnel, the ceremony of the Trooping of the Colour, the fire crewâs display, and the playing of the recently-formed Air Station band which contributed in a large measure to the success of the day.
QUEUES AT HUDSON BOMBER
The chance to climb into the cockpit of a real aircraft, operate the joystick, examine the control panel and wonder at the complexity of the mechanism does not come every day and many readily seized the opportunity given them at the display. The large Lockheed Hudson bomber was the most popular attraction among the aircraft, and as many as sixty people not only small boys, but men, women and girls, were lined up at a time waiting their turn to climb aboard.
The Kittyhawk, Hawker Hind, Harvard and Airspeed Oxford each had its devotees and many a little boy seated at the controls lived for a moment or two the pilotâs thrills of tense excitement in an imagined dogfight or bomber raid. One exhibit which created special interest was the German Messerschmitt 109, which bore the bullet holes and the battle scars of the Battle of Britain during which it had been shot down.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
The personnel on duty at each exhibit were most helpful in explaining intricacies to the uninitiated and many and varied were the questions that were asked them. âWhatâs this?â âHow does this go?â and âWhat makes it work?â were answered patiently and readily in language which made the problem intelligible to the layman.
AIR-SEA RESCUE EQUIPMENT
One section which had a very popular appeal was the display of safety equipment used in air-sea rescue work. The efficiency and completeness of this equipment could not fail to be a comfort to those with friends or relatives as members of air crews. From the small one-man rubber dinghy complete with small mast and bright red sail bearing printed sailing instructions, to the large circular raft to accommodate from four to six men, the equipment was displayed in full detail.
Spectators were struck with the amount of equipment which could be carried in an aircraft in a small and compact pack ready for immediate use in emergency. Canvas hand paddles, sea anchors, sea markers (packets of dye which covers about a square mile of water with bright green stain and serves to keep away sharks and facilitate location by air), collapsible baling buckets of rubberised fabric, and leak stoppers, food, strong knives and small bellows to help of one of these small round bellows keep the dinghys inflated. The shape prompted one lady in the crowd to ask the instructor on duty âWhat is the little concertina for?â
PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT
The mobile workshop of the photographic unit was one which captured the interest of many visitors who were shown how films from a reconnaissance plane could be developed printed and glazed in up to 12 minutes after their delivery at the workshop. The fastest time on record for the job was 7 minutes, they were told.
GREAT DAY FOR SMALL BOYS
Hundreds of small boys found considerable satisfaction squatting in turn at the guns in the turret of the Hudson or crouching behind the sights of a gun displayed on the bench in the armaments section. Nor was this interest confined to the small boys. One little girl of about 10 years of age asked the instructor: âPlease can I have a go with the little gun?â Upon receiving permission she took up the weapon which in shape and size somewhat resembled an old-time six-shooter. Twirling it on her finger she tossed it in the air, and then caught it and aimed it in a fair invitation of the Western movie cowboy. It wasnât long, however, before a little boy was kindly âshowing her how.â
THE PARACHUTE
Many people gathered about one bench where the voluminous silk folds and cords of a parachute were carefully packed. Later the parachute was released in the slip stream of the Harvard. Every exhibit drew its crowd of interested onlookers. For those whose knowledge of aeronautics and mechanics gave comprehension of the complex engines, air-screws and their various components, there was an endless array of exhibits to give education and interest. Intricate repairs to metal aircraft were seen being carried out by trainees with skill and precision and trainees were also busily engaged in demonstrating the splicing of flexible steel cable, advanced wooden aircraft construction and rigging an aircraft. A continuous exhibition of technical training films which are used extensively in the training scheme, was shown all day.
RADIO-TELEPHONY CONTROL
Displays of radio telephony were given during the day, demonstrating the advantages gained by its use in landing control. The spectators watching the plane flying overhead were able to see the pilot obeying the instructions they could hear given from the ground and to hear his replies in acknowledgment. Another section of great interest was that; containing many types of aero engines. The presence on the ground of the Nelson Garrison Band and the City Pipe Band was an added attraction and the music provided by both was greatly appreciated
TROOPING OF THE COLOUR
The Trooping of the Colour was one of the most spectacular demonstrations of its kind seen in Nelson. Carried out with that precision which can be obtained only by training and practice the display was keenly appreciated by the large crowd present. The units took up their respective positions on the parade ground, with the standard bearers and escorts and temporary bearers and escorts at the front of the parade, the marching being done to the music of the Station band. When the Parade Marshal called for the Union Jack the band played "Rule Britanniaâ as the temporary bearer with escort approached at the slow march and handed over the colour to the standard bearer. Similar ceremonies were performed with the Stars and Stripes, and the Australian and New Zealand flags, with appropriate music in each case! With the four flags unfurled the National Anthem was played. The attendant squadrons slow marched across the ground, passing shoulder to shoulder, after which the colour parties and armed escorts, also at the slow march, paraded the colour through the ranks.
Finally breaking into quick time to the strains of the âBritish Grenadiers,â the standard bearers led the squadrons for the march past. The salute was taken by Air Commodore G. T. Jarman, D.S.O., D.F.C., Deputy Chief of Air Staff, who was accompanied at the saluting base by Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark Hall, K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding the Southern Group. Wing Commander A. M. Manhire, Commanding Officer R.N.Z.A.F. Station. Nelson. Lt.-Colonel A. J. Moore, Area Commander, and Mr E. R. Neale, Mayor of Nelson.
FIRE CREWâS DISPLAY
After being freely soaked with kerosene and oil a dummy plane burnt fiercely while the fire crew carried out a spectacular rescue display. The crash tender, on the alarm being given, demonstrated its ability to smash its way through gates, as it rushed to the burning plane. Part of the crew, in steel helmets, concentrated on controlling the flames while one, clad in an asbestos suit, rushed into the blazing inferno and rescued the dummy from the plane, in quick time. It was a good exhibition of the life saving equipment and methods used by the fire crews which are always on duty at every airfield.
THE EVENING PROGRAMME
The seating accommodation was again fully taxed in the evening when a programme of band music was provided by the Station and the Nelson Garrison Bands, conducted by L/Ac. Reeves and Lieut. Trownson respectively. The concert opened with massed bands and the remainder of the band programme consisted of individual items by the two bands interspersed with a Czechoslovak National Dance by the members of the W.A.A.F. who also gave a display of figure marching and recreational drill during the afternoon.
Later in the evening the station concert party staged a bright entertainment a feature of which was the high musical standard of the instrumental and vocal items. The programme, which was efficiently compered by Squadron-Leader G. F. Chippindale, was as follows:âOverture, Concert Orchestra, âPopular Melodies;â vocal items, Station Quartette; banjo solo. Sgt. R. George; monologue, Miss V. Violitch; conjuring and mystery Sgt. Leslie: imitations of George Formby, Ac.2 Gribbin: songs by the Station Choir; musical saw Ac.2 Stancliffe; monologue, S/Ldr. Chippindale; cornet duet, F-/0. Cresswell and Cpl. Outh-w-aite; songs, W/ODuerden; sketch, L/Ac. Hean and Coy.; piano solo, L/Acâ Jordan; tuneful medley, Concert Orchestra. Voluntary workers from various organisations in the city throughout the day provided services for the public in the four cafeterias, ice cream and soft drink stalls, creche, first aid units etc - Several side shows were also staffed by willing helpers.
NELSON EVENING MAIL, 21 FEBRUARY 1944
I spent many hours painstakingly colourising it over a couple of nights, aiming to make it as good as I possibly could, and completing it last night. I went to save the file as a Jpg from the PSD file I was working in, but I got the blue screen of death - most unusual on that PC. And when it rebooted and I opened the PSD file, it had corrupted and was just all black. đłđ¤Źđ¤Źđ¤Ź And so I had no PSD or Jpg version.
So last night I started again and colourised it once more, not in as fine a detail as the first version, but here it is, and I am happy with it.
I posted it to Facebook and have had a wonderful reaction to it. So I decided to see if I could find anything about the event and I discovered this brilliantly detailed article on this event from the Nelson Evening Mail from the 21st of February 1944. I am not sure if it was an event that ran several days or if the date the AFMNZ has on the photo is slightly out.
AIR FORCE DISPLAY
TRAINING SCHOOL MOVED TO CITY
THOUSANDS ATTEND TRAFALGAR PARK SPECTACULAR
ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS
Thousands of Nelsonians will have a far greater appreciation of the training and work of the R.N.Z.A.F. ground staff, which has earned a proud reputation in the battle areas, as a result of the Air Force display at Trafalgar Park. Up to Saturday the general public had little idea of the type and extent of the instruction carried out at the Nelson Aerodrome which is now an Air Force Technical Training School. For the display the principal parts of each training section at the school were transferred to the city and the people of the district were able to make a close inspection of the work carried out by each draft of trainees which passes through the school.
All classes of equipment, from the fully equipped and armed Hudson bomber, the Kittyhawk fighter and other types of planes, down to examples of the wood and metal work done in the workshops, was expertly displayed in the many exhibits and ably demonstrated by members of the station personnel. The proceeds from the display will make a handsome contribution to the Nelson Returned Services Associationâs Gratitude Building Fund, which will be used to provide a social club and recreational centre in the city for the members of the services in the whole district when they return to civilian life.
Features of the full dayâs programme included the morning march through the city by the station personnel, the ceremony of the Trooping of the Colour, the fire crewâs display, and the playing of the recently-formed Air Station band which contributed in a large measure to the success of the day.
QUEUES AT HUDSON BOMBER
The chance to climb into the cockpit of a real aircraft, operate the joystick, examine the control panel and wonder at the complexity of the mechanism does not come every day and many readily seized the opportunity given them at the display. The large Lockheed Hudson bomber was the most popular attraction among the aircraft, and as many as sixty people not only small boys, but men, women and girls, were lined up at a time waiting their turn to climb aboard.
The Kittyhawk, Hawker Hind, Harvard and Airspeed Oxford each had its devotees and many a little boy seated at the controls lived for a moment or two the pilotâs thrills of tense excitement in an imagined dogfight or bomber raid. One exhibit which created special interest was the German Messerschmitt 109, which bore the bullet holes and the battle scars of the Battle of Britain during which it had been shot down.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
The personnel on duty at each exhibit were most helpful in explaining intricacies to the uninitiated and many and varied were the questions that were asked them. âWhatâs this?â âHow does this go?â and âWhat makes it work?â were answered patiently and readily in language which made the problem intelligible to the layman.
AIR-SEA RESCUE EQUIPMENT
One section which had a very popular appeal was the display of safety equipment used in air-sea rescue work. The efficiency and completeness of this equipment could not fail to be a comfort to those with friends or relatives as members of air crews. From the small one-man rubber dinghy complete with small mast and bright red sail bearing printed sailing instructions, to the large circular raft to accommodate from four to six men, the equipment was displayed in full detail.
Spectators were struck with the amount of equipment which could be carried in an aircraft in a small and compact pack ready for immediate use in emergency. Canvas hand paddles, sea anchors, sea markers (packets of dye which covers about a square mile of water with bright green stain and serves to keep away sharks and facilitate location by air), collapsible baling buckets of rubberised fabric, and leak stoppers, food, strong knives and small bellows to help of one of these small round bellows keep the dinghys inflated. The shape prompted one lady in the crowd to ask the instructor on duty âWhat is the little concertina for?â
PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT
The mobile workshop of the photographic unit was one which captured the interest of many visitors who were shown how films from a reconnaissance plane could be developed printed and glazed in up to 12 minutes after their delivery at the workshop. The fastest time on record for the job was 7 minutes, they were told.
GREAT DAY FOR SMALL BOYS
Hundreds of small boys found considerable satisfaction squatting in turn at the guns in the turret of the Hudson or crouching behind the sights of a gun displayed on the bench in the armaments section. Nor was this interest confined to the small boys. One little girl of about 10 years of age asked the instructor: âPlease can I have a go with the little gun?â Upon receiving permission she took up the weapon which in shape and size somewhat resembled an old-time six-shooter. Twirling it on her finger she tossed it in the air, and then caught it and aimed it in a fair invitation of the Western movie cowboy. It wasnât long, however, before a little boy was kindly âshowing her how.â
THE PARACHUTE
Many people gathered about one bench where the voluminous silk folds and cords of a parachute were carefully packed. Later the parachute was released in the slip stream of the Harvard. Every exhibit drew its crowd of interested onlookers. For those whose knowledge of aeronautics and mechanics gave comprehension of the complex engines, air-screws and their various components, there was an endless array of exhibits to give education and interest. Intricate repairs to metal aircraft were seen being carried out by trainees with skill and precision and trainees were also busily engaged in demonstrating the splicing of flexible steel cable, advanced wooden aircraft construction and rigging an aircraft. A continuous exhibition of technical training films which are used extensively in the training scheme, was shown all day.
RADIO-TELEPHONY CONTROL
Displays of radio telephony were given during the day, demonstrating the advantages gained by its use in landing control. The spectators watching the plane flying overhead were able to see the pilot obeying the instructions they could hear given from the ground and to hear his replies in acknowledgment. Another section of great interest was that; containing many types of aero engines. The presence on the ground of the Nelson Garrison Band and the City Pipe Band was an added attraction and the music provided by both was greatly appreciated
TROOPING OF THE COLOUR
The Trooping of the Colour was one of the most spectacular demonstrations of its kind seen in Nelson. Carried out with that precision which can be obtained only by training and practice the display was keenly appreciated by the large crowd present. The units took up their respective positions on the parade ground, with the standard bearers and escorts and temporary bearers and escorts at the front of the parade, the marching being done to the music of the Station band. When the Parade Marshal called for the Union Jack the band played "Rule Britanniaâ as the temporary bearer with escort approached at the slow march and handed over the colour to the standard bearer. Similar ceremonies were performed with the Stars and Stripes, and the Australian and New Zealand flags, with appropriate music in each case! With the four flags unfurled the National Anthem was played. The attendant squadrons slow marched across the ground, passing shoulder to shoulder, after which the colour parties and armed escorts, also at the slow march, paraded the colour through the ranks.
Finally breaking into quick time to the strains of the âBritish Grenadiers,â the standard bearers led the squadrons for the march past. The salute was taken by Air Commodore G. T. Jarman, D.S.O., D.F.C., Deputy Chief of Air Staff, who was accompanied at the saluting base by Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark Hall, K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding the Southern Group. Wing Commander A. M. Manhire, Commanding Officer R.N.Z.A.F. Station. Nelson. Lt.-Colonel A. J. Moore, Area Commander, and Mr E. R. Neale, Mayor of Nelson.
FIRE CREWâS DISPLAY
After being freely soaked with kerosene and oil a dummy plane burnt fiercely while the fire crew carried out a spectacular rescue display. The crash tender, on the alarm being given, demonstrated its ability to smash its way through gates, as it rushed to the burning plane. Part of the crew, in steel helmets, concentrated on controlling the flames while one, clad in an asbestos suit, rushed into the blazing inferno and rescued the dummy from the plane, in quick time. It was a good exhibition of the life saving equipment and methods used by the fire crews which are always on duty at every airfield.
THE EVENING PROGRAMME
The seating accommodation was again fully taxed in the evening when a programme of band music was provided by the Station and the Nelson Garrison Bands, conducted by L/Ac. Reeves and Lieut. Trownson respectively. The concert opened with massed bands and the remainder of the band programme consisted of individual items by the two bands interspersed with a Czechoslovak National Dance by the members of the W.A.A.F. who also gave a display of figure marching and recreational drill during the afternoon.
Later in the evening the station concert party staged a bright entertainment a feature of which was the high musical standard of the instrumental and vocal items. The programme, which was efficiently compered by Squadron-Leader G. F. Chippindale, was as follows:âOverture, Concert Orchestra, âPopular Melodies;â vocal items, Station Quartette; banjo solo. Sgt. R. George; monologue, Miss V. Violitch; conjuring and mystery Sgt. Leslie: imitations of George Formby, Ac.2 Gribbin: songs by the Station Choir; musical saw Ac.2 Stancliffe; monologue, S/Ldr. Chippindale; cornet duet, F-/0. Cresswell and Cpl. Outh-w-aite; songs, W/ODuerden; sketch, L/Ac. Hean and Coy.; piano solo, L/Acâ Jordan; tuneful medley, Concert Orchestra. Voluntary workers from various organisations in the city throughout the day provided services for the public in the four cafeterias, ice cream and soft drink stalls, creche, first aid units etc - Several side shows were also staffed by willing helpers.
NELSON EVENING MAIL, 21 FEBRUARY 1944