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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 13, 2021 23:05:44 GMT 12
Does anyone know if the No. 14 Squadron RNZAF pilots Geoffrey Hubbard and Ian Palmer, who flew Venoms, are still alive? Does anyone have an email or phone number for them please?
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Post by davidd on Sept 14, 2021 8:39:14 GMT 12
Squadron Leader Ian Pitt Palmer (73485) died Rotorua 9/5/99. Don't think this man served with 14 Squadron on Venoms, but could be wrong. Better known in the days of the Venoms was Michael Frank McDonald Palmer (J73486), CBE, born Christchurch 5/10/28, pretty certain he died quite a few years ago. I think Geoffrey Charles Hubbard, OBE, has died also.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2021 8:52:27 GMT 12
Thanks David.
According to nzdf.serials, Ian Palmer was the first RNZAF pilot to eject, from a Venom.
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Post by davidd on Sept 14, 2021 9:36:12 GMT 12
nzdf.serials are totally WRONG!!!! Pilot was Michael Frank McDonald Palmer, as indicated above. Both I P Palmer and M F McD Palmer trained on the same course at Wigram (No. 4, 1949/50), but don't think they were related. They also both graduated with Distinguished Passes, and accordingly were promoted from Pilot IV to Pilot III, and shortly afterwards were both commissioned in the GD Branch on same date. I contributed to a discussion on this very subject earlier this year.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2021 9:58:28 GMT 12
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Post by tbf2504 on Sept 14, 2021 10:36:12 GMT 12
Geoff Hubbard was still living in Christchurch in 2014, but may have died since.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2021 15:25:36 GMT 12
I am pleased to report that Air Commodore Geoffrey Hubbard is alive and well, i just spoke with him on the phone.
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Post by camtech on Sept 14, 2021 15:45:11 GMT 12
nzdf.serials are totally WRONG!!!! Pilot was Michael Frank McDonald Palmer, as indicated above. Both I P Palmer and M F McD Palmer trained on the same course at Wigram (No. 4, 1949/50), but don't think they were related. They also both graduated with Distinguished Passes, and accordingly were promoted from Pilot IV to Pilot III, and shortly afterwards were both commissioned in the GD Branch on same date. I contributed to a discussion on this very subject earlier this year. Thanks, David. I'll add that to the updates currently in preparation. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2021 16:31:47 GMT 12
Geoffrey Hubbard confirmed the other Venom ejectee was Mike Palmer.
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Post by baz62 on Sept 14, 2021 18:45:32 GMT 12
I am pleased to report that Air Commodore Geoffrey Hubbard is alive and well, i just spoke with him on the phone. Somewhere I have a photo of him in the back of the Museums's Avenger in bare metal as she taxied along the Wigram flight line all the way from 7 hangar. This was the occasion of him retiring as Wigram's Base CO. Great to hear he is still with us. I see there is a Hubbard drive in Wigram named after him. |
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Post by tbf2504 on Sept 15, 2021 8:37:14 GMT 12
Hi Baz, indeed we took Geoff Hubbard on a tour of the tarmac in NZ2504 on his last day as Base Commander. He commented that the intercom systems was very clear, and was surprised to learn that it was
an old TR1936 system as originally fitted to the TBF post war. I also have a photo of him, Jean Batten and myself alongside the TBF during her visit to Wigram in 1979/1980?
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Post by davidd on Sept 18, 2021 13:44:33 GMT 12
My Whoops re contention re the presumed demise of Mr Hubbard, glad you have sorted me out Dave H. Is that one win each then, ....maybe ...?
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Post by davidd on Sept 18, 2021 13:45:16 GMT 12
My Whoops re contention re the presumed demise of Mr Hubbard, glad you have sorted me out Dave H. Is that one win each then, ....maybe ...?
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