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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 12, 2021 13:14:49 GMT 12
OLD AIRCRAFT ARRIVES TO TAKE PART IN FILM
One of the four Avro 626 aircraft which were stationed at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, as training aircraft from 1937 to 1938, arrived back at Wigram yesterday after being flown from Hastings by its owner, Mr J. Frogley.
Mr Frogley has flown the aircraft to the station to take part in a film which will be made to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Mr Frogley’s Avro aircraft is the only one of the four still in use, and is probably one of the oldest aircraft still being flown in New Zealand today. Last year, Mr Frogley flew it in the Southland Centennial Air Race.
Mr Frogley left Hastings yesterday at 1.30 pm and arrived at the Woodbourne aerodrome at 3.30 pm. He left Woodbourne at 4.30 pm and arrived at Wigram after an uneventful trip at 6 p.m. Mr Frogley has made many flights in his aircraft to the South Island, and yesterday's trip was no novelty for him, even though the aircraft had not been in the air for six months.
The Avro aircraft were the first general-purpose trainers allotted to the Wigram station; before that, training was carried out by World War I aircraft, such as Bristol Fighters. The Avros were powered by a 305 h.p. Cheetah Mark V engine, and had a top speed of 120 miles an hour. Mr Frogley’s aircraft was in use at Wigram as the station “runabout" until 1943, after which date it came into his possession.
PRESS, 17 OCTOBER 1957
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Post by davidd on Oct 12, 2021 13:51:46 GMT 12
Actually the RNZAF's four 626s were resident at Wigram from September 1935 to 1943, although one (NZ201) was badly damaged on 20/4/37 and was subsequently written off in 1939 as not being worth repairing. Cannot now recall what sort of an accident, possibly an engine failure on take off which resulted in the aircraft ending up in a gorse hedge I think, no injuries to personnel. In fact Wigram was the only permanent home these aircraft ever knew whilst serving with the RNZAF, although they did get around the country quite a bit, most of that would have been in pre-war days - they had quite large fuel tanks installed in their upper mainplanes. NZ202 was also written off at Wigram, this occurring in April 1942, though not as a result of an accident (at least so far as we know). It is believed to have last flown in about November 1941. NZ203 and 204 kept flying till May/June 1943 when they were also withdrawn from use, with 203 being chosen to serve further as an instructional airframe (INST 90), and was sent to the Air Training Corps in Hastings before it was sold to Mr Frogley in 1947. We can count ourselves very lucky that 203 survived WW2, as many other rather unique aircraft of the prewar era never came out the other side.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 15, 2021 15:54:08 GMT 12
I just got an email from Steve Jenks, son of the late Cliff Jenks, who said: "Hi Dave I hope this email finds you well. I just read the story you posted on the Avro 626 taking part in a film in 1957. rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/29604/avro-626-1957-filmThere’s a very good chance that Dad took a series of photos of the 626 as it passed through Woodbourne. I had dated the photos as being in the late 1950s, but your post makes me wonder if it was the event mentioned in the story, so on the 16th of October 1957. Dad’s photos: flic.kr/p/2j9vXy3flic.kr/p/2mrdJpoflic.kr/p/2mrmrhDAs with any of Dad’s images – feel free to use these images to illustrate the thread on Wings over Cambridge if you wish. Cheers Steve" |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 15, 2021 18:12:10 GMT 12
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Post by shorty on Oct 15, 2021 20:12:11 GMT 12
Just watched that film, great stuff from the days when we had an Air Force. Did notice that when the crew were boarding the Sunderland that the blanking plugs were still in the static vents, would have thought that they would have been removed and stowed prior to boarding? Also a question I have asked before, when were ski caps (a) introduced and (b) withdrawn? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 15, 2021 20:29:02 GMT 12
Also a question I have asked before, when were ski caps (a) introduced
SKI CAP TO REPLACE OLD TYPEGradually, from this month, the field service cap worn by men of the Royal New Zealand Air Force will disappear, to be replaced by blue serge ski caps. By April 1, 1956, all officers and men of the Regular Air Force will wear the ski cap where before they would have worn the field service cap. Territorials and compulsory trainees will, however, still be issued with the old cap. For both officers and men the new caps will be made of identical material, but officers will have their headpieces adorned by patent leather “chinstraps,” while those for other ranks will be of cloth. Badges, worn in front above the wide, squarish peak, will, for other ranks, show no change from present issue. Officers will wear a beautifully made miniature of the badge they now wear on their dress caps. The crown and eagle badge now worn by officers on their field service caps will disappear. Some members of the strength of R.N.Z.A.F. station, Wigram, are now wearing the new hats. As-time goes on and old field service caps become too tattered to wear, the ski caps will be issued. From this month none of the old type caps will be issued to Regular Air Force men. PRESS, 15 JULY 1954 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 15, 2021 20:33:26 GMT 12
The hideous looking RNZAF ski cap followed on from the Army getting them.
HEADDRESS FOR N.Z. ARMY
SKI CAP “OFFICIALLY APPROVED"
(New Zealand Press Association)
AUCKLAND, April 22.
The Canadian-type ski cap has been "officially approved" as headdress for the New Zealand Army, according to Amy circles in Auckland. It will replace the peaked hat or "lemon squeezer" so long worn by the Army.
PRESS, 23 APRIL 1953
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Post by shorty on Oct 15, 2021 20:56:18 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, it can be a help in dating photos. My Dad was a GSH at Hobby bomb dump for a while and wore one, he thought those ski caps were pretty goodd, "at least they stay on your head and keep the rain off your glasses and face". Only disadvantage , he reckoned, was you couldn't stuff them in your pocket
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Post by baz62 on Oct 16, 2021 7:57:31 GMT 12
Did notice that when the crew were boarding the Sunderland that the blanking plugs were still in the static vents, would have thought that they would have been removed and stowed prior to boarding? Probably filmed out of sequence as in setting camera up and asking crew to climb in. Then taking camera away then the preflight done. |
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Post by hardyakka on Oct 16, 2021 11:04:30 GMT 12
There’s a very good chance that Dad took a series of photos of the 626 as it passed through Woodbourne. I had dated the photos as being in the late 1950s, but your post makes me wonder if it was the event mentioned in the story, so on the 16th of October 1957. Dad’s photos: flic.kr/p/2j9vXy3flic.kr/p/2mrdJpoflic.kr/p/2mrmrhDI was looking at the Jenks' photos. In the third one, there is a very tall slim gentleman who appears to be wearing rugby (referee?) kit and boots. I'd love to know the story... Was he part of the film being made? Or was it just game-day or training-day on base? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 16, 2021 11:11:10 GMT 12
Evan, the Jenks photos were taken at Woodbourne, and the article I posted at the top of the thread says the aircraft passed through Woodbourne the day before publication, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. I looked up the calendar and the 16th of October 1957 was a Wednesday, so it is mostly likely Wednesday Afternoon Sports. This is something that used to happen, not sure if it still does, but if you were in a sports team or wanted to do physical training in the gym or go for a run, etc, you could do training on Wednesday afternoon to keep up your physical fitness. There was probably some sports game happening when the aircraft landed and he wandered over for a look.
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