Globemasters Over Christchurch

[Dave Homewood]

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this film. It would have been quite a sight to see six of those big ugly Globemasters in formation over the city.

U.S. CAMERA UNIT

Air Force Films Of Christchurch

When six United States Air Force Globemasters fly over Christchurch in formation on Tuesday cameramen of the Air Force’s photographic group will be taking motion pictures from the air and in Cathedral square. The four-man unit has so far shot about 25,000 ft of 35mm colour film of the Air Force's part in the Antarctic expedition. They expect to use about 40,000 ft during the mission and from this the Air Force will compile a complete film of the operations. Items of news value are released for showing on United States television and cinema newsreels. So far these have included the only motion pictures taken of the United States Navy Dakota aircraft landing at the South Pole on October 31. As a record of places that the Air Force has operated from, colour films have been taken around Christchurch, at Weedons and Harewood airport with portable newsreel cameras and big Holly-wood-type stationary units. All the movie film taken by Master Sergeant J. C. Little, Technical Sergeant Burrel T. Thorne, and Airman Johnnie M. Kelly under the direction of Master Sergeant J. C. Good, is sent to the United States for processing. The unit has also taken many still colour pictures in New Zealand and the Antarctic.

PRESS, 1 FEBRUARY 1957

[McFly]

Some photos of the event from the V.C Browne & Sons 'Aerial Photograph Collection' Here (Search 'Globemaster')

[Dave Homewood]

Cool!

[shorty]

That would have been great to see (and hear!) That's an awful lot of horses working away.

[McFly]

A sort video of Globemasters at Harewood from the same collection:

[markrogers]

That video is gold! Harewood looks so different.

[Dave Homewood]

There is that penguin nose art we discussed recently!

[Dave Homewood]

And a whale nose art, and the name Boopsy! Haha. Great footage.

Did they used to fly the Neptunes down to the Antarctic?

[machina]

I recall my Nana telling me about these when she was a girl. Have half a memory that they were opened up for public walkthroughs, but that could be wrong. At any rate, there was something significant about them because she’d kept the newspaper clippings about them which are still framed and on the wall!

On a similar note apparently a US Navy Admiral got married in our front lounge during the war!

[shorty]

I was at an open day or air show at Whenuapai 0n the early 1950s and there was a C-124 there opened up for the public to walk through. I was doing just that when the tail steady collapsed and the aircraft sat on its bum , We were stuck inside for quite some time while they jacked it back level, got the tail re-trestled and got the public of without causing an imbalance and having the nose slam down on the nose gear.

[McFly]

Oct 27, 2021 14:53:03 GMT 12 shorty said:

I was at an open day or air show at Whenuapai 0n the early 1950s and there was a C-124 there opened up for the public to walk through. I was doing just that when the tail steady collapsed and the aircraft sat on its bum , We were stuck inside for quite some time while they jacked it back level, got the tail re-trestled and got the public of without causing an imbalance and having the nose slam down on the nose gear.

And through the magic of the interweb, here is a clip of said event...! Perhaps 'Shorty' can find himself in the crowd...

'US Air Force C-124 Globemaster tip up accident & air pageant at Whenuapai Airport New Zealand 1956'

[machina]

Oct 27, 2021 14:53:03 GMT 12 shorty said:

I was at an open day or air show at Whenuapai 0n the early 1950s and there was a C-124 there opened up for the public to walk through. I was doing just that when the tail steady collapsed and the aircraft sat on its bum , We were stuck inside for quite some time while they jacked it back level, got the tail re-trestled and got the public of without causing an imbalance and having the nose slam down on the nose gear.

That’s the one! Maybe you passed my nana haha.

[Dave Homewood]

Brilliant to see footage of that event, and even more amazing to discover you were in the plane Shorty. I was only reading about that the other day, in the Press dated 26 NOVEMBER 1956:

PLANE REARS UP ON TARMAC

City Of Christchurch At Whenuapai

VISITORS THROWN TO GROUND

New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. November 25.

Women and children were tossed to the concrete tarmac when the United States Air Force Globemaster. City of Christchurch, crashed backward on to its tail while people were looking through it at the Walsh brothers memorial air pageant at Whenuapai today. The huge tricycle-undercarriage aircraft was parked on the tarmac when, under the stress of a load of sightseers and the buffeting of a strong wind, the tail support collapsed. At least 200 persons were inside the 51-ton Globemaster at the time. Many others were slowly filing up the loading ramn in the nose when the tail sank without, warning. The nose swung high in the air, buckling the ramp and throwing a dozen persons to the concrete tarmac. Several received cuts, bruises, and shock, and were treated by the St. John Ambulance.

There was little panic inside the Globemaster, although there were scores of small children on board. Many were tipped down toward the tail. United States, airmen inside the aircraft were quick to reassure those on board. Crowd Gathers

Outside, dozens of sightseers—including the Officer Commanding, Whenuapai Station, Group Captain T. J. M. de Lange—had to scatter rapidly to avoid being crushed as the tail swung down. Group Captain de Lange was one of a group waiting to present a “good luck” greenstone tiki from the city of Auckland to the aircraft’s crew.

Immediately after the accident, a number of people began clambering out of an escape hatch about half-way along the belly of the aircraft. At first there was some fear of fire because petrol had spilled from the wing tanks. Group Captain de Lange advised against any more persons being allowed out of the aircraft until jacks had been placed at the front of the Globemaster to prevent it dropping hack on to its wheels again. Most of the 200 had to stay in the aircraft for about three-quarters of an hour.

“I feel a little shaken myself.” said the commander of the aircraft, Captain Warren Fair. “I ‘want to thank the people in the aircraft for their patience and calmness when this accident happened.”

[davidd]

A rather embarrassing incident for the USAF, particularly as the makers had designed and supplied a rear support arrangement specifically for the purpose, seems that crowd control may have been a problem, and strength of the tail support obviously had its limitations. Also had to laugh when I caught a glimpse of one of the RNZAF's mighty Hastings sitting proudly on its tail wheel undercarriage, and sniggering to itself, "That will NEVER happen to me!" I imagine an official report had to be rendered by captain of the C-124 to his superiors, pointing out limitations of the tail support.

David D

[planewriting]

I remember the Globemaster event. Dad was on duty at Whenuapai and rang Mum (toll call to Milford, North Shore) asking her to tell me what had happened in full view of his office. He thought I might be amused. He was right. A 7 year old would be.

[shorty]

Good film of the Deep Freeze C-124s here:

Not the same film that is discussed here as no 6 ship formation shown but views of Harewood

[shorty]

Oct 26, 2021 19:16:15 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

There is that penguin nose art we discussed recently!

There is another photo of that aircraft that I took at Wigram. It's on page 31 of"some photos from my stash" thread
rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/17636/photos-stash?page=31

[Dave Homewood]

I just came across this rather crazed photo in the 'New Zealand Herald Collection of the Auckland Public Library, Record ID 1370-7-4, dated 24 November 1956.

[davidd]

I think that this C-124 ("City of Christchurch") came to a sticky end when attempting to drop supplies in Antarctica (at Cape Hallet from memory, where was located, I think, a small United States station or perhaps a field party) under difficult weather conditions. Fairly certain there were some death and injuries, will have to attempt to find further details. This incident covered in Tony Philips' excellent book "Gateway to Antarctica", would also have been well covered by the newspapers. Apparently much of the wreckage of this aircraft was recovered and transported to Christchurch for reasons unknown (perhaps removing unsightly and rather disturbing aeronautical rubbish from the otherwise pristine environment?) Strangely this wreckage (or at least some of it) ended up in a metal reclamation yard in east Christchurch, and was spotted by an AHSNZ member and duly reported to that Society, and duly appeared in an article. Possible that Derek Woodhall was the reporter, although could be wrong. This article specifically stated that among the wreckage was the remains of the forward fuselage complete with the aircraft's name - pity somebody did not save it at the time - it could perhaps have been presented to VX-6.

David D

[tbf2504]

David, from the book "Courage,Sacrifice,Devotion the history of VXE-6 Squadron"
"On 1 October 1958, a USAF C-124 Globemaster, the 'City of Christchurch' crashes into the slopes above Hallett Station killing six personnel - a tragic day for the 52nd TCS in support of Operation Deep Freeze"
Six personnel of the 12 on board survived.