Memorial to Kingsford Smith and Ulm

[Dave Homewood]

A special memorial plaque was laid down and dedicated Saturday the 21st of March 1936 at Bell Block Aerodrome to remember the recently missing, believed dead, pilots Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. They had both vanished in separate over water flights. Both men had flown into and out of New Plymouth in the Southern Cross, and the locals wanted to remember their courage and their loss.

Is anyone aware of whether the plaque is still there on the site? Bell Block is no longer the airport for New Plymouth and I believe it may now all be under housing. Did the plaque get saved and preserved? Was it maybe moved?

This is from the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 23 March 1936:

MEMORIAL TO FAMOUS AIRMEN UNVEILED AT THE NEW PLYMOUTH AIRPORT ON SATURDAY
During the progress of the North Island air1 pageant at New Plymouth, the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, unveiled a tablet to the memory of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr. C. T. P. Ulm. During transtasman flights both of these famous airmen made New Plymouth their goal. A volley is being fired over the memorial tablet after the unveiling ceremony.

[McFly]

Wiki says the 'Memorial Tablet' was uplifted from Bell Block in 1966 and reset at the current New Plymouth airport (Link Here)

"The airport opened in 1966, replacing a grass airfield 3 km southwest, which is now industrial land. The foundation stone from the original airport, and a stone commemorating RNZAF Bell Block, were moved to the new airport when it opened."

[Dave Homewood]

Ah thanks! Much appreciated Marty.