Raglan Aerodrome - Interesting history

[Dave Homewood]

I have always been led to believe that the Raglan aerodrome was set up as an emergency landing ground during WWII, for military use in the case of an emergency or for flying communications flights into the region. However by chance I have discovered it was not a WWII establishment, and predates it by nine months.

This appeared in the New Zealand Herald on the 6th of December 1938.

EMERGENCY LANDING GROUND

AREA AT RAGLAN CHOSEN

[From our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday

An emergency landing ground of 32 acres for aircraft on the south side or the Raglan Harbour entrance has been selected by the Public Works Department. Before the area can be used, a few sandhills will require to be removed.

[Dave Homewood]

So this tells me that the idea it was only meant to be for the duration of WWII and then handed back to the owners is a myth.

[jaybee]

Dave, Raglan was first identified as a potential airfield in 1936 with various ongoing discussions through the late 1930s. The land itself was not taken until 1941. The details can be found in an interesting report commissioned by the Crown Forestry Rental Trust for the Waitangi Tribunal in respect of Wai 898 - see pages 656 for a case study on Raglan aerodrome. The report also earlier covers the land taken for Te Kuiti aerodrome..

forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_32638548/Wai%20898%2C%20A063.pdf

[jaybee]

Initially the land was to be taken for civilian purposes in 1936 as part of growing civil avaiation, but the actual taking of the land was definitely for defence purposes.

[zkdex]

Ian Driscoll's 1979 book "Airline" (Shortland Publications) has an interesting history of the Aerodrome Services Branch, Public Works Department that was extremely busy before World War 2. Once hostilities commenced, most of the men and machinery became No1 Aerodrome Construction Squadron, RNZAF.