DC 6 Service in the RNZAF

[pjw4118]

Many moons ago I had my first air experience flight with the ATC aboard a DC6 from Whenuapai.
At the time the three aircraft looked very smart and still with airline seats.
My question is what did the RNZAF actually use them for as they were not a Hastings style freighter nor a Bristol ?

[Dave Homewood]

The late Dave Greenlees, who I interviewed last year, was a Flight Engineer on them late in his career, and he spoke about flying in the DC-6s in the episode if you want to have a listen. He said they had one and a crew, including him, based in the USA for a while, as support to the RNZAF units there that were preparing for the introduction of the Hercules and Orions.

cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2022/11/wonz-264-vampire-month-dave-greenlees/

[Dave Homewood]

I believe they were quite active flying as troop transports between New Zealand and Singapore, supporting the RNZAF and Army units deployed up there.

[camtech]

Correct, Dave. They also did trips to the UK, via the USA (for servicing support), as well as to and from Singapore, and the odd trip up to Hong Kong. Never flew in one, but did first line servicing on NZ3631 - always a lovely aircraft to walk through.

[bobajob]

My family flew to 41 SQN Changi on one on the 10 July 1967. overnight Melbourne, the flew on to Singapore with a fuel stop at I think it was called Derby in WA. The male passengers all helped refuel the aircraft while the womenfolk sweltered under a tin roofed building. The over night stop is a fact as I was there at the time. I caught the train down from Wagga Wagga to meat up with them. Dad (Harry Howard) gave me a NZ 10 cent piece.

[oj]

The RNZAF DC6 has also been written about elsewhere in the forum.
When not overseas it did a fairly regular weekly or monthly shuttle AK-OH-WG-CH and return for personnel on postings and light freight.
That is how I traveled on posting from Wigram (via Harewood) to Ohakea in 1963.

[tbf2504]

At the completion of the major exercise "southern Cross" in March 1967, a group of us airmen from Wigram returned from Waiouru to Ohakea to await air transport home. There was no room for us on the DC6 which took the South Island army contingent home so we were stranded! The RAAF detachment at Ohakea kindly came to our rescue and that is why in my logbook it shows 18 March 1967 C130A A97-208 OH-WN-WB-Wg return from Southern Cross. I never did get to ride on the comfortable DC6!

[pjw4118]

Thanks for that info , with three aircraft the posting must have been rather relaxed .