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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 31, 2024 22:26:02 GMT 12
I wonder every time I come through Wellington Airport nowadays, is the building that is the RNZAF terminal on the opposite side of the runway from the civilian terminal actually adapted from the RNZAF's hangar that was built there in 1938 to house the Wellington (Territorial) Squadron's Blackburn Baffins?
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Post by Antonio on Feb 8, 2024 21:00:01 GMT 12
No. The Defence complex is (was) a new-build. The 2 Squadron hangar is now the home of the Wellington Aero Club. It used to be the CAA hangar, one of two that were moved from Coutts Street to their current location during the construction of the airport. I'm not sure what the other (now demolished) hangar was called but I knew it as the Manthell hangar (possibly used to store Holden vehicles)  I coud just walk in to the place as a kid back in the 60's and the friendly people there introduced me to the Andrews A1 and NZAM Beech AT-11. Great memories and then to find out it's provenance was the icing on the cake for me. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2024 21:04:13 GMT 12
OK, thanks.
When you call it the 2 Squadron hangar, is that derived from postwar when the squadron had Harvards and Mustangs? I thought their aircraft were based at Ohakea.
It was built for the Wellington (Territorial) Squadron, the successor to No. 2 Squadron NZAF, who never had aeroplanes so did not need a hangar.
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Post by tbf2504 on Feb 9, 2024 9:02:04 GMT 12
A history lesson is needed here! J.M.Ross "The Royal New Zealand Air Force" page 34
"In 1937 twelve Baffin aircraft were ordered for the Wellington Squadron, at a cost of 200 pounds each. The squadron's aircraft arrived in March 1938 and flying training was begun. A public display of them was held in May 1938.
On 6 September 1939 the squadron moved from Romgotai to Blenheim (Omaka) to cover the approaches to Wellington harbour and the Cook Strait
The hangar currently occupied by the Aero Club was called the Government Hangar and post-WWII was used at the Wellington terminal. The currently building is on ground previously used by Manthel Motors as a storage area, and prior to that by an aircraft maintenance company who among other things serviced the RNZAF Devons.
As an aside, on a certain date in 1968 when I was working at the Defence Tape Relay Centre in Stout St we got a panicky call from the air movers at the old hangar, telling us to stop sending them teleprinter traffic as the roof had been blown off and rain was pouring all over their teleprinter.
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