Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet, Masterton

[Dave Homewood]

Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet

Date: Sunday the 28th of April 2024, from 10.00am
Venue: The Legend Aviation Auditorium, George Hood Museum, Hood Aerodrome
Hosts: Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell of Legend Aviation
Tickets: $25.00 per adult, $15 for kids aged 8-15. (Pay at the door, in Cash)

Guest Speakers: (So Far)
Bevan Dewes of Legend Aviation

Barry "Patch" Nelson, RNZAF Pilot (Skyhawks, Kiwi Red, Texan IIs)

Tom Williams Founder of Wings Over Wairarapa and more

Stephen Davies Howard RAF fast jet pilot - Phantom, Tornado, F-15, F16... and Deputy Commissioner of TAIC

Don Wilkie Author of Forgotten Heroes, talking about No. 489 (NZ) Squadron and his book about them.

Other Features:
- A personal tour of The Vintage Aviator Collection aeroplanes!! Note: To be welcomed onto this tour, you must please give a donation to the team which goes to the Wairarapa Cancer Society

- An opportunity to book your Legend Aviation Harvard NZ1044 or Tiger Moth rides

- David Atchinson will have Avonmore military history books available. See below in the thread.

- Don Wilkie will have copies of Forgotten Heroes available, and he will also bring some of his aviation artworks.


Please let us know if you are keen.

[Dave Homewood]

Just a note, due to unforeseen circumstances the date that was originally advertised for this event has been changed from the 27th to the 28th of April.

Unfortunately we lost the previous discussion from the thread.

[Dave Homewood]

A new speaker announcement today, Patch Nelson.

[Dave Homewood]

A new speaker announcement today, Tom Williams.

[Dave Homewood]

A new speaker announcement today, we have added Stephen Davies Howard, an ex-RAF fast jet pilot who is now Deputy Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

I can also confirm we have confirmation from TVAL that they will allow us a guided tour of their aircraft collection.

We need to know numbers now please. If you're coming, please email me on [e-mail]

[whiteovies]

I'm keen to attend, is it pay on the door is there going to be a ticketing process?

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. It will be pay at the door, in cash, but we need people to register so we have an idea of numbers. Can you please email me with your name?

[Dave Homewood]

WONZ Forum Member David Atchinson will have Avonmore WWII Military Aviation History books available at this event. The books cover the South and South West Pacific theatres in WWII.

Just arrived in stock are these new books:

Pacific Profiles Volume 13 IJN Bombers, Transports, Flying Boats & Miscellaneous Types South Pacific 1942-1944

Michael Claringbould, full colour, fully illustrated, 250 x 176mm, 132 pages, Avonmore Books, 2024. ISBN 9780645700466 RRP $52.95 NOW AVAILABLE

   Pacific Profiles Volume 13 presents the most accurate wartime profiles and histories to date of Imperial Japanese Navy bombers, transports, flying boats and miscellaneous types which served in the South Pacific.


   This volume depicts the markings of two dozen mainstream and rare air groups (kokutai), many of which have never been illustrated before. Aircraft types include Betty and Nell bombers (and transports), Val and Judy dive-bombers; Emily and Mavis flying boats; Irving night fighters; Claude fighters; and Babs reconnaissance aircraft. Note this volume excludes floatplanes and Zeros, which are covered separately in Volumes Five and Eight of this series.


   Past markings errors are corrected, and many profiles are presented for the first time, alongside explanations of markings derivations, including the provenance of unit codes. Until now there has been a paucity of markings material about these units, especially the more esoteric ones such Nos. 31, 151, 501 and 552 Ku, and the night fighters of No. 251 Ku. Profiles are supported by photos and/or documentation, along with brief histories of each aircraft where known. Primary reference material is exclusively cited including assignment data, unit operational records, photography, diaries, factory markings, Allied intelligence wreck reports, POW interrogation reports, and Combined Fleet markings orders. A brief history of each unit and its leadership structure accompanies the text.



Pacific Profiles Volume 14 Allied Bombers: B-25 Mitchell series Australia, New Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1945

Michael Claringbould, full colour, fully illustrated, 250 x 176mm, 136 pages, Avonmore Books, 2024 ISBN 9780645700473 $52.95 NOW AVAILABLE

   The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of Allied and Japanese aircraft which served throughout Australia, New Guinea the South Pacific. This Volume 14 covers those B-25, PBJ & F-10 Mitchell models which served in these theatres from March 1942 until the end of the war. Mitchells served a total of 21 USAAF bomber and reconnaissance squadrons, plus others were operated by the USMC, RAAF and NEIAF.


   Most profiles are presented for the first time, alongside markings derivations, including squadron heraldry and codes. Until now there has been a paucity of markings material about many of these units. Each profile is supported by photos and/or documentation, along with a brief history of each aircraft. Wide-ranging primary reference material is cited including assignment data, wreck reports, squadron records, colour photography, maintenance logs, diaries and factory markings specifications. A brief summary history of each unit and associated markings rationale accompanies the text.


   The author is world-renowned for his expertise on the Pacific air war. Never before have Pacific Mitchells and their colourful markings been illustrated with such breadth, accuracy and detail.



Pacific Profiles Vol 15 Allied Bombers: B-26 Marauder series Australia, New Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1945

Michael Claringbould, full colour, fully illustrated, 250 x 176mm, 104 pages, Avonmore Books, 2024. ISBN 9780645700497 RRP TBA.


   The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of Allied and Japanese aircraft which served throughout the Australia, New Guinea and Solomons theatres. This Volume 15 covers the B-26 and US Navy JM Marauder series which served in these theatres from their first delivery to Australia in April 1942 until the war's end. Marauders served with a total of six USAAF bomber squadrons, including the reformed 19th BS Silver Fleet, whilst US Navy JM-1 and JM-2 variants were operated by utility squadrons from March 1944 onwards.


   Most profiles are presented for the first time, alongside markings derivations, including unit heraldry and codes. This volume bridges vast gaps in accurate Marauder markings profiles in these theatres, especially those which served with the Thirteenth Air Force and USN. Each profile is supported by photos and/or documentation, along with a brief history of each aircraft. Wide-ranging primary reference material is cited including assignment data, wreck reports, squadron records, colour photography, maintenance logs, diaries and factory markings specifications. A brief summary history of each unit and associated markings rationale accompanies the text.

[peterm]

I'm keen but can't find the start time anywhere.  Please advise.

[Dave Homewood]

10.00am start.

[Dave Homewood]

New Speaker Announcement

Don Wilkie will be giving a talk on No. 489 (NZ) Squadron and the book he wrote about them, Forgotten Heroes. He will have copies of the book available for sale too, and will also bring some of his original aviation art.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks so much to all the excellent speakers and those who came along yesterday to the Forum Meet.

Massive thanks to go to our hosts Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell, and the awesome help from Lynette Dewes, Ian Dewes, and Ryan Dewes. Also a big thanks to Dave Cretchley, Andrew Vincent, Scott Thomson and Richard Jackson for the Vintage Aviator tour. Thanks too to Allan Udy for his help with recording equipment, and Martin Burdan for loaning his data projector.

I'll post some photos when I get home.

[Dave Homewood]

Here are some photos from Sunday. I am sure that Phil Treweek has much better ones.


First Speaker: Legend Aviation's co-owner and fellow WONZ member Bevan Dewes.



Checking out the Legend Aviation hangar


Bevan talking about the aeroplanes.


Second Speaker: Stephen Davies Howard talking about his days as an RAF Phantom pilot during the Cold War days of the 1980s.


This Speaker: Tom Williams, one of the founders of the Sport and Vintage Aviation Society, now Wairarapa Flying Tigers, and also the Wings Over Wairarapa airshows.


Don Wilkie's awesome artworks.

Books for sale


The important part of these gatherings, meeting other likeminded aviation people.




Lunch!

Fourth Speaker: Don Wilkie on No. 489 Squadron and his book on the unit.


Barry "Patch" Nelson talking about flying the RNZAF Skyhawks.

A great day in all.

[Antonio]

Certainly a fantastic day for sure.
A big thanks you to you Dave for organising it plus, or course, the guest speakers, Lucy, Bevan and family.
The smile didn't leave my face on the drive home.

[Mustang51]

Wish I could have been there

[Dave Homewood]

Maybe the next one, Ando!

[hardyakka]

It was one to which I also hoped to make it, but circumstances intervened. Dave are you planning to publish the speaker's presentations as WONZ pod-casts?
Having not been there, it would be great to still be able to have a chance to hear them.

[Dave Homewood]

I hope to. Allan Udy kindly loaned us some excellent mics that each speaker was wired up with, and they cut the hollow room noise completely so they will make the podcasts very enjoyable, I hope. Allan is pretty busy at the moment but when he gets time to get the audio from his recorders sorted I can start doing something with them for the podcast. Might be a few weeks.

[11SQNLDR]

Once again - a superb effort in putting this all together Dave!

A beaut set of speakers and a great venue too.

Patch's hairline is receding, glad it's not just me