Airspeed Oxford 1/72

[ams888]

Hi All,
After taking a bit of a break from the hobby, i thought i'd pick one from the stash and complete it. An AZ Model Airspeed Oxford was what I picked. This model fought me every step of the way. Nothing fitted properly, the undercarriage was flimsy and broke a few times, and then the decals were rubbish and wouldn't work. I ended up making my own decals. Anyway I think this passes as an Oxford. It is painted up as NZ252. According to ADF Serials it arrived at Auckland in October 1938. It was assembled at Hobsonville in October 1938. It was flown to Wigram and allotted to No.1 SFTS. This aircraft crashed into Lake Ellesmere on 28 August 1941. The aircraft stalled during a cross wind landing approach to the airstrip and plunged into the lake. LAC Ronald Brown and LAC Norman Marshall were both killed. The aircraft was written off the books at Wigram in September 1941.

oxford1 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr

oxford2 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr

oxford3 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr

oxford4 by Andrew Sutton, on Flickr

[davidd]

A very small point, but in RNZAF the term SFTS (for Service Flying Training School) was not in use till about February 1942, although I have never found the Order which authorised this change, from FTS to SFTS. Also on this theme, the RNZAF only had ONE such FTS prewar (which was Wigram) and so far as I can tell, the number "1" was not ever used until the formation of the second FTS (at Blenheim, later called Woodbourne) in about December 1939, which presumably was awarded the title of No. 2 FTS from this time. In the RAF, the title FTS was changed to SFTS on the outbreak of WW2, in early September 1939.

The obvious "code" identification on flanks of your model of course indicate that it was on strength of "B" Flight of the FTS, which was later called the Advanced Training Squadron (ATS). The "A" Flight of FTS's usually featured red colouring, and was later redesignated Intermediate Training Squadron (ITS). THe ITS was where trainee pilots, having completed their elementary training with an EFTS (or an aero club in prewar days) learned to fly what were called "service" aircraft (as opposed to light civilian types) for the first time, and the flying staff of the ITS was composed almost entirely of flying instructors. On passing out of ITS the trainees were now considererd to be service pilots, regardless of the type of aircraft they normally flew. On posting to the ATS, the trainees were now introduced to "applied" flying, which included formation flying, bombing (or aerial gunnery in case of single-engine pilots), plus night flying (and instruments), and aerobatics (single-engine pilots only), as well as advanced navigation, etc. Interestingly, trainee pilots on multi-engine aircraft (such as Oxfords) also learned aerial gunnery (flexible) during their ATS course, although once on an operational squadron, it was highly unlikely that they they would ever have to exercise this particular skill. Probably for the latter reason, aerial gunnery (flexible) for multi-engine pilots was dropped from the RNZAF SFTS syllabus in about March 1942. Trainee pilots with ITS would either fly with a qualified instructor, with a staff (qualified) pilot, or solo. After advancing to ATS, trainee (pupil) pilots frequently flew together for exercises, being paired up with another pupil from same course for duration of this stage of training. During the ATS stage, pupils were also carried in an Oxford flown by a staff pilot, for certain navigation exercises. (A staff pilot was a qualified pilot, but NOT a qualified instructor). Hope these brief notes are of interest to some.

[Dave Homewood]

That looks great!

[Dave Homewood]

Apr 7, 2024 11:35:49 GMT 12 davidd said:

Interestingly, trainee pilots on multi-engine aircraft (such as Oxfords) also learned aerial gunnery (flexible) during their ATS course, although once on an operational squadron, it was highly unlikely that they they would ever have to exercise this particular skill. Probably for the latter reason, aerial gunnery (flexible) for multi-engine pilots was dropped from the RNZAF SFTS syllabus in about March 1942.

Something I noted in Masters Of The Air was how in some scenes there were B-17 pilots who manned gun positions rather than flying, I guess to make up numbers. I guess the USAAF did not drop that training like the RNZAF did.