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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 17, 2008 14:32:11 GMT 12
There's an interesting letter in the latest Classic Wings magazine (Vol 15 No. 2) fro an L.P. Schwalbe who was on No. 490 (NZ) Squadron. He talks about how each of the Catalinas on the squadron carried NZ provence names rather than codes.
He lists Catalina FP324 being called 'Canterbury' and says the squadron also had:
FP108
FP112
FP172
FP174
FP242
FP258
FP278
And that aircraft on the squadron were also named 'Otago', 'Taranaki' and 'Wellington'. Does anyone have info on which serial matched which provence? And what other provences were used on their aeroplanes? Was there a Waikato or Auckland?
I wonder too if, like the No. 485 Squadron early Spitfires with provance names, subscription money had gone towards the purchase of these aircraft or if the nicknames were just for fun?
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Post by Martin Wienert on Feb 24, 2011 5:39:17 GMT 12
Guess FP112 was named "Marlborough"
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spiderw
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by spiderw on May 11, 2011 19:37:18 GMT 12
I'll see what i can find. My dad flew with 490 from Feb 44 till Sept 44 and got there just as the Sunderlands were being phased in. I have the Squadron records on CD and a fair bit of material from both Kew, Wigram & National Archives in Wellington.
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spiderw
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by spiderw on May 11, 2011 19:41:10 GMT 12
Is there an acceptable way of contacting the author of the letter to Wings Magazine. There are very few 490 members left.
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Post by kb on May 11, 2011 20:15:13 GMT 12
490 is very much the forgotten NZ Squadron in the RAF. It's fantastic to suddenly come across two squadron members. Any information on it is very welcome. Does anyone have any photos?
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Post by Tony on May 19, 2011 0:34:53 GMT 12
I wonder too if, like the No. 485 Squadron early Spitfires with provance names, subscription money had gone towards the purchase of these aircraft or if the nicknames were just for fun?
From New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II); Thompson, Wing Commander H. L.
"The squadron's Catalinas were named after the New Zealand provinces and the first two flying boats, piloted by Wing Commander Baird and Flying Officer Patience flew to West Africa in the middle of June, others following during the next few weeks." |
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grw1
Sergeant
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Post by grw1 on May 31, 2011 14:53:41 GMT 12
my Dad flew with 490 and I have several photos which I will figure out how to post. I am keen to contact any qduadron members or relatives.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 31, 2011 15:18:56 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum. I'm really looking forward to your photos. Is your Dad still alive?
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grw1
Sergeant
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Post by grw1 on May 31, 2011 16:52:41 GMT 12
sadly he passed on in 2007
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 31, 2011 17:00:47 GMT 12
Sorry to hear that. if you recall any of his stories about No. 490 (NZ) Squadron we'd love to hear them please, and I'm looking forward to seeing the photos.
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Post by Tony on Jun 3, 2011 21:29:52 GMT 12
Interesting way of placing the name on the aircraft:
I have this photo at home (but I am at work) so had to 'borrow' this one off the 'web.
Credit: monkeyc.net's photostream
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grw1
Sergeant
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Post by grw1 on Jun 6, 2011 21:52:02 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2011 1:17:49 GMT 12
Some great photos there drw1, thanks for making them available.
That photo of the airmen and Navy personnel is of interest to me as one of the Navy officers who I interviewed last year, and I am almost certain it was Jack 'Dufty' Wilson of Hamilton, was based at Jui, West Africa on a small patrol ship. They would be at see for weeks but when they got ashore he saud they often had a few beers, etc with the kiwis of No. 490 Squadron there. From memory there were a couple of kiwis on his ship's crew. So it's quite possible he's one of the sailors in that photo!
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grw1
Sergeant
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Post by grw1 on Jun 7, 2011 20:50:04 GMT 12
The naval/Air force personnel picture originally appeared in The Weekly News on 13 September 1944. Mr Wilson is not on the names of the people that are marked on the copy I have.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2011 21:47:34 GMT 12
Thanks. It could easily be the same situation though i guess, kiwis from a Navy boat crew who were docked or stationed the squadron visiting for a social event.
One of 490's Sunderlands sunk in the river at its mooring and is still there. i reckon we should go get it. I can't recall if that was at Jui or their other base.
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grw1
Sergeant
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Post by grw1 on Jun 8, 2011 8:21:59 GMT 12
Mmmmm. Sierra Leone is not the most hospitable place in the world. I think there would be easier ones to get. a lot were scuttled at the end of the war.
I still can't locate any living 490 members. Any ideas?
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Post by errolmartyn on Jun 8, 2011 11:11:19 GMT 12
Mmmmm. Sierra Leone is not the most hospitable place in the world. I think there would be easier ones to get. a lot were scuttled at 490 also operated from a Gambian base comfortingly known as Half Die! Errol |
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grw1
Sergeant
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Post by grw1 on Jun 8, 2011 12:24:37 GMT 12
with Jui as the swamp of death or something similar it wasn't much of a spot...but I guess they weren't being strafed.
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Post by alanw on Jun 9, 2011 21:06:08 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 9, 2011 21:25:16 GMT 12
I think Maurice McGreal is still alive too, isn't he?
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