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Post by htbrst on May 1, 2012 10:41:42 GMT 12
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Post by shorty on May 2, 2012 15:50:22 GMT 12
I have a photo of Barry Adlam sitting in the cockpit so if anyone knows when he joined the RNZAF that should provide a date.
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petera
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 88
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Post by petera on May 3, 2012 20:26:42 GMT 12
I am making no claims that this list will be definitive but it will surprise many.
Your responses are sufficient for me to include this Seafire.
Many thanks.
PeterA
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Post by htbrst on Dec 10, 2012 14:58:30 GMT 12
Hi Peter - did you ever find a date that this Seafire was scrapped? I came across some evidence - provided the dates listed are correct - that does indicate it lasted until 1955... This article has a photo of the Seafire dated by the author as January 1955. The aircraft in the background might narrow it down a bit as to whether this is correct (Catalinas NZ4054 and NZ4032, and Sunderland NZ4104) www.pacificwingsmagazine.com/content/indefatigable-45And in this Letter, a newsletter clipping mentioning the 'Junkheap Seafire' with a photo similar to the one above was sent to the magazine which was dated 8 December 1954 www.pacificwingsmagazine.com/content/airmail-101No mention of what paper it was though!
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 10, 2012 20:41:13 GMT 12
Catalina NZ4054 - Declared surplus 1954, Disposal #76/54. SOC Catalina NZ4032 - Declared surplus 1954, Disposal #76/54. SOC Sunderland NZ4104 - Sold by tender #5625 closing 23Nov53. B/up Hobsonville
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Post by rone on Nov 10, 2013 19:46:59 GMT 12
Regarding the Seafire parts listed on Trade Me back in 2011, I plead guilty as being the person who listed them. They were in fact 2 underwing .303 magazines I acquired while the Seafire was waiting for the axe. The Catalinas were also undergoing a cutting up at the same time by the same firm. Age has dimmed my memory a bit but it was around 1954/55, my father was breaking up Hobby's last Mosquitoe at the same time. Dave, I would query your report that the Catalina's were railed to Rukuhia for melting, the firm who cut them up were in Te Papapa, Onehunga, and as far as I recall they also disposed of the Sunderland and Dakota at the same time. My father broke up the Meteor at the same spot around 1959/60
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 18, 2015 1:30:57 GMT 12
Here's an article about the Seafires arriving in New Zealand from the New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25380, 8 December 1945, Page 6
NAVAL AIRCRAFT
AUCKLAND ARRIVAL
SPEED OF SEAFIRES
ARDMORE DISPLAY TODAY
The first modern British aircraft to visit Auckland, Seafires from the aircraft-carrier Indefatigable, announced their arrival yesterday afternoon in no uncertain manner by giving the R.N.Z.A.F. Station Ardmore a rare exhibition of precision flying. With the Seafires were four Fireflies, and also four Avengers, which maintained formation in circuits of the air station while the Seafires showed their paces.
Pilots of the R.N.Z.A.F. squadron assembling at Ardmore to move next year to Japan as part of the occupying force, and practically every member of the ground staff who could be spared from duty, saw the first British fighters operational in the Second World War, that have come to New Zealand. They watched with amazement while the Seafire pilots demonstrated the manoeuvrability and climbing power of the seagoing version of the famous Spitfire, and heard, for the first time, the welcome note of a dozen Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.
Fighters Spectacular While the fat Avengers sedately patrolled over the countryside, and the Fireflies flew circuits in formation, the Seafires made a series of low-level runs across Ardmore station, pulling up into steep climbing turns, loops or a succession of upward rolls. Others, after crossing the flying field at speed, performed flick-rolls, while a pair, as though tied together with an invisible rope, did some neat aerobatics in formation.
On the outskirts flew a Dakota of the R.N.Z.A.F., looking like an airborne motor-bus beside the slim fighters, and carrying a party of naval ratings to service the visiting aircraft.
After landing, the visiting party, led by Commander N. Hallett, D.S.C. and bar. R.N., was welcomed by the station commander, Wing Commander R. Webb D.S.0., D.F.C., and his officers. The visitors will remain at Ardmore for the week-end. and on Monday morning will fly over Auckland and and at Whenuapai. They will cross the city again in the afternoon, on their way back to Ardmore, and on Tuesday will fly off to the carrier.
Arrangements for Public The naval aircraft were parked for the night on the tarmac, beside rocket-firing Corsairs of the R.N.Z.A.F.. with which the Seafires made an interesting contrast. The slim, graceful lines of the British aircraft, their characteristic wing shape and their vicious-looking cannon protruding from the leading edge of the wing were noted with interest, by the New Zealand pilots, whose wartime experience in the Pacific has been confined exclusively to American fighters.
When Ardmore is open to the public this afternoon, a display by two Seafires will he given for the benefit of visitors, and four operational pilots of the R.N.Z.A.F. will also put their Corsairs through exercises. Representatives of the Fleet Air Arm and the R.N.Z.A.F. will be on duty with the aircraft to explain points of interest to visitors. Over 40 modern aircraft will be lined up on the tarmac, and some have been armed to enable visitors to see the types of bombs and rockets carried by the Corsairs. Arrangements have been made for motor-buses to connect at the Tironui railway station with trains leaving Auckland at 11.25, 12.03 and 12.18 o'clock, and later to take visitors back to the railway station from Ardmore.
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Post by thebrads on Dec 28, 2020 8:22:41 GMT 12
Hey chaps, i have a recollection of a Spitfire at a radar station on the end of Harbour View Rd on the Te Atatu Peninsula in the early 1960's. (possibly the Seafire/Firefly?) Does anyone have any proof/photographs of this?
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