|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 3, 2008 13:42:59 GMT 12
The Public Works Department of NZ (later to become Ministry of Works) had its own pilots and aerodrome section before the war but did they own their own aircraft or did they hire aircrfat when they needed them?
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 4, 2008 20:56:59 GMT 12
They owned Miles Whitney Straight ZK-AFH from 1938 (this was the 90-mile beach seed-sowing trial aircraft) and DH60M Moth ZK-AFR from 1937 to 1939. Postwar they had Proctor 3 ZK-AHV and Miles Gemini ZK-AQO. No doubt they had access to military aircraft as well, particularly prewar.  |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 4, 2008 21:24:03 GMT 12
Thanks Peter. Both their pilots whom I'm aware of were Territorial Air Force pilots so yes they may have used military aircraft.
|
|
zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
|
Post by zkdex on Apr 9, 2014 11:04:46 GMT 12
Two more aircraft operated by PWD/MOW.
NZ597, DH.94 Moth Minor, loaned by the RNZAF during 1944.
ZK-ANU, Miles M65 Gemini, destroyed in a crash near Rakaia River, 29 Mar 1955 - 4 killed.
|
|
zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
|
Post by zkdex on Sept 16, 2020 13:23:51 GMT 12
According to ADF Serials - NZ, the PWD also operated the Air Department's Percival P.1D Gull Four III ZK-AES until it was impressed by the RNZAF (as NZ572) in August 1939. Can anyone confirm this was the case?
(The Air Department owned Zk-AES from 12 August 1937).
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 16, 2020 20:50:34 GMT 12
As you say, the Gull ZK-AES was operated by CAD from Aug 1937.
PWD may have hired it, but they are not listed as an operator.
Another source says that this Gull went to the Canterbury Aero Club in November 1938 - can anybody confirm this?
|
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Sept 17, 2020 11:44:38 GMT 12
If I recall correctly it was mentioned in a AHSNZ journal many years ago that the only aircraft to ever land at Te Pirita as a PWD aircraft, possibly the Whitney Straight?
|
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Sept 28, 2020 9:10:16 GMT 12
It was the Civil Aviation Branch (CAB) of Air Department from 1937 rather then the CAD; that finally changed to the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) in early/mid 1950s, then the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA, about 1958?) and finally became the Civil Aviation Division of the ungainly Ministry of Transport in about 1964. This all changed in the 1990s, to present setup, although I will leave it to others to elaborate on these more recent changes. Also some of my dates in the above summary should be treated with considerable caution!
David D
|
|
|
|
Post by madmax on Sept 28, 2020 19:05:04 GMT 12
The photograph above posted by Peter Lewis of DH 60M ZK-AFR on Rongotai airfield was taken by my father. I still have the original negative.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Sept 29, 2020 18:56:08 GMT 12
Thats the one, I received the print from Derek Woodhall many years ago.
Your father did us an excellent service.
|
|
