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Post by planeimages on Dec 6, 2008 8:40:16 GMT 12
Does anyone have any information on John Stannage who flew with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and married his niece, Beris?
Dave, ring a bell at all?
I am still looking for information on Tom McWilliams and Harold Litchfield.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 6, 2008 14:31:48 GMT 12
You'll be lucky if you find much on Stannage. I have tried to research him. He was a radio engineer and had a radio shop or manufacturing business of some sort. I ahve seen adverts for Stannage Wireless in old newspapers while researching. He also was a radio broadcaster, having his own radio programme (not sure which station but possibly 1XB in Auckland). As well as that he was a writer and journalist. I have two articles by him - one on Hobsonville in 1940 which is very good for my own research, and one on something else to do with the RNZAF which I forget off hand. I have found references that say he was an Australian but others that say he was a kiwi. He definately lived and worked in Auckland during the early war period. I tried to find out more but this is all I could manage. I couldn't even find a date of death, no-one seems to know. Perhaps he's still alive, but doubtful. tehre are no Stannages in the NZ phone directory nowadays. Do you mean he married Smithy's niece? I was a little worried he was a Tasmanian for a minute.
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Post by planeimages on Dec 6, 2008 21:47:16 GMT 12
Many thanks Dave,
Not a Tasmanian. He married Smithy's niece but I can see where I did not define sufficiently.
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glycol
Squadron Leader
Posts: 103
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Post by glycol on Dec 7, 2008 16:06:39 GMT 12
Ross McWilliams was a pilot with Air NZ and Tony McWilliams was a Flight Eng. They were related and shouldn't be too hard to find. Last I heard they were both in Auckland.
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Post by planeimages on Dec 8, 2008 14:18:04 GMT 12
Thanks Col or is it Gly?.
Bingo. I spoke with Ross McWilliams today and he has agreed to assist my search for details. Gee, this forum is good. Many thanks to Dave, too.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 8, 2008 14:37:05 GMT 12
Excellent news. I'd be interested if he has any knowledge of the Cambridge, NZ, visits by the crew and aircraft.
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Post by shamus on Dec 9, 2008 21:57:30 GMT 12
I have a copy of a book by John Stannage called 'High Adventure'. It was published in 1944 and is all about his adventures with Kingsford Smith. It is a rare book today but it is possible some libraries may have copies. It has a photo of the author on the front cover. Will post a photo of the cover tomorrow.
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Post by shamus on Dec 10, 2008 10:07:11 GMT 12
Cover of book by John Stannage. This is a paper back and says inside, First published, Christchurch NZ, December 1944, 10,000 copies. Printed by H.W.Bullivant & Co. Ltd. 163 Armagh St. Christchurch. Not to be confused with High Adventure (From Balloons to Boeings) By Alexander.
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Post by shamus on Dec 10, 2008 14:09:24 GMT 12
In the 1920s (before I was born), my father was one of the crew on the SS Tahiti on which Kingsford Smith and his crew travelled to the USA to pick up the aeroplane and commence the trans-pacific flight. He managed to get some photos of them, but I don't know where they were taken, here in NZ or in the USA. The first shows Kingsford Smith with, I believe Ulm and an unidentified person and the second is of McWilliams and Litchfield.
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Post by shorty on Dec 10, 2008 14:56:47 GMT 12
They look like the original Wigram hangars in the background
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 10, 2008 17:38:08 GMT 12
When they went to the USA to take on the pacific flight it was Kingsford Smith, Ulm and Keith Anderson (who did not stay for the flight due to money issues). Litchfield and McWilliams came into the picture a lot later.
Those are great photos though, I love the fox furs and the skooter! I agree that these shots look to be taken at Wigram.
i note Ulm does not wear a brevet. He even said of himself that he was a terrible pilot and he travelled on these flights as navigator. Is that what he was officially down on paper as in the Australian Air Force and NZAF?
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Post by planeimages on Dec 12, 2008 21:16:37 GMT 12
Gee, many thanks Shamus and Dave,
Any chance of being able to have a good-sized scan of the b&w pics please to my personal email: peter@finlays.com.au ?
Ulm was given some flying lessons in NZ by the NZPAF in one of the Bristols which were used to transport CKS, et al, around NZ while the Southern Cross was having some repairs.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 13, 2008 11:06:54 GMT 12
Ulm and Kingsford Smith were given honourary ranks in both the RAAF and NZPAF. Ulm had wings sewn onto his tunic but this created discontent within the RAAF senior ranks due to his never having completed formal military training and he was ordered to remove them. Smithy's final honouray rank was that of an Air Commodore, Ulm's that of Squadron Leader.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 13, 2008 12:39:20 GMT 12
Thanks Joe.
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Post by louotter on Sept 17, 2015 23:43:20 GMT 12
16 March 1970
WHANGAREI (NZ), Monday (AAP). — A crew member of Kingsford Smith's famous aircraft. Southern Cross, Mr John S. Stannage, 65, died yesterday. As radio operator Mr Stannage participated in the first successful North Atlantic crossing from London to New York in 1930.
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Post by jrgfromoz on Oct 5, 2015 14:40:28 GMT 12
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tanex
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by tanex on May 23, 2016 19:40:13 GMT 12
Does anyone have any information on John Stannage who flew with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and married his niece, Beris? Dave, ring a bell at all? I am still looking for information on Tom McWilliams and Harold Litchfield. I have a 33 RPM record one side is "on being a bird" and he other "Wings across the tasman". Both side have MR STANNAGE on the label No idea how playable it is but it may be of some use.
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tanex
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 6
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Post by tanex on May 23, 2016 19:45:32 GMT 12
Have a 33 RPM Record one side "wings across the tasman " and "on being a bird" Both have MR STANNAGE on the label. May be of interest though condition may make playing tricky
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 23, 2016 20:59:03 GMT 12
Sounds very interesting tanex. Welcome to the forum. Do you have any way to convert it to digital?
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tanex
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 6
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Post by tanex on May 23, 2016 21:09:21 GMT 12
Sounds very interesting tanex. Welcome to the forum. Do you have any way to convert it to digital?
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