The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Guest: Sarah Carr (nee Hanna) Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 26th of July 2023 Published: 8th of March 2024 Duration: 1 hour 3 minutes, 5 seconds In this episode of Wings Over Britain, Dave Homewood sat down with Sarah Carr of the Old Flying Machine Company, in her office at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Sarah is the daughter of the legendary pilot, the late Ray Hanna, and sister of the late and equally revered pilot Mark Hanna. She talks in depth about how Ray and Mark both got into flying, display flying and film work. And she details her own experiences with aviation and with running the OFMC, which today operates only the one aeroplane, Spitfire IX MH434. Sarah also talks about her connection with New Zealand and how important that is to her. Quick Links:.• The Old Flying Machine Company• Fans of the Old Flying Machine Company Facebook Group• Ray and Mark Hanna on the WONZ Forum The famous OFMC Supermarine Spitfire LF. IXb Spitfire MH434.

Guest: Ed Taylor, General Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 4th of March 2024 Released: 4th of March 2024 Duration: 45 minutes 17 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood chats with Ed Taylor about the upcoming three-day Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow over Easter on March 29th, 30th and 31st. The airshow has an unprecedented line-up of warbirds and other awesome aeroplanes that are planned to display over the three day weekend. These include de Havilland Mosquito NZ2308 (ZK-PWL) and North American P-51D Mustang NZ2423 (ZK-BHT) making their post-restoration debuts, plus the Wanaka debut of Yak 3Q “Steadfast”, the return of Corsair NZ5648 “Marie”, Brendon Deere’s Spitfire IX and Grumman Avenger “Plonky”, Bill Reid’s Anson, the Harvards, the Yak 52s, three T-28 Trojans, Strikemaster, Vampire, Lockheed 12a Electra Junior, and much more. And of course there is the USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons, the C-17, USAF and RNZAF C-130s, the RNZAF’s Black Falcons team and the Air Force Heritage Flight, and the new Boeing P-8 Poseidon’s airshow debut, plus the four-ship L-39 jet team flown by the US Patriots pilots, and much more. Quick Links:• GET TICKETS HERE• Warbirds Over Wanaka 2024 Website• Warbirds Over Wanaka on Facebook Ed Taylor The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest: Brendon Deere Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 20th of February 2024 Published: 2nd of March 2024 Duration: 1 hour 11 minutes, 28 seconds In this 300th episode in the Wings Over New Zealand Show series, Dave Homewood talks with Brendon Deere of the Biggin Hill Trust about the beautiful restoration on his ex-RNZAF North American P-51D Mustang NZ2423 (ZK-BHT). The Mustang served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1945 till 1957. NZ2423 arrived in New Zealand aboard the ship Dominion Park on the 27th of August 1945, and as the Japanese had surrendered while it was on the water the Air Force put it and the other 28 Mustangs into storage at Hobsonville. In February 1947 the cocooned Mustang fleet were barged from Hobsonville down to Clevedon and towed from there to RNZAF Station Ardmore, which had been a fighter base but was now under Care & Maintenance. The P-51D’s were put into storage in one of the hangars there. Following a period of storage at Ardmore, most of the Mustangs were placed into service with the Territorial Air Force squadrons in 1952. But NZ2423 was readied for flight and then flown to Rukuhia for another period of storage, as a reserve aircraft. NZ2423 finally entered operational service in with No. 2 (Wellington) Squadron of the Territorial Air Force, based at Ohakea, as a replacement on the 12th of July 1954. On the 25th of October 1955 it was then transferred to No. 42 Squadron and converted to tow target drogues for the Vampire pilots. It was the last RNZAF Mustang to fly, when on the 30th of May 1957 it flew from Ohakea to Woodbourne and went back into storage. The Mustangs were put up for sale by tender and in May 1958 NZ2423 was sold to Bill Ruffell of Blenheim, who along with his friend Harry Rutledge had planned to use it to build a new powerboat using the engine and the cockpit and tail. The pair already had the famous hydroplane racing boat Tru-Jen. But their plans fizzled out and they sold the Mustang to John Smith of Mapua in 1964, who stored it in his famous shed till his death in 2019. Brendon purchased the Mustang in 2020, and set about restoring it. It made its return to flight in November 2023. In this episode he tells the story of the Mustang’s history and talks about the restoration. He also details the current status of other aircraft in his collection, the Spitfire IX, the Avenger “Plonky” and his Harvard NZ1037. The Mustang will make its airshow debut at the end of this month at Warbirds Over Wanaka, flown by S/Ldr Sean Perrett, alongside the Biggin Hill Trust’s Spitfire and Avenger. Quick Links:• Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre, RNZAF Ohakea • The long running Wings Over New Zealand Forum Mustang NZ2423 Thread Above: Mustang NZ2423 over Ohakea. (Gavin Conroy photo) Above: Brendon Deere with his Spitfire. (Brendon Deere photo) Above: Mustang NZ2423 on the flightline at RNZAF Base Ohakea. (Brendon Deere photo) Above: The Grumman TBM Avenger “Plonky” nearing a return to flight. Since the recording the new engine has been run. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guests: Arthur Joplin (No. 617 Squadron pilot) and Ron Mayhill (No. 75 (NZ) Squadron bomb aimer), with Peter Wheeler of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association. Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 29th of August 2013 Published: 26th of February 2024 Duration: 40 minutes, 46 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood dips into his archive and pulls out a 2013 recording that he made when he and Peter Wheeler (of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association) visited Arthur Joplin and Ron Mayhill at Arthur’s retirement village home in Remuera. The recording was made during a social visit, when Dave and Peter got Arthur and Ron to tell some of their memories. This is an edited version to pull out the most interesting highlights from the conversation. Arthur was an RNZAF veteran who served as a Lancaster pilot with No. 617 Squadron RAF during WWII. He was one of the pilots that attacked the German battleship Tirpitz twice, sinking it in November 1944. Ron was an RNZAF bomb aimer, who flew with New Zealand’s heavy bomber squadron, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, during the latter part of 1944. He wrote the absolutely brilliant memoir Bombs On Target, which is a must read. He also served several years till his death as President of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association. Ron passed away in 2020, and Arthur died in 2023, so these memories and stories are precious reminders of these great men and the things they did during WWII. Quick Links:• The New Zealand Bomber Command Association • The New Zealand Bomber Command Association Facebook Page • The Tirpitz The Lancaster artwork from Ron Mayhill’s marvellous book Bombs On Target. Above: Arthur Joplin, in later life, and right during WWII. (NZBCA Archives) Above: Ron Mayhill, in later life, and right during WWII. (NZBCA Archives) The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest: Denis Sharp and Jim Cosgrove Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 27th of July 2023 Published: 18th of February 2024 Duration: 1 hour minutes, seconds In this episode of Wings Over Britain Dave Homewood is given a guided tour of the remains of former RAF Hunsdon by local historians Denis Sharp and Jim Cosgrove on a drizzly day. Hunsdon was a wartime airfield in Hertfordshire that was home to several wartime squadrons and units. These included No. 487 (NZ) Squadron with their Mosquito fighter-bombers alongside No. 464 Squadron RAAF and No. 21 Squadron RAF, which together formed No. 140 Wing. The No. 140 Wing Mosquitoes took off from here to make the famous attack on the Amiens prison in northern France, in an attempt to release hundreds of members of the French Resistance who were being held prisoner by the Gestapo. Another New Zealand squadron that spent a short time at Hunsdon was No. 488 (NZ) Squadron, before they deployed to the Continent with their night fighter Mosquitoes. It was also home at various periods to No. 3 Squadron RAF with their Hurricanes, and the Hunsdon Wing which was made up from No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, No. 154 (Motor Industry) Squadron and No. 442 (Caribou) Squadron, RCAF. These days most of the buildings and structures have disappeared, but the airfield remains active with a small flying club with light aircraft and microlights. A memorial to those who served there can be found next to the flying club. Quick Links:• Hertfortshire Airfields Memorial Group’s page on RAF Hunsdon• RAF Hunsdon on Wikipedia• Hunsdon Village’s page on RAF Hunsdon• WONZ Episode 62 – The Amiens Prison Raid 70th Anniversary Special from 10 years earlier Jim Cosgrove, left, and Denis Sharp, right, with the RAF Hunsdon Memorial. A 1943 aerial of RAF Hunsdon, taken from the HAMG page. A 1946 aerial shot overlayed onto Google Earth image, taken from the HAMG page. Denis Sharp on the perimeter track with the wartime footprints.

Guest: Jason Webb Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 26th of July 2023 Published: 15th of February 2024 Duration: 16 minutes, 31 seconds In this mini-episode of Wings Over Britain Dave Homewood meets Jason Webb at the Bottisham Airfield Museum, at former RAF Bottisham in Cambridgeshire. The museum presents the history of the wartime station, which has now reverted back to countryside, including its time as a Royal Air Force station with Army Cooperation P-40s and Mustangs, and then as a USAAF fighter base with Mustangs. It also covers the local area’s war efforts with displays depicting the Home Front organisations such as the Home Guard and Air Raid Precautions (ARP) units. The museum is located in genuine wartime buildings from the airfield, and includes recreations of various offices and living quarters to show how life was there during WWII, plus lots of aviation artefacts, genuine uniforms, models, photos and much more depicting the base’s history, and there is a stunningly realistic replica P-51D Mustang “Lou IV” acting as centrepiece and gate guard. Quick Links:• Bottisham Airfield Museum Website• Bottisham Airfield Museum on Facebook Jason Webb with the Mustang replica. Jason Webb took Dave Homewood and Mike Shreeve for a drive in the Jeep around the perimeter of the former airfield to show where its boundaries used to stretch to. See the video Dave took below: The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst. Thanks to Mike Shreeve for his assistance with this episode.

Guest: Rebecca Greenwood Harding Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 25th of July 2023 Published: 6th of February 2024 Duration: 33 minutes, 15 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visited the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, in Cambridgeshire, and caught up with Rebecca Greenwood Harding, the Head of Technological Objects for the collection there. Following a tour of the museum with Rebecca and mutual friend Mike Shreeve, including some areas that the public does not normally see, Dave sat down with Rebecca to record this interview. Duxford is one of the most famous airfields in the world, and the Imperial War Museum’s collection, and the various collections of the IWM’s partners at Duxford, are incredibly impressive. Rebecca talks about her role and how she got into the job there in 2001. She describes the exhibits in the various hangars, and different events that are held at Duxford each year. And she talks about the restoration projects in Hangar 5 at the time, as well as revealing her favourite aircraft in the collection, and her favourite Spitfire. Quick Links:.• The Imperial War Museum Duxford The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst. Thanks to Mike Shreeve and Ania Shreeve for their assistance with making this episode. Below are photos from two days’ visiting Duxford, copyright Dave Homewood July 2023. Mike Shreeve and Rebecca Greenwood Harding during the tour of the old station on the opposite side of the road.

Guest: Tony Philpot Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 18th of July 2023 Published: 19th of January 2024 Duration: 50 minutes, 8 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visits the RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre, on the site of the former RAF Station Hornchurch, and he talks with the museum’s curator Tony Philpot. RAF Hornchurch is synonymous with the Battle of Britain, as one of the most famous and important fighter bases that existed in the defence of London. It was here that some of the Royal Air Force’s best pilots were based, and this included New Zealanders such as Alan Deere and Colin Gray in 1940. Another Kiwi connection is with No. 485 (New Zealand) Squadron, whose Spitfires were based at Hornchurch for two different stints in 1943 and 1944. Hornchurch was also the site of a New Zealand Army hospital and convalescence centre in the First World War. And there are other Kiwi connections with the hallowed area too. Steeped with RAF history, the station no longer exists, but on the 19th of September 2021 the new RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre was officially opened by Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon GCB CBE. The centre is packed with really interesting artefacts, displays and memories of RAF Hornchurch’s amazing history. Close to Romford, Essex, just east of London, the centre is well worth a visit. The volunteer staff on the day that Dave visited, Tony, Paul and Jim, were fantastic fun too with lots of great banter, but also a true dedication to preserving and sharing the history of their now paved over and built on aerodrome. Highly recommended. Quick Links:.• RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre• RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre on Facebook• Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Trust on Facebook Above: RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre volunteers Paul (left) and Jim (centre) and Tony Phillpot. Great fun hosts, and very knowledgeable museum guides! The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guest: Stephen Bridgewater Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 13th of July 2023 Published: 20th of December 2023 Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes, 9 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with well known aviation journalist Steve Bridgewater about his career and his passion for aviation. Steve is a multiple award winning aviation author, journalist and photographer with more than two decades experience in editing aviation and aerospace magazines . His passions include vintage aeroplanes, warbirds and airshows. He spent many years with Air Atlantique, working with the DC-3’s and other old aeroplanes in that now defunct collection. He is also a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, and he explains what this means. His current role, and dream job, is as Deputy Editor of AEROSPACE Magazine at the Royal Aeronautical Society. His office is at No. 4 Hamilton Place, London, overlooking Hyde Park, and right near the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, and the RAF Club. He and the AEROSPACE team also produce a monthly podcast called AEROSPACE NOTAM. Quick Links:• The Royal Aeronautical Society (UK)• AEROSPACE Magazine• AEROSPACE NOTAM Podcast• Steve on Facebook• Steve on X Twitter• Steve in Linked In Steve Bridgewater. (Steve Bridgewater photo) The AEROSPACE magazine team, left to right, Charlotte Bailey, Tim Robinson, Steve Bridgewater and Bella Richards. (Steve Bridgewater photo) A selfie taken by Steve Bridgewater at the Flying Legends airshow at Church Fenton, Yorkshire. Left to right, Steve Bridgewater, Simon Jacubowski, Johan Brobakken, Dave Homewood and Graham Henderson. Steve’s painting of the Dakota he first flew in as a boy. The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guest: Fletcher McKenzie Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 27th of October 2023 Published: 14th of December 2023 Duration: 59 minutes, 46 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood chats with Fletcher McKenzie, an entrepreneur and former advertising executive who turned his hand to television and, with Malcolm Clement, produced the very popular FlightPath TV, which was seen in 61 countries around the world through Discovery Channel. Fletch talks about his passion for aviation and his journey into becoming a pilot. And he talks about the TV show, and film work with various aviation museums. He then got into writing books and has been prolific, with his Lessons From The Sky series. More recently Fletch has released his bestselling book From The Pilot’s Seat: Kiwi Adventures In The Sky. This book includes 23 interviews with New Zealanders whose work, service and/or life’s passion is in flying. The Kiwis come from all walks of like, from Air Force pilots to warbird display pilots to glider pilots to commercial helicopter pilots. Quick Links:• Fletcher McKenzie’s Website• From The Pilot’s Seat on Penguin Books• fromthepilotsseat.org To watch FlightPath TV and other videos. Fletch extends a 50% Offer for listeners – click “Add promotion code” on the Stripe checkout page use SKYHIGH50. Above: Fletcher McKenzie.

Guest: Andy Saunders Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 12th of July 2023 Published: 10th of December 2023 Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes, 14 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood caught up with author, journalist and historian Andy Saunders in his ‘War Office’ writing room in Eton, under the flightpath to Heathrow. Andy talks about his childhood discovery of a downed B-25 bomber while on a fishing trip that really sparked his interest in wartime aviation. He talks about finding wrecks of downed aeroplanes, and how he got into the historical research. He has spent years tracking down and interviewing pilots and aircrew, initially for his own interest, but it eventually led to writing magazine articles and then books. These days he is editor of Iron Cross magazine, and regularly writes articles for various newspapers and magazines. Andy was also a co-founder of the Tangmere Aviation Museum. And Dave and Andy discuss New Zealanders in the Battle of Britain, and their visit earlier in the day to the Runnymede Memorial. Quick Links:• Andy Saunders on Grub Street Publishing• Andy Saunders on Frontline Books (Pen & Sword)• Andy Saunders’ Haynes Battle of Britain Manual• Andy Saunders on Wikipedia• Iron Cross Magazine Above: Andy Saunders at his desk in his writing retreat, the “War Office”. Andy outside the “War Office”. Andy’s book on the Spitfire P9374, which he talks about. It is available in New Zealand here Runnymede Memorial, the Royal Air Force’s Memorial to missing airmen with no known graves. The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guest: Darren Priday, Manager of the RAF Museum’s Conservation Centre Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 11th of July 2023 Published: 18th of November 2023 Duration: 46 minutes, 39 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visited the terrific Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, at RAF Cosford, with friend Nigel Hitchman, and he met the Manager of the RAF Museum’s Conservation Centre, Darren Priday. Darren talks about the museum at Cosford, recent restorations such as the Vickers Wellington now on display at Cosford and the Handley Page Hampden that he is still working on and was about to head soon to display at Hendon. He covers the recovery of the Dornier 17 ten years before, and how they have been conserving it and preparing it for display. And he talks about the techniques they have used and developed to preserve aircraft recovered from the sea. He gives a teaser for another sea recovery project that does not involve the RAF Museum, but he is advising on. He addresses the problem of having several aircraft outside in the weather, and plans for a new building in the future. And gives a good general overview of the museum. Quick Links: •  The RAF Museum Midlands Website •  The RAF Museum Website • The RAF Museum on Facebook Above: Darren Priday, Manager of the RAF Museum’s Conservation Centre, with the Vickers Wellington Thanks to Nigel Hitchman for making this episode possible. The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guests: Tracy Dixon, Airside Manager for Wings Over Wairarapa 2023 Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 14th of November 2023 Published: 14th of November 2023 Duration: 21 minutes, 28 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood speaks with Tracy Dixon, the Airside Manager for the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival, which will take place over the 24th to 26th of November 2023 at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton. Tracy gives a preview of what airshow goers can expect to see. Highlights will include the airshow debut of the RNZAF’s new Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the return to the airshow scene after more than six years of Goodyear FG-1D Corsair NZ5648 (ZK-COR) in a new RNZAF paint scheme, the T-28 Trojan pair, and the new Legends Aviation display team. Quick Links: •  Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival website •  Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival on Facebook •  Wings Over Wairarapa Tickets •  RNZAF Corsair Supporters Facebook Group •  Legend Aviation Corsair NZ5648 will appear in all new markings. They have been removed in this photo to add to the mystery of how she will look. Come along and find out at Wings Over Wairarapa! (Photo Marty Nicoll) Above: Tracy Dixon.

Guests: Ian Thirsk, Mosquito Team Leader Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 7th of July 2023 Published: 11th of November 2023 Duration: 53 minutes, 09 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visits the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at London Colney, Hertfordshire, and he interviews Ian Thirsk, the Mosquito Team Leader with the museum. Whilst the museum preserves the history and products of the famous aircraft manufacturer de Havilland and many of its significant products, the episode focuses heavily on the Mosquito. The museum has three Mosquitos on display, including the very first prototype. Also among the collection are many other important aircraft types from biplanes to jets, fighters to airliners. Hopefully this episode highlights the importance of the company and its aeroplanes to both the British aviation industry and to New Zealand, and also entices listeners to visit this museum that is packed full of incredibly rare treasures. Quick Links: •  de Havilland Aircraft Museum website •  de Havilland Aircraft Museum on Facebook Ian Thirsk in front of the de Havilland Mosquito prototype W4050. The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guest: Julian Maslin, BBMF Guide. Host: Dave Homewood, with Barbara Hunter. Recorded: 6th of July 2023 Published: 3rd of November 2023 Duration: 1 hour, 4 minutes, 27 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visits The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. He was accompanied by Barbara Hunter of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association, and they were given a personal guided tour by BBMF Guide Julian Maslin. Julian describes each of the aircraft in this amazing collection, which remain on the RAF’s Order of Battle, and he talks about the day to day running of the BBMF. Quick Links: • The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight • The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Official) on Facebook Above: BBMF Guide Julian Maslin. The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guests: David Gledhill, Author and Aviator Host: Dave Homewood, and also heard are Dave’s hosts in Woodhall Spa, Ken White and Barbara Hunter. Recorded: 6th of July 2023 Published: 29th of October 2023 Duration: 41 minutes, 52 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visits former RAF navigator and author Dave Gledhill at Thorpe Camp, Lincolnshire. Dave owns and runs a genuine ex-RAF Tornado simulator which is based within the Thorpe Camp museum, which has been adapted to simulate other types as well as the Tornado, including the Hawk, Vulcan, Spitfire and Lancaster. Quick Links: • Dave Gledhill’s website • Tornado F3 Mission Simulator Facebook Page • Thorpe Camp Visitors Centre Facebook Page Above: Dave Gledhill sits in the front cockpit of the Tornado simulator The Rediffusion Tornado simulator, at Thorpe Camp, Tatershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire. Below: Other exhibits around Thorpe Camp Visitor’s Centre. I went on a day when most of the buildings were not open, sadly. Below are some photos taken by Barbara Hunter of Dave in the simulator The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guests: Dr. Dan Ellin and Peter Jones Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 5th of July 2023 Published: 6th of October 2023 Duration: 50 minutes, 5 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visited the International Bomber Command Centre, where he met Dr. Dan Ellin, of the University of Lincoln, who is the archivist for the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. Dan is responsible for the digitisation of letters, diaries, and photographs that come into the centre from veterans or families, and he also records oral histories with veterans. As curator of the exhibition for the IBCC visitor centre, Dan was also responsible for the content of three galleries that tell the stories of the bomber crews, the stories of those on the ground and how Bomber Command has been remembered since WWII. Dave also met Peter Jones, who also works in the archive, digitising content. Peter’s father served with RAF Bomber Command during WWII. Since 2015 the archive has recorded over 1,000 oral history interviews and over 100,000 digital files. The ICCC was very busy on the day of my visit, including with lots of school groups, which made the place a little noisy in the background. Quick Links: • The International Bomber Command Centre website • The International Bomber Command Centre Facebook Page • The Bomber Command Digital Archive Above: Dr. Dan Ellin Above: Peter Jones. The display that Dan described of where the heavy bomber raids took place during WWII. The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst.

Guests: John Marshal-East and Andrew Panton Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 4th of July 2023 Published: 29th of September 2023 Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes, 34 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visited the former RAF Station at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, home of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. This museum is famous for its taxiing Avro Lancaster NX611 Just Jane, and the also taxiing de Havilland Mosquito HJ711, but it is in fact dedicated to all things RAF Bomber Command. The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre was created on the former WWII RAF Bomber Command station by brothers Fred and Harold Panton as a place to house their Lancaster bomber, which they’d purchased as a tribute to their brother Christopher, who lost his life while flying operations on Handley Page Halifax bombers with Bomber Command. Dave spoke with the deputy chief engineer John Marshal-East while he was on site about the efforts of keeping the centre’s aircraft maintained and running, whilst also working on restoring the Lancaster to flying condition at the same time. At the time of Dave’s visit the centre’s manager Andrew Panton was away, but they caught up later on Zoom to record the second half of this episode. The grandson of the late co-founder Fred Panton, Andrew talks about the museum’s history and his family’s connection, as well as current projects and future plans. Andrew is also one of the pilots rated to give taxi rides in both the Lancaster and the Mosquito to the paying public, both very popular attractions at the LAHC. Quick Links: • Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre website • Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre on Facebook • I Support Avro Lancaster NX611 Just Jane Facebook Group The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst. Above: Avro Lancaster Just Jane. Above: John Marshal-East with the LAHC’s recently-acquired North American B-25 Mitchell Always Dangerous. Above: Andrew Panton in the B-25’s cockpit (Andrew Panton photo)

Guest: Grace Hills Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 5th of September 2023 Published: 23rd of September 2023 Duration: 35 minutes, 26 seconds Dave Homewood talks with Grace Hills in this episode to mark the annual international Girls In Aviation Day! Grace is an aircraft technician in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and she is also a private pilot. She learned to fly at Ardmore and through the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School at Matamata, and she undertook the RNZAF’s School To Skies programme that led to her current career. Whilst working on modern helicopters in her day job, she has also enthusiastically become involved in historic aviation. She flies Tiger Moths and a Nanchang, and she has turned her hand to helping with the restorations of the John Smith Mosquito and John smith’s Tiger Moth at Omaka, and Brendon Deere’s North American P-51D Mustang at Ohakea. Grace is also the secretary of the New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation. Quick Links: •  The Royal New Zealand Air Force •  RNZAF School To Skies •  Girls In Aviation Day •  Girls In Aviation Day on Facebook • New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation • New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation on Facebook Grace in the John Smith Tiger Moth, which runs and taxis but does not fly. Grace in a Harvard. Grace preparing the Nanchang for a flight. Grace working on Bill Reid’s Avro Anson. Grace with the famous John Smith Mosquito at Omaka, which she helped to restore.

Guests: Darren Harbar, Steve Darlow, George Dunn DFC and David Bremner Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 1st and 2nd of July 2023 Published: 16th of September 2023 Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes, 20 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood met with several friends at the hallowed ground that is Old Warden aerodrome, the home of the world famous Shuttleworth Collection. He interviewed a few people, the first being well known and respected aviation photographer Darren Harbar. Darren had shown Dave around the collection and museum, and sat down to talk about the Shuttleworth Collection and his special connection with it. He also discussed his work as an aviation photographer. Next Dave talks with aviation historian, writer and documentary maker Steve Darlow, and WWII bomber pilot and author George Dunn DFC, Ld’H. Steve discusses his involvement in writing books about Bomber Command, and his involvement with helping to make the film Lancaster, and the current project, Mosquito. George talks about his wartime experiences, training in Canada, and flying Halifax heavy bombers, then Mosquitoes, and then Spitfires. And finally Dave talks with David Bremner, who with his brother Richard and friend Theo Willford reconstructed the WWI Bristol Scout C, 1264, as flown by David and Richard’s grandfather Francis Bremner over Gallipoli during 1915 while in the Royal Naval Air Service. This wonderful aeroplane lives at and flies from Old Warden. Darren Harbar. Darren’s sales tent at the Shuttleworth Military Show while he was still setting it up. Steve Darlow and George Dunn DFC, Ld’H Bristol Scout C 1264 Sue Bremner, Dave Homewood and David Bremner The lengthened control stick in the Scout. The Dardanelles map and the photo of Francis Bremner, as discussed. Quick Links: • Darren Harbar’s Photography Page • Darren Harbar’s Photography Facebook Page • Steve Darlow’s Website • George Dunn DFC’s Book ‘Resolute’ • Bristol Scout: Rebuilding Grandad’s Aircraft The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee, My Country by Gustav Holst. The photo above of Darren Harbar comes from Darren’s Facebook pageThe photo of Sue, Dave and David was taken on Sue’s camera.

Guest: Flt Lt David Barnston, RAF/RNZAF retired Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 1st of September 2023 Published: 10th of September 2023 Duration: 1 hour 17 minutes, 47 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with 99-year old fighter pilot veteran David Barnston, who was born in London, and went to school next to RAF Hendon as a lad. He joined the Royal Air Force when he was 17-years-old, and trained as a pilot on Tiger Moths in Guinea Fowl, near Bulawayo in Southern Rhodesia, and advanced to Harvards at No. 22 SFTS at Thornhill at Gwelo (now called Gweru). After a spell in Durban he was sent to India destined to be posted onto the Vultee Vengeance bombers, but discovered on arrival these aircraft had already departed. After going from pillar to post around India he was sent back to Africa and ended up doing a fighter Operation Training Unit course on Hawker Hurricanes at Ishmailia, in Egypt. Once he was qualified on fighters he returned to India and eventually joined No. 123 (East India) Squadron at Yelahanka, where he began flying Republic P-47D Thunderbolts. The squadron moved up to the Arakan in Burma and he flew operationally in Thunderbolts from September 1944 till March 1945. He was then sent home to Britain for a furlough leave. When he returned in July 1945 his squadron had been renumbered as No. 81 Squadron. In October 1945 No. 81 Squadron and another Thunderbolt squadron, plus a Mosquito squadron, moved to Java in the Dutch East Indies to get involved in the war called the Indonesian National Revolution, or the Indonesian War of Independence. There they were involved in keeping ‘safe roads’ clear from rebels who were attempting an uprising so the refugees trying to get to the coast to escape could do so in safety. He then led a small Army Co-operation Flight in the North of England, with two Spitfires, two Vultee Vengeance and a Martinet. On demob from the RAF, David moved to New Zealand and in 1950 he joined No. 1 (Auckland) Squadron of the Territorial Air Force, flying Mustangs for five years at RNZAF Station Whenuapai. He also joined National Airways Corporation for his day job and flew DC-3s and Friendships. David flying Spitfire XVI SM750 David and his mother and brother in a modified Avro 504K going for a joyride in the late 1920s or early 1930s. David Barnston with the photo of his granddaughter he refers to. A close up of the photo. The map diagram, from a magazine, that David used to explain the Mandalay raid.

This is an introduction to the new series Warbird Radio Downunder which starts today on the Warbird Radio Network. The Jolley Company, LLC|9/8/2023 WARBIRD RADIO – The Wings Over New Zealand Show LIVE host Dave Homewood is back on Warbird Radio, with a similar show but the new name is Warbird Radio Downunder. He and occasional co-host Grant McHerron will present stories to Warbird Radio listeners from both New Zealand and Australia, and perhaps beyond.  Dave is the host of the long-running series The Wings Over New Zealand Show, which covers all sorts of stories from the world of New Zealand aviation. He is also an aviation magazine editor and journalist, Administrator for the Sport Aircraft Association of New Zealand, and founder of the very popular Wings Over New Zealand Forum. Grant, a Kiwi based in Melbourne, Australia, is co-host of another popular aviation podcast series, Plane Crazy Down Under. He works in the Australian defence industry, and he is a keen balloon pilot. Today’s guest is John Parker is the Public Officer at the Hunter Fighter Collection, based at Scone, NSW, in Australia. He speaks with Dave about the Pat Hughes Spitfire, Mk. 1a Spitfire X4009, which is currently being rebuilt to fly again, and will be based at Scone. John talks about Flight Lieutenant Pat Hughes DFC, who was Australia’s top scoring fighter ace in the Battle of Britain, before he was killed in X4009.  John also discusses the Hunter Fighter Collection, and the recent addition to its fleet, a North American P-51D Mustang that has been donated by the Royal Air Force Museum, and all the other aircraft in the fleet. Plus a replica Spitfire fuselage that will be taken around Australia to raise awareness of Pat Hughes’ story and the Spitfire project. QUICK LINK: https://www.hunterwarbirds.com.au/ QUICK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/HunterFighterCollection QUICK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatHughesSpitfire QUICK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/WarbirdsOnline John Parker John and team with the newly arrived Mustang. The Mobile Spitfire Display under construction.

Guest: Tony Hoskins Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 30th of June 2023 Published: 20th of August 2023 Duration: 1 hour 59 minutes, 38 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with Tony Hoskins who is leading the team who are restoring Supermarine Spitfire PR.IV AA810, known as Sandy’s Spitfire. This Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) Spitfire was flown by Flight Lieutenant Alastair “Sandy” Gunn when it was shot down over Norway, and crashed. Sandy was taken prisoner by the Germans, and he eventually took part in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III at Sagan, was captured, and was murdered as one of the 50 airmen executed after the escape. The Spitfire wreck was discovered on a mountainside and recovered by Tony’s team, and it is currently being restored to fly again. Tony discusses the history of the aircraft and its pilot, Sandy, and talks in detail about the restoration and the research he and his team have done so far. The team is also working with young people, including apprentices and students, to either get involved with the rebuild and the research, or simply teaching them about the work this aircraft did, and about WWII. Quick Links: • Spitfire AA810’s Website • Spitfire AA810 – Restoring Sandy’s Spitfire Facebook Page • National PRU Monument An actual image of AA810 in service. (Colourised) Sandy Gunn. (Colourised) Tony Hoskins. The wreckage laid out. AA810 in the big jig. Sandy Gunn. (Colourised)

Guest:  David Morris, Principle Conservator at the Fleet Air Arm Museum Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 28th of June 2023 Published: 15th of August 2023 Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes, 31 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood visits The Fleet Air Arm Museum, part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, at Yeovilton in Somerset. There he got a guided tour of the main halls and the conservation area by principle conservator Dave Morris. Naval aviation in Britain began in 1909, initially with he building of an airship, and by 1911 the Navy had their owned trained fixed-wing pilots. In July 1914 the Royal Naval Air Service formed, becoming the air arm of the Royal Navy. They led the way in naval aviation and the development of aerial warfare through WWI. On the 1st of April 1918 the RNAS was merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force. The Fleet Air Arm formed within the RAF on the 1st of April 1924, marking out the specific RAF squadrons that would deploy to aircraft carriers and perform other naval duties. Then on the 24th of May 1939 the Fleet Air Arm was divided off from the RAF and placed under Admiralty control. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm entered the Second World War as an underfunded, undermanned force with inferior equipment. A massive expansion got underway as more and more aircraft carriers were brought on strength, with the Royal Navy directly recruiting aircrew from New Zealand as well as Britain. Aircrew training was carried out through WWII in Britain (with initial flying training done by the Royal Air Force), Canada (with flying training done by the Royal Canadian Air Force under the Empire Air Training Scheme), and, from mid-1941, in the USA (with flying training conducted by the United States Navy). Much development in naval fighters and torpedo bombers took part both in Britain and, with the introduction of the Lend Lease scheme, in the USA. The Royal Navy ended up with one of the best carrier forces in the world by 1945, and the Fleet Air Arm flew off ships and land bases in every theatre of the war. The Fleet Air Arm continued into the post-1945 world, and remained a potent part of the Royal Navy’s strength, with jets and helicopters as the main equipment aboard the carriers. This museum reflects the long history of naval flying in Britain, from the earliest days of biplanes on floats in World War One, to the fighters and bombers of WWII, and the jets and helicopters through to the modern era. Two particularly interesting WWII fighters discussed are the Corsair IV, KD431, and the Grumman G-36 Martlet I, AL246. Both have been conserved in such a way that postwar paint coats have been removed to reveal the original wartime paint schemes beneath. The current restoration of the Fairey Barracuda is discussed, among other topics from air sea rescue to the first jet to operate from a carrier. Quick Links: • The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm Museum Website • The Fleet Air Arm Museum’s Facebook Page • The Fairey Barracuda DP872 Rebuild Facebook Page Special thanks to Dave Morris and Catherine Hallett of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, and to Kieran Lear who for doing the driving, for being good company and for providing some of the photos below. Short S.27 replica (Dave Homewood) Sopwith Baby N2078 (Dave Homewood) Short Admiralty Type 184 8359 (Dave Homewood) Supermarine Walrus L2301 (Kieran Lear) Supermarine Walrus L2301 (Dave Homewood) Fairey Fulmar N1854 (Dave Homewood) Fairey Swordfish P4139 (Dave Homewood) Fairey Fulmar N1854 (Dave Homewood) Fairey Fulmar N1854 (Dave Homewood) Fairey Fulmar N1854 (Dave Homewood) Fairey Fulmar N1854 (Kieran Lear) Grumman Martlet AL246 (Dave Homewood) Grumman Martlet AL246 (Dave Homewood) Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair KD431 (Dave Homewood) Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair KD431 (Dave Homewood) Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair KD431 (Kieran Lear) Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair KD431 (Kieran Lear) de Havilland Sea Vampire LZ551 (Dave Homewood) Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 WJ231 and MiG 15 (Dave Homewood) Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 WJ231 (Kieran Lear) Vampire LZ551, Corsair KD431, Grumman Hellcat KE209 and Grumman Avenger ECM.6B XB446. (Dave Homewood) Supermarine Seafire F17 SX137 and Sopwith Pup replica N6452 (Dave Homewood) Supermarine Seafire F17 SX137 (Kieran Lear) Sopwith Pup replica N6452 (Kieran Lear) Supermarine Attacker F.1 WA473/102/J, Westland Wyvern TF.1 VR137 and Seafire SX137 (Dave Homewood) Westland Wyvern TF.1 VR137 (Kieran Lear) Supermarine Attacker F.1 WA473/102/J (Kieran Lear) McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 XT596 (Kieran Lear) BAe Sea Harrier FA2 XZ499/003 (Kieran Lear) Hall 4, which does not get covered in the podcast due to time constraint. (Kieran Lear) Below: The Barracuda restoration

Guests: Dave Cole and Margaret Wilmot Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 30th of June 2023 Duration: 1 hour 41 minute 46 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with Dave Cole, a guide and local historian at the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum, at former RAF Biggin Hill. Dave talks about the fascinating history of the famous RAF fighter station, from its very beginning with the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, being created as an airfield where scientific development of aerial radio communications was pursued. And he explained its role as a defensive fighter base for London and southern England during WWI, and into the interwar period, and then into WWII with the Battle of Britain, and beyond. Dave then chats with Margaret Wilmot about St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, which is specially dedicated to remembering the members of the Royal Air Force who lost their lives in World War Two. Margaret, the Verger of the parish, explains the chapel’s history and its current status as a memorial and visitor attraction, as well as an active parish church. Quick Links: • The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum and Chapel website • RAF Biggin Hill Museum & Chapel Facebook Page • St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, Biggin Hill Facebook Page • Protect Biggin Hill RAF Chapel Facebook Page Dave Cole, historian and guide at the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum. Margaret Wilmot, Verger of St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, at Biggin Hill. Dave Cole’s map of the landscape before the RFC took it over and created Biggin Hill station. The list of New Zealanders known to have been killed when flying from or based at Biggin Hill. Above and below: The biographical entry in the chapel’s book for Edward Churches, as discussed in the interview. Margaret reading the daily names from the book.

Guests:  Andrew Lewis and Allan Winn Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 29th of June 2023 Duration: 1 hour 1 minute 13 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with Andrew Lewis and Allan Winn at the Brooklands Museum, at Weybridge, Surrey, in England. Brooklands was the home of British motor racing, and also the home of Vickers Weybridge, a centre of innovation and manufacturing for the British aviation industry since 1915. Andrew is the curator of the museum’s collection, and Allan is the past Director and CEO of Brooklands Museum, and is now the vice president of the Brooklands Trust. Allan also happens to be an ex-pat New Zealander, and his leadership of the museum has helped to create the amazing place that is is these days. The two men discuss the history of the site and the creation of the museum, and talk about the important aircraft and artefacts within the collection. And they discuss their favourite exhibits, and the huge importance that they put on the museum of not just telling the stories of the past, but also inspiring the younger generations into the fields of engineering and aerospace. Vickers Wellington N2980, ‘R’ for Robert, The Loch Ness Wellington. Brooklands Museum curator Andrew Lewis. Allan Winn, the New Zealander who is the former Director and CEO of Brooklands Museum, and currently the vice president of the Brooklands Trust. The Brooklands Concorde. The Vickers Vimy replica. The Aircraft Factory hangar at Brooklands. The big white structure is the open door at the Barnes Wallis-designed atmospheric chamber, in the open position. Part of Barnes Wallis’s massive test chamber. Part of the control room for the Barnes Wallis chamber. The massive size of the test chamber is amazing. More photos Quick Links: •  Brooklands Museum website •  Brooklands Museum’s Facebook page

Guests:  Lee Howard and Rob Jones Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 28th of June 2023 Released: 17th of July 2023 Duration: 57 minutes In this episode Dave Homewood talks with naval aviation historian Lee Howard and Navy Wings’ marketing manager Rob Jones during a walk around the Navy Wings hangar at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, in Somerset. Aircraft in the hangar included two Fairey Swordfish (one of which was in deep restoration), a Hawker Sea Fury, a Supermarine Seafire XVII, two de Havilland Chipmunks, a North American Harvard, and a Hawker Sea Hawk project, plus the collection’s Westland Wasp was operating on the airfield. Other aircraft not belonging to the collection but seen in the hangar included a Tiger Moth, Stinson Reliant, a Westland Sea King helicopter and a Scottish Aviation Bulldog. As this was recorded in a very busy operational hangar, there is a certain amount of unavoidable background noise, which hopefully adds to the ambience, rather than detracts. You get the bonus track of an abridged Wasp start up and departure too. Quick Links: • Navy Wings’ website • Navy Wings on Facebook Above: Rob Jones and Lee Howard with one of the Navy Wings Swordfish. The Navy Wings Westland Wasp. The Fly Navy Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVII SX339. The Stinson Reliant which is privately owned but operated in conjunction with Navy Wings. Swordfish W5856. Sea Fury FB.11 VR930. North American Harvard G-NWHF. Below: Photos of Swordfish LS326 under deep maintenance. The manufacturer numbers on the Swordfish that Lee explained. Below: Sea Hawk FGA.6 WV908 under restoration to fly Navy Wings’ flying DHC-1 Chipmunk WK608. The second Chipmunk under restoration. Non-Navy Wings hangar occupants, Lynx, Sea King and Bulldog. The Navy Wings’ chief engineer’s Tiger Moth.

Guest:  Flight Lieutenant Alan Ross Boyens, RAF (Retired) Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 27th of June 2023 Duration: 1 hour 5 minutes, 30 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with Ross Boyens, a New Zealander who joined the Royal Air Force in 1972. Following his initial officer training at Wigram with the RNZAF, he then went off to Britain for his RAF pilot training. Ross ended up flying Hawker Harrier jump jets, and had just left a Harrier squadron to become an instructor when the Falklands War began. He was called back into No. 1 Squadron RAF and was tasked to ferry a Harrier down to the ship Atlantic Conveyer, and then began operations. Ross talks about his part in the later battles for the war, and operating the Harrier in the extreme conditions of the South Atlantic. As well as the Harrier operations, Alan talks about his two years with the RAF’s Red Arrows aerobatic team, and his postwar career flying Boeing 747s for Cathay Pacific, and a private jet for a Middle East sheikh. He also talks about being shot down buy his own round, and having to eject. NB: The pilot that Ross was trying to recall the name of, and thought might have been Robin Taylor, was in fact Alan Curtis. who had previously served with the RNZAF.NBB: The aircraft Sir Ken Hayr was following was a Sea Vixen, rather than a Meteor, when he was sadly killed. The New Zealanders who’ve served in the Red Arrows include:Ray HannaIan DickEuan Perreaux (Killed in Red Arrows collision, 20 January 1971)Ross BoyensAndrew “Boomer” KeithSimon “Kermit” ReaJames McMillan This episode also includes a short promotion from Mel Salisbury of Aviation Tours NZ, who are a supporter and sponsor of the Wings Over Britain series. Thanks also to Kieran Lear for his help in making this episode. Note: The music in this episode is I Vow To Thee My Country by Gustav Holst. Ross Boyens at home on the 27th of June 2023. (Dave Homewood photo) Harriers refuel from a Victor tanker on the way to the Falkland Islands (Ross Boyens collection) Victor refuels Victor on the way to the Falkland Islands (Ross Boyens collection) Refuelling the Atlantic Conveyer (Ross Boyens collection) Harriers onboard the Atlantic Conveyer (Ross Boyens collection) RAF and RN Harriers aboard HMS Hermes. (Ross Boyens collection) A Harrier going off the ramp. (Ross Boyens collection) In Ross’s logbook from his ejection. (Ross Boyens collection) Ross’s father Rex in WWII and Rex’s medals. Red Arrows team Red Arrows team Memories.(Dave Homewood)

Guest:  Lewis James Day, MNZM, DFC Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 11th of June 2023 Duration: 1 hour 22 minutes, 12 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks via Zoom with Lew Day, who was just five weeks away from turning 100 at the time of the recording, and Lew’s son Brian Day was also sitting in to help prompt Lew’s memory and relay the questions that Lew did not quite hear. Lew had a long career in aviation, beginning with Air Force training in 1942. After his ab initio training on Tiger Moths at RNZAF Station Harewood, Christchurch, he embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme to complete his pilot training on Cessna Cranes at RCAF Brandon, Manitoba. He then moved onto Prince Edward Island for specialist navigation training, before being posted to Britain. On arrival in the UK he was posted to RAF Coastal Command and joined a new crew on Short Sunderland flying boats. As a second pilot, Lew was involved in patrols over the Atlantic, before the crew started to get ferrying jobs. The first was taking a new Sunderland down to Mombassa in East Africa. The next was taking a new Sunderland Mk. V to Rangoon in Burma, and when his captain became ill, Lew stayed on in Rangoon and joined a new crew with No. 230 Squadron RAF. When the war ended Lew was in Singapore for the Japanese surrender, and was soon back home in New Zealand and demobbed from the RNZAF. He returned to his pre-war job with New Zealand Customs, but was invited by the Royal Air Force to join them as they were recruiting experienced aircrew. He returned to England, and joined the RAF. He spent a year flying Oxfords, then Wellington and finally Avro Lancasters in order to gain the required experience as a four-engined captain, and then got back onto Sunderlands again with No. 209 Squadron, based in Singapore. During his two year posting there Lew was actively involved in two wars throughout, the Malayan Emergency and the Korean War. Flying Sunderlands as land bombers in Malaya, and also as convoy escorts and weather ships in Korea, he was kept constantly busy. Eventually Lew returned to the UK to become an RAF flying instructor. Following his instructor’s course at the Central Flying School of the RAF, he was posted as an instructor at the Royal College at RAF Cranwell. There he was flying Harvards, Chipmunks, Boulton Paul Balliols and early Jet Provosts. Following two years at Cranwell, Lew returned to the Central Flying School, now as an instructor with that school. He was flying the Jet Provosts here. His next posting was as the Commanding Officer of No. 1 Air Navigation School, at RAF Topcliff. This role took him all over Europe, Africa and the Middle East on navigation exercises in Vickers Varsities and Vallettas. Following 14 years with the Royal Air Force, Lew retired and moved with his family back to New Zealand, in 1962. Finding it impossible to get a position with the RNZAF or the airlines TEAL and NAC, Lew began working as the Chief Flying Instructor at Southern Districts Aero Club, in Gore. After a few happy years at Gore, Lew and the family moved north again and he became an instructor at Auckland Aero Club. He was then approached by Airwork (NZ) Ltd who needed a pilot for a contract they had with New Zealand Forest Products, flying two flights a day from Ardmore to Kinleith and back. He flew in this job for nearly 30 years. At the same time Airwork had a contract with Westpac to fly a twin-engined aircraft on Search and Rescue flights operating in conjunction with the rescue helicopter. He flew commercially until he was 77 years of age. He has also spent many years writing aviation manuals and documentation, and he is writing his memoirs. The following photos of Lew Day through his aviation career were kindly sent by Lew’s son Brian Day. My thanks to Brian for all his help. Quick Links: • Southern Districts Flying Club  • Auckland Aero Club • Airwork • New Zealand Forest Products • Westpac Rescue

Guest:  Group Captain Jason Easthope, RAAF Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 16th of May 2023 Duration: 1 hour 39 minutes, 41 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks via Zoom with Group Captain Jason Easthope, RAAF. Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, Easty became inspired by a visit of the RNZAF Strikemasters to Rotorua, and an airshow they had that included a couple of Skyhawks. At the age of 17 he was selected for pilot training in the RNZAF, and he talks about training on the NZAI CT/4B Airtrainer, and progressing to the BAC167 Strikemaster. He then became one of the first bunch of RNZAF pilots to fly the new Aermacchi MB339CB ‘Macchis’. Next came conversion to the McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk with No. 2 Squadron RNZAF, based at Nowra, NSW, in Australia. Following the completion of his Skyhawk training at Nowra, Jason returned to Ohakea and was posted to No. 75 Squadron RNZAF, again flying Skyhawks. In 1996 Jason was selected for an exchange posting to the RAF which saw him undergo an eight week course at RAF Valley on BAe Hawks, before joining No. 6 Squadron RAF, flying Sepecat Jaguars. On returning to the RNZAF, Jason returned did an instructor’s course at the Central Flying School at Ohakea, and then returned to Nowra as an instructor. During this time he narrowly escaped death when practicing an aerobatic manoeuvre that killed his CO, Squadron Leader Murray Neilson, who he was paired up with at the time. Jason was promoted to lead the squadron as a result, but shortly afterwards the unit was wound down due to the Air Combat Wing disbandment. After deliberation, Jason decided to leave the RNZAF and to join the Royal Australian Air Force. He spent time instructing on the BAe Hawk there and then converted onto the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. This would become the aircraft that he has spent most of his RAAF career flying, serving on four Hornet units over time, and becoming the Chief of Staff for fighter operations in the RAAF. He was commander when the Hornets retired in 2021. Jason then moved into his current role, as Commanding Officer of No. 100 Squadron RAAF. This is the RAAF’s Heritage Aircraft Fleet, which flies and displays an array of WWII and postwar trainers, fighters and bombers, with bases at RAAF Point Cook, and at Temora. Quick Links: • The Royal New Zealand Air Force • The Royal Australian Air Force • No. 100 Squadron RAAF • Temora Aviation Museum’s Facebook Page Above: Group Captain Jason Easthope in 2021 on the day the RAAF Hornets retired. Photo cropped from a shot in the Port Stephen Examiner. Above: Easty preparing to fly No. 100 Squadron RAAF’s Mustang at Temora in May 2023. Photo Colin Ford. Above: Easty taxiing out in the RAAF’s Mustang at Temora in May 2023. Photo Colin Ford. The following photos have been kindly supplied by Don Simms. Coverage of Air Combat Wing final Day. Sqn Ldr Easthope 75 Sqn Ops room. Coverage of Air Combat Wing final Day. Sqn Ldr Easthope, 75 Sqn flight briefing. Coverage of Air Combat Wing final Day. 75 Sqn Last Flight, Sqn Ldr Easthope flies by low and fast. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest:  Bevan Dewes Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 27th of April 2023 Duration: 1 hour 13 minutes, 54 seconds In this episode we welcome back Bevan Dewes to the WONZ Show to discuss the restoration and return to flight of his award winning North American Aviation Harvard Mk. IIA NZ1044, aka ZK-OTU. Bevan purchased the aircraft in February 2020, and transported it to Wanaka where he restored it with the assistance of Callum Smith and the team at Twenty24, a restoration shop at Wanaka Airport, and the engine and propeller were overhauled by Aero Technology Ltd. at Ardmore. The restoration process was more drawn out than hoped due to various Covid lockdowns and the dreadful effect the virus rules had on the supply chain for parts from overseas. The Harvard was returned to its meticulously researched own wartime colour scheme that it wore in 1944-45 at No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit (2OTU) at RNZAF Station Ohakea. At that unit newly trained pilots would learn the business of becoming fighter pilots in Harvards and P-40 Kittyhawks and Warhawks. Many dozens, perhaps hundreds, of young pilots flew NZ1044 and trained up at 2OTU before heading to a fighter squadron on P-40s, or from May 1944 onwards, Corsairs. Many of them went on to make names for themselves, and some returned to 2OTU as instructors. So a long list of interesting pilots flew NZ1044 during the war between 1943 and 1945. After the war the Harvard spent several years in storage as a reserve aircraft, but then returned to service in 1954, flying with the RNZAF Station Wigram pool of Harvards used by the No. 1 Flying Training School, and the Central Flying School. In 1958 NZ1044 became the first Mk. II Harvard to undergo the upgrade programme to Harvard Mk. IIA*, but on completion of this it went back into storage, and remained there. The Harvard was eventually sold by the Air Force to National Airways Corporation and became an instructional airframe at their apprentice school. It passed into the hands of Air New Zealand when NAC was merged into that airline. And then the airline sold it off in 1990. It remained stored near Rolleston for over a decade and then was sold to a group of enthusiasts who moved it to Ashburton, but it sat there in the back of a hangar untouched till 2020 when Bevan purchased it. NZ1044 returned to the air for the first time in almost 65 years on the 10th of March 2023. Since then Bevan debuted it at the Yealands Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka, Blenheim, where he wowed the crowd with a new pairs display act that he and Pete McCombe have been working up over the past few years. With Bevan in NZ1044 and Pete in Harvard NZ1066, the pair put on a beautiful paired aerobatic display on the Friday night. Bevan also flew NZ1044 again on the Saturday and Sunday, now with the bomb racks, practice bombs and the aircraft’s original two machine guns fitted. He led a tight formation in a flat display with Mark O’Sullivan in his lovely ex-South African Air Force Harvard, ZK-XSA, and then Mark did a solo aerobatic display. While parked up on the flightline Bevan also added a pair of replica 250lb bombs to the racks, to add to the visual impact of the already impressive warbird. At the grand dinner on the Sunday night when the awards were being handed out, Bevan was presented the Grand Warbird Champion trophy, much deserved as one of the most talked about aircraft debuting at the show, and recognising both his restoration of the aircraft back to flight, and his lovely presentation of the aircraft in the flying displays. On the early morning of the 25th of April 2023, Bevan also took to the air to fly NZ1044 over his hometown Cenotaph at Masterton for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service flypast. Bevan plans to offer rides in the Harvard very soon through a new warbird and classic aircraft ride company he and his fiancé Lucy Newell have created, Legend Aviation. So watch this space. Quick Links: • Legend Aviation (coming soon!) • Twenty24 Ltd., Wanaka • Heli Support New Zealand Limited (who painted NZ1044) • Aqua Max (who paint stripped NZ1044) • SAB Avionics (who did the avionics work on NZ1044) • Aero-Technologies (who overhauled NZ1044’s engine) • Fieldair (who were involved in NZ1044’s engine overhaul) • Airbus (who were involved in NZ1044’s propeller overhaul) • Air Force Museum of New Zealand (who helped with NZ1044’s paint scheme and colour matching) Above: Harvard NZ1044 with the Classic Fighters Grand Warbird Champion trophy on its wing. (Photo Bevan Dewes.) Above: One of the photos found by Dave Homewood in the accident report file for NZ1044 when it struck a wire, and nearly hit a hillside, just five days after it entered service with No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit. Note the gunner’s canopy, which inspired Bevan to refit that style of canopy to NZ1044. (Photo Dave Homewood, or am RNZAF Official print). Line up of six Harvards of No. 2 (Fig

Guest: Gavin Conroy Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 2nd of April 2023 Duration: 40 minutes, 32 seconds The Yealands Classic Fighters 2023 Airshow kicks off this week on Good Friday at Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim. In this episode Dave Homewood talks with the Airshow Director, Gavin Conroy. Gavin gives a preview of what to expect at the show, and he runs through the new aeroplanes and acts that people can expect to see there, from Harvard NZ1044, the Lockheed Electra Junior, five Wacos together in the air to the Bristol Fighter replica. He also talks about some of the old favourites that are returning, including the RNZAF Black Falcons display team, the Mk. XIVe Spitfire and Focke Wulf 190 replica, the two Yak 3’s. and the V-2 rocket! Quick Links: • Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow 2023 • Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka on Facebook Above: Gavin Conroy (Classic Fighters Airshow Director)

Guest:  James Kightly Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 12th of February 2023 Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes, seconds James Kightly of Australia joins Dave via Zoom to discuss the plans for the upcoming Wings Over Britain tour that Dave is undertaking later this year in late June and through July 2023. They discuss some of the places that Dave hopes to visit and the stories that will be recorded for the upcoming WONZ Show sub-series “Wings Over Britain”. They also look back and reminisce about the similar sub-series that Dave and James recorded in November 2015, “Wings Over Australia”, and highlight some of the episodes recorded in that series that people can still access and listen to. James also announces his new role with Vintage Aviation News, and how they will be supporting Wings Over Britain with promotional updates as the tour progresses and the episodes roll out. Thanks for the support Vintage Aviation News! Above: Dave Homewood and James Kightly with Bill Reid’s Avro Anson at Omaka during Yealands Classic Fighters Airshow weekend in 2019. Photo by Bev Laing. The Wings Over Britain Facebook Page Wings Over Britain Givealittle Fundraiser Aviation Tours NZ The New Zealand Bomber Command Association The Hauraki Brewing Company Vintage Aviation News The Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum Aviation Xtended Podcast Plane Crazy Down Under Podcast ———————————————————— Wings Over Australia Episodes Specifically Mentioned: Episode 90 – Keith Webb Episode 121 – Jamie Croker Episode 127 – Terry Hetherington of the Fleet Air Arm Museum of Australia Episode 116 – Andy Bishop at the Temora Aviation Museum Episode 103 – Matt Henderson Episode 94 – The Australian National Aviation Museum at Moorabbin Episode 125 – The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) All the Wings Over Australia Episodes ——————————————————- A few photos from the Wings Over Australia series Dave Homewood, right, recording with Terry Hetherington of the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra, NSW. (James Kightly photo) Dave recording with Andy Bishop at Temora Aviation Museum (James Kightly) Dave hearing the story of the Fokker Trimotor “Southern Cross” replica restoration from Jim Thurston at HARS. (James KIghtly) Dave and James at the end of the whirlwind tour around aviation museums and sites around Victoria, ACT and NSW, that resulted in the Wings Over Australia sub-series. (Bev Laing)

Guest: Captain Walter Steward (retired), RNZA, Air OP pilot, known as Wally. Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 18th of October 2022 Released:  27th of January2023 Duration: 1 hour 47 minutes 46 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood speaks via Zoom with Captain Wally Steward, who was an officer with the Royal New Zealand Artillery, in the New Zealand. He was selected to train as a pilot with the RNZAF, to become an Air Observation Post pilot for artillery spotting. Training on North American Harvards up to the stage where he gained his pilot’s brevet, he then progressed onto the Auster J5. He worked as both an artillery officer on the ground and a pilot for a while, before he and fellow Army pilot Roger Pearce were selected to train as helicopter pilots, under the instruction of John Reid of Helicopters (N.Z.) Ltd. Once they were proficient flying helicopters, Wally and Roger were sent to Malayan Borneo in 1964 where they were supposed to fly helicopters with the British Army. But on arrival they found their helicopters were not ready. So following a survival course in Singapore, they were posted to 7 Reconnaissance Flight, part of No. 656 Squadron, Army Air Corp, at Kuching, Malaya. They underwent their theatre familiarisation there and then they converted to the Auster AOP9. Once they were familiar with the Auster AOP9s, they got their assignments. Roger was posted to Sibu while Wally was sent on a detachment to Simanggang near Sarawak, where they had solo a Auster detachment. His Auster AOP9 was positioned there to support an infantry battalion whose role was defending the Sarawak area from incursions over the border from Indonesian soldiers. Eventually the Sioux helicopters were ready for them, so Wally and Roger refamiliarised themselves with helicopter flying, and they they formed an Air OP troop at a detached based outside of Kuching, with Roger in charge and Wally and another pilot flying three Sioux. They were supporting a British artillery regiment. After several months Wally was posted to Kalabakan, in the Sabah region, in the north of Borneo to take command of the air platoon of the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards, with two Sioux helicopters flying from a dirt strip. In January 1966, Wally was posted into Vietnam. He converted onto the Bell UH-1D Huey at Bien Hoa, and there he then joined A Company (“The Cowboys”) of the 82nd Aviation Battalion, in support of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade. Wally did a second Vietnam tour as a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) at Nui Dat with the First Australian Task Force, which included a New Zealand Rifle Company, 161 Battery RNZA, and a NZ SAS detachment. He served mainly during this tour with 3 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Wally later left the NZ Army and joined the Army Air Corps of the British Army, and served a further 20 years with that Army. Seven years of that was as a test pilot. Quick Links: • New Zealand Army Aviation Association History • Captain Walter Steward’s Vietnam Page • The No. 656 Squadron Association Borneo Confrontation History • 82nd Aviation Battalion, US Army Above: A British Army Bell 47G Sioux, as flown by Wally Steward in Malaya. (Photo from Peter Downie’s collection,) Above: Air to air view of Auster NZ1703 in flight. This is one of the Austers that Wally did his Army pilot training on at RNZAF Station Wigram. Air Force Museum of New Zealand AC14a. Above: Wally Steward during the Zoom call to record this episode.

Guests: Wing Commander Blair Oldershaw, No. 40 Squadron CommanderFlight Sergeant Dave Wood, Air Load Master InstructorFlight Sergeant Robyn Claffey, Flight Engineer InstructorWarrant Officer Darryn “Durry” Wells, Maintenance Warrant Officer Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 16th of November 2022 Released: 23rd of December 2022 Duration:  51 minutes 45 seconds In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood visits No. 40 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, at RNZAF Base Whenuapai. Dave sat down with the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Blair Oldershaw, aircrew members Flight Sergeant Dave Wood, (Air Load Master) and Flight Sergeant Robyn Claffey (Flight Engineer), and Maintenance Warrant Officer Darryn Wells from the squadron to talk about their experiences with the Lockheed C-130H Hercules as the sun sets on its very long RNZAF career. Entering service in 1965, the five Hercules will be replaced in 2023 after 57 years of sterling service. And they discuss the upcoming replacement aircraft, five new Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules. This discussion gives a great insight into the amazing work that the Hercules fleet has done over five and a half decades for New Zealand, and also looks forward to how the squadron will continue this work with their new aircraft. Dave Homewood wishes to thank all those who took part in the interview, and those behind the scenes that helped to make it happen, especially No. 40 Squadron Adjutant Squadron Leader Garrick Anderson, No. 40 Squadron Deputy Adjutant Marie Prime, No. 5 Squadron Adjutant Flight Lieutenant Mandy Ferguson, Simone Millar of the Defence Public Affairs department, and Peter and Karola Wheeler. Quick Links: • The Royal New Zealand Air Force website • The Royal New Zealand Air Force Facebook page • The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules page • An NZDF story on the C-130J-30 RNZAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules NZ7003 rotating on take-off. (NZDF Photo) An RNZAF C-130H Hercules aircraft flying with two U.S. Air Force MC-130J aircraft. (NZDF Photo) RNZAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules NZ7001 on the apron at Whenuapai. (NZDF Photo) Pilots wear night vision goggles to fly their C-130 Hercules at night. All instruments are lit with subtle green lights so as to not interfere with their sensitive goggles. A C-130 Hercules from 40 SQN is flying out of Base Woodbourne this week for Exercise Nocturnal Reach.  This exercise tests the crew’s proficiency in tactical flying, dropping loads and night flying with night vision goggles, so they’re ready to assist in resupply, humanitarian aid and disaster relief or search and rescue operations whenever required by the New Zealand Government. (NZDF Photo) Operation Fresco. No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003 on the tarmac with a New Zealand flag flying from the cockpit hatch. Believed to be at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Air Force Museum of New Zealand PD29-8-91 Three No. 40 Squadron Hercules aircraft at McMurdo airfield, Antarctica with Mt. Erebus behind. L-R: NZ7004, NZ7003, NZ7001. Air Force Museum of New Zealand MUS0701420 Air to air view of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7004 in flight over Auckland. Air Force Museum of New Zealand WhC55-71. Air to air front view of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7002 in flight over the Auckland waterfront and city. Air Force Museum of New Zealand Ak626-10-00 The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guests: Wing Commander Glen Donaldson, Commanding Officer of No. 5 SquadronFlight Sergeant Tony Strugnell, Flight EngineerSquadron Leader Paul Barrett, MFC, Flight Engineer, Engineer OfficerFlight Lieutenant Tom Peterson, PilotFlying Officer Holly Graham – Air Warfare OfficerCorporal Nikita Crookbain – Air Warfare Specialist Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 16th of November 2022 Released:  12th of December 2022 Duration: 1 hour 17 minutes 53 seconds In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood visits No. 5 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force at RNZAF Base Whenuapai. Dave sat down with a group of aircrew and engineers from the squadron to talk about their experiences with the Lockheed P-3K2 Orion as the sun sets on its very long RNZAF career. And they discuss the new Boeing P-8 Poseidon that is just entering service to replace the Orions. This discussion gives a great insight into the amazing work that the Orion has done over five and a half decades for New Zealand, and also looks forward to how the now Poseidon will fulfill the roles that the Orion spent so long doing, and what is to come for the new aircraft. This episode is being released on the very day that the first RNZAF Poseidon, NZ4801, arrived in New Zealand after the delivery ferry flight from the USA. Dave Homewood wishes to thank all those who took part in the interview, and those behind the scenes that helped to make it happen, especially No. 5 Squadron Adjutant Flight Lieutenant Mandy Ferguson, Simone Millar of the Defence Public Affairs department, and Peter and Karola Wheeler. Quick Links: • The Royal New Zealand Air Force website • The Royal New Zealand Air Force Facebook page • The No. 5 Squadron Association The episode participants in the squadron commander’s office where this episode was recorded. From left to right: Wing Commander Glen Donaldson, Flight Sergeant Tony Strugnell, Squadron Leader Paul Barrett, Flight Lieutenant Tom Peterson, Flying Officer Holly Graham and Corporal Nikita Crookbain. (Photo Dave Homewood) An RNZAF Lockheed P-3K2 Orion on the flightline at Whenuapai. (Photo Dave Homewood) Two of the three remaining P-3K2 Orions still in service, soon to be replaced by the P-8 Poseidon. (Photo Dave Homewood) Air to air view of No. 5 Squadron Orion NZ4201 in flight over the Auckland Harbour bridge. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo WgG1223-73 Air to air view of No. 5 Squadron Orion NZ4205 in flight over a ship in New Zealand territorial waters. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo Oh700-30-97_1_1 The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest: Brett Emeny Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 24th of November 2022 Released:  30th of November 2022 Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes 14 seconds November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore. In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with well known Warbirds pilot Brett Emeny. Coming from a family of pilots, his father Cliff flew in the Air Force during WWII as an Air Gunner, then a Navigator and then as a Pilot. Brett’s brothers are all in aviation, Craig owns Air Chathams, John is an ag pilot and Derek is aviation accident assessor. Brett’s daughter Fay Rice is also a pilot. Brett discusses his journey into aviation and the various Warbird aircraft he is involved with, from the Catalina ZK-PBY which he flies and maintains, to the Yak 52 team, to the T-28 Trojan, and most importantly for Vampire Month, his two-seat de Havilland DH115 Vampire Mk. 55, ZK-RVM. Note: Unfortunately the evening that we recorded this interview the Zoom connection was not quite as clear as it should have been, so apologies in advance for the audio quality. Quick Links: New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg WONZ 263: Vampire Month – Tommy Thompson WONZ 264: Vampire Month – Dave Greenlees WONZ 265: Vampire Month – Mayn Hawkins WONZ 266: Vampire Month – Jim Barclay The following photos have kindly been supplied by Gavin Conroy of Classic Aircraft Photography: Brett Emeny flying his stunning Vampire past Mount Taranaki. Catalina ZK-PBY The stunning Yak 52 team who wow audiences at airshows across New Zealand. The Yak 52 team members. Brett is standing second from left with his daughter Fay Rice far left. Brett in his Trojan 563 leading Peter Vause in his Trojan 973. Brett flies his Vampire alongside Peter Vause in his L-39 Albatross. Brett’s Cessna 320E Skyknight, as discussed. (Photo Dave Homewood) The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud.

Guest: Air Commodore James Barclay AFC, RNZAF (retired) Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 20th of September 2022 Released:  25th of November 2022 Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes 11 seconds November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore. In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with former RNZAF de Havilland Vampire pilot in 1969 to 1970, before progressing to the then-new McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawks. Jim shares some detailed memories of training on and flying the Vampire, and details its handling qualities and the weapons fits, etc. Jim also talks in detail about flying the Skyhawk, and the F-4 Phantom on a USAF exchange posting, as well as his time as Commanding Officer of No’s 14 and 75 Squadrons, the Skyhawk upgrades, the selection of the Aermacchi MB339CB, and his part in the negotiations to lease the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons. An Addendum: Jim says, “I listened to it all – a few mistakes: it was Exercise Golden Kiwi at Gisborne in 1969, not Kea Claw. It was Fred Myers not Fred Kinvig leading the Vampire flypast. I said Fred Myers first time but Fred Kinvig later! I mixed up Skyhawk for Vampire.” Quick Links: Jim Barclay’s Website New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg WONZ 263: Vampire Month – Tommy Thompson WONZ 264: Vampire Month – Dave Greenlees WONZ 265: Vampire Month – Mayn Hawkins Fg Off Jim Barclay kills a mouse in the cockpit of Vampire FB5 5772 – 13 Feb 70 – RNZAF photo G3-279 A blurry screencap of Jim during the Zoom interview in September 2022. 13th of April 1970 – Vampires – Stew Boys T11 NZ5708, Jim Jennings FB5 5776, Fred Myers 65, Jim Barclay 55 – Jim Barclay photo No. 75 Squadron Diamond Nine Flypast – Civic Ceremony Cook Bi-Centennial Gisborne – 9 Oct 69 – RNZAF photo G3-2402 Oct 69 The Cook Bi-Centenary Flypast – Gisborne 9 Oct 69 – RNZAF photo RNZAF Canberra B12 NZ6110 Gavin Trethewey & Mike Hill, Skyhawk A-4K 6201 Murray Abel, Vampire FB5 5772 Jim Barclay. RNZAF photo G3-3655 14 July 70 15th if December 1971 – No. 75 Squadron Flypast at RNZAF Base Woodbourne for Airman Cadets Graduation Parade – photo Peter A. Wise in Jim Barclay Collection Flt Lt Jim Barclay – Skyhawk A-4K NZ6205 – Ohakea – Larry Pfitzenmaier photo February 1980. Sqn Ldr Jim Barclay RNZAF – Exchange pilot with 309th TFS, USAF – Homestead AFB Florida – F-4E Phantom February 1980. Sqn Ldr Jim Barclay RNZAF – USAF F4E Phantom II – AF66-309 – 309thTactical Fighter Squadron, Homestead AFB, Florida Don Simms has kindly sent in these additional photos below: Jim’s No. 2 A-4 Skyhawk Course, No. 75 Squadron, Oct –Dec 1970. Left to right: Roger Henstock QFI, Peter Waller, Jim Barclay, Graham Jackson, Dave Bevan, Ken Gayfer QFI.  Visit by CAS RAF & CAS RNZAF to Ohakea for  Skyhawk ride  29  Jan 1985 – Wg Cdr John Lanham OC Strike Wing, Air Chief Marshal Williamson CAS RAF, AVM Dave Crooks CAS RNZAF, Wg Cdr Jim Barclay Co 75 Sqn – photo RNZAF Jim Barclay on the Skyhawk ladder on Exercise Vanguard in Malaysia in 1985. No. 75 Squadron personnel in February 1973. TRIAD 84 logo Cope Thunder 84 patch The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud.

Guest: Maynard Roger Hawkins, known as Mayn. Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 21st of July 2022 Released:  18th of November 2022 Duration: 1 hour minutes seconds November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore. In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with former RNZAF de Havilland Vampire pilot Mayn Hawkins. He was one of the RNZAF’s early jet pilots, flying the Vampire in New Zealand, Cyprus and Singapore. He also flew the de Havilland Venom at RAF Tengah in Singapore. Upon return to New Zealand he became an instructor, at No. 1 Flying Training School, and then the Central Flying School. He became the Commanding Officer of the latter unit, and was the most highly rated instructor in the RNZAF. He also flew in and later led the Central Flying School Harvard Aerobatic Team. Whilst a CFS instructor, Mayn flew a variety of types, such as the Harvard, Devon, Auster, Vampire, Canberra, etc., whilst ensuring standards were being maintained by units of the RNZAF. On his retirement from the RNZAF he went to TEAL, which later became Air New Zealand. He flew the Lockheed Electra, the Douglas DC-8, the McDonnel Douglas DC-10 and the 747. With his training background he became a training captain at the airline. Among other achievements in the airline, Mayn was pilot on the first Antarctic flight made by Air New Zealand in the DC-10. He then went to Singapore Airlines, where he finished his career before retirement. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud. Quick Links: New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg WONZ 246 – Great Escapes 1: Geoff Hubbard WONZ 263: Vampire Month – Tommy Thompson WONZ 264: Vampire Month – Dave Greenlees Jet pilots, with a Vampire as backdrop. Mayn is fifth from left. Mayn Hawkins during the interview. A newspaper cutting from Mayn’s logbook from the days when he first graduated as a pilot. Mayn leading the CFS Aerobatic Team, in a photo from his logbook.

Guest: Flight Lieutenant David James Greenlees 71637 (5 May 1929 – 13 August 2022) Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 21st of July 2022 Released:  11th of November 2022 Duration: 1 hour 38 minutes 40 seconds November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore. In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with former RNZAF de Havilland Vampire engine fitter Dave Greenlees who served with No. 14 Squadron on the Vampires in Cyprus, and then in Singapore. He ran the Flightline Office as a Corporal and then a Sergeant, looking after all aircraft dispatches and receipts, and making sure the Form 700s and other paperwork was filled in. He also worked on the de Havilland Venoms that replaced the squadron’s Vampires in Singapore. Following his overseas service, Dave returned to New Zealand and was posted to Wigram, where he was running the ground crew during night flying there at the Flying Training School. He had always hankered to fly however and when the opportunity came up he trained as a Flight Engineer. In that capacity he served as aircrew on the Short Sunderlands, and then the Douglas DC-6’s. He then went to the USA to become one of the first crew members onboard the then new Lockheed C-130H Hercules fleet when they were built. The Hercules was introduced to service in 1965. Following 23 years of RNZAF service he left the Air Force and joined Air New Zealand. He flew as a Flight Engineer on the airline in the Lockheed Electra, the Douglas DC-8, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and eventually the Boeing 747. He took early retirement at age 53. Dave passed away on the 13th of August 2022. Above: Dave Greenlees during the interview. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud. Quick Links: New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires WONZ 263: Vampire Month – Tommy Thompson The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg

Guest: Graham Edward “Tommy” Thompson Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 22nd of July 2022 Released:  4th of November 2022 Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes 44 seconds November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore. In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with former RNZAF de Havilland Vampire pilot “Tommy” Thompson. He was one of the original RNZAF Vampire pilots and was the first postwar-trained pilot to fly the type in New Zealand. Following his conversion training and operational work up at Ohakea, Tommy left with No. 14 Squadron as one of the first pilots to deploy to the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. He talks about life on the island, doing the Coronation tour of Africa in Operation Long Trek Two, exercises with other nations over Malta, etc. Tommy also talks about incidents in Africa, Cyprus and New Zealand, including his baling out of a Vampire following an aerial collision. Quick Links: New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg Above: Tommy Thompson in his Vampire FB.9 WR209 ‘Ground Hog’ in Cyprus. (G.E. Thompson’s Logbook) Above: Tommy Thompson during the recording. Above: Tommy Thompson on the day he was awarded his Wings pilot brevet, 29th of September 1950. (G.E. Thompson’s Logbook) The following photos come from Tommy Thompson’s personal collection: The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud.

Guest: Tracy Dixon, Ed Taylor, Gavin Conroy and Frank Parker Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 19th of October 2022 Released:  20th of October 2022 Duration: 53 minutes 56 seconds In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood chats with four of the key people behind New Zealand’s biggest airshows, Tracy Dixon (Wings Over Wairarapa), Ed Taylor (Warbirds Over Wanaka), Gavin Conroy (Yealands Classic Fighters) and Frank Parker (President of NZ Warbirds Association, and Warbirds On Parade). We hear a little about the journey each of them went through to get to the position they have within the airshow industry, and we discuss the challenges to airshows in recent years. With more optimism we look at the upcoming airshows this summer, with Warbirds On Parade on the 4th of December 2022 at Ardmore, Wings Over Wairarapa at Masterton over the 24th to 26th of February 2023, and Classic Fighters at Omaka over Easter weekend, 7th to 9th of April 2023. Quick Links: New Zealand Warbirds Association Inc. New Zealand Warbirds Association on Facebook Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival Website Wings Over Wairarapa on Facebook Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka Website Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka on Facebook Warbirds Over Wanaka Warbirds Over Wanaka on Facebook Above: NZ Warbirds President Frank Parker (Photo Geoff Soper). Above: Gavin Conroy, of Yealands Classic Fighters airshow. Above: Tracy Dixon, of Wings Over Wairarapa. Above: Ed Taylor of Warbirds Over Wanaka. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest: David Fairhead Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 29th of August 2022 Released:  30th of August 2022 Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes 30 seconds In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood chats with British filmmaker David Fairhead, who was the director, producer, editor and main interviewer behind the new feature film ‘Lancaster’ which opens in selected New Zealand cinemas on the 1st of September 2022. David and his fellow director/producer Anthony Palmer have followed up their brilliant 2018 film ‘Spitfire’ with this equally beautiful and enthralling documentary looking at the greatest four-engined bomber aircraft of World War Two, the Avro Lancaster. The story of the aircraft, the roles and operations if flew on, the people who flew them and the groundcrew are told through interviews with 38 veterans connected with the type. These include men from across the British Empire who were attached to the RAF, and among them we see New Zealand’s own bomber hero, the late Ron Mayhill DFC. David is a lifelong aviation enthusiast, and has worked in the television and film industry for for thirty years, including working on many of Britain’s best space documentaries. He talks passionately about the Lancaster, the Spitfire and the subject of his next project, the Mosquito. And David reveals lots of fascinating stories from behind the scenes of the making of ‘Lancaster’. Above: David Fairhead. Above: Directors and Producers in front of Lancaster NX611 “Just Jane”. Left to Right: David Fairhead, Anthony Palmer, Trevor Beattie, Steve Milne, Keith Havilland, and Jeremy Chatterton. Picture: Andy Jones. Above: Anthony Palmer. Above: David Fairhead and Ant Palmer discuss a shot at the Green Park Memorial. Picture by Andy Jones. Above: Chris Roe in discussion with Choir Master Stephen Petch. Picture by Andy Jones. Above: The Rushmoor Male Voice Choir warm up in Q121. Picture by Andy Jones. Above: The Rushmoor Male Voice Choir in the wind tunnel. Picture by Andy Jones. To see ‘Lancaster’ in New Zealand, here is the list of cinemas that will be screening this amazing film: Below is the film trailer: Thanks to: Jessica Keast of Trigger Marketing for suggesting this interview and setting it up. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest: David Stanley Cohu (8 June 1924 – 17 July 2018) Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 29th of October 2015 Released: 17th of July 2022 Duration: 2 hour 14 minutes 18 seconds In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood pulled an older interview from his archive that he recorded in 2015 with former pilot, the now late Dave Cohu. Dave Cohu became a fighter pilot during WWII, training on Tiger Moths, Harvards, P-40’s and eventually posted to No. 17 Squadron on Corsairs in 1944. He served in the Pacific, based at Torokina in Bougainville on his first tour, and then Green Island on his second tour, and his last wartime tour was at Los Negros. After the war he took a break from the Air Force and grew strawberries, but he returned in 1947, and he was posted to Japan to fly Corsairs on No. 14 (Occupational) Squadron’s last tour there. On returning to New Zealand he flew Airspeed Oxfords with No 14 Squadron, and one job he got was aerial photography work all round the country, with navigator Colin Hanson. He was then posted to No. 75 Squadron, where he flew de Havilland Mosquitoes, including to Fiji. With his time up in the RNZAF, Dave then took a job as a topdressing pilot. He would go onto to become one of New Zealand’s most notable topdressing pilots with a career that spanned four decades. He flew Tiger Moths, Cessna 180’s, Fletchers, Beavers, Airtruks, Agwagons and Snows over his career, and had a few accidents and incidents along the way. Dave passed away on the 17th of July 2018. Above: Dave Cohu as a trainee pilot in the RNZAF during 1943, a crop from the photo below. Group. Pilots course 46B, No. 2 Service Flying Training School, RNZAF Station Woodbourne. L-R: Back; Allan, Bennett, Boddy, Burns, Carnachan, Codlin, Cohu, Coleman, Dodgahun, Ferrick. Middle; Harper, Heslop, Hughes, Hulme, Long, Looker, Mair, O’Donovan, Reid, Robertson. Front; Robinson, Roderick, Sargent, Shaw, Stougie, Symons, Tirikatene, Urwin, Walker, Walsh.Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photo – WbG1713-43 Above: A photo from the 2016 No. 75 Squadron Reunion. Left at the table in the foreground is Dave Cohu, centre is his good mate Rod Dahlberg, and right is fellow Mosquito pilot Dave Phillips. (Photo Dave Homewood) Above: Dave Cohu, right, and Rod Dahlberg at the 2016 No. 75 Squadron Reunion. (Photo Dave Homewood)

Guest: Squadron Leader Larry Olsen AFC Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 12th of May 2022 Released:  15th of May 2022 Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes 17 seconds Today as this episode is released it is exactly 50 years to the day since the first flight of the first Royal New Zealand Air Force BAC167 Strikemaster Mk. 88, NZ6361. It took off from Warton Aerodrome, at Preston in Lancashire, UK, on its test flight on the 15th of May 1972. It had been built to order by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) following an order placed in 1970 by the New Zealand government for ten new Strikemaster. An order for a further six would follow a couple of years later. Given the anniversary and the recent episodes involving the Strikemaster, I thought it would be good to look back at how this jet type ended up being chosen as the new jet trainer for the RNZAF. In this episode we hear from the pilot in charge of undertaking the evaluation process and who made the recommendation for it to be selected for purchase, Squadron Leader Larry Olsen. As well as Larry’s memories of the Strikemaster evaluation, where its only competitor in the process was the Australian-built, Italian-designed Aermacchi MB326, he also talks about his interesting career in both the RNZAF and the airline industry. In the course of his Air Force career various postings saw Larry flying the English Electric Canberra, the de Havilland Vampire, the BAC Strikemaster, the North American Harvard, and the de Havilland Devon among other types. He also did an exchange posting to the RAAF where he instructed on the Aermacchi MB326. Larry also flew in and led both the No. 75 Squadron Vampire jet team and the Red Checkers Harvard display team. He talks about these and various incidents along the way. On leaving the Air Force, Larry worked for numerous commercial aviation companies, including flying for Royal Brunei, and Qantas. He gives an overview of his civil career which lasted till he was 70. Squadron Leader Larry Olsen AFC (retired). Photo Dave Homewood. Portrait of Squadron Leader Larry Alexander Olsen AFC. RNZAF Base Ohakea. 05/05/1976. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhG4148-76. Strikemasters on the production line at British Aircraft Corporation, England. XW434 (back) and G27-197 – later NZ6361 (front). Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo MUS140127. Air to air view of two No. 14 Squadron Strikemasters, NZ6361 and NZ6365 (obscured), in formation during Exercise Falcons Roost 15 at Hokitika airport. 23/04/1982. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhAC130s-15. Air to air view of two No. 14 Squadron Strikemasters in formation. NZ6375 (front) and NZ6371 (back). 06/11/1989. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo OhG2613-89. A photo in Larry’s scrapbook from when he led the Red Checkers display team. Left to right are Doug Lloyd, John Hosie, Larry Olsen, Graeme Goldsmith and John Lanham. Damage to the three Harvards inflicted during the mid-air collision. A photo on Larry’s office wall of the RNZAF Vampire jet team he was part of during the opening of Hamilton Airport on the26th of March 1966. He had learned to fly at the same airport in the late 1950’s. The page from Larry’s flying logbook in July 1970 where he evaluated the Strikemaster in Singapore and then an Aermacchi a few days later. Above and below: Royal Australian Air Force Aermacchi MB326 A7-094, in which Larry made a wheels up landing. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guest: Sean Singleton-Turner Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 20th of April 2022 Released:  22nd of April 2022 Duration: 41 minutes 19 seconds This episode is the fifth in a series called “Great Escapes”, covering stories of RNZAF ejections from aircraft that have saved lives in emergency situations. In this episode we hear from Sean Singleton-Turner about his ejection from RNZAF BAC167 Strikemaster Mk. 88, NZ6368, on the 27th of October 1992. Sean was a Royal Australian Air Force Pilot, flying with the RNZAF on an exchange posting to No. 14 Squadron RNZAF. The squadron was based at RNZAF Base Ohakea, and Sean was actively involved with converting instructors and other pilots from the Strikemaster to the Aermacchi MB339CB Macchi, plus training cadet pilots on the first ever Macchi course. He also was still occasionally flying the Strikemaster, and it was in his role as the squadron’s Maintenance Test Pilot that he was flying NZ6368 that fateful day when he was unable to recover the jet from a spin. The music used in this episode is Hazy After Hours, from Mixkit Quick Links: • Great Escapes 1 – Geoff Hubbard • Great Escapes 2 – Pete Lindsay • Great Escapes 3 – Phil Barnes • Great Escapes 4 – Safety And Surface Above: A framed before and after photo of Strikemaster NZ6368 that was presented to F/Lt Sean Singleton-Turner by the RNZAF Base Ohakea Photographic Section after his ejection. (Sean Singleton Turner photo) Above: Jim Rankin, left, and Sean Singleton-Turner, right, in 1992 at the completion of their Aermacchi conversion course. just months before the ejection occurred. (Sean Singleton Turner photo) Above: A screenshot of Sean during the interview in April 2022. The aircraft that was destroyed in the incident. Ground crew washing down No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6368 during Exercise Falcon’s Roost 13 at Kaikohe airfield. 13/12/1981. (Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photo) A comparison of the two jets that Sean was flying on the squadron. Air to air view of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6370 in formation with Aermacchi NZ6463 prior to the retirement of the Strikemaster in RNZAF Service. Flying from RNZAF Base Ohakea. 19/11/1992. (Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photo) View of the wreckage of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6368, flown by Flight Lieutenant Sean Singleton-Turner, RAAF, which crashed on 27 October near Pahiatua, after failing to recover from an intentional spin. 28/10/1992, The pilot ejected safely. (Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photo)

Guest: Squadron Leader Michael Williams Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 7th of April 2022 Released: 7th of April 2022 Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes 36 seconds The Air Force Heritage Flight is the newest unit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and in this episode we hear from its Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Mike Williams. The Ohakea-based unit consists of a mix of the RNZAF’s current Beechcraft Texan II training aircraft and a variety of WWII warbirds. They have worked up a display team routine for airshows, and also will be making special flypasts around New Zealand. This unit replaces the now defunct RNZAF Historic Flight, and takes the goals of that previous unit to the next level. As well as a way to engage today’s younger airmen and airwomen with their service’s heritage, the Flight will also be showing the flag to the public, and hoping to inspire the next generation of RNZAF aviators and engineers. The AFHF’s first major event happened just a few days ago when the four-ship formation of the Spitfire, Avenger and two Texans flew from Ohakea to Christchurch and back again, flying over as many towns and communities along the way as possible so that people could see them. It was a huge success with a massive engagement from the public who turned out to watch, wave, photograph and video the AFHF flying over. Their next big outing will be in two days’ time on Saturday the 9th of April 2022, when they fly north from Ohakea to Whenuapai over loads of cities, towns and communities along the way, and then back again on a different route. For details see here: Mike also talks about his own career in the RNZAF, what is happening with some of the aircraft that were with the old Historic Flight, and also he goes into scary detail of his major engine failure and belly landing in Harvard NZ1015, which was the catalyst for the change of direction to create this new unit. Quick Links: • The Air Force Heritage Flight Facebook Page • The Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre, RNZAF Ohakea Video Version: The Air Force Heritage Flight formating over the Manawatu. Closest to the camera is SQN LDR Sean Perrett in the Biggin Hill Trust’s Supermarine Spitfire IX PV202; then SQN LDR Paul Stockley and SQN LDR Stu Anderson in the RNZAF Beechcraft Texan II’s NZ1407 and NZ1409; with SQN LDR Jim Rankin in the Biggin Hill Trust’s Grumman Avenger NZ2518, known as “Plonky”. The Flight Commander, SQN LDR Mike Williams was flying the Harvard NZ1076 as the camera ship, and the photographer was Gavin Conroy who gave his permission for this photo to appear here. SQN LDR Michael Williams in the RNZAF’s Harvard NZ1015 Mike flying Brett Nicholls’ Harvard NZ1065 (Photo Gavin Conroy) Mike in the Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk ZK-CAG, when he gained a rating in it with Frank Parker and Liz Needham. Mike with Harvard NZ1015 when he took it to Warbirds Over Wanaka in 2018. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guests: Don Simms Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 20th of February 2022 Released:  2nd of April 2022 Duration: 1 hour 23 minutes 52 seconds Don Simms, who has appeared on the show several times, has had a fascination with the 1982 Falklands War since he was a teenager when the war erupted. And he is particularly interested in the Falklands Air War. He has read every book he can find on the subject, and has a vast knowledge of the conflict. In this episode he presents a talk that he gives on the Falklands Air War, especially recorded and released here to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War (2nd of April 1982 to 14th of June 1982). This is a video episode as Don uses photos and maps, etc, to tell the story. Don served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1986 till 2001, as an Avionics Technician. He served with No. 3 Squadron RNZAF working with Iroquois and Sioux helicopters at Hobsonville, and most of his career was spent at Ohakea working on the Skyhawks of No’s 2 and 75 Squadrons, and the Avionics Squadron. He also served at RAN Base Nowra in NSW, Australia, with No. 2 Squadron. He co-wrote the book “Skyhawks: The History of the RNZAF Skyhawks” which was published in 2011. Here is the WONZ 256 Video Episode A Sea Harrier victory over an Argentine Skyhawk Argentinian aircraft An Argentinian Skyhawk Homecoming! Don Simms, with a nice trout

Guest: Cris George Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 2nd of March 2022 Released:  11th of March 2022 Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes 51 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood talks with former Naval Aviator Cris George. Cris served in the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1966 till 1978. During that time he attended 771 Wings course at Wigram, and then headed to Britain for his first tour with Commando Squadrons in the Royal Navy, flying Westland Wessex helicopters. Upon return to New Zealand he converted to the Westland Wasp, and went on to serve aboard HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Waikato. He then crossed the Tasman in 1978 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm, predominantly flying their Squirrel helicopters actively till around 1991, and in other roles until retirement in 2008. Cris recalls the Wasp very fondly. “Not so much because it was a really nice aircraft to fly-which it was,” he says, “but mostly because of the job it did integrated with its parent ship performing for that time an important operational task day and night in most weathers. And that was along with being maid of all work, fetching the mail and flying the occasional Medivac own ship and others for treatment, etc. For a young  aviator on his second tour and as the sole aircrew (for that time) on the scene with a small team highly regarded and trusted RNZAF maintainers each a master of his trade overseen by a Senior Flight Sergeant, it was a mighty job.” In the episode Cris gives a fascinating insight into his flying with the Royal Navy, the RAN, and particularly about his time on the ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Note: As promised during the chat, Cris followed up with these figures: “HMS Hermes complement was 2100. The rule of thumb re size of a Commando was approximately 500. This figure would vary depending on role and the environment but that was the rough planning number.” Wasp NZ3901 on the flight deck of HMNZS Waikato, preparing to take off. Cris George during his Royal Australian Navy career. (Cris George photo) A Wasp hovering over the flight deck of HMNZS Canterbury, winching a man from the deck.Air Force Museum of New Zealand M-W4 Flight Deck Officer on board HMNZS Canterbury waving a Wasp in to land.Air Force Museum of New Zealand M-W6 Air to air view of Wasp NZ3902 in flight over Devonport Naval Base.Air Force Museum of New Zealand WhC102-86 Cris says: ” I remembered that I had an NZ Wings magazine of 1977 which had an article about the Westland Wasp HAS Mk1. I have found it and thought you might be interested. It was written by self and FSGT Dick London who the was Senior NCO I/C with considerable experience of several RNZN Wasp Flights. Please remember that it was written 45 years ago. And that I have learnt a bit since then..” Cris says, “Hopefully this link will give you an idea about RAST. The thumbnail shows the CH 148 during a severe roll. You can see the starboard main wheel has lifted clear of the deck. The chain lashings are slack and therefore unloaded. So the aircraft is secured by its RAST probe. The rails embedded in the flight-deck are there to guide the aircraft into the hangar without it striking ship’s structure.” https://www.cw-ems.com/indal/products/helicopter-securing-and-traversing/rast/default.aspx “And a little overly  dramatic demo of probe and grid.” https://www.military.com/video/aircraft/helicopters/helicopter-landing-in-rough-seas/949128900001 And lastly, here are the 1917 orders from HMS Repulse as Cris discussed. The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Guests: Alan Thoresen and Owen ‘OJ’ Jones Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 27th of February 2022 Released:  3rd of March 2022 Duration: 1 hour 7 minutes 54 seconds In this episode, to mark 50 years since the first flight, Dave Homewood talks with Alan Thoresen and Owen Jones about their memories of working on the team the built the original AESL CT/4 Airtrainer Prototype ZK-DGY. The Airtrainer prototype was designed and built by Aero Engine Services Ltd (AESL) at Hamilton Airport, New Zealand, utilising some components from the previously constructed Victa CT/2 Aircruiser, but with much new design of the structure to bring the aircraft up to fully aerobatic military standard. The design team was led by Pat Monk, and the result was a brilliant military trainer that served with several of the world’s Air Forces. It first flew on the 23rd of February 1972. The Airtrainer went into production in 1973 after a new company, New Zealand Aerospace Industries (NZAI), was formed from the merger of AESL and Air Parts (NZ) Ltd., to create a production line. The aircraft went on to serve with the Royal Thai Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Royal Thai Police, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, the Singapore Youth Flying Club, Ansett and BAE Systems. The guys talk about subsequent design developments, and interesting flights. The CT/2Aircruiser and the Airtourer line also get coverage. Many also remain flying in private hands in Australia and New Zealand,including the prototype itself, ZK-DGY, which is owned and flown by a New Zealand Warbirds Association syndicate, and based at Ardmore, Auckland, New Zealand. Above: Owen Jones, left, and Alan Thoresen, right. CT/4 Prototype ZK-DGY now with NZ Warbirds Association ZK-DGY at NZ Warbirds Quick Links: Previous WONZ Shows with Airtrainer Content• WONZ 103 – Matt Henderson and the Airtrainer • WONZ 105 – Murray Wallace • WONZ 201 – John Hansen • Pacific Aerospace’s Page on the CT/4 Airtrainer • Dave Homewood’s November 2015 flight in Matt Henderson’s Airtrainer • The NZAI Airtrainer Brochure (as referred to in the episode) Thanks To: Bruce Cooke and Evan Yates for their assistance with this episode The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud