The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Host: Dave Homewood Guest: Les Marshall Duration: 1 hour 00 minutes 12 seconds Topic: Les Marshall continues his story and talks about his time as a topdressing Douglas C-47 Dakota (DC-3) pilot with James Aviation Ltd. He also recalls several interesting and a few scary incidents from his long topdressing career. Many thanks to Paul McSweeny and Steve Cox of Pioneer Aero Restorations Ltd for setting up this interview with Les, and for providing a great list of topics for discussion that they recalled from many years of hearing Les’s tales over smoko. By the way the small music is Magic Ghost from Danosongs

Host: Dave Homewood Guest: Les Marshall Duration: 49 minutes 19 seconds Topic: Les Marshall very kindly sat down with Dave Homewood for a couple of hours in the Pioneer Aero Ltd hangar at Ardmore to talk about his long and interesting career in aviation. He talks about his dicovery of aviation in 1945 as a six or seven year old, and his time in the Royal New Zealand Air Force under Compulsory Military Training. He recalls learning to fly at the Waikato Aero Club, Rukuhia, and towing gliders as well as gliding at the Piako Glider Club, Waharoa. He then joined Wanganui Aero Works as a topdressing pilot flying a Piper Cub. Les moved from there into a job with Rural Aviation based at Feilding, flying Cessna C180’s. Next he took a job flying Fletchers with Robertson’s Air Service at Rukuhia, Hamilton. This was followed by a move to Gary Toulson’s Adastra Aviation, also based at Hamilton. When Adastra was bought up by and absorbed into James Aviation Ltd, Les ended up with that well known company. Many thanks to Paul McSweeny and Steve Cox of Pioneer Aero Restorations Ltd for setting up this interview with Les, and for providing a great list of topics for discussion that they recalled from many years of hearing Les’s tales over smoko. By the way the small music is Magic Ghost from Danosongs

Host: Dave Homewood Guest: Noel Kruse Duration: 1 hour 00 minutes 17 seconds Topic: In this episode Cambridge-based pilot Noel Kruse discusses his Ryan STM-S2 which he recently completed a 33-year long restoration on, back to flying condition. Noel test flew his Ryan, which is known as “Charlie”, on the 16th of September 2013. “Charlie” is a very rare survivor of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Navy, and the Royal Australian Air Force in WWII. Noel talks about how the Ryan STM as a type captivated him as a child, and how it became one of his favourite aircraft types. And he tells of the process of finding, buying and restoring the aircraft back to flying condition. By the way the small music is Magic Ghost from Danosongs

Host: Dave Homewood Guest: Richard Small Duration: 1 hour 13 minutes 15 seconds Topic: Richard is the CEO of Waikato Aero Club, based at Hamilton Airport. He’s also the President of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club (also known as Flying NZ). In this episode he talks about his own flying experiences, his roles in these two clubs, and what’s happening these days at the WAC and within the RNZAC organisation. He discusses the challenges that recreational pilots are currently facing, and how the RNZAC is there to support pilots and their aero clubs around New Zealand. Quick Links: • The Waikato Aero Club • The Royal New Zealand Aero Club (Flying NZ) By the way the small music is Magic Ghost from Danosongs

Host: Dave Homewood Guests: Peter McQuarters (aka Peter Mac) and Jason McQuarters (aka Jason Mac) Duration: 1 hour, 6 minutes 18 seconds Released: 20th of July 2013 Topic: In this episode Dave chats with father and son, Peter and Jason McQuarters. Peter has been involved with aviation preservation since he was a teenager, when he founded the group the became the now very popular Ashburton Aviation Museum. He and son Jase tell us about how the museum developed, and how Pete’s own classic aircraft collection has developed over the years. We also hear about their airshow commentary duties, and Jase talks about his flying training and his progress towards flying heavy metal warbirds.

Episode Forty Four – Skyhawk Pilot Barry “Patch” Nelson Host: Dave Homewood Guests: Barry “Patch” Nelson Duration: 40 minutes, 16 seconds Topic: Dave talks with Wing Commander Barry “Patch” Nelson, who flew the McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk with the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1987 through till 1997. During that time he served with both No. 2 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron, and he flew as No. 2 in the premier Skyhawk aerobatic display team Kiwi Red. he also went on numerous overseas exercises with No. 75 Squadron, and he remembers the famous jet fighter very fondly. In April 2013 Patch was a guest of honour at the Fun & Sun Airshow at Lakeland, Florida, in the USA, where Draken International – who now operate ex-RNZAF Skyhawks and Aermacchis – hosted a special tribute day to the RNZAF. In this interview Patch looks back on his Skyhawk days and reports on the event in the USA that has marked a new lease of life for the jets. By the way the small music clip is Magic Ghost from Danosongs

Host: Dave Homewood Guest: Noel Kruse Duration: 1 hour, 17 minutes, 06 seconds Topic: Noel Kruse continues his story as a fighter pilot, now flying the CAC Avon Sabre Mk. 32 jets with No. 3 Squadron RAAF and No. 77 Squadron RAAF at RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia during the Indonesian Confrontation conflict.

Guest: Noel Kruse Host: Dave Homewood Duration: 36 minutes Recorded: 15th of February 2013 Topic:. Dave Homewood talks with pilot and author Noel Kruse in the first of a series of episodes covering Noel’s more than 51 years in aviation in Australia and New Zealand. In this episode Noel talks about his earliest involvement in aviation from the age of 10, and working for the Royal Victorian Aero Club in Melbourne from age 16, where he learned to fly in de Havilland Chipmunks. Links: • Noel Kruse’s Fly Better Website • Noel Kruse’s Fly Better Facebook Page • The Royal Victorian Aero Club, Melbourne

Guests: Bill Reid, Robin Reid Host: Dave Homewood Duration: 20 minutes, 15 seconds Recorded: 19th of January 2013 Topic:. Dave Homewood recorded a full engine run of the Reid family’s Avro Anson Mk. 1 from inside the cabin, whilst at the Wings Over Wairarapa 2013 Airshow. This short special should hopefully share with listeners a little of the experience being inside this wonderful old 1930’s bomber when it was brought to life with both Cheetah engines running up to take off power. Many thanks to Bill and Robyn Reid who invited Dave into the aircraft for this experience, and for allowing the recording to become a WONZ Show Special.

Episode Twenty Seven – Forum Meet at Don Subritzky’s Collection, 30th of September 2012 Guests: Gordon Glynn, Bob De La Hunty, John Beeching, Murray Lane, James Kightly and special guest Jerry Yagen Host: Dave Homewood Duration: 47 minutes, 30 seconds (Recorded 30th September 2012) Topic:. This recording includes most of the guest speakers who spoke at the Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum gathering at Don Subritzky’s hangars, Dairy Flat. Whilst meeting other members among the many historic and often unique aeroplanes, forum members heard talks from John Parker of the Australian Beaufort restoration (regretably not in this recording), and the following: Gordon Glynn – Historical Aviation Restoration Society (HARS) of Australia Bob De La Hunty – Historical Aviation Restoration Society (HARS) of Australia John Beeching – WWII de Havilland Mosquito pilot, up from Nelson Murray Lane – talking about saving the Vickers Vincent and Vildebeest from extinction James Kightly – author and journalist from Australia talking about the forum Jerry Yagen – special surprise guest talking about his amazing de Havilland Mosquito KA114, which had its airshow debut the day before Note: Due to the environment parts of this recording do not have the best sound quality I’m afraid but it’s worth persevering as it gets better as you go along.

Guest: Laurence Harcourt “Bunty” Bunt, RNZAF, NZ405799 Host: Dave Homewood Duration: 67 minutes, 54 seconds Topic: Flying Officer Laurence Bunt, NZ405799, known as Bunty to all his mates, is a local legend around the Marlborough region. One of the enthusiastic team of guides at the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim, Bunty travels regularly to the AHC from his home in Picton so he can share his passion for aviation with the many visitors passing through. He has an extraordinary history of his own to tell, having been a Spitfire and Hurricane pilot in the Second World War. He initially served as an erk before training as a fighter pilot in New Zealand and Britain. He then began flying in the defence of Gibraltar, delivering aircraft into North Africa and then to operations in Italy with No. 43 Squadron RAF. He then flew with a fighter affiliation unit in North Africa. He sat down with Dave Homewood on ANZAC Day 2011 in an Omaka hangar to share his memories. By the way the small music clip comes from Danosongs and is called Magic Ghost

Host: Dave Homewood Guests: Jim Mungall and Don Subritzky Duration: 55 minutes, 7 seconds Topic: In this episode we discuss the history of the Hawker Hind in service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1940 till 1943. Our guests are well known aircraft collector Don Subritzky and Hind owner and historian Jim Mungall. The Hind was used by the RNZAF as an intermediate pilot trainer at No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Ohakea; and also as an Army Co-operation aircraft by No’s 6, 20 and 21 Squadrons at Onerahi and Milson. We also discuss the recovery and preservation of several Hawker Hinds. This rare type is now reasonably well represented thanks to the efforts of Don and his team of helpers over the years. Don also discusses a few of his other treasures in his collection, notably the Airspeed Oxford which now has its port wing fitted, and the world’s only Vickers Vincent. Above: Don Subritzky and Jim Mungall stand in front of the Vincent Don and his Airspeed Oxford Jim in front of his favourite type, the Hawker Hind Notes: Don Subritzky needs your help if you can; he would like: • To know the serial number registration of his Hawker Hind that he recovered from Jim Frogley’s place in Havelock North – do you know? • To know the serial number registration of his Hawker Hind that he recovered from a farmer’s pond at Kumeu – do you know? • Does anyone know more about the Hind that was disassembled on the beach at Nelson? • Any information that can conclusively establish which Hinds in RNZAF service were Trainers (dual control) or Bomber (single control with gunner’s rear cockpit) would be appreciated. • Have you got a radio rack for Don’s Airspeed Oxford? • Have you any information on Mr Moffatt, Main Road, Stoke (Nelson District) who previously owned Hind NZ1555? • Does anyone have concrete information on the Hind that was sitting at RNZAF Station Hobsonville’s aircraft graveyard with the Catalinas and SBD Dauntless’s? • Have you any leads on the whereabouts of an exhaust collector ring that is mounted on the front of the Bristol Pegasus on a Vickers Vincent? Don and Steve Subritzky need one for their restoration. If you can assist Don Subritzky or Jim ‘Shamus’ Mungall with any of the above queries or other related matters, please make contact either by Emailing Dave Homewood or you can click here to take you to Jim’s userpage on the Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum – Shamus Quick Links: • The Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand • The Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland • The Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Wigram, Christchurch