I went into nearby Hamilton city this morning with Dad and we swung by Parana Park, which is where the Hamilton Cenotaph is situated, because we’d heard that the latest memorial was erected this week.
It is a full sized fibreglass Spitfire replica, mounted on a pole in the centre of the park on Memorial Drive. It looks fantastic. Of course I didn’t have a camera on me, but I’ll photograph it soon, I promise.
It is moulded from the old Royal New Zealand Air Force Spitfire moulds, the fourth such out of them I beleive and now owned by local aviation pioneer Ozzie James who has created this lovely monument with his team of volunteers from the Hamilton Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
It is painted in the usual grey/green colours of a late war MkXVI highback, and carries the serial TE288, which is from the plane it was moulded off – which is now at the RNZAF Museum, Wigram, Christcurch as OU-V. Though it carries the same codes it is not to be confused with another replica from the same moulds at Harewood, Christchurch outside the entrance to Christchurch International Airport. It looks pretty much identical however.
It is a pity they chose not to add any squadron codes to this new one in Hamilton, as the obvious choice would be OU codes of No. 485 (NZ) Squadron. But instead it is anonymous, perhaps to represent all those who served in other Squadrons too.
🙁 Incidentally 485’s first death was actually a Hamilton man, Kevin Cox, but he was killed in a MkVB, whilst doing a beat-up for his visiting brother Bernard who’d got leave from the Navy to see him. Kevin rolled it too low, the engine cut, and Bernard watched his brother crash and die in front of him. Bernard Cox died three years later on active service. 🙁 A pity they couldn’t have backdated the replica to represent their own city’s son’s aircraft.
So if you’re in Hamilton, make sure you visit Parana Park and the new Spitfire memorial.
By: flyernzl - 24th September 2007 at 12:04
This post follows up an old thread from 2004
By: Stieglitz - 16th November 2004 at 12:30
There might be some guys here who can apriciate a low back spit. I like both variants. So don’t worry Daz. 😉
J.V.
By: DazDaMan - 15th November 2004 at 22:14
Dave – sacrilege!! How can you say the low-back Spit is “ugly”?! 😛
By: Dave Homewood - 15th November 2004 at 21:40
I think its great that a town pays tribute in such a way. The choise of the paint sheme and Spitfire variant must be forgiven. Certainly when it’s intended for all the men who served in Spitfire units.
You made me curious and I look forward to that image Dave.
Greets,
J.V.
I fully agree that it is great for the memorial to represent all who served in Spitfire units. I guess it represents all airmen really, no matter what they flew in, or whether they even flew. Hundreds of Kiwis flew the later variant Spitfires too, including the MkXVIe.
I promise some photos soon, but one thing, in my haste last night I typed it is a highback. TE288 is of course a lowback (the uglier version). So I’m sure this replica is lowback – though I’ll have to check again.
By: Stieglitz - 15th November 2004 at 19:38
I think its great that a town pays tribute in such a way. The choise of the paint sheme and Spitfire variant must be forgiven. Certainly when it’s intended for all the men who served in Spitfire units.
It is a full sized fibreglass Spitfire replica, mounted on a pole in the centre of the park on Memorial Drive. It looks fantastic. Of course I didn’t have a camera on me, but I’ll photograph it soon, I promise.
You made me curious and I look forward to that image Dave.
Greets,
J.V.
By: trumper - 15th November 2004 at 13:27
I found this link http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/spitfire.html
And the flying one in the UK http://www.ukwarbirds.fsnet.co.uk/operators%20%20grace.htm 🙂
Hope it’s of interest
By: Dave Homewood - 15th November 2004 at 09:29
I meant to add, on Saturday the 27th of November there is to be a big day to mark the new memorial and apparently a large scale Air Force Reunion too. Should be a great event.
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November 15, 2004 at 9:24 am