Rearwin for Melvyn

I can’t believe I missed all the other stuff in the links mentioned earlier. God that is one lovely looking machine both in shape and the excellent job of restoring her to her former glory. Better than new comes to mind.

superb!! I particularly enjoyed the pitot cover 😀
The joke for Mr. Patterson was really nasty!! 😉

Alex

Moderator calling.

“No ‘text’ please we’re British”

Mark

U definitely made a superb job with yr Rearwin mate 🙂
I think I’ve never seen the interiors, do u have some pics of it? Sorry if I’m invading yr privacy 😉

Alex

Oh, and as far as I know no standard Cloudsters carried military markings. Some instrument trainers might have but I don’t think the others did.

Melvyn, what prompted u to choose the red livery for your bird? ever thought of a military one? 🙂

Alex

Although mine was owned by the Strategic Air Command Flying Club at one point, they didn’t fly it. The red was the colours it left the factory on October 12, 1939

M

Melvyn, what prompted u to choose the red livery for your bird? ever thought of a military one? 🙂

Alex

Nice little aeroplane.

Thanks for that Dave, this time I have remembered to post the link to Eric Rearwin who looks after the site.

www.rearwin.com

Another RNZAF Rearwin Photo

Hi Melvyn,

Attached is another RNZAF Rearwin photo that I discovered in “RNZAF – The First Decade” by Charles Darby.

The caption reads:
“Upper: The 21 (AC) Squadron Rearwin 9000KR NZ529 seen at Milson in mid-1943 with Flg Off Pat Molloy, at left, and a colleague.”

Looks rather lovely, doesn’t it?

There are photos of other impressed aircraft in the book including a Porterfield and a Waco, with virtually the same colour scheme so I think all four Rearwins would have worn that same style of scheme. I’d think it was along the lines of RAF Dark Green/Dark Earth which was standard ‘at home’ scheme for the first part of the war. Later when paint became very scarce most aircraft in the RNZAF received schemes in locally made paint that was a slightly different dark green and a unique blue-grey colour, as seen on the Hudson at the RNZAF Museum. As this was applied to Hudsons, Harvards, Oxfords, Ansons, Tiger Moths…. I cannot see why it may not have also been applied to the impressed fleet. I am not sure, just guessing, but if so that’s an even more unusual scheme. The RNZAF Museum will probably know for sure and probably have more Rearwin photos if you contact them too.

I promised some weeks back to scan this photo for Melvyn Hiscock, and some others here showed an interest too, but I’ve only just gotten the book to a scanner.

It comes from ‘Aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’ by David Duxbury, Ross Ewing and Ross Macpherson. It shows an RNZAF impressed Rearwin of No. 42 Squadron, in what was obviously a privately taken photo. The wear is not from the book or the scan but obviously on the original print they used.

Also seen are an Oxford, Rapide and some Harvards, probably all attached to No. 42 Squadron at RNZAF Station Rongotai, which was a utility squadron with a varied mix of civil and military planes.

I am adding in scans of the heading and write-up too for extra info.

I hope this is of some interest.

That is great. I would like to see the reaction if Shipping and Airlines (who own G-AOEF) were to repaint her like this! I am going to contact Eric Rearwin and let him know about this.

Thanks Dave, that (and the PM) are most appreicated.

You are spared the next round of slagging off at Popham!! (not that you featured yet . . . )

M