I have just added more photos by the way

Your link didn’t work for me I’m afraid John.

However the caption from the magazine read:
“Not as sharp as the others but still remarkable – Simmonds Spartan ZK-ABU. Imported into New Zealand in 1931, the Spartan was used by “Mad Mac” McGregor to fly mail between Invercargill and Auckland in one day, 12 November 1931. Later purchased by Hokitika pilot A H Nancekivell, the red and silver biplane pioneered many a West Coast route and strip before the more well known Captain “Bert” Mercer began his airline, Air Travl (NZ) Ltd in Novemebr 1934. The photograph would appear to have been taken after February 1936 as the Spartan is back in a two seat configuration. Flown by West Coast United Aero Club from Greymouth, ZK-ABU was cancelled from the register in March 1939.

Wow, , marvellous, absolutely brilliant stuff. What fascinating stories and photos. Thanks Denys.

Horseflots, henhouses, caravans, farm sheds… very versatile aircraft 😀

All this sort of thing really fascinates me. Especially with the Hudson, and especially now that I’m working on the book on the General Reconnaissance Squadrons. Thanks.

I hope to feature the survivors in the book so will be in touch when i get to that bit. in the meantime if you have other stories or photos to share I’m sure we’re all keen to hear.

By the way, did you ever track down the F4U or its ultimate fate?

There is apparently the remains of one left, in the ownership of Charles Darby I believe, who also owns the only Fairey Gordon. Both were recovered from crash sites I understand.

I’d very much love to see the Baffin revived, such a neat old plane, loads of great stories.

I’d have to confirm this officially, but one No. 3 GR Squadron flight mechanic told me when the squadron reformed in 1941 they were initially to be a fighter-bomber squadron, with Baffins. But when they set up a forward firing gun on on one and tested it, they shot the prop off, so it was decided to stick to bombing and reconnaissance work only!

A load of other groundcrew have told me of how the Baffin had no brakes so there job was to run after one as it landed and grab the wingtips to slow it down and stare it back to the flightline, etc.

Some have also mentioned that as it was a carrier aircraft they were built tough as nails and took all sorts of punishment, including enforced massively hard landings at Rongotai (if you’ve ever been to Wellington Airport you’ll know about the terrible conditions pilots any pilot suffers due to crosswinds and also wind shere where the plane crashes down onto the runway – well in the prewar and wartime days the hill had not been removed there and the conditions were worse!)

Baffins seem to have been well liked and good aircraft but they lacked range, and as the German raiders began to sink our ships, the Vildebeests and Vincents that had been used mainly for training pilots replaced the Baffins in GR work as they had around twice the range. The are actually comparibly much the same size, though the Baffin looks more sleek and business like.

Note what looks like bog on that coloured Baffin photo where patches have been made! That would have been an early photo when they first entered service with the New Zealand Territorial Air Force I’d think as it retains the FAA serial. The day war broke out all the Baffins and their crews and groundcrews instantly bacame part of the regular RNZAF, and formed the backbone of NZ’s defences for the best part of a year.

One Baffin ditched in Cook Strait. I have the full story and an eyewitness account, but the story is that it had a flotation device installed which saved it from sinking. An Italian fisherman picked up the pilot and they towed the plane back to shore. And RNZAF team were sent to recover the aircraft, but on arrival they found it was a wreck in two large pieces. They thought the pilot had survived a horrific crash, till he told them that the plane was perfectly intact when they towed it back to shore. But the Army had turned up full of gusto ahd roped it upo, and in the attempt to haul the plane out which was full of water, tore it in two! The RNZAF was not best pleased!

Oh, I meant to add that I do not have the previous issue that the leter references, but maybe someone else here might, and could look it out as it implies there was another photo.

Any 1980’s NZ Wings collectors out there? I didn’t start my collection till 1991, and any prior to that I got from Dad who collected them only sporadically through the 1970’s and 80’s when something took his fancy (plus a handful I got from the RNZAF Base Hobsonville library that a lovely young WAAF librarian let me keep!)

Cheers John. Yes I thought most of this would have been scrapped. I can’t blame the locals at all, but it would be nice nowadays if they could be made aware that there’s also money in saving airframes and selling them to overseas buyers.

It is good to hear that some aircraft have been recovered from that area at least.

Cheers
Dave