Is this a scene from the next blockbuster “Dark Blue World 2” ???

Wot…no bicycles?

Chad

Thanks for the details Mark12. So there was a bit of skullduggery behind it all then.

I used to occasionally buy the Aussie magazine called Flightpath and that always seemed to detail wrecks in the Northern Territories. There must be a fair few up there, and in this day and age every one is a potential rebuild I guess.

Out of interest, how many Spitfires are there in Australia now? And how many are flyable? (sorry, I know this is way off topic now)

Mark12 and Mark P, or anyone,

can you please explain what exactly was the case with Australia and it’s refusal to export historic aircraft?

I recall hearing that someone had bought some aircraft (I think one was a Bf109) and when it was about to be exported, they were snatched by the Govt. What went on there?

As you point out, things continued to go into Australia, but what was the basis of restrictions going out?

Do these rules still apply? Or can I now buy that lovely Hudson and bring it to NZ? 🙂

Damn, do I have to wait another two years for this significant find then? 🙂 😉

In reality, the only mention I have ever seen on Ross Jowitt’s SBD was sometime in about 1991 when a small mention was made in New Zealand Wings magazine (now Pacific Wings). Nothing has been said since in the press to my knowledge and I don’t know if he even still has it. It did state that it was believed to be an ex-RNZAF example.

You’re probably correct that someone has some hidden away. I mean it doesn’t take much to bring some aircraft remains into the country in a container without the press and public finding out. That occurs often. I do doubt that they’ve always been here though. I would be very surprised if that were the case.

I hope that this is true and that some nice flying examples soon grace New Zealand skies. That’d be fantastic. I have been in love with the Dauntless since I was a teenager and saw the news report in 1987ish of the RNZAF recovering the remains of one from the Islands for the RNZAF Museum. They showed period footage of 25 Squadron RNZAF doing a full squadron take off filmed from the back seat of one of the planes. Awesome. Most 25 Sqn SBD’s had nose art too, along with the more colorful roundels than the usual USN ones, so great for modellers.

Steve and DGH,

You both make some very good points indeed. Thanks. I hope my own earlier comments didnt add to your taking offence. As I said earlier I see both sides of the argument. I don’t mind that a P40 or P51 may have a second seat added to allow someone else to share the experience, and in most cases this is done without any aesthetic detriment to the plane. I don’t even mind that a few owners are adding in dual controls for the back seat. I think it is great that, like your Sea Fury Steve, alternative engines are sometimes needed in order to keep them running and flying. That’s great.

What I do hate to see is the minority who cut and hack the planes about in order to make racers. To my mind they’re a wicked waste of a histoic aircraft, and really if they wanted to waste that much money they should have built it round a replica airframe. That is my opinion. I’ve seen many Corsairs, P51s, Harvards and others that look a disgrace and usually end up a charred mess on the Reno desert floor anyway. Not a great area in warbird preservation in my mind.

I think in terms of authenticty I come from my background in model-making where I’d like to see stock items because that is what it looked like in the books I researched or the model I built. But I realise that in reality modern items like radios and extra seats are practical additions, and if it means that aircraft still flies, so be it. There are a few planes around that are all stock WWII standard, and they’re great. But you’re right DGH that the plane’s life isn’t over and more mods can be made to keep the thing in the air.