Just a wee thought, when such interesting debates as these about paint colours arise I wonder why the researchers never seem to try and track down the Aircraft Finishers (ie painters) who were attached to the Sqns, SU’s or MU’s involved. There must be more than a few still around and records would indicate who they were. Such an event as a change in the field to an all new scheme would surely be remembered by most old Aircraft Finishers involved – they’d probably even remember the BS paint numbers if you asked. Such things are memorised by these tradesmen – I know as I was in the trade – especially those who are colourblind as they must rely on the numbers alone.

Hi Oscar,

I’ve just been going back thru old issues of Classic Wings and found an article with lovely photos of the Zero and TBM transit to Aussie. It is the June/July 1999 issue if anyone out there is wondering. It’s hard to believe the pair left over five years ago now.

I think to reduce your photos you’ll need to take them into a photo program like PhotoShop or Paint Shop Pro, and ‘resize’ and resave them till the file is less than 100Kb. Then they’ll load up. I don’t know if there are any other methods, this is what I do, in the latter program I mention.

O.P.

This is all rather extraordinary. I am not dismissing your claim at all and I hope that it all proves to be true, but I have never heard so much as a whiff of info about Dauntless’s being hidden away in NZ.

Where are they supposed to have come from? Are they ex-RNZAF examples? Or were they supposedly imported into NZ postwar?

Thinking about it though, the RNZAF operated SBD-3’s and SBD-4’s in NZ which had been acquired from a US Marine unit. They trained in these at RNZAF Station Seagrove, at Karaka, south of Auckland. When the Dauntless squadron (No 25 Divebomber Sqn, RNZAF) moved up to the foreward area they were re-equiped with new SBD-5 models. I believe the earlier model aircraft were given back to the US Marine Corps. But what did they do with them? They wouldn’t have wanted them because they were already clapped out when we got them. I doubt they’d have taken them back to the USA. The most likely option is disposal. I wonder if they sold them off postwar, rather than their usual practice of dumping them at sea?

I would be pleased if there is a barn full of Dauntless divebombers in NZ somewhere, but I won’t quite hold my breath.

How did the ex-RNZAF one now flying in the USA come about to survive? And what model is it? Is it a NZ based example?

I’ve never seen any Dauntless in photos of the Rukuhia disposal yards and I don’t think 25 Sqn brought the remaining SBD-5s back to NZ did they? I think they were only ever used in the Pacific.

An interesting fact is that there were planned to be four RNZAF Dauntless squadrons, and hundreds were ordered. It was only when No 25 Sqn was partly trained the RNZAF decided they’d use their Corsairs for divebombing as there were few fighters to combat with left. So No’s 26,27 and 28 Sqns never got the Douglas Dauntless as planned.

Back on topic. I’d like to import the Weeks Sunderland, an Avenger, a Sea Fury, Temora’s Hudson, a Ventura and a few other things to keep me happy I think. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind the BBMF Lancaster and their two Hurricanes too.

Rob Mears – you’re spot on in what you say about how some people disregard the historic value in order to update aircraft to suit themselves. I can see both sides of the arguement but I like your ideas for restoring the RNZAF Corsair authentically. I’d make just one adjustment, it’d have to stay here in NZ as its base, but you’d still be able to tour it to Europe, the USA, etc as and when you wanted. 🙂 😉

I’m worried now that it is up for sale, as it will undoubtedly go offshore and I have fears that it may end up becoming a ruddy Reno Racer or something similar and lose it’s RNZAF identity and history. Although, I guess Ray Hanna may now be in the market for a new Corsair… please, please, please…

There seems to be a whole lot of SBD’s in New Zealand and Australia, I’d go for one of those.

By SBD’s do you mean Douglas Dauntless’s? If so, I’m curious to know where in NZ and Aussie these are. I know of two in NZ – both ex-RNZAF. One is at the RNZAF Museum and is as recovered from a crash site. The other was with Ross Jowitt in Auckland apparently but I have never seen a photo or anything confirming its existence. I doubt that it is complete either.

Have you any further info? Cheers.

I think we receive about as much snow as you do every year in the U.K.

Hi Todd,

Thanks for that. I take it by the ‘you’ in the sentence above you mean a general ‘you’ to the majority on the forum. I personally live in New Zealand in a place where we never receive any snow. However it feels like it right now having just walked home from the pub in icy cold conditions. 😉

I hope the museum does secure a building to keep these wonderful planes in. The Canadians are leading the world at the moment in resurrecting near-extinct British bombers – this Hampden and the Halifax seen on the forum recently are both wonderful results of dedicated projects.

Are all the exhibits static only? Or do any fly/intend to fly?

Cheers
Dave