Notes:

Marking Auckland's Centennial, an RNZAF display was put on above Auckland Harbour during which the regatta and water pageant was held, on Auckland Anniversary Day

 

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Sanctioned by the Ministry of Defence and arranged by Manawatu Agricultural and Pastural Association, this air pageant which opened at 2.00pm with a ceremonial parade of men from the 28th (Maori) Battalion, the crowd was then given a display of physical drill by trainee members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force from the Initial Training Wing depot at RNZAF Wereroa, Levin. The five Vincents from nearby Ohakea then displayed, demonstrating parachute dropping, dive bombing and aerial fighting. The event concluded with hakas from the Maori Battalion

Source: The Evening Post, 8th of March 1940, via Papers Past

 

 

A special air display was staged for the last official visit of Lord and Lady Galway, the then Governor-General of New Zealand and his wife, to Wigram.

Displays included air to air firing, dive bombing by Airspeed Oxfords, aerobatics, instrument flying, and formations of Oxfords and Fairey Gordons.

There was a parade and march past with at least 1000 airmen in it

Source: The Evening Post, 1st of November 1940, via Papers Past

 

 

Source: Details gleaned from a photograph and details in The History of New Zealand Aviation by Ross Ewing and Ross Macpherson

 

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A crowd of around 5,000 attended this airshow.

 

 

Aproximately 3,000 members of the public were welcomed ito the station during the afternoon

 

 

Aproximately 4000 members of the public were welcomed ito the station during the afternoon

 

 

This airshow was an open day at No. 1 Repair Depot, RNZAF Station Rukuhia, on the final day of Air Force Week in Hamilton. The public had the opportunity during the week to visit sections of No. 1 RD in central Hamilton including the propeller repair section, the radiator repair section and other sections. Also a Grumman Avenger was towed into town and put on display in Victoria Street, and alongside it was a twin row Pratt & Whitney radial engine on a testbed.

On the Sunday, the 24th, the public were invited to visit RNZAF Station Rukuhiabetween 1.30pm and 4.30pm to inspect several static aircraft and see morte of the repair work happening there.

As well as allowing people to drive the the station, the RNZAF laid on 26 buses that would pick up passengers from Garden Place in the centre of Hamilton. However the Air Force grossly underestimated the interest that would be shown and it turned out that around 12,000 people attended and many more sat in a traffic that tailed back 5 miles (8 km) onto Cambridge Road (SH1). The bus system failed as the buses were unable to get to the airfield and back to get the next lot of passengers, and at one point an estimated 1200 people were waiting at Garden Place, and going nowhere.

Once the allocated parking areas were filled the RNZAF was forced to use neighbouring paddocks to park the extra cars in, and while 10,000 people paid at the gates, a lot more people got in without paying. This was a shame considering the RNZAF was raining money for the War Bond drive.

The following list of aircraft are known to have been static on display, and it's also known that a Kittyhawk or Warhawk and a Domine flew a display too. Any further information would be appreciated.

 

 

Aproximately 2500 members of the public were welcomed ito the station during the afternoon

 

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This Open Day concluded the "Salute The Airman" week in the Victory Loan campaign, As well as flying displays and static aircraft, demonstrations of pyrotechnics and fire-fighting were also put on.

The Corsair suffered a bird strike when it hit a rook, one of two that were flying across the airfield at the time. The aircraft was reported as travelling at more than 350 miles per hour in a dive at the time of the impact. The rook that was hit was reported as disappearing in a puff of feathers, whilst the second bird was caught in the slipstream and was "hurled head over heels" before flying off in a "drunken fashion" according to the Press newspaper.

 

 

A crowd of 7,000 is estimated to have attended, on a fine but breezy day

Four Corsairs demonstrated dive bombing with live bombs on a target well away from the crowd

A droge tower, probably an Avenger, demonstrated dropping drogue targets

W/C John Arkwright, S/Ldr Alan Sievers and S/Ldr Doug Greig did a beat up in Corsairs, and demonstrated 400 mph shallow dives where they pulled out at an estimated 25 feet from the ground!

Arkwright and Sievers then flew a synchronised tailchase pair routine.

A squadron of Corsairs completed the flying show by flying over in a formation that depicted the number of their squadron (the newspaper did not say which it was)

Virtually all the maintenance sections on the station were open to the public and demonstrations being given within.

The Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force closed the day with a display of ceremonial marching, led by Warrant Officer R.H. Simpson

The pageant raised £300 for the RSA Queen Carnival

 

 

A crowd of 20,000 is estimated to have attended, on a brilliant sunny day

Six Corsairs demonstrated 'aerial manouvres'

There was a demonstration of combat between fighters and bombers, types not known but probably Corsairs or P-40's vs Venturas or Hudsons

The had parachute jumps, but unknown what from

There was a display of Verey lights and rocket flares

A divine service was conducted by the station chaplain, Reverend B.O. Plumb

RNZAF Station Hamilton personnel performed a Trooping of the Colour. The Colour Bearers wer WAAF's Nancy Fairbrother, Sheelah Grover, Phyllis Codd and Evelyn Marino. Flight Sergeant Douglas Brownrigg was in charge of the parade, and the salute was taken by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Leonard Isitt, accompanied on the dais by the Station Commander Wing Commander Alfred Manhire and Mayor of Hamilton, Harold Caro.

The pageant raised £845 for the Waikato Hospital Memorial Chapel Fund

 

 

When Seafires from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable visited RNZAF Station Ardmore, around 6000 Aucklanders turned out to see the Seafires put through their paces, and the local Corsairs also displayed

Source:

 

 

Notes:
The Meteor aircraft was later renumbered NZ6001

Source:

 

 

Source:

 

 

Notes:
Between 5000 and 6000 members of the public came along to watch Bob McKay put the aircraft through its paces

Source:

 

 

Between the 21st of March and 9th of May 1946, Squadron Leader Robert Maxwell 'Bob' McKay OBE, AFC, toured New Zealand centres in this country's first jet aircraft putting on displays for the people of New Zealand.

Any venues/dates would be welcomed please

 

Gloster Meteor III

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Notes:

This was really a reopening of the Otago Aero Club, which had gone into recess at the outbreak of WWII, but they billed it as an opening. Approximately 1000 members of the pre-WWII aero club had joined the RNZAF and RAF during WWII.

Ex-RNZAF fighter pilot, Flight Lieutenant John Day MBE, was an Otago Aero Club instructor.

Bands from the Otago Regiment and the Air Training Corps were in attendance.

The crowd was estimated at being 12,000 to 15,000 people.

The event was free.

 

Corsair

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Notes:

Mac Morgan, who was Navigation Leader for the four-ship of Mosquitoes, says he, "cannot recall any details as to actual display other than there would have been formation fly-overs and single aircraft slow run and speed run, and the overall display time was 20 minutes.I have no record to indentify the display with a particular occasion other than to note a sizeable fleet of aero club aircraft."

 

 

Notes:

 

 

Canterbury Aero Club Tiger Moth

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Notes:

The first civil flying display for the region since before WWII, a crowd of around 10,000 turned out to see this event, despite overcast weather.

Built in the 1930s but not flown because of the war, the homebuilt Savage Special made its debut public display at this event. Designed by Charlie Savage, who loosely based it on the Heath Parasol, it was built by Savage with Perry Adams and Dick Shaw. It was reported after this event that flying with a converted Henderson 35 hp engine it moved along at about 80 mph, however I am not certain if it actually did fly because at a later appearance at Harewood in August 1947 (see below) it remained static and was reported to not yet have its certificate of airworthiness.

Monty Harvie, former Chief Instructor at the Central Flying School of the RNZAF, caused much consternation by walking out of the crowd dressed as an old man, and proceeding to 'steal' a Tiger Moth. He knocked over groundcrew who tried to stop him, and took off downwind, and flew the machine in an erratic manner. He flew for a quarter of an hour, flying a brilliant low level display, some turns being made at less than 20 feet in altitude. Uppon landing he was "arrested" by club officials and given a rousing ovation by the crowd.

The three Harvards performed low level formation exercises and aerobatics. G/C Sheen was the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, and W/C Dix was Station Commander at Wigram at that time.

 

Bristol Freighter "Merchant Venturer"

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Notes:

A crowd estimated at more than 25,000 spectators and 5000 cars turned out for this event.

The Freighter was a demonstrator from Bristol. It took off on one engine, amazing the crowd.

Group Captain W.C. Sheen, the then Deputy Chief of Air Staff, gave commentary during the Mosquito's display, which was the type's first display in Canterbury

The Tiger Moths flown by Monty Harvie, Cheetham and Fantham put on a teasm aerobatic display, and then Harvie followed that with his solo crazy flying routine.

This was the first time a Miles Gemini was seen in the South Island

 

 

Notes:

There was a three-ship aerobatics demonstration involving Tiger Moths ZK-AKO, ZK-AIN and ZK-ALT

This air pageant also had a demonstration of mock polo with the players on unicycles!

 

 

Notes:

Mac Morgan, who was Navigation Leader for the four-ship of Mosquitoes, says he, "cannot recall any details as to actual display other than there would have been formation fly-overs and single aircraft slow run and speed run, and the overall display time was 20 minutes.I have no record to indentify the display with a particular occasion other than to note a sizeable fleet of aero club aircraft."

 

 

Notes:

Whilst the Harvards and the Mosquitoes flew formations, Flight Lieutenant George Brabyn also performed a solo aerobatic routune in his Mosquito.

Competitions were run for senior and junior pilots. The results were:

Lloyd Cup (Senior Landing Competition)
First - Claude M. Bennett
Second - B.P. Avery
Third - B.P. McCook

Meatchem Cup (Landing Competition)
First - J.B. Nelson
Second Equal - C.M. Bennett
Second Equal - W. Dayman

Formation Cup (Junior Landing)
First - Miss S. Davis
Second - B. McCook
Third - A. Sternberg

Stellin Cup (Aerobatics)
First - R.T. Birch
Second - D. Holthouse
Third Equal - B.P. Avery
Third Equal - P.R. Smith

Thanks to Charles Davis for supplying information about this event.

 

de Havilland DH98 Mosquito (possibly)
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Notes:

Organised by the Rotorua Aero Club, aircraft and members of the Tauranga, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth and Auckland Aero Clubs participated.

And the RNZAF was expected to send at least two Harvards and perhaps some Mosquitoes, but these types remain unconfirmed.

 

RNZAF de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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Notes:

Mac Morgan was Navigation Leader for the four-ship of RNZAF Mosquitoes that displayed.

The Mosquito time slot was 50 minutes in length.

This display marked the Otago Centennial Celebrations

 

 

Notes:

No. 75 Squadron sent at least one Mosquito to this air display

 

 

Notes:

No. 75 Squadron sent at least one Mosquito to this air display

 

 

Notes:

No. 75 Squadron sent at least one Mosquito to fly over South Island towns that had Air Training Corps squadrons, in part of a recruiting effort foir the ATC.

 

 

Notes:

No. 75 Squadron flew at least one Mosquito at this air display

 

 

The first civil air pageant held in Auckland since 1939, this airshow at Mangere was organised by the Auckland Aero Club and the Royal New Zealand Air Force in conjunction with the Air Force Associaiton, to commemorate the 8th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

 

 

Notes:

No. 75 Squadron sent at least one Mosquito to this air display

 

 

Notes:

No. 75 Squadron sent at least one Mosquito to this air display

 

 

Notes:

Mac Morgan was Navigation Leader for the RNZAF Mosquitoes that displayed. He says, "At the conclusion of the air display Mac Baigent and I were tasked on a SAR sortie to look for a DH82 piloted by Mike Daniell who was missing en route Masterton to Paraparaumu. The Mosquito time slot was approximately 50 minutes in length. Mac thought that there was a four-ship of Mosquitoes but Wellington Aero Club records have it at just two.

Competitions were run for senior and junior pilots. The results were:

Lloyd Cup (Senior Landing Competition)
First - Pat Lawson
Second - Claude Bennett
Third - Murray Thompson

Stellin Cup (Aerobatics)
First - Hec. Mullins
Second - Murray Thompson
Third - Noel Marshall

Thanks to Charles Davis for supplying information about this event.

 

 

Notes:

Run by the Kaitaia Aero Club, around 2000 people attended.

Visiting pilots included Mr. R. Prentice (CFI for Auckland Aero Club), and Messrs Norm Kiddell, J. Marsh, A. Paterson, V. Donnelly, Doug Grieg, P. Henderson, B. Dillner, G, Johnson, A. Ferguson, M. Morrisey, M. Lazarus, M. Wilson, C. Drummond, P. Moss, F. McKeexer, and J. Blackburn. Also involved was local pilot F. Myers.

Parachutist Brian Musson also made a jump.

 

 

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Notes:

 

 

RNZAF de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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Notes:

The pageant was officially opened by the Governor General of New Zealand, Sir Bernard Freyberg VC.

The RNZAF Air Display was on Sunday the 20th of March 1949.

Mac Morgan was Navigation Leader for the nine-ship of RNZAF Mosquitoes that displayed.

Mac says his logbook does not actually record the aircraft as landing at Mangere so they must have flown in and displayed and flown home to Ohakea.

The Chrislea Super Ace made its New Zealand public debut, having just been imported prior to the event.

A ministry of works aircraft demonstrated aerial topdressing.

Supply containers were dropped without parachutes for the first time at an airshow (by the RNZAF Dakotas I assume).

Pageant Competitions included aerobatics, bombing, navigartiuon and airmanship, and the tophies awared included the:

for

Trophy	Awarded For	Recipient
Bledisloe Aviation Trophy	Airmanship	1st: E.J. Redfern (Central Hawkes Bay) 2nd: H.N. Brown (Marlborough) 3rd: J.F. Tanner (Auckland)
G.M. Spence Trophy	Airmanship, Navigation and Landings
Boys Cup	Take Off, Cuircuit and Landing
Cory-Wright Cup	Navigation (non-professional pilots)	1st: 2nd: 3rd: T. Oliver (Tauranga)
Gloucester Navigation Trophy	Dead Reckoning Navigation and Timekeeping	1st: R.B. Hamilton (Marlborough) 2nd: G.H. Bell (Wanganui) 3rd: L.W. Martin (New Plymouth)
Herald Cup	Navigation, Pilotage and Landing.
Wigram Cup	Aerobatics	1st: F.H. Myers (Kaitaia) 2nd: Unknown 3rd: D. Gallagher

 

 

Notes:

The event's advertising promised ten aircraft, parachute jumps, crazy flying, aeroplane spinning from 5000ft, precision flying, car bombing, car and plane racing, and balloon bursting, but at this stage nothing else is known

 

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Notes:

The event's advertising promised ten aircraft, parachute jumps, crazy flying, aeroplane spinning from 5000ft, precision flying, car bombing, car and plane racing, and balloon bursting, but at this stage nothing else is known

 

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Notes: