Notes:

The event started with a massed take off and formation flight of the Vega Gull, five Proctors, the Chipmunk, the Magister, an Auster and three Tiger Moths.

Brian Mussen made two parachute jumps.

Two Tiger Moths had a dogfight.

The CFI Ivan 'Jack' Rawnsley did a demonstration of crazy flying, but what in is not known.

Tom Cadwallader demonstrated shooting tethered balloons with a shotgun from a Tiger Moth. Whether he weas also flying or was passenger is not known. he hit all but one.

The Auster did an air drop of sand bags from 200 feet.

One competition was flown, details not stated, with the results being Eric Liverton, Tony Sturrock and Les Haines taking the honours.

The crowd numbered around 3000 people.

Thanks to Charles Davis for supplying information about this event.

 

 

Notes:

14 aircraft apparently took part.

There was ballon bursting, a height-guessing competition, crazy flying, a dead stick formation landing, passenger flights, dogfights, a bombing display by pilots Prentice and Gallagher, and Prentice put on an aerobatic display that incluided the 'falling leaf' manoeuvre.

Brian Mussen made two parachute jumps.

 

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Notes:

K. Brown of Christchurch made a parachute jump.

In one display R.Bush showed off picking up flags off the ground during extremely low level flight using a stick onhis wingtip that was practically grazing the grass.

 

 

Notes:

14 aircraft apparently took part.

There was balloon bursting, a height-guessing competition, crazy flying, a dead stick formation landing, passenger flights, dogfights, a bombing display by pilots Prentice and Gallagher, and Prentice put on an aerobatic display that incluided the 'falling leaf' manoeuvre.

Brian Mussen made two parachute jumps.

 

Gloster Meteor III _

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Notes:
An Air Force Day as part of Battle of Britain Week commemorating ten years since the Battle of Britain.

The Meteor which had been flying at Ohakea was to be grounded to become an instructional airframe at the Technical Training School at Hobsonville. The departure from Ohakea co-incided with an Air Force Day open day so a brief display was made for the public before the aircraft's final ferry north to Hobsonville.

The Dakota display is noted in the programme which notes that from 3.00 till 3.10pm there would be "Supply drop by a Dakota of No. 41 transport Squadron."

The programme notes that at 3.20pm there would be a "Flying Demonstration by an Auster of No. 42 Squadron." And at 3.30pm there would be "Aerobatics by Mosquito aircraft of No. 75 Squadron" followed at 3.40pm by "Formation demonstration by a Devon of of No. 42 Squadron."

The Harvards, quantity unknown, were also in the programme which stated that from 3.50 till 4.00pm there would be "Formation Aerobatics by Harvards of No. 42 Squadron."

 

Gloster Meteor III _

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Notes:
An Air Force Day as part of Battle of Britain Week commemorating ten years since the Battle of Britain.

The Meteor obviously arrived from Ohakea after displaying there the same day (see entry above)

One of the Mosquitoes arrived from Taieri, flown by F/O R.J. Scott (Pilot) and F/Lt J.D. Garrett (Navigator) after attempting to break a speed record. See next entry.

Aircraft from the Auckland, Waikato, Piako, Thames, Rotorua and Tauranga Aero Clubs all gathered at Mangere and then flew en masse to arrive together at Whenuapai, most landing there. Many of the aero club aircraft plus an NAC Lockheed Lodestar were selling joyrides to the crowd.

It was estimated around 10,00 people attended this show.

The flying display commenced at 2.30pm. It included team aerobatics, supply-dropping, dive bombing, gliding and topdressing.

 

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

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PZ474
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?

 

Notes:
An Air Force Day as part of Battle of Britain Week commemorating ten years since the Battle of Britain.

The Mosquito flown by Scott and Garrett set off at 1.00pm from Taieri to attempt to set a speed record for distance to Whenuapai. It missed the record by 2 minutes.

Aerobatic displays were flown in the Harvards and Tiger Moths.

Tiger Moths dropped smoke bombs on a small building , and Harvards simulated strafing runs. Thunderflashes were used to give it an authentic atmosphere.

Tiger Moths also chased weather balloons and popped them with their propellers.

A Dakota dropped supply canisters attached to parachutes.

A handicap air race was held with four laps over a triangle course. First off was an Auster, then a Tiger Moth, then an Anson, followed by an Oxford and finally a Harvard. The Anson won, Harvard second, Auster and Tiger Moth third equal in a dead heat, and the Oxford came last.

The Drum and Bugle Band of the Dunedin Air Training Corps Squadron paraded and played music during the flying displays.

 

 

Notes:
An Air Force Day as part of Battle of Britain Week commemorating ten years since the Battle of Britain.

 

RNZAF de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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RNZAF de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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RNZAF de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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RNZAF de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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Notes:

An air display and the opening ceremony for Christchurch Airport

 

de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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de Havilland DH98 Mosquito
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Notes:

 

RNZAF de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth

 

Notes:

 

 

Notes:

This was the debut airshow for the RNZAF's new Vampire fighter jets

 

 

The six Mosquitoes from No. 75 Squadron RNZAF rehearsed the day before.

 

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Around 14,000 people attended

 

 

A special six-ship formation display for the Press during "Operation Hardtack" at Kaitaia

 

 

No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2331 crashed after the display, killing both crew Waters and Campbell

 

 

During a display of bombing a moving vehicle, Waikato Aero Club President Tony Firth accidentally crashed into the car he was trying to flour bomb. Firth and the car's driver, the club's engineer Mr. J.O. Clausen, were both uninjured. But nthe car and the Tiger Moth were both badly damaged.

 

 

18 visiting aircraft joined the Tauranga Aero Club aeroplanes in an air pageant organised in aid of the Mount Maunganui Queen Carnival.

During a display H.B. Swan of the New Plymouth Aero Club force landed into scrub on the edge of the aerodrome, and his club Tiger Moth's undercarriage was badly damaged and the propeller broken.

 

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More than 50 aircraft from around NZ took part, but wind gusting to over 40 mph curtailed a lot of the flying programme.

 

WH773
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An RNZAF Handley Page Hastings NZ5804 flown by Wing Commander Watson, also took part but did not finishthe race, breaking down in Ceylonm so was not at this event.

 

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This Open Day show featured a 28-aircraft formation flypast (1 x Auster leading, with 18 x Harvards, 6 x Devons and 3 x Mustangs).

There was a three-circuit handicap air race between an Auster, a Harvard, a Devon and a Mustang.

Three Harvards did formation aerobatics, so undoubtedly this was the CFS Aerobatic Team.

And an Army-Air Force joint display saw Bofors light anti-aircraft guns and other armament defending a postion from the Army, so they called in the Air Force. Three Harvards dropped parachute supplies to the soldiers, then three Mustangs strafed the artillery, followed by eight Harvards making bombing attcks on the enemy position. The Harvard bombers were late in arriving and when they attacked the friendly Army forces had already overrun the position!

More than 5,000 people attended this open day.

 

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Arthur Parry of RNZAF Station Wigram made his 221st parachute jump during this pageant, jumping freefall from the wing of a Tiger Moth

 

 

This pageant was put on by parachutist Brian Musson.

During the event the Tauranga Tiger Moth ZK-AJU was bring flown by Russell Hilder with Neville Parkinson as passenger, when on approach to landing a stall turn developed into a spin. The aircraft crashed in a paddock off the end of the airfield. Parkinson was killed and Hilder badly injured. The crash site was hard to access so Musson parachuted from an Auster to render first aid.

 

 

Four parachute jumps were made in four hours on this Sunday afternoon event.

The jumpers included Mr John Regan (a guest jumper visiting from Auckland), a young nurse from Burwood, and a Dutchman living in Christchurch.

John Regan had been an aircrew member in the wartime RNZAF, and was now a fitter with TEAL.

Ron Alexander flew each of the parachutists up to their jump height.

 

 

An advert said this event included parachute jumping, aerobatics, aerial topdressing, gliding displays, model aeroplane flying, flights over the city in NAC Douglas airliners and Canterbury Aero Club aircraft.

 

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The crowd was reported as 17,000 people.

There was a flypast of 40 aircraft to open the two and a half hour air display.

Touring Danish gymnasts were one of the ground displays.

An extract from the report in The Press newspaper on the 21st of February 1955 said:

"Precision flying was the order of the day. Mustangs of the four Territorial Air'“Force squadrons and Vampires of 75 Squadron, based at Ohakea, made several runs over the field in various formations. Qualified observers said the flying of these machines was as good as any in the world.

After the heavier aircraft, a Hastings of 40 Squadron, three Bristol Freighters of 41 Squadron, and Dakotas and Devons of 42 Squadron had taken off and flown past, the Vampires appeared in three close flights, all in perfect formation.

A Bristol Freighter came back to show how supplies are dropped by parachute, and it was hardly away before the Harvardaerobatic team had taken off.

Army Guns
Across the field from the public, and probably unnoticed by most, the Army had placed batteries of 3.7 in and Bofors anti-aircraft guns. Territorial Mustangs staged a surprise low-level attack on the field and were met by clouds of black smoke and the bangs of blank cartridges from the guns.

Aerobatics were shown by four units during the day. The first was the Mustang, then the Harvards, and next the team of four Vampires from 75 Squadron. Leading this highly-skilled flight was Flying Officer S. Mclntyre, of Wellington, with Flight Lieutenant M. Beavis, RAF, Sergeant-Pilot J. E. Shaw, of Wellington, and Sergeant-Pilot A. Dyer, of Auckland.

With the exception of Flight Lieutenant Beavis, who is on exchange to the squadron, all the pilots in this team have served with 14 Squadron in Cyprus. Their flying on Saturday was of the highest order: one senior officer was heard to say that he had not seen any team in Britain which could do better.

The final effort in the flying programme by New Zealand pilots was a highly spectacular rocket-firing run by three Vampires. The searing roar of the rockets firing, the thuds and clouds of dust as they struck the earth, and over all this the shrill whine of the jet engines, brought the show to a fine close.

Australians’ Display 
Then it was the turn of the Australian visitors to the station to show off their machines. The Canberra, the first of the type built in Australia, and piloted by Flight Lieutenant C. G. Kilsby, with Flight Lieutenant G. Hughes as navigator, rolled off along the runway with a loud, but dignified roar. Slow runs and high speed runs, punctuated with tight, banking turns, showed off the high manoeuvrability of the machine.

The huge dark blue Neptune, piloted by Flight Lieutenant R. E. Graham, was astonishing. Its wheels had hardly cleared the runway before it banked away to fly low over the field, jinking from side to side; and then it climbed away so sharply that it seemed almost to go straight up. The Neptune’s landing was delayed slightly by the departure of the Governor-General for Auckland in the Royal Dakota.

Both before and after the flying display No. 4 hangar on the station, where the static exhibition of the work done by ground units of the Air Force was placed, was packed tight. For the first tune since Air Force stations have held special open days each section arranged a stall and created within the hangar a scene rather like an industries fair. Every stand was manned by helpful airmen, and the thousands of visitors gained an excellent impression of the work done on Air Force stations.

A miniature operations room was conducted by three airwomen, plotting the movements of aircraft above the station on a large table with plastic markers. The Territorial Air Force and its static display grouped around a partially-stripped Mustang in the middle of the hangar floor."

 

 

This event was organised by the NAC Flying Club with the Canterbury Aero Club.

Seventeen aircraft took part, and the crowd was estimated at 10,000 people.

An advert said this event included parachute jumping, aerobatics, aerial topdressing, gliding displays, model aeroplane flying, flights over the city in NAC Douglas airliners and Canterbury Aero Club aircraft.

 

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A total of eight powered aircraft took part.

Clive Nelson, captain of the Christchurch Parachute Club, made two descents from the Tiger Moth from 1,000 feet.

 

 

The Auster suffered engine failure at 1,000 feet and pilot Dennis Thew was forced to put the aircraft through a gorse and wire fence. He and his two passengers were not injured.

 

 

An advert said this event included parachute jumping, aerial lolly scrambles, bombing displays, aerobatics, air races, gliding displays, and joy rides.

 

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The RNZAF de Havilland Devon NZ1824 suffered brake failure upon landing and went off the end of the runway and into a ditch. It was writtn off on the accident. One of the passengers, WAAF Kay, was admitted to hospital for observation. Another Devon was despatched to replace it in the pageant and arrived at 1.00pm.

 

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Douglas Bader was a guest of honour.

150 aircraft were expected to display, including helicopters and seven or eight different topdressing types.

 

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The USAF Globemaster had an incident when the public were allowed into the huge aircraft for a look, and with around 200 people inside too many went down the rear end. The rear fuselage had no bracing in place and the weight of the people caused it to overbalance with the front of the tricycle-undercarriaged aeroplane rearing upwards and the back sinking. This caused the adults and children inside to be thrown about. Around a dozen fell from the ramp onto the tarmac below, and a few received minor injuries.

 

 

The US Navy Sikorsky helicopter accidentally clipped the tip of a pine tree branch with its rotor blades as it descended onto the property, but was not damaged. It and two Bell helicopters were visiting from the USS Atka.

The venue, known as "Woburn", was the property of Mr. V. Riddiford.

The event was organised by the Lower Hutt branch of The Air League.

 

North American Harvard

North American Harvard

North American Harvard

North American Harvard

North American Harvard

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Notes:

 

 

The MDAC Cessna 180 crashed during the pageant after hitting a down-draught. but no-one onboard was hurt.

 

 

More than 110 aircraft attended, and a crowd of around 21,000.

The pageant was officially opened by Viscount Cobham, the Governor General of New Zealand.

 

 

Run jointly by the Canterbury Aero Club and the Rangiora Businessman's Association, this air pageant was staged to raise funds for and awareness of a proposed airfield at Rangiora as a satellite airfield.

The newspaper claimed site used, Mr C.J. Ballagh's farm, was not the site of the proposed permanent airfield - that site was still under negotiation. However looking at the site of the current airfield on a map it looks like the field used was either very close to or that very field after all.

The advert stated Mr Ballagh's field was 1 mile west of Rangiora, with the entrance from River Road off both Lehmans and Merton Roads.

The pageant had joy rides, and aerial lolly scramble, a gliding display, an air race, a topdressing demo, a fencing materil airdrop demo, formation flying, aerobatics and a banner tow demonstration.

Nearly 5,000 people attended the event.

 

 

Guests in Attendance included Air Chief Marshall the Hon. Sir Ralph Cochrane, GBE, KCB, AFC, RAF Retired, the RNZAF's first Chief of Air Staff, attended from England

Group Captain Leonard Trent VC, DFC, attended as pilot of the Valiant bomber

Also Air Marshal The Earl of Bandon KBE, CB, CVO, DSO, Commander in Chief of the Far East Air Force which included the RNZAF's No's 14 and 41 Squadrons in Singapore along with several RAF and RAAF squadrons

And another guest in attendance was the USAF Vice-Chief, General Curtis E. LeMay

From Austalia the RAAF was represented by Chief of the Air Force, Air Marshal F.R.W. Scherger

The USAF Super Sabres came from the From 8th Fighter Bomber Wing. The three aircraft that displayed broke the Sound Barrier during the airshow.

The USAF Hercules's came from the 463rd Troop Carrier Wing.

The USAF KC-97G's and KC-135's were from the 320th Air Refuelling Squadron.

The Vickers Valiants were from No. 90 Squadron RAF.

The RAF's Hastings were from No. 48 Squadron RAF, while the New Zealand example was from No. 40 Squadron, RNZAF, from Whenuapai

The Neptune was from No. 11 Squadron RAAF

 

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Three parachutists jumped over the field, Russell Dellow, Richard Versteegh and Miss Valerie Lowen,

 

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This was the grand opening of Rangiora Airfiled, which has been established by the Canterbury Aero Club and the Rangiora Businessman's Association, as a satellite airfield to Harewood.

The Vampires from Ohakea based out of Wigram and did not land at Rangiora.

Due to strong winds the Christchurch Parachute Club's drop and Paul Legg's Indian Rope Trick from a Piper Super Cub were cancelled from the programme.

A crowd estimatd as between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended the event.

 

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This air pageant was organisd by the Canterbury Brevet Club to raise funds for its proposed memorial centre to be built at the corner of Woolridge Road and Memorial Avenue.

This event was the first time that an RNZAF Canberra had visited New Zealand, having flown down from Tengah in Malaya on a long range navigational exercise.

Approximately 12,000 people attended. The event was marrred by high wind and dust.

 

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This event was attended by the Prime Minister, Walter Nash.

The RNZAF kicked off the flying display at 2.30pm with a mass formation of 12 Harvards, three Devons and the Bristol Freighter.

At 3.10pm a sudden downpour and hailstorm ripped through the Levels Airport at Timaru during the height of the air pageant, causing damage to several aircraft.

Three RNZAF Devons had just touched down when the storm began, but three Harvards and the Bristol Freighter that were on approach to Levels ended up turning around and flying back to Wigram.

And Auster Air Services Ltd Auster suffered multiple holes from from hail, and a Wellington Aero Club Piper was tipped up by the wind, suffering wing damage.

The flying resumed at 3.40pm despite the rain

Although the Sunderland had arrived at Timaru and alighted on the harbour. positioned ready for the air pageant, the adverse weather prevented it from performing its display.

Due ti the weather the Bristol Freighter was unable to perform its planned air drop display, but the act was subsituted by the two Canberras were seen roaring in on the airfield flying line astern and making low passes, with a backdrop of forked lightning all around.

 

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This special expo was held at both Wigram and Harewood on the same day, and was aimed at showing off the work being done in Antarctica.

There were more than 20 aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force on display at Wigram.

The German DC-4 freighter carrying the Czech orchestra’s instruments and baggage had been filling in spare time on the tour by flying N.A.C. charters while it was in New Zealand.

The display in Hangar 7 at Wigram opened at 9 a.m. and closed at 2 p.m.

Parachute jumps were made at Wigram at 9.30 a.m.

Later a ski-equipped Neptune took off from Wigram using jet assist (J.A.T.O.) added thrust.

Parachute jumps were also made at Harewood. The display there lasted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 60 civilian and military planes representing 26 types and six nationalities were at the two airports. They included aircraft from Canada, the United States, Australia. Germany, and Britain.

Most of the US aircraft were from VX-6, the Navy Squadron that based in Christchurch during the summer to support the US Antarctic Program.

The two Rescuemasters were from Pacific Air Rescue Command.

 

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F/O S.G. Hyland and crew
Passengers included Mr. Elai (Australian Press Relations), and Wing Commander Brazier (C.O. of No. 38 (TT) Squadron RAAF)

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Named 'Pearl of the Orient'

USAF RF-101 Voodoo FB-040

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NAC Douglas DC3

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Piper Apache

Piper Apache

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This was a weather-delayed airshow. It was scheduled originally to take place on the 24th of October but had been disrupted by rain and high wind till the next day. The actual official opening ceremony did take place on the 24th but the flying display was delayed till the 25th.

Three Vulcan B.1's of No. 617 Squadron, with an RAF Transport Command Bristol Britannia carrying the support crews, flew from the UK and arrived in New Zealand on the 19th of October 1959. They were based at RNZAF Station Ohakea during their stay in New Zealand. The welcome these bombers and thier support crew got on arrival was described as magnificent, and the Mayor of nearby Palmerston North had put that town's facilities at No. 617 Squadron's disposal.

On the 22nd of October the three Vulcans flew the length of he North and South Islands of new Zealand on a flag waving tour, overflying as many towns and schools as possible, often being directed by requests coming through via the Air Traffic Controllers of where to fly over next. On the 23rd of October the three bombers flew a practice for the air display and then flew a "Vic" formation over Palmerston North.

On the 25th the three Vulcans took part in the air display, but their planned and practiced full routine was dropped due to the gusty weather, so instead the three aircraft did a run in from the south in "Vic" formation. Then one of the three Vulcans, XH498 flown by Squadron Leader Tony Smailes, was meant to break off from the other two aircraft (which were returning to Ohakea) to land at Wellington with the intention of going on static display.

However on approach to land the aircraft encountered a down draft, causing it to sink rapidly and the port undercarriage struck hard on the soft turf at the lip of the airfiled, 150 yards from the concrete runway. This damaged the Vulcan's port undercarriage and wing. Smailes immediately performed an overshoot and then headed straight to Ohakea where an emergency landing was successfully performed on a foam-covered runway, with the undercarriage collapsing but all onboard safely exiting the bomber. This Vulcan remained at Ohakea for some months while repairs were being carried out.

The Sunderland also suffered damage by striking the new runway during their display, caused also by Rongotai's infamous gusts and downdrafts. The Sunderland made it back to Hobsonville with the crew hastily repairing a large hole in the hull en route, which luckily held when they alighted on the harbour. For more on this, click here for a brilliant eye-witness account from the co-pilot, Robin Klitscher.

A USAF Boeing KB-50 aerial tanker was also at Ohakea to sipport the US aircraft but may not have participated in the air display itself. It wore the tail number 0-90326

Special overseas guests attending included New Zealander Air Marshal Sir Denis Barnett RAF (leading the RAF deployment to New Zealand) returning to NZ for the first time since 1925. Also Air Vice Marshal J.G. Davis RAF (Commander of the Vulcan bombers), and Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Pike, who was about to become Chief of Air Staff for the RAF.

Additional information for this entry came from Papers Past articles, and also from the AHSNZ journal via Peter Layne

 

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This was a station open day held because it was a public holiday and the station had many visiting overseas aircraft at the time. No doubt most RNZAF types and many visitors were seen on static and flying displays but at this stage only the two Vulcans are known to have flown.

Additional information for this entry came from the AHSNZ journal via Peter Layne