Recent content by watchkeeper

I don't know the anything about flying, my interest is sailing and I build and sail superyachts. The story of Richard Pearse and what he acheived is typical of many Kiwi firsts. I pasted below one of several accounts of RP history. Source: R Pearse\Richard Pearse - inventor and aviator...

I was wondering if many of the forum members had heard of New Zealander Richard Pearse a young farmer from South Otago, New Zealand. Pearse was a guenius engineer inventer with no formal education. In 1902 he built a mono plane with bamboo and linen, designed and built a 2 cylinder horizontal...

Hello Shinpachi I have many more scanned photos of Bomber Command WWII bases with various RNZAF aircraft in both Europe and Pacific campaigns. With regards to military history my main interest for many years has been traditional forging of edged weapons and metallurgical developments of...

Hi Shinpachi Thanks for the info. Pleased to learn the aircraft were recovered and I remember the Catholic mission buildings being there. It was an incredable sight seeing all those aircraft sitting there surrounded by jungle. I noted the reference to equipment left behind, on...

Following my previous post. In the informal pic with the bomber and car my father is third from right

Thanks for all your replies Re. the fighter over Rabaul, my error it was 1944, according to my fathers flight log the fighter had attacked their aircraft as they were returning from a sea patrol. One of RNZAF 205 Squadron's tasks was also bombing any airstrip with reminant jap aircraft. 205...

I did have pics taken on a second trip in with my son then 10yrs old. At the time Dion (son) was fascinated by one fighter he sat in (after checking for snakes) that had several bullet holes thru the pilot seat. The seats had no armour plate the heavy calibre rounds probably 50 cals had punched...

Hi all, I'm not a collector of military equipement but I thought someone might be interested in the info. During the 70-80's I was based on Bougainville Is then later relocated to PNG Southern, Central and Eastern Highlands regions to drive various projects. One week I chartered a...