Dawn Parade

Davenz13 Wed Apr 24, 2019 5:44 pm

Went to the Anzac Dawn Parade as usual this morning. There was some thought that the crowd may not be as big this year owing to a possible terrorist threat but I'm glad to say the crowd was one of the biggest I've seen. Not only in Palmerston North (my home town) but looking at the later TV coverage there were big crowds everywhere. As I was writing this the unmistakable sound of a Merlin could be heard so I raced outside to watch our local Spitfire doing a flyby for the Civic Anzac services in the district. It is based at the nearby Ohakea Airbase and along with a Grumman Avenger, stored in the same hangar, is often seen in the sky. With a bit of luck both will be flying at lunchtime as they have done in the past. Here's hoping.

Picture of model Avenger I bought some years back. It is in the designation of Flight 19 (subsequently known as the Lost Patrol) leader, Lieutenant Charles C. Taylor. The shop where I purchased it had all five of the planes of the patrol but as I was flying back to New Zealand there was no way I would get all five planes on as hand luggage. So I chose the Flight Leaders plane and a very understanding hostess kindly safely stowed the model for me.

**RknRusty** Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:39 pm

Nice model, Dave. One of my regulars on the Stunthangar Hangout show is an avid plastic modeler named pat Kennedy. He has built over a thousand planes and cars with remarkable skill. Thanks for showing us yours. Go NZ!
Rusty

Oldenginerod Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:14 pm

Ah, Anzac Day. (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps). Commemorating the landing of allied troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, 1915.
Normally I'd be in town at the commemorative march but a little under the weather at the moment. Just watching the commemorations on TV and disappointed that the numbers of those attending seem to be down, probably due to the fear of threatened Islamist terrorist attacks. On heightened allert following the recent horrendous Christchurch mosque attacks and Sri Lanka Church bombings. Sad that we're forced to step back from what we hold dear due to other people's stupidity. On top of that, the Turkish president recently threatening Australians and New Zealanders stating “Your grandparents came here… and they returned in caskets. Have no doubt we will send you back like your grandfathers.” I fear for the hundreds of inocent folk who have gathered at ANZAC Cove for the dawn service. The Turkish government has banned Turks from attending. That makes me nervous.
Rod.
ANZAC DAY

Davenz13 Wed Apr 24, 2019 9:18 pm

Hmm I added some pics of the Spitfire and Avenger to the post but they seemed to have vanished into the place that vanished stuff goes.
You would think that place would be easy to find because it's so full of my stuff.
Anyway this time lucky.
Of course now that I have the camera ready with the big telephoto lens on it the sky is clear so here's some pics of the past flyby's

Spitfire at Milson, Palmerston North's civilian Airport 2015.

In the first photo if you look closely you can see the Hawk to the left of the Spitfire's tail.
In the second photo you might be able to see the Canada geese above the rear of the plane.

Spitfire at FeildAir Engineering (Milson) 2012 undergoing maintenance

Avenger in it's hangar at Ohakea Airbase 2015

Mike1484 Thu Apr 25, 2019 12:25 am

Looks like a Mk Vii or early Mk VIII Spitfire . One of the best looking fighters ever made .

Mike 1484

Davenz13 Thu Apr 25, 2019 4:25 am

Hi Mike
I'm no expert on them so I got this from it's website.

Built at Castle Bromwich as a LF Mk IX C with a Rolls Royce Merlin 66. Part of an Air Ministry order for 1,500 Spitfires dated 6 June 1943.
Delivered to 9 Maintenance Unit at Cosford on 28th September 1944 and then to 82 Maintenance Unit at Lichfield on 13th October 1944.

There's quite a documented history of the plane at the link below

http://www.spitfirepv270.co.nz/history.htm

rsv1cox Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:24 am

I am privileged to be in good company here.

Thanks all for helping to make my day.

Bob

Mike1484 Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:47 pm

Davenz13 ,

Thanks for the input ,. That long scoop under the cowl thru me off but I'm not an expert on the Spitfire . I just love to see these old war birds still flying and yet feel bad for all the life that was lost on all sides . I like the round rudder Spits best , Don't know why ? Thanks again for your input on this bird ...

Mike1484

Dave P. Thu Apr 25, 2019 7:57 pm

rsv1cox wrote:I am privileged to be in good company here.

Thanks all for helping to make my day.

Bob

Plus 1! Nothing sounds like a Rolls Merlin!

Oldenginerod Fri Apr 26, 2019 5:47 am

Dave P. wrote:
rsv1cox wrote:I am privileged to be in good company here.

Thanks all for helping to make my day.

Bob

Plus 1! Nothing sounds like a Rolls Merlin!

I agree. That's me!!

Dave P. Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:45 am

Wow Rod, that's awesome! Do you have a video or two posted on YouTube? I saw a couple a few months back. What sweet music!

fredvon4 Fri Apr 26, 2019 11:15 am

Probably the most appropriately named engine in History

BTW if you like large scale model airplane but went electrickery to fly them...they sell a sound module and speakers with a very sophisticated sound file for many various engines including the Merlin from backfiring start, to idle, run up, take off, fast pass etc etc....

I knew one dude in my old RC club who just bought the sound set up to listen to at home as he played with his train set....imagining war birds doing bombing and strafing runs on his WWII diorama

Oldenginerod Fri Apr 26, 2019 5:17 pm

Dave P. wrote:Wow Rod, that's awesome! Do you have a video or two posted on YouTube? I saw a couple a few months back. What sweet music!

Not aware of any videos of this engine. Belongs to a mate of mine. Built it up from a couple of scrap engines. Mainly a Mosquito RR engine with a few Packard parts adapted to fit. Made what he didn't have. Very cleaver guy.

Had a day at my place where he ran it up for the neighbourhood.

Davenz13 Sat Apr 24, 2021 5:42 pm

Went to Dawn Parade this morning as always which was very well attended.
Rod. you’ll be pleased to know we sang the first verse of your National Anthem followed by ours. Hand Shake

Walked back home for a good fry-up breakfast the waited for the 10am service fly-by.
Had heard it was to be the Grumman Avenger and the Spitfire but only the Spitfire showed up with a T-6C Texan II escort.

Still looked cool.

The unmistakable silhouette.

Oldenginerod Sat Apr 24, 2021 7:54 pm

Good on ya Dave. Always nice to have a fly-over on Anzac Day. We're regional so that sort of action happens over the city. Unfortunately I didn't get to the dawn service or march today.
Our local RSL service usually has a local Kiwi sing your National Anthem, in both Maori and English. I'm not multi-lingual so it's all bit confusing to me, but it's certainly nice to maintain the brotherhood between the nations.

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