Guest: John Hansen Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 16th of June 2019 Released: 24th of July 2019 Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes 35 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood sat down with aeronautical engineer and recreational pilot John Hansen, in his hangar at his private strip at Pokuru. John talks about his life in aviation, from watching the topdressers as a kid [...]

WONZ 201 – John Hansen

Aviation

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

Guest: Tom Williams
Host: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 28th of April 2024
Released:  9th of June 2024
Duration:  27  mins 36 secs



This episode is the third of the recordings from the recent Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet, hosted by Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell of Legend Aviation at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, on Sunday 28th of April 2024.



Tom Williams is a legend in the Wairarapa. He was responsible for setting up the Sport And Vintage Aviation Society in 1974 with Bob McGarry and Bill Dittmer, which eventually absorbed the Golden Age Flying Society from Blenheim. SVAS later became the Wairarapa Flying Tigers. 



And Tom led the team that built the SVAS’s big hangar in 1978, and later he had the building moved onto the airfield that would become the George Hood Museum. This is the same building that the WONZ Forum Meet was held in, now known as the Legend Aviation Auditorium.



He talks about the inspiration that got him into aviation, and learning to fly Tiger Moths with the legendary instructor and ex-RNZAF WWII Mosquito pilot, Beryck Dalcom, at the Wanganui Aero Club. He then joined the Marlborough Aero Club, and then the Southland Aero Club with Ian Ritchie.



In 1967 he bought his first Tiger Moth, ZK-BAT, the first of a number of aircraft Tom has owned over the years. He talks about his adventures in various types, and he talks about how he saved DH89 Dominie ZK-AKY from going overseas.  



Tom also talks about his great friend Tim Wallis, and how he led a team that created an airshow in 1999, which in 2001 was renamed the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. Tom was chairman of the organising committee for many years, and he has many memories of the airshow.



And he speaks about his fond memories of the WWII veterans that used to come along to the airshows.



Quick Links:
• Legend Aviation
• Legend Aviation Facebook Page
• The Wings Over New Zealand Forum
• Wairarapa Flying Tigers
• Wings Over Wairarapa



The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud



Thanks to Allan Udy for the loan of his audio recording equipment.



Tom Williams at the Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet (Dave Homewood photo)



Tom Williams at the Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet (Phil Treweek photo)

WONZ 307 – Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet 3:  Tom Williams

Guest: Stephen Davies Howard
Host: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 28th of April 2024
Released:  1st of June 2024
Duration: 1 hour 2 mins 37 secs



This episode is the second of the recordings from the recent Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet, hosted by Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell of Legend Aviation at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, on Sunday 28th of April 2024.



 Stephen Davies Howard was a Royal Air Force fast jet pilot, flying McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms and Panavia Tornados during the Cold War, and the latter in the Gulf War. Steve joined the RAF in 1980 straight from school and the Air Training Corps, and following flying training he flew fighter jets. He was also an airshow display pilot in the Phantom. Later in his career he moved into strategic reconnaissance, and various British Ministry of Defence roles. After commanding squadrons and stations, he was posted to Washington D.C. in the USA as the Air Attaché at the British Embassy, where he was able to fly a number of the US fighter aircraft types including the F-15 and F-16. He eventually left the RAF as a Group Captain, and joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he ended up as the Training Group Commander, also with the rank of Group Captain. Since leaving the RNZAF in 2010 Steve has run his own businesses, and is Deputy Commissioner of TAIC.



In this presentation,  Stephen focuses his talk on his years as a young Phantom pilot during the Cold War years of the 1980s.



Quick Links:
• Legend Aviation
• Legend Aviation Facebook Page
• The Wings Over New Zealand Forum




The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud



Thanks to Allan Udy for the loan of his audio recording equipment.



An RAF Phantom intercepting and escorting a Soviet bomber during the Cold War.



Stephen Davies Howard (photo Dave Homewood)



Stephen Davies Howard (photo Phil Treweek)



Stephen Davies Howard and the audience (photo Phil Treweek)

WONZ 306 – Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet 2: Stephen Davies Howard

Guest: Bevan Dewes of Legend Aviation
Host: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 28th of April 2024
Released:  25th of May 2024
Duration:  32 mins 19 secs



This episode is the first of the recordings from the recent Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet. This was a gathering of members of the Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum, hosted by Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell of Legend Aviation at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, on Sunday 28th of April 2024.



Bevan talks about his and Lucy’s experiences in aviation, and about the aeroplanes in their collection. He also talks about the set-up of their business, Legend Aviation, which they set up in 2023 to fly rides in their Harvard NZ1044 and Tiger Moths ZK-BFS and ZK-ANL.



Bevan takes the group outside to his hangar where he gives a guided tour of the Legend Aviation aeroplanes, Harvards NZ1044 and NZ1033, Tiger Moths ZK-BFS and ZK-ANL, and Chipmunk N861WP.



Quick Links:
• Legend Aviation
• Legend Aviation Facebook Page
• The Wings Over New Zealand Forum
• Wairarapa Flying Tigers
• Wairarapa Flying Tigers Facebook Page



Connected Past Episodes:
• Episode 114 – WOA – Temora Part One – featuring Bevan Dewes
• WONZ 197 – Christmas Forum 2018 – featuring Bevan Dewes
• WONZ 200 – 200th WONZ Show – featuring Bevan Dewes
• WONZ 218 – Lucy Newell – Canadian Bush Flying featuring Lucy Newell
• WONZ 250 – 10th Anniversary Special – featuring Bevan Dewes
• WONZ 273 – Harvard NZ1044 – featuring Bevan Dewes



The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud.



Thanks to Allan Udy for the loan of his audio recording equipment.



Bevan Dewes in front of his Harvard NZ1044, talking about the Legend Aviation aeroplanes.



WONZ Forum members listening to Bevan.











Harvard NZ1044.



NZ1044.



Tiger Moth ZK-ANL at Feilding.



Lucy Newell and Ryan Dewes filling Tiger Moth ZK-BFS “Queenie” at Feilding.



Bevan and Lucy with the Harvards at sunset in front of their hangar and building.



Photos from the event from Phil Treweek:



































WONZ 305 – Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet 1: Bevan Dewes

Guest: Roy Boston – de Havilland Apprentice and Engineer, and RNZAF Instructor



Host: Dave Homewood



Recorded: 26th of April 2024



Released:  30th of April 2024



Duration:  1 hour 34 minutes 45 seconds



In this episode Dave Homewood talks with 96-year-old Roy Boston, who was born and grew up in London, and became an apprentice at the de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgeware. He ended up working in various roles testing engines and propellers that were being developed for aircraft for both de Havilland and for other companies. He was involved with all sorts of aeroplanes, and witnessed other projects under development including jet engines and turboprops. He also reveals some interesting stories and secrets about the company’s projects, an may well be the last living witness to some of those developments of the 1940s by de Havilland.



He talks about flying in all sorts of aeroplanes during test flying too, from Lancaster and Halifax bombers to the rarities like the Vickers Warwick and the de Havilland Hornet!



After leaving the company in 1950 he emigrated to New Zealand, to rejoin his family who’d moved here some years beforehand. He ended up working first as a civilian instructor on engines with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and then was commissioned as a serving officer in the Education branch of the RNZAF.



These days Roy is a celebrated artist, and he also volunteers as a guide at the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka, Blenheim.



Quick Links:
• Roy’s artworks
• The Aviation Heritage Centre, Omaka



Thanks to: Huge thanks to Roy’s son Dean Boston for setting this interview up via Zoom, and sitting in to prompt facts when needed, and also thanks to Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell for the use of their office to record this while I was staying with them.



The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud.



Above: Roy Boston on the day of the interview, aged 96 and sharp as a tack. (Dean Boston photo)



Above: Roy Boston at Dog3 ROC,1945. (Roy Boston collection)



Above: The Ghost Lancastrian. (Roy Boston collection)



Above: Roy carrying out the engine cylinder vibration test at full chat on the DHC-1 Chipmunk prototype. Note the ballast in the back seat as discussed, and also the Vickers Warwick bomber in the background. (Roy Boston collection)







Above: The Askania Hand Vibrograph 1.



Above: The de Havilland Goblin on the test bed. (Roy Boston collection)

WONZ 304 – Roy Boston

Guests: Larry Hill, Andrew White and Tony Hoskins



Host: Dave Homewood



Recorded: 6th of March 2024



Published: 24th of March 2024



Duration: 2 hours, 57 seconds



In this episode Dave Homewood marks the 80th Anniversary of The Great Escape by talking with Larry Hill, Andy White and Tony Hoskins.



The Great Escape is the name given to a breakout of Allied prisoners from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III, at Sagan, West Silesia in Germany, on the night of the 24th-25th of March 1944. A total of 76 prisoners, all members of the Royal Air Force and Allied Air Forces, managed to escape through a tunnel before the tunnel entrance was discovered by a German guard. Over the next few weeks 73 of the escapees were rounded up and recaptured after a massive manhunt. Three escaped. And of those recaptured, the Gestapo murdered 50 of the airmen, upon Hitler’s orders. Three New Zealanders were among the murdered airmen, and other Kiwis were involved in the escape. They’re all discussed here.



Andy and Tony give a great background to the prisoner of war camp and the escape. And Larry tells some stories of the New Zealanders involved that he knew personally.







Above: Larry Hill



Above: Tony Hoskins



Above: Andy White



Above: Porokoru Patapu “John” Pohe, RNZAF Great Escaper, and murdered by the Gestapo.



Above: Pilot Officer Arnold Christensen, RNZAF Great Escaper, and murdered by the Gestapo. From The Weekly News issue 25 November 1942, via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.



Above: Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley “Willy” Williams DFC, New Zealand-born Australian RAF Great Escaper, and murdered by the Gestapo.



Above: Image from the Edith Lyle personal album collection. “F/L Mick Shand.” No. 485 Squadron pilot Flight Lieutenant Michael Moray Shand DFC sitting in the cockpit of his Spitfire. Unknown location. Handwritten on the reverse of the print “F/L Shand DFC. 485 Sqd RNZAF. Who was lost on a Rhubarb over Holland, he was Flight Commander of B Flight. Fought through “the Battle of Britain” and had many great successes. He was lost in November 1943, but there may be a chance of him being a prisoner of war.” NB. Shand was involved in The Great Escape while interred in Stalag Luft 3. Image via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.



Above: Squadron Leader Leonard Trent DFC, pilot with No. 487 Squadron. Taken before his Victoria Cross action. Enlargement from PR10415, via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.



Above: No. 485 Squadron’s Sergeant Jack Rae, crouching on snowy ground. Unknown location in England. This was published in Houlton’s autobiography ‘Spitfire Strikes. A New Zealand Fighter Pilot’s Story’, published 1985 by John Murray Ltd. London. Copy negative from the John Arthur Houlton personal collection.  Image via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.



Above: Jack Rae, RNZAF fighter pilot, and Larry Hill with the parachute Jack used when he baled out and was captured.



Above: Jack Rae’s parachute, Caterpillar Club card and the paper with the name of the German pilot who shot him down, now all framed by Larry Hill.



Above: The books mentioned in this discussion, left is Sandy’s Spitfire by Tony Hoskins, and right is Extremes of Fortune by Andrew White. See links below.



Quick Links:
• Born To Fly – A documentary on John Pohe 
• The Great Escape Stalag Luft III Facebook Group
• Sandy’s Spitfire Book by Tony Hoskins
• Spitfire AA810 – Restoring Sandy’s Spitfire On Facebook
• Extremes of Fortune by Andrew White
• For You The War Is Over Podcast, cohosted by Tony Hoskins
• The Imperial War Museum’s Interview with Jack Rae



Related Episodes:
• WONZ 6 – Larry Hill
• WONZ 59 – Forum Meet 2014 – Part 1
• WONZ 281 – Wings Over Britain: Sandy’s Spitfire



The tune at the end is the main theme from The Great Escape (1963) by Elmer Bernstein.

WONZ 201 – John Hansen

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