WONZ 181 – The Search For Tiny’s Corsair

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 30th of October 2016

Released: 9th of June 2018

Duration: 52  minutes 40 seconds

This episode features a talk given by Matt Hayes about his and his brother Dan’s hunt for the missing Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair NZ5517. The fighter-bomber vanished somewhere into the thick forested hill country of the West Coast of the South Island, on the 11th of November 1944 whilst on a flight between Westport and RNZAF Station Harewood in Christchurch. The aircraft and it’s pilot, Pilot Officer Brian “Tiny” Barstow, have been missing ever since, despite extensive searches over the years.

Matt talks about the drive that he and his brother have had to try to locate the lost aircraft, which has become a sort of holy grail for them. Inspired by the research of Chris Rudge and Gavin Grimmer and fired up by the stories, rumours and  mysteries surrounding this lost wreck, they have made many flights over the region and many treks into the deep bush country. This is a fascinating talk, given by Matt at the last Wigram WONZ Forum Meet.

For photos used by Matt in the talk see Gavin Grimmer’s page here:

•  Find Lost Aircraft – NZ5517

Above: An RNZAF Corsair, the type being searched for