Auckland Research

In the past week I have made some good progress. Firstly I visited Mr Noel Arnott, who was one of the founding pilots of No.3 (GR) Squadron in 1941, and he stayed with the squadron through the periods of Baffins and Vincents at Harewood, and then to Whenuapai on Oxfords and Hudsons, and then he left New Zealand with the squadron when they flew north to Plaine des Gaiacs, then to Espiritu Santo and then to Guadalcanal. Following a tour with No. 3 GR there, he came home with an illness and was out of flying for a little while, but was then posted to the newly formed Pacific Ferry Flight at Hawaii, and he became the first pilot to touch down in New Zealand with a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura. Later in the war he commanded the Detached Flight at Guadalcanal, ferrying troops and mail and cargo around the Pacific.

Later in the week in two visits tothe Auckland War Memorial Museum I have been able to photograph several flying logbooks of GR Squadron pilots, including engineering officer/pilot George Carter of the Wellington (GR) Squadron, 8GR Vincent pilot Harry Kinder who was sadly lost on a patrol from Gisborne, and 1GR pilot Graham Hamlin who sadly crashed a Hudson into the hangar at Whenuapai and lost his life. It all adds a little morte detail to the big picture. The staff at the Auckland War Memorial Museum are absolutely excellent, really on to it, and genuinely interested in the project and willing to help.

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~ by grsquadrons on September 28, 2010.

Posted in Reconnaissance Squadron Project
Tags: Auckland War Memorial Museum, Baffin, Blackburn, General Reconnaissance, Gisborne, Guadalcanal, hangar, Harewood, Hawaii, Hudson, Lockheed, patrol, Ventura, Vickers, Vincent, Wellington (General Reconnaissance) Squadron, Whenuapai

3 Responses to “Auckland Research”

Hi Dave. Read your other blog looking for first names of RNZAF personnel. Re AC2 HW Hooper, Armourer. This is likely the same peson who ended the war as Flt Lt HW Hooper, Pilot, 75 Sqn. Check out his name on 75 Sqn history on Wikikpeadia. I know one of his sons. He is actively interested in his fathers service history, and may be interested in your book and research.

Richard Kerr said this on December 28, 2011 at 9:47 pm | Reply
- Hi Richard,
  
  Thanks for that. I have subsequenly discovered that AC2 H.W. Hooper was AC2 Herbert Wilfred Hooper NZ40111. He served as an Armourer with the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron at Whenuapai, then went ot England and continued as an Armourer on Lysanders with No. 26 Squadron, and then Spitfires with No. 485 (NZ) Squadron. He then went on to become a pilot, having already flown pre-war with the Hawera Aero Club. After his flying training he served with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, flying 33 ops in Lancasters (and perhaps Stirlings?).
  
  I assume this must be the same man. Please can you get the son to email me? My email is dave_daasnz@hotmail.com as I would be keen to correspond with him.
  
  Thanks for getting in touch.
  Dave
  
  grsquadrons said this on December 28, 2011 at 10:09 pm | Reply
Thats the person. Have forwarded your email to his son so you may hear from him.

Rich said this on January 17, 2012 at 9:34 pm | Reply

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