RNZAF Tiger Moth, Harvard join Air Force Museum
Two former RNZAF aircraft – a de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth (NZ662) and a North American Harvard (NZ1015) – have been transferred from RNZAF Base Ohakea to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram, Christchurch.
Collections manager Darren Hammond said both aircraft had fascinating back
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National Business Review
19-05-2025
- National Business Review
RNZAF Tiger Moth, Harvard join Air Force Museum
Two former RNZAF aircraft – a de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth (NZ662) and a North American Harvard (NZ1015) – have been transferred from RNZAF Base Ohakea to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram, Christchurch. Collections manager Darren Hammond said both aircraft had fascinating back
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Veteran pilot Derek Williams retires after decades of Anzac Day flyovers
Now he is retiring. Where it all started At the end of World War II, Williams saw the Americans build the Waharoa aerodrome close to his hometown of Matamata and a passion for flying was born. An 18-year-old Williams obtained his private licence in 1955, eventually acquiring enough hours in the cockpit to qualify for a commercial licence in 1960. He gained his licence in the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, he said. Despite having qualifications as a commercial pilot, he never entered the Royal New Zealand Air Force; instead, he enrolled in the New Zealand Army during the 20th Compulsory Military Training. 'It bugged me, I had my commercial licence and they did not even look at me.' Despite that, Williams said he enjoyed his time in the army as a radio operator and gunner in Valentine tanks. 'It taught you discipline, you learnt to behave yourself.' The New Zealand Government discontinued the programme in 1972. Williams served three months in the army before finding work as a top-dressing pilot in 1961. He amassed more than 592,000 take-offs and landings and sprayed 363,448 tonnes of fertiliser across 57,000ha. A top-dressing pilot is a specialised agricultural pilot who flies aircraft (usually small fixed-wing planes) to spread fertilisers, lime or sometimes seeds over farmland. He retired from top-dressing in 2014, after 53 years on the job. 'I was 77 when I retired, now at 87, I am an old b***tard.' During his career, Williams top-dressed in Malaysia and delivered and flew planes to Norfolk Island and the Solomon Islands. Advertise with NZME. All the while escaping the odd crash, he said. In 2000, he wrote off a Fletcher plane in Cambridge. 'The engine seemed to lose power, and I left the strip. I hit something, and it went all dark. When I stopped, I thought I must be dead. 'But I opened the canopy, the engine was ripped out, and I had gone through a trough, and the muck on the bottom had covered the aeroplane.' A second crash in 2001 in Northern Borneo resulted in his plane bursting into flames. 'It was on fire within about 20 minutes and was a heap of ashes.' The early years of top-dressing were a dangerous time; 100 pilots died during 1949-1980, he said. Anzac Day flyovers Williams flew over the Mount Maunganui Dawn Service for 35 years before becoming president of the Mount RSA in 2016. His first Anzac Day fly-by was in 1980. He did a handful more following his stint as Mount RSA president, but could not get behind the controls as his medical clearance was revoked this year. 'I had to get a mate to fly the aeroplane.' Williams wants to get his medical clearance back but is unsure how that conversation with the doctor will go. 'The doctor said to me. How many pilots at 87 are still flying?' Williams said. 'How the hell would I know?'
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
More historic planes land in Wigram museum collection
The Harvard will be displayed once repairs are completed. Photo: Air Force Museum of New Zealand The Air Force Museum of NZ in Christchurch has acquired two more historic former RNZAF planes. Following their retirement from flying, NZ662, a de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, and NZ1015, a North American Harvard, will be transported by road from the RNZAF Base Ohakea to Christchurch next week to join the museum's national collection in Wigram. Both aircraft have fascinating back stories, having been used to train hundreds of pilots and starring in dozens of air shows. "Harvard NZ1015 is particularly important - we believe it is the longest serving aircraft of its type in the air force," Air Force Museum of NZ collections manager Darren Hammond said. "It has been in RNZAF ownership since it arrived in September 1942 and its flying career spanned 76 years. "No less cool is the Tiger Moth, which has had a very interesting career in RNZAF and private ownership. It even lived in Fiji for a while." The Tiger Moth was built at the Morris Motors factory in Cowley, England, and then shipped to New Zealand in July 1940. It served with No 2 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at RNZAF Station Whenuapai and No 4 EFTS at RNZAF New Plymouth before being transferred to the civil register in January 1946. It was converted into an agricultural topdressing configuration in 1951 and this was followed by various changes in ownership and export to Fiji in 1965. The aircraft returned to New Zealand in 1973, eventually making its way back into RNZAF ownership in 1985. It was then fully restored to flying condition with the first post-rebuild flight in January 1987. The Tiger Moth will go on display in the near future. Photo: Air Force Museum of New Zealand The North American Harvard NZ1015 arrived in New Zealand in September 1942. It was assembled and brought on charge at RNZAF Station Hobsonville. It was initially assigned to No 2 Fighter Operational Training Unit at RNZAF Station Ohakea until late 1944. It was then transferred post-war to the No 3 Territorial Air Force Squadron. The aircraft remained part of the RNZAF training fleet until 1973, when it was placed into storage at RNZAF Base Wigram. NZ1015 was transferred to the RNZAF Historic Flight in July 1979. It was damaged in a forced landing in 2018 and has not flown since then. NZ662 will be on display at the museum in the near future, while NZ1015 will be available to view once its repairs are completed.
