Many Planes Coming For Rongotai Opening

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29017, 5 October 1959, Page 12

Many Planes Coming For Rongotai Opening

(New Zealand Press Association)

Three Royal Air Force Vulcan bombers will arrive at Ohakea a fortnight from tomorrow to start the build-up of the most impressive air strength ever assembled in New Zealand. Planes from three countries will assemble over five days and have a day to spare before taking part in the pageant celebrating the opening of Wellngton airport. The Vulcans will be preceded on Sunday, October 18, by the arrival of two United States Air Force Lockheed Hercules transporters and one Globemaster. The Hercules aircraft are expected to go to the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Woodbourne, while the Globemaster will be based at Harewood. The Vulcans are the only scheduled arrival for the Monday. Another American Hercules will arrive on Tuesday, October 20, and a Beverley troop-carrier from the United Kingdom will arrive the same day.

The Wednesday arrivals will be two R 866 Douglas Destroyer fighter bombers, and four Voodoo supersonic fighters and reconnaissance planes They will come into Ohakea. Thursday will be the big day. The Super Sabre supersonic fighters, one KBSOJ and three Hercules transporters are expected to arrive in United States Fifth Air Force markings. A Royal Australian Air Force Hercules and three R.A.A.F. Canberras are expected on this day also. The last to arrive, on the Thursday, will be a De Havilland Comet. American fliers and maintenance men stationed at Ohakea will number about 130, and about 116 R.A.F. men will be accommodated there too. There will also be 18 R.A.A.F. men. One of the main problems connected with the landings of many of the planes at Wellington airport for the static display on the Sunday concerns accommodation. The organisers may yet call for billets for some of the airmen.