TOPDRESSING FROM AIR
Pioneer Planes To Be Sold (New Zeaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 13. Three R.N.Z.A.F. planes that played a large part in establishing aerial topdressing in New Zealand are- being sold for tender by the Government Stores Board The aircraft Grumman Avengers. were retired from the Air Force in June after more than 16 years .service. Named the Avenger because they were one of the first planes produced by America after Pearl Harbour, they first came into the news during the Battle of Midway in 1942 when they destroyed much of the Japanese invasion fleet.
The R.N.Z.A.F. had two squadrons equipped with Avengers in the Pacific theatre in 1943-44. They were No. 30 and No. 31 squadrons which served at Bougainville and Espiritu Santo Although most of the Avengers were disposed of in 1944, five were retained and the final three were used at Ohakea when the task of experimenting with aerial topdressing was given to the Air Force in 1948
Extensive and conclusive trials were carried out in farms in the Wairarapa Then the planes were returned to Ohakea to tow target drogues for the Army and Navy.
The Avengers will be sold minus their engines although these and many other spare parts are available on separate tenders.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 10
Word Count
211TOPDRESSING FROM AIR Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 10
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