NZDF-Serials Auster

NZDF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History

RNZAF Auster J5 & T7
NZ1701 to NZ1707

An ADF-Serials Website

Serial	c/n	Delivered	Aircraft History
NZ1701	2094	17 September 1947	Purchased from the Auster factory as an engineless Auster J/5 airframe for 1200 pounds and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. Assembled at Ohakea during November 1947. This was the first New Zealand Auster to be fitted with floats and it was operated on them at various times. Originally allocated to Communications Flight, Rongotai and used on Forestry Fire Patrols based at Rotorua. To No.6 Flying Boat Squadron, Hobsonville 15 May 1952-January 1956. The aircraft was fitted with floats during this period after making it's first flight in this configuration during September 1952. Declared surplus on 17 January 1956 and sold by GSB tender number 6232 dated 27 February 1956 for 730 pounds to Piako Aero Club. Entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-BQL and first flew as a civilian aircraft on 31 March 1958. The floats from this aircraft were sold by the RNZAF to G. Grieg of Newcastle, NSW, Australia who later used them on VH-PMG. To F. Thurlow, Balfour in 1961. To D. Mitchell and G. Murray, Timaru 17 December 1969. To F. Prouting, South Canterbury 24 January 1985. Damaged in accident at Omaka Aerodrome on 08 October 1988. To M. Prouting, Peel Forest 17 July 2001. Currently airworthy in New Zealand as ZK-BQL.
NZ1702	2095	1947	Purchased from the Auster factory as an engineless Auster J/5 airframe for 1200 pounds and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. Originally allocated to Communications Flight, Rongotai and used on Forestry Patrols based at Rotorua. To FTS, Wigram June 1957. To No.1 Reconnaissance Squadron in 1963. To NO.3 Battlefield Support Squadron. Last Auster to be withdrawn from use by RNZAF in August 1969. Sold by GSB tender 08 June 1970 and entered New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register on 28 July 1970 with J. Crandle and Partners, Warkworth as ZK-DBU. To B. Peet and Partners, Auckland 05 February 1988. De-registered 17 January 1991 as withdrawn from use. Re-registered to B. Peet and Partners, Auckland 19 March 2001 as ZK-DBU. To Austair, North Shore Airfield on 02 December 2003. Currently airworthy in New Zealand in it's original RNZAF colours.
NZ1703	2096	1947	Purchased from the Auster factory as an engineless Auster J/5 airframe for 1200 pounds and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. Originally allocated to the Communications Flight based at Ohakea. To FTS, Wigram June 1957. Crashed in bush near Eyre River, Canterbury on 20 August 1959 while carrying out a photographic sortie. Crew escaped unhurt but the aircraft was too badly damaged to be worth salvaging. Written off books at Wigram on 18 November 1959. Remains of aircraft still thought to be at crash site which is inaccessible to surface transport.
NZ1704	2801	1947	Purchased from the Auster factory as an engineless Auster J/5 airframe for 1200 pounds and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. Originally allocated to the Communications Flight based at Ohakea. Loaned to James Aviation from 13 February-05 June 1952 for Forestry Fire Patrol and was registered as ZK-AVY during that time. To FTS, Wigram June 1957. To No.1 Reconnaissance Squadron in 1963. Later to No.3 Squadron for Army co-operation work. Damaged while attempting to land on airstrip at Maungatawhiri on 04 December 1968 and written off. Sold by GSB tender on 30 April 1969. New owner was unable to pay for repairs and aircraft was onsold to Airwork (NZ) Ltd and re-entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-AVY. Further details unknown.
NZ1705	2802	1947	Purchased from the Auster factory as an engineless Auster J/5 airframe for 1200 pounds and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. First flight in New Zealand was a 30 minute test flight on 25 August 1948. Originally allocated to the Communications Flight based at Ohakea. Operated on floats at various times. With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron at Hobsonville from 14 August 1952-12 January 1956. Stored from 13 January 1956 until 21 May 1956. Declared surplus on 08 August 1956 and sold by GSB tender number 3886 to G. Greig, Broadmeadow, NSW, Australia for 650 pounds. Entered the Australian Civil Aircraft Register as VH-PMG on 04 June 1957 with G.Greig, Adamstown, NSW. Seen at Rose Bay Sydney on floats and still in RNZAF colours on 20 March 1957. Struck off register 20 July 1961 as withdrawn from use. Restored and added to register as VH-ADS 03 April 1963 to N. Simon, Yagoona, NSW. To A. Prentice, Parramatta, NSW 21 August 1965. To MacQuarrie Air Services Bathurst, NSW on 10 March 1967 using floats ex NZ1701. To H. McLeod, Kempsey, NSW 15 October 1971. Currently airworthy in Australia as VH-ADS.
NZ1706	2803	1947	Purchased from the Auster factory as an engineless Auster J/5 airframe for 1200 pounds and shipped to New Zealand in 1947. Remained stored at Ohakea until October 1949 when it was assembled and flown to Woodbourne for short term storage. Operated on floats at various times. To No.1 Squadron, Whenuapai. Crashed at Papakura on 05 December 1953 after being landed in a hedge by a trainee Army pilot. The aircraft was written off the books at Whenuapai and on 06 December 1953 and sold by GSB tender number 5443 dated 04 May 1954 to Aircraft Supplies Ltd, Palmerston North. Rebuilt using additional parts from an Aiglet that was damaged aboard ship during transit to New Zealand. Entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-BGT. To Rolvin Airways. To Southern Scenic Air Services. To W. Nolan and Sons Ltd, Hokitika in 1957. Crashed at the mouth of the Cascade River, Westland on 27 February 1960. The aircraft failed to get airborne from the strip and crashed into the sea. One of the 3 people on board was drowned after escaping from the aircraft. The aircraft was later recovered and beached but was written off.
NZ1707	?	1956	Ex WE563, a reserve aircraft with the British Antarctic Expedition during early 1950s. SOC with RAF on 28 May 1956. Purchased by RNZAF for a cost of 8696 pounds 17 shillings and 3 pence and erected at Wigram in late July and early August 1956. First flew as NZ1707 at 1600 hours on 07 August 1956. At this point it was only fitted with wheels but skis were later attached and it first flew in this configuration on 15 August of that year. Overturned on Tasman Glacier during training exercise 19 August 1956 but was repaired on site and flown back to Wigram on 31 August. Despatched to the Antarctic aboard HMNZS Endeavour 17 December 1956 fitted with floats. First flew in the Antarctic on 29 January 1957 and was shipped back to New Zealand in early 1958. Continued to be used in the Antarctic until the 1960 season. To FTS Wigram August 1962. To No.1 Reconnaissance Squadron in 1963. Later to No.3 Squadron for Army co-operation work. Crashed in Kaipara Harbour on 22 August 1966, pilot unhurt. Aircraft salvaged and retrieved to Hobsonville by RNZAF Iroquois. The aircraft was written off the books at Auckland Base and presented to MOTAT after being restored by trainees at No.1 TTS, Hobsonville. Later swapped with RNZAF Museum for Auster J-1B ZK-BWH. Presently on display at RNZAF Museum, Wigram in Antarctic colours.

Author: Ivan Prince (updated by Brendan Cowan)

Source: Various AHSNZ Publications 1959-2001. "RNZAF * NZPAF Aircraft Colour Schemes Volume 1" by W. Russell. NZ and Australian Civil Aircraft Register. NZ Wings 1972-1988. RNZAF records. RAF Aircraft WA100-WZ999 by James Halley.

Emails: Brendan Cowan

Updated 05 DecemberNovember 2013

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