The Wings Over New Zealand Show

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WONZ 339 – Mosquito at 85
Guests: Reg Mitchell – No. 488 (NZ) SquadronKeith Boles DFC – No. 109 Squadron PFFHarold “Bunny” Burrows – No. 487 (NZ) Squadron, and No. 75 Squadron RNZAF, and Martial “Sonny” Gaspard – No. 75 Squadron RNZAF Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 2nd of March 2013 Released: 25th of November 2025 Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes 23 seconds To mark the 85th Anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Mosquito, which took place on the 25th of November 1940, Dave Homewood has pulled an old but never before heard interview from his archive he recorded in 2013 with four Kiwi Mossie veterans. They are pilots Reg Mitchell and Keith Boles DFC, and navigator-wireless operators Harold “Bunny” Burrows and Martial “Sonny” Gaspard. The recording was made at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, and the guys share memories and tell stories from their days flying one of the greatest aeroplanes of all time. As well as war stories, Keith and Bunny also talk about ferrying Mosquitoes to New Zealand after the war. You will also hear Peter Wheeler ask a question too, as he sat in on the interview. Sadly these four wonderful gentlemen have all since passed away. Quick Links: • The de Havilland Mosquito on Wikipedia • The Museum of Transport and Technology Above, from left to right: Keith Boles, ‘Bunny’ Burrows, Reg Mitchell and Sonny Gaspard in front of the MOTAT Mosquito. Dave Homewood photo. Above Left: Sonny, Reg and Bunny. Above Right: Sonny and Bunny. In the background is the late Peter Wheeler of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association, who sat in on the interview. Dave Homewood photos. Above: Bunny Burrows receiving his brevet in 1942. NZBCA Collection. Above: No. 487 (NZ) Squadron crews. Bunny Burrows on the right and his pilot F/O Kassler on the left.NZBCA Collection. Above: No. 109 Squadron Kiwis at Little Staughton , Keith Boles is front left. NZBCA Collection. Above: Keith Boles’ special 100th birthday gift , a Mosquito made from recycled Mosquito timber. Peter Wheeler Photo. Above: No. 488 (NZ) Squadron night fighter aircrews at readiness. Reg Mitchell photo. Reg Mitchell collection. Above: Above: Reg Mitchell at RNZAF Station Woodbourne, 1941. Reg Mitchell collection. Above: Reg Mitchell, left, with his navigator. Reg Mitchell collection. Above: No. 1 Navigators course. RNZAF Station Wigram. L-R: Back; Leans, Martial “Sonny” Gaspard, Stevens, Lafferty. Front; Collins, Campbell, Williams, Miller. Air Force Museum of New Zealand photo. Above: Left to Right – No. 75 Squadron aircrew Bob Scott, Bill Annand, Nelson Bright, Colin Hanson, Dave Cohu and Sonny Gaspard, preparing to sink the stricken vessel Lutterworth (not the Shuttleworth, as Sonny remembered). Dave Cohu collection. Above: No. 75 Squadron RNZAF Mossie crews, left to right: Colin Hanson, ‘Joe’ Mace, Ernest Gartrell (75 CO), Cyril Waters, Owen Staple, Ted Arundel, ‘Mac’ McBean, Noel Fraser, Sonny Gaspard, Tony Williams, Rod Dahlberg, Mitch Mitchell, Gordon Shearer. RNZAF Official Photo. Music: The tune is the 633 Squadron theme by Ron Goodwin.Thanks to: The late Peter Wheeler of the NZBCA, and MOTAT.
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1:19:23
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1:19:23
WONZ 338 – Geoff Rothwell
Guest: Squadron Leader Geoffrey Maurice Rothwell, DFC+Bar, BC Clasp, CDeG1940 + Palme(Bel), COdLeoll + Palme(Bel), LdH (Fra). RAF 42726, RNZAF. WWII. POW#58653 April 1920 to 5 November 2017 Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 4th of March 2015 Released: 9th of November 2025 Duration: 1 hour 22 minutes 56 seconds In this Wings Over New Zealand Show episode Dave Homewood interviews the remarkable WWII veteran Geoff Rothwell, in this recording from the archive, recorded a decade ago. Geoff was an RAF bomber pilot. He joined in July 1939 after working for the construction company that was building RAF Station Benson and watching the Fairey Battles there. He trained on de Havilland Tiger Moths and Avro Ansons, before converting onto the Vickers Wellington. Once training was complete he joined No. 99 Squadron at RAF Newmarket Heath, and flew Wellingtons during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. Following his first tour, Geoff became an instructor on Wellingtons for a period. He was then sent to the USA to do instructing work there in Alabama for RAF trainees who were being trained by American instructors and needed teaching the British methods they’d need when they reached operations. He was also expected to act as an ambassador for the RAF, giving educational talks based on his operational experiences to all sorts of groups in the USA about how the war really was. When posted back to Britain Geoff was posted to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron as a Flight Commander, again at Newmarket. He was not there for long however before he was removed from the squadron dure to a policy that Flight Commanders and Squadron Commanders on New Zealand squadrons had to actually be Kiwis. He took his New Zealand crew, and moved to No. 218 Squadron. They completed their second tour with that squadron. Geoff’s next posting was to No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron, tasked with air dropping SOE Agents and supplies for the Resistance people in Europe. He completed 70 operational sorties, but on the 71st he was brought down in his Stirling over enemy territory and became a prisoner of war. Geoff was also previously featured telling his story in the television documentary series Kiwis At War. He passed away on the 5th of November 2017. Huge thanks to Stuart Russell for his assistance in rescuing the original recording, which had audio issues that he magically removed. Quick Links: • The New Zealand Bomber Command Association • The New Zealand Bomber Command Association Facebook Page • The 75 (NZ) Squadron Blog Page on Geoff Rothwell • Buy the book “Last Man Standing – : Geoffrey Rothwell, Survivor of 71 Missions, POW and Last of the SOE Pilots” by his widow Gabrielle McDonald-Rothwell on Amazon “Rothwell’s Ruffians”, just after the crew had left No. 75 (NZ) Squadron and moved onto No. 218 Squadron RAF. Left to right: ‘Ginger’ Negus (Mid Upper Gunner), Mac McGrevy (Flight Engineer), Jock Howat (Rear Gunner), Jacky Drawbridge (Navigator), Geoff Rothwell (Pilot), ‘Whistle’ Entwhistle (Wireless Operator) and Wal Fielding (Air Bomber). Photos from The New Zealand Bomber Command Association Archive via the late Peter Wheeler. The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud
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1:22:57
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1:22:57
WONZ 337 – Nick ‘Oz’ Osborne
Guests: Air Commodore Nick Osborne Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 8th of October 2025 Released: 8th of October 2025 Duration: 1 hour 41 minutes 29 seconds In this episode Dave Homewood interviews Air Commodore Nick Osborne RAAF, known to all as Oz. Oz is a former fast jet pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who then transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force in 2002. He talks about training in the NZAI CT/4B Airtrainer and the BAC 187 Strikemaster Mk. 88 jet, before being posted to fly Skyhawks with No. 75 Squadron during a particularly busy period with exercises and other work. He had a varied career thereafter, including an exchange posting to the RAAF flying Aermacchi 326’s and Pilatus PC-9s, becoming staff at the Central Flying School and a member of the famous Red Checkers aerobatic team, and also instructing on RNZAF Aermacchi MB339CB’s with No. 14 Squadron. He was made Commanding Officer of No. 2 Squadron at Nowra, NSW, in Australia, on one of the best postings in the RNZAF. He then went to Kosovo in a UN role as a peacekeeper. And at the end of his stint there he was promoted and appointed to become Commanding Officer of No. 75 Squadron which he took up on his return to New Zealand. He would be the final commander of that famous squadron, and he talks about that period of the RNZAF losing its Strike Wing. In 2002 Oz transferred to the RAAF, and joined No. 76 Squadron at Williamtown, instructing on Hawks. Over a period of a decade h worked his way up to become C.O. of that unit before heading to Afghanistan in charge of a drone reconnaissance unit. He finally ended up in non-flying staff roles, and he continues to work for the RAAF now as a Reservist with the rank of Air Commodore. Quick Links: • The No. 75 Squadron Association Facebook Page • A previous episode that Nick appeared in briefly, WONZ 120 The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud Air Commodore Nick Osborne (from Nick’s Facebook page) Above: Air Commodore Nick Osborne during the Zoom interview. Passing out parade of No. 8/81 Air Crew course on the parade ground at RNZAF Base Wigram. Group Captain Max Hope presenting Pilot Officer Nick Osborne his Pilot’s badge. WgG1237-82 Nick’s Pilots course 8/81, Strikemaster phase, in front of No. 14 Squadron Strikemaster NZ6366. RNZAF Base Ohakea. L-R: Back; D Post, Nick Osborne, AR McGuire, DL Houghton, TDW Lang. Front; DB Saggs, HJ Kim, MG Woodhouse, Rod Fortune, PFA Muysert. OhG2750-82 Nick as a Skyhawk pilot (from his Facebook page) Below: The North And South article from February 1987 Below: Don Simms has kindly provided the following photos of Nick’s RNZAF service from his archive: Above: 75 Sqn Exercise Vanguard: – Wing Cmdr CO 75 being interviewed by TV3. Major Davis being farewelled by Nick Osborne – the last USAF exchange pilot 1986 RNZAF Official 75 Sqn Exercise Vanguard: – Wing Cmdr CO 75 being interviewed by TV3. 2 Sqn Last Exercise, All the pilots in front of A/C NZ6213. Closure of the Air Combat Forces (ACF) 02, 14 & 75 Sqn’s – Parade. 2 Sqn Officers and Oz Elevated view of the base with F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing parked in the foreground and A-4 Skyhawk aircraft of Squadron 75, Royal New Zealand Air Force, in the background. The aircraft are being used during the joint Australian, New Zealand and US (ANZUS) Exercise TRIAD ’84. 2 Sqn last exercise, Base Commander(RAAF Pearce) Group Captain Johnston meet 2 Sqn CO Sqn Ldr Jason Easthope and Wg Cdr Nick Osborne. 2 Sqn last exercise, Base Commander(RAAF Pearce) Group Captain Johnston meet 2 Sqn Air Crew for a briefing 2 Snq last Exercise, CO 75 Wg Cdr Nick Osborne signing out A/C 2 Sqn Last Exercise, Skyhawk NZ6213 7000hrs birthday. Wg Cdr Nick Osborne and AC Ben Braggins cutting NZ6213’s birthday cake Mirage III aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force are parked on the flight line during the joint Australian, New Zealand and US (ANZUS) Exercise TRIAD ’84. Oz unpacking Pannier on arrival Cope Thunder 84 USAF Photo 2 Sqn pilots Christmas Card 1997 Jason Easthope leads 2 Sqn out of HMAS Albatross 7 Dec 2001 RNZAF Official An in-flight view of a Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot in the cockpit of a Mark 88 Strikemaster aircraft during the joint Australian, New Zealand and US (ANZUS) Exercise TRIAD ’84. Nick Osborne’s final entry in unit history as CO 75SQN Dec 01
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1:41:29
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1:41:29
WONZ 336 – Ventura and Pacific Kittyhawk
Guest: Malcolm Laird Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 29th of September 2025 Published: 30th of September 2025 Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes, 48 seconds Joining Dave Homewood on the Wings Over New Zealand Show this episode is Malcolm Laird of Ventura Publications. Malcolm has spent decades working in aviation publishing and the model aircraft industry, and is one of New Zealand’s most well known model products manufacturers. His company Ventura Publications produces decal sets as aftermarket add-ons to scale model kitsets. He also researches, writes and and publishes books on aviation topics and Air Force history, often in collaboration with other historians. He has also been a small-run kitset manufacturer, both vacuum formed and injection moulded, through his original company Falcon Models, which is now owned by Tory Martin. Malcolm discusses all this, and he details his newly released book, Pacific Kittyhawk, which he has co-authored with the eminent RNZAF historian, David Duxbury. Quick Links: • Ventura Publications website • Ventura Publications on Facebook • NZDF Serials (Part of ADF Serials) • The Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s Photo Archive Page Malcolm Laird. Below is a video version of the episode so you can see the books and models Malcolm is discussing: Below are some examples of the decal instructions, etc., from the Ventura Publications Facebook page: Pacific Kittyhawk, the latest book released by Ventura Publications. Check out this video Malcolm made for Brett Green’s Hyperscale site giving a great overview of Pacific Kittyhawk. The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud.
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1:52:49
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1:52:49
WONZ 335 – John Gaertner and the Avro 504K
Guest: John Gaertner Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 14th of September 2025 Published: 14th of September 2025 Duration: 1 hour 27 minutes, 58 seconds John Gaertner has had a long career and life in aviation, working as a research assistant for the Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum, as an airline clerk for TWA, and as the curator of the EAA Museum at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He then went out on his own, rebuilding vintage aeroplanes. His company, Blue Swallow Aviation, based at Free Union, Virginia, in the United States, has restored five Curtiss Jenny WWI biplanes to flying condition, and parts for many other aircraft, and parts for exhibitions. Currently he is working on building several Avro 504Ks, one of which is using the remains of the original ex-New Zealand Permanent Air Force Avro 504K known as A201. This aircraft was the first of six Avros commissioned new for the NZPAF that entered service in 1925. It served with the Air Force till 1931, then was sold into private hands and entered the NZ Civil Register as ZK-ACN. It gained the nickname “Joybird”. It flew till the 1st of January 1940, when WWII forced most civil aircraft to stop flying. The remains of A201 ended up eventually with Stuart Tantrum of Blenheim, who was rebuilding A202. The latter was finished and returned to the air by Stuart, by which time it was now owned by The Vintage Aviator Collection. It still flies today at Masterton. John has been working on A201 for a number of years and he intend to have it flying within the next 15 months. He talks about A201 and the legacy of the Avro 504 as a type, and about his interesting career in this interview. John says, “It sounds corny but most people would not believe me regarding all the projects I have worked on. Museums, Exhibits, making plane parts, instruments, flying cloths … But its all true. Lots of interests and a desire to learn. Not to mention teach. We never touched on my creating an entire 2 year program of technical high school for Aviation Maintenance Technology. I enjoy projects. Start and a finish. I enjoy a challenge that other people don’t or can’t do.” Quick Links: • Blue Swallow Aviation LLC • Blue Swallow Aviation LLC on Facebook • John’s Avro 504 Site • The Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum • The EAA Museum, Oshkosh • Classic Aero Machining Services (CAMS) at Omaka, New Zealand • Classic Aero Machining Services (CAMS) on Facebook The music is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud. Above: John Gaertner in front of a photo of an Avro 504K. Above: John Gaertner at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio, with their Avro 504K and Curtiss Jenny. He says, “Pretty much say it all. I helped the Museum with restoration details and how to cover the Avro using authentic Irish Linen. Been up there several time to see it before it was hung up.”Below is a selection of photos sent by John of his work on Jenny and Avro biplanes over the years. New Zealand Permanent Air Force aircraft lined up on the airfield at Wigram Aerodrome. Serial numbers are: DH9 D3139; Avro 504K A201 (John’s aircraft); Bristol Fighter 6857; Bristol Fighter 6856.Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photo MUS120012.
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1:27:59
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1:27:59