27th Jan 2019, 13:21 - Wikipost
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A thread where ex PNG geriatrics lapuns and long longs can live in the dim distant past.
Where tall stories are accepted as fact. War stories are applauded. Grab a Brownie, pull up a story and join in a trip down memory lane!!! 
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PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok
NCA pulled out of gulf ports citing supply of avgas and costs.
That is but one of the challenges they face.............. Suspect in stoning of plane arrested | Loop PNG
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ABC's Foreign Correspondent just did a follow up story, 'Family Matters', on Joe Leahy- son of Mick Leahy, directed by the Bob Connolly. He went back to track down Joe 25 years after he last did a story on him; and it is a sorry story.
Here it is; http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/for...t/NC1602H027S0
Connelly was the director of the 'Highlands Trilogy', also now on ABC Iview; 'First Contact', 'Joe Leahy's Neighbours' and the third installment 'Black Harvest'.
All three are here;
First Contact : ABC iview
Joe Leahy's Neighbours : ABC iview
Black Harvest : ABC iview
Little has changed in 40 years. Fascinating story for all you lapuns!!!!
Here it is; http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/for...t/NC1602H027S0
Connelly was the director of the 'Highlands Trilogy', also now on ABC Iview; 'First Contact', 'Joe Leahy's Neighbours' and the third installment 'Black Harvest'.
All three are here;
First Contact : ABC iview
Joe Leahy's Neighbours : ABC iview
Black Harvest : ABC iview
Little has changed in 40 years. Fascinating story for all you lapuns!!!!
Photo memories
Thanks for those, Graham, really took me back.
Do you remember a rather fraught circuit of Goroka in KEN, you were supposed to be ferrying it to Lae - don't think either of us knew what we were doing.
And a general question, anyone else who was there on the foggy Moresby morning, Hagen show day, when the tower controller called our bluff?
Found out later he had already resigned. Dont think many people believe my story.
Interesting days.
Do you remember a rather fraught circuit of Goroka in KEN, you were supposed to be ferrying it to Lae - don't think either of us knew what we were doing.
And a general question, anyone else who was there on the foggy Moresby morning, Hagen show day, when the tower controller called our bluff?
Found out later he had already resigned. Dont think many people believe my story.
Interesting days.
Moderator
No doubt this KEN?
Imported in October 1955, originally Crowley Airways' VH-CSD. Purchased by Ken Nizette in November 1964, it was re-registered VH-KEN. Later owned by Richard Rowe. I heard it was finally pranged in Australia? (Al Bovelt photo)
Imported in October 1955, originally Crowley Airways' VH-CSD. Purchased by Ken Nizette in November 1964, it was re-registered VH-KEN. Later owned by Richard Rowe. I heard it was finally pranged in Australia? (Al Bovelt photo)
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Hey, VH-KEN, long time since I flew that. In the mid to late 60's it used to live at the Lutheran Mission aviation hangar at Lae airport (down town airstrip, not Nadzab) along with Macair charters (C-336 VH-CMU and Baron 55 VH-MKB). There was an almost intact Bell P39 Airacobra in the Kunai grass right next to the hangar which would be worth a fortune now if it still exists. But when I went to Madang in early 50's as a 6 year old there were aircraft wrecks from WW2 everywhere. And no, I never made it to the aforementioned Smugglers as it didn't exist, but I do have pics of me as a kid at the opening of the Coast Watchers memorial. Very boring. Lol
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A TALE FROM A LONG TIME AGO
On the morning of November 15th 1967 I was tasked with operating the scheduled TAA flight from Port Moresby to Misma, with a stop at Gurney.
Misima is a volcanic island in the northwest of the Louisiade Archipelago, within the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea and some 2hrs 50mins flight time in the DHC-6 Twin Otter which I was flying at the time.
The island measures 40 km by 10 km and back in 67, prior to the discovery of gold, was a fairly sleepy place. It had a short crushed coral airstrip and the weekly air service from Port Moresby was mostly to service the patrol post and the area administration center that was based there.
At that time TAA (Trans Australia Airlines) was one of the first operators of the Twotter which was flown as a single pilot IFR operation in a nineteen seat configuration thereby avoiding the need for a cabin attendant.
On checking the NOTAMS for the flight, my attention was drawn to a report of an inter-island cargo ship the “Bev” which had been reported as foundering in a recent tropical storm and pilots of aircraft operating in the area were asked to maintain a look out for possible survivors.
The area given was between Gurney and Misima, and decided to fly this segment lower than normal and check out the uninhabited islands along, and to the south of my track, briefing my passengers accordingly and asking them to act as observers.
Being unsuccessful on the outbound leg I repeated the exercise for the return trip, but this time taking a more northerly route to examine some islands that lay on that side of the direct track. Sure enough passing over the uninhabited island of “Bunora” - not much more than a sand cay - six survivors were sighted, one of whom lay immobile on the sand.
After making a couple of low passes to check out the logistics of the island, and the condition of the survivors it was clear that their situation was not good. The island was void of any useful vegetation, or signs of fresh water and the immobile person were obviously seriously injured. As I climbed away to continued the flight to Gurney I passed this information to Port Moresby on H.F.
Moresby acknowledged the information and advised that due to a lack of suitable aviation resources being available it would be some time before a sea rescue could be organised. My thoughts immediately turned to the Esky full of sandwiches and soft drink sitting down the back of the aircraft – in flight catering - which so far had been untouched by the passengers – and how I could get it to the survivors.
By the time we landed at Gurney a plan had been conceived…
With the unanimous support of the passengers the Esky and its contents along with any other suitable items that we could add would be air-dropped to the survivors.
Having completed our preparations, refuelled, and with the small baggage loading door removed we headed back to Bunora Island to complete the mission, which went off without a hitch.
Mission accomplished and with a last wave to the survivors it was back up to cruise level for the return to Port Moresby.
By the end of the day I had logged just under eight hours of total flight time and felt very satisfied with what had been achieved.
The Sequel:
Many years later – now a check pilot on the B-747 – I was enjoying a sun-downer at the Changi sailing Club in Singapore and was approached by a fellow aviator who wanted to introduce me to a friend who was accompanying him. The friend turned out to be the captain of the Bev, one of the survivors from Bunora Island who insisted on buying me dinner.
As he put it, “You bought the last one.”
On the morning of November 15th 1967 I was tasked with operating the scheduled TAA flight from Port Moresby to Misma, with a stop at Gurney.
Misima is a volcanic island in the northwest of the Louisiade Archipelago, within the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea and some 2hrs 50mins flight time in the DHC-6 Twin Otter which I was flying at the time.
The island measures 40 km by 10 km and back in 67, prior to the discovery of gold, was a fairly sleepy place. It had a short crushed coral airstrip and the weekly air service from Port Moresby was mostly to service the patrol post and the area administration center that was based there.
At that time TAA (Trans Australia Airlines) was one of the first operators of the Twotter which was flown as a single pilot IFR operation in a nineteen seat configuration thereby avoiding the need for a cabin attendant.
On checking the NOTAMS for the flight, my attention was drawn to a report of an inter-island cargo ship the “Bev” which had been reported as foundering in a recent tropical storm and pilots of aircraft operating in the area were asked to maintain a look out for possible survivors.
The area given was between Gurney and Misima, and decided to fly this segment lower than normal and check out the uninhabited islands along, and to the south of my track, briefing my passengers accordingly and asking them to act as observers.
Being unsuccessful on the outbound leg I repeated the exercise for the return trip, but this time taking a more northerly route to examine some islands that lay on that side of the direct track. Sure enough passing over the uninhabited island of “Bunora” - not much more than a sand cay - six survivors were sighted, one of whom lay immobile on the sand.
After making a couple of low passes to check out the logistics of the island, and the condition of the survivors it was clear that their situation was not good. The island was void of any useful vegetation, or signs of fresh water and the immobile person were obviously seriously injured. As I climbed away to continued the flight to Gurney I passed this information to Port Moresby on H.F.
Moresby acknowledged the information and advised that due to a lack of suitable aviation resources being available it would be some time before a sea rescue could be organised. My thoughts immediately turned to the Esky full of sandwiches and soft drink sitting down the back of the aircraft – in flight catering - which so far had been untouched by the passengers – and how I could get it to the survivors.
By the time we landed at Gurney a plan had been conceived…
With the unanimous support of the passengers the Esky and its contents along with any other suitable items that we could add would be air-dropped to the survivors.
Having completed our preparations, refuelled, and with the small baggage loading door removed we headed back to Bunora Island to complete the mission, which went off without a hitch.
Mission accomplished and with a last wave to the survivors it was back up to cruise level for the return to Port Moresby.
By the end of the day I had logged just under eight hours of total flight time and felt very satisfied with what had been achieved.
The Sequel:
Many years later – now a check pilot on the B-747 – I was enjoying a sun-downer at the Changi sailing Club in Singapore and was approached by a fellow aviator who wanted to introduce me to a friend who was accompanying him. The friend turned out to be the captain of the Bev, one of the survivors from Bunora Island who insisted on buying me dinner.
As he put it, “You bought the last one.”
Last edited by Exaviator; 27th Feb 2017 at 03:28. Reason: Correcting typos
Moderator
I knew Ken Nizette, he had an insurance agency, I don't recall the full details. Someone pranged VH-KEN in the Western Highlands and Richard Rowe bought the aircraft and flew it out to Goroka for rebuild. I think it was KEN that was flown with star pickets bolted to the aft fuse as the fuse was bent aft of the cockpit. Long time ago, must be over 45 years ago??
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Yes, I also knew Ken. He had tight curly red hair and an always smiling face. And you're correct, he had an insurance business in Lae. There was a Chinese chap in Lae who had a C-206 which I used to fly sometimes. Was it Cedric Chee? Was a long time ago. I guess you knew Dave McClure and McCook, and Sypho?
Moderator
Yes, Cedric Chee owned CheeAir. Had a couple of Islanders as well.
Knew Dave McClure, Brian McCook, and Sypho? No idea where Dave is. Brian passed away in Tasmania a few years ago, not sure where Sypho lives.
Only the good die young. Some of us will lead a very long life!!
Knew Dave McClure, Brian McCook, and Sypho? No idea where Dave is. Brian passed away in Tasmania a few years ago, not sure where Sypho lives.
Only the good die young. Some of us will lead a very long life!!
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Brian passed away in Tasmania a few years
His son Scott was a Hobie Cat sailer of some repute and had the agency for Hobie Craft for SEA.