PNG Ples Bilong Tok Tok

[barryhoc]

The TAA bus.

Animalclub: I don't doubt you're right,I just can't recall for sure. Short term I can't remember what I did yesterday, but long term is usually not too bad, although obviously not working in this case. I think there is a medical theory about what kills memory cells, but fortunately I can't recall that either. Hanoi might be a chance if he's out there somewhere ?

Sharpie: Fatty retired a couple of years back at 69 years of age, after 50 years as a pilot, and 30000 plus hours. He's alive and well and continues to live in Melbourne. He has some family here on the Sunshine Coast, and calls in occasionally. Some of his more outrageous escapades, both in and out of the aeroplane, will be in "the bloody book".

[tail wheel]

Shocking "...falling foul of a moderator.." I can't believe that!

The Constabulary, the odd husband, a few pub owners perhaps, but not a Dunnunda Forum Moderator!

[HANOI]

Animal Club
When TAA took over TPNG Domestic from QF in September 1960 , they inherited "Wagonaire" buses , at least in Madang anyway , and possibly elsewhere ( Lae ? ) . Think these had a raised rear end . Is this what you were thinking about ?.

[Animalclub]

Hanoi
I think that they were "International" (as in Harvester) vehicles.

[tinpis]

Remember a bus? Gawd, I could never remember leaving the Transair Lodge

[barryhoc]

"...falling foul of a moderator.."

tail wheel: As unlikely as it might seem, it did actually happen, as I bet you will recall if you really put your mind to it. Anyway, "You do the crime, you do the time",, and hopefully I can now contribute something of interest occasionally, without getting into too much trouble.

[barryhoc]

Walking up the hill ?

Animalclub: Regardless of lack of bus speed it would have been fairly unique for anyone of us to test it by "walking up the hill". I guess one benefit would have been to increase the thirst, but in Ops. at least, we took the easier option of just knocking back afternoon tea. Whatever the reason, a great thirst always seemed to descend upon us by late afternoon, and we were always very keen to ride the bus, regardless of shape, to the place of taste.

[barryhoc]

Wau races 1940

sixiesrelic: I tried the photo of Tess Gray, (Wau races 1940), on former popular hostie at both Ansett and Taa NG, Rhoda Gray, who will be well remembered to many as "Lik Lik". Rhoda's father,Les, had a property out at "Two Mile" where Rhoda kept a horse or two, and which she was often seen riding around Lae. She also had a brother, (Bill I think), who was a jockey. I thought the 1940 timing might have been about right for her mother or an aunty. Wrong again. Lik Lik has no idea who Tess Gray was. She did however remind me that Territory airlines Ltd. began at a meeting at her dad's house in 1952. Balus 1 also notes this meeting with those present being Les Gray and wife, brother Jack Gray, brothers Vic and Jim Smith, and Ray Harris and wife. Absent were Llloyd Hurrell and Bill (Darky) Johnson. It goes on to say they put in 450 quid each except Darky, who put in 280. Things went well for a year or two, but in a business downturn, and for various other reasons, Ray Harris resigned in 1954 and went to DCA. Territory Airlines struggled for the next few years, and then enter R.D. (Junior) Buchanan, who bought the business on 1st. Jan. 1958, for 12000 pounds over two years. The rest, as they say, is history, which I'm sure many readers know very well, but I was interested to be remindered.

[sixtiesrelic]

Barry.
The Grays came in a few families in NG before and after the war.
Lik lik probably flew with Tess's husband, Charlie Gray in Oz.

[sixtiesrelic]

Barry.
The Grays came in a few families in NG before and after the war.
Lik lik probably flew with Tess's husband, Charlie Gray in Oz.
I've got some oldies chasing the photos up for me.

[barryhoc]

Wau races 1940

sixiesrelic: Yeah, I was on the wrong track there, thinking there might have been a femily connection with Tess/Rhoda. I didn't realise Tess was Charlie's wife. I don't think Rhoda worked as a hostie in Australia. She was with Ansett-MAL pre. mid '60's, and came to TAA-NG late '60's, as the first of two locally employed girls, along with Sylvia Bickerton. I think Janice Longmore became the third. Many will remember her dad, Hec Longmore, from Madang, who was a very good snooker/billiards player, might have even been Territory Champion (?), and played matches against such as Eddy Charlton on their occasional promotional visits. Cheers.

[barryhoc]

Talair/taa-ng.

Can anyone help me on this please ? I'm trying to compile, for "the bloody book", a list of those who worked for Talair, who also worked for TAA-NG. This is what I've got, but questions on some:

PILOTS: John Bayles, Gary Honour, John Rutter (?), Bill Sherwood.

OTHERS: Glen Haligan (?), Ian Holder (?), Gerry Hudson.

Thanks/Regards.

Thanks Sharpie. Pilot Mike "Fearless" Feeney now added. Missed that one, didn't I ? Have a good race.

Thanks also Torres. Noted re Ian Holder, etc. Cheers.

[Torres]

Barry. If you can find the Talair Reunion web site you will find a listing of all ex Talair staff. I tried Google but couldn't find it. Sharpie may be able to point you in the right direction.

Ian Holder only ever worked for Talair Australia, never in PNG. Bill Sherwood has posted on PPRuNe and his son posts regularly. I'll leave it to him to identify himself to you.

[tinpis]

Last saw Ian with Junior, Bushies bar 1981

[barryhoc]

G'day Tinpis. Sounds about right to me. I'm very vague on this, but I think he then came to Air Qld., perhaps a year or two later, and may have been there at the finish. I wonder did he get to "go-over" to new owners TAA, as some did, (self not included), and are still there at QF CNS to this day ?

[Torres]

Ian joined Flight West Airlines as a King Air FO when I started that company in 1987, later on Brasilias and was still there when I left in 1989.

He could not have gone to Air Queensland as I think Bushies/Air Queensland were taken over by TAA around 1988, became ARAQ and eventually disappeared in favour of Sunstate.

[Sharpie]

Tal = Taa

One other, if not already in the list is Peter 'Sparse' Griffiths.

I'll chase up on others but do not have an actual crew list from those early days. Maybe perusal of Balus may assist. I do have a disc of photos somewhere that may jog your memory.

[tinpis]

Ian Holder worked as a pilot?
Who the heck am I thinking of then?

[Torres]

You're probably thinking of Ian Holder!

Ian was Branch Manager, Air Niugini Goroka during your time. He subsequently obtained a commercial pilot license and worked for Talair Australia, flying a Baron (and I think a C402?) ex Cairns.

[barryhoc]

Good morning torres. (corrected). Copied re. IH and Flt. West. For what it's worth I thought you pulled off a wonderfully audacious coup to get Flt. West started. I hope it gave you some satisfaction. You might recall I was a very interested party as GM of Sungold at the time, where we also had our hands full taking over the LLoyd Mohawk operation, with a very small gaggle of very small light aircraft. Air Qld. was taken over by TAA in Mar. 1985, but did not fully cease operations until Apr. 1988, mainly due to legal proceedings regarding a standing commercial agreement with Ansett. If indeed IH was ever at Air Qld. I thought maybe 1983/1985, and not as a pilot, but I have a big ?. Cheers.

Sharpie. Copied re. Peter 'Sparse' Griffiths. His name doesn't ring a bell, but I may be seeing Dick and Ken Broomhead in the next day or so, and will check with them as you suggest. Thanks.