The Amelia Earhart Story – Continues

There is a news story floating around about finding new information relating to the missing US aviator Amelia Earhart.
You may recall we unbuttoned some of the mysteries of history with an interview with Cdr Williamson.
It would now appear the NZ Navy had an even greater part to play in that story that we thought.
The photos of Gardner Island (now known as Nikumaroro Island) were taken from a Supermarine Walrus flown off HMS Leander.  Click HERE
A good description and video of the Walrus can be seen by clicking HERE
Back in 2004 I did a bit of research on those aircraft in the NZ Navy.
Here it is unedited should it be of any use.
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1937, 2 March
SPECIAL FLIGHT WELLINGTON HMS “ACHILLES”
Flight by the ship’s Supermarine Walrus amphibian K5774 flown by Lieutenant T.P. Coode RN carrying mail and despatches. Cover seen has the oval ship’s handstamp and is signed by the pilot. Postmarked WELLINGTON C.1. 2MCH37 2.3OPM
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: north of Henderson, Auckland
History:
Hobsonville was the second air force base ever established in New Zealand, and is incredibly historic for many reasons. It is situated just 6km from Whenuapai but is significant as it was a maritme base – sitting right on the edge of the upper Auckland harbour. Therefore it had a ‘wet apron’ where flying boats would roll up onto the land, and a jetty where cargo could be offloaded from small shipping. So it made sense that most aircraft imported to New Zealand by ship in crates, etc, would be barged up to Hobsonville from the port, taken on shore, and assembled on the station.
The station also had a flying boat school where crews would be trained on the little Walrus aircraft before going up to Fiji onto the Catalinas, or even onto the Sunderlands. And Hobsonville had also housed some training and storage units throughout the war. The station has a large grass runway, and postwar was the home of No 3 Squadron’s helicopters among other units until recent years when they were shifted to RNZAF Ohakea.
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:
The Flying Boat OTU (Operational Training Unit using Walrus flying boats to train Catalina crews)
NZ151-160, K8558 plus 9 other aircraft on NZ Division ships of the Royal Navy. 11 aircraft served between 1943-1946
www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/Walrus.htm
Serial c/n Fate
NZ151 n/k Previously L2222. On loan from FAA 1938-1943. Allocated to “Leander” in June 1938. BOC with Unit 36, Hobsonville 30 January 1943 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Coded “Z-4”. With Seaplane Training Flight, Hobsonville from 21 November 1944 until June 1945. Stored at Woodbourne prior to being returned to Royal Navy on 07 September 1945.
NZ152 n/k Previously L2236 with HMS Cumberland and HMS Exeter. On loan from FAA 1941-1943. Allocated to “Achilles” in 1941. BOC with Unit 36, Hobsonville 30 January 1943 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Coded “B”. With Seaplane Training Flight, Hobsonville until mid 1945. Stored at Woodbourne prior to being returned to Royal Navy on 07 September 1945.
NZ153 n/k Previously L2285. On loan from FAA 1942-1943. BOC at Hobsonville 30 January 1943 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Crashed 18 March 1943. The aircraft had an engine failure immediately after taking off from the Waitemata Harbour at about 2300 hours. It bounced off the surface of the water and then dived beneath it. Pilot Officer Morris Bee killed, Sergeant D. Leslie and Aircraftman A. Larkman injured. Aircraft written off books at Hobsonville on 29 March 1943.
NZ154 s Previously W2707. On loan from FAA 1942-1943. Received by No.9 Squadron, RAAF on 05 June 1942 and allocated to New Zealand. Shipped to Wellington on “Rimutaka” on 16 June 1942. BOC with Unit 36, Hobsonville 30 January 1943 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Crashed in the upper Waitemata Harbour off Hobsonville on 10 October 1944. As the aircraft took off a wave damaged the port float and wing tip. The aircraft settled back onto the water and as the port wing touched the water nosed in and sank. Flying Officer John Marshall and Flying Officer William Morrison killed but LAC Whitefield survived. The pilots’ bodies were recovered from the aircraft which was located in 7 fathoms of water off Chelsea Wharf the next day. written off books at Hobsonville on 21 November 1944.
NZ155 s Previously W2724. On loan from FAA 1941-1943. BOC at Hobsonville 30 January 1943 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Crashed 09 February 1943 probably prior to operating in RNZAF service. Written off books as converted to instructional airframe INST50 at Hobsonville on 09 February 1943.
NZ156 s Previously X9507. Arrived in New Zealand on “Port Phillip”. Allocated to RNZAF and BOC at Hobsonville 30 September 1944 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Used until end of July 1945 before being stored at Hobsonville until July 1946. Sold from Hobsonville to C.F. Cook, Whangarei on 29 October 1947. On-sold to R.H. Exton, Auckland on 03 December 1947 and transported by road from Hobsonville to Mangere in RNZAF colours for storage. Reduced to scrap in late 1949 with airframe parts being sold to Amphibian Airways of Lae, New Guinea.
NZ157 s Previously W2700. Served on HMS Kenya and HMS Pegasus. Arrived in New Zealand on “Port Phillip”. Allocated to RNZAF and BOC at Hobsonville 30 September 1944 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Coded “K”. Used until end of July 1945 before being stored at Woodbourne from December 1945. Sold from Woodbourne to J.M. Gould, Paraparaumu on 11 June 1947. Flown unregistered from Woodbourne to Paraparaumu on 11 June 1947. Broken up in Gould’s Paraparaumu garage sometime after December 1947.
NZ158 s Previously X9512. Arrived in New ZEaland on “Port Phillip”. Allocated to RNZAF and BOC at Hobsonville 30 September 1944 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Used until end of August 1945 before being stored at Hobsonville until July 1946. Sold from Hobsonville to C. F. Cook, Whangarei on 29 October 1947 with only 108 hours on the airframe. On-sold to R.H. Exton, Auckland on 03 December 1947 and entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-AMJ. Flown in RNZAF colours from Hobsonville to Mangere for storage. Reduced to scrap in late 1949 with airframe parts being sold to Amphibian Airways of Lae, New Guinea.
NZ159 s Previously W2740. Served on HMS Belfast and with No.264 Squadron RAF in Blida, Algeria. Arrived in New Zealand on “Pipiriki”. Allocated to RNZAF and BOC at Hobsonville 01 November 1944 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Crashed on takeoff from Auckland Harbour on 25 January 1945 while on a training flight. Flying Officer J. Wylie, Pilot Officer N. Irwin, LAC E. Walworth and AC1 R. Scrimgeour injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and written off the books at Hobsonville on 19 February 1945.
NZ160 s Previously W3021. Arrived in New Zealand on “Pipiriki”. Allocated to RNZAF and BOC at Hobsonville 01 November 1944 for use with Seaplane Training Flight RNZAF. Coded “R”. Used until end of August 1945 before being stored at Woodbourne. Sold from Woodbourne to J.M. Gould, Paraparaumu on 11 June 1947. Water taxied for 7 hours across Cook Strait to Paraparaumu 24 July 1947. Broken up in Gould’s Paraparaumu garage sometime after December 1947.
K5774 ? On loan from FAA 1936-1938. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on HMS Achilles in April 1936 and arrived in Auckland on 06 September of that year. The aircraft was catapulted from the ship about an hour before berthing and was flown to Hobsonville. Codes Z-1, Z-2, Z-4. Returned to the United Kingdom on HMS Achilles in 1938.
K5782 ? On loan from FAA 1941. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Assigned to 700 Squadron from February 1940-March 1944 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on HMS Leander in March 1941 to replace L2188. Code Z-2. Assigned to 700 Squadron until 24 March 1944.
K5783 ? On loan from FAA 1937-1939. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on HMS Achilles to replace L2241. Code Z-2. Assigned to 720 Squadron. Sank in 300 fathoms of water off Aitutaki on 15 July 1939 after slipping from the crane while being recovered from a flight. Lieutenant Sykes and Telegraphist Trent uninjured.
K8541 ? On loan from FAA 1937. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on HMS Leander in April 1937 and arrived in Auckland on board the ship on 18 August of that year. Assigned to 720 Squadron. Crashed Wellington Harbour after water landing with undercarriage down 24 November 1937. Lieutenant G. Nicholl, Corporal Ison and LAC Simcox uninjured but aircraft written off.
K8545 ? On loan from FAA. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. No other details known.
K8558 ? On loan from FAA 1937-1943. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Air tested at Hobsonville on 30 August 1937 and allocated to HMS Leander as a replacement for K8541 in September. Code Z-3. Code P9A. Assigned to 700 Squadron from February 1940-March 1944 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Crashed at Hobsonville 09 October 1942, and believed rebuilt to taxi-only standard for training then used as instructional airframe.
L2188 ? On loan from FAA 1941. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Assigned to 700 Squadron from February 1940-March 1944 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on Leander at Aden in January 1941 as a replacement for L2330. Crashed on take off from a lake in Ceylon after a forced landing in March 1941.
L2222 ? On loan from FAA 1938-1945. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Air tested at Hobsonville on 11 June 1938 and embarked on HMS Leander by June. Codes Z-4, A. Assigned to 700 Squadron from February 1940-March 1944 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Last flight was made from Hobsonville on 19 March 1940. Taken aboard HMS Leander and disembarked in Australiaduring 1942 but 2 months later was crated up and returned to New Zealand on SS Rimutaka. Rebuilt to taxi only standards on return to New Zealand and given code NZI.50. Returned to Royal Navy 07 September 1945.
L2241 ? On loan from FAA 1939. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on HMS Achilles in the United Kingdom after refitting in 1938. Capsized and sank while taxiing for takeoff in the Indian Ocean near Aden on 01 April 1939 during the return trip to New Zealand.
L2322 ? On loan from FAA 1942. Assigned to 720 Squadron from October 1936-January 1940 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Assigned to 700 Squadron from February 1940-March 1944 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Embarked on HMS Leander. Damaged while being hoisted out for a routine dawn patrol at Vila on 17 May 1942. Transferred to Suva aboard “Arthur Middleton” ands then to New Zealand for repairs. Returned to Royal Australian Navy on 24 September 1942.
L2330 ? On loan from FAA 1940-1941. Assigned to 700 Squadron from February 1940-March 1944 while attached to ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Air tested at Hobsonville on 19 March 1940 and embarked on HMS Leander on 20 April. Returned to RAF at Aden on 13 January 1941 for overhaul.
Source: “The Golden Age of New Zealand Flying Boats” by Paul Harrison with Brian Lockstone and Andy Anderson. AHSNZ publications 1958-1990. NZ Wings September 1984, May 1987. “RNZAF The First Decade” by C. Darby. “For Your Tomorrow” by Errol Martyn. RNZAF records.   Thanks DJR for the information.