The New Zealand Airforce Museum project – so far.


The Vickers Vildebeest – can you help? Dear Chris,


Last year I visited the Royal New Zealand Airforce Museum at Wigram in Christchurch. I just happened to be wearing my Brooklands Trust Member shirt and managed to talk my way into their workshops where they are at the early stages of rebuilding a Vickers Vildebeest. The Vildebeest, or Vildebeeste, depending on which document you read, was a 1930s biplane torpedo bomber which amongst other things played a major role in the failed defence of Malaya and Singapore between 1940 and 1942. The type was operated by the RNZAF


between 1935 and 1944 and the museum is now trying to rebuild an example with, at the moment, little more than a few photos and a Flight magazine cutaway drawing. If anyone out there has any drawings, photographs or anything that relates to the Vildebeest I would be delighted if you would contact me, Peter Guest (peterguestparking@ hotmail.co.uk), and I will ensure that anything forthcoming reaches the Kiwis.


Thanks in advance, attached is a photo of the Peter Guest, via e-mail


project so far.


51


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