WW2 Aircraft parts.

Tonys18 · Sep 6, 2009

I hope I put this in the correct place as im new to this forum. I live in Hamilton New Zealand and I have been digging up aircraft parts from our back end property since I was 6 years old (now 18 going on 19). The aircraft were: Kittyhawks, Corsairs, Venturas, Hudsons, Harvards and I believe Avengers too. They were used by the RNZAF in the pacific, and after the war they were melted down or destoryed. I also try to clean them up so people can identify them better. I was also in paper for the finds recently: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2828633/Unearthing-pieces-of-NZs-WWII-history . here is a few parts I have found over the years.

RWJR13 · Sep 13, 2009

Thanks for the post.....thats some great items. You've been working on those for years... :thumbsup:

Tonys18 · Sep 13, 2009

Yep sure have been thanks! Alot of time and effort has gone into each piece I have showen, still I could do better if I had a bigger sandblaster or some more autosol (makes it shiney!) then it would be perfect

. But still you gotta do with what ya got. :icon_thumleft:

sasnz · Sep 15, 2009

Hi Tony

Old Hamilton boy here now living in Auckalnd. How far away are you from Mystery creek or does the farm back onto it or something?? I may be down there very soon to do a rally sprint, If i do it might be cool to have a catchup and see if ya need a hand with that block. However my wife is now overdue with our first bourne so will have to wait for that to happen first, cant be long now.

Man there are some nice finds you are getting, I would imagine some of those engine parts may be worth something to a restorer of ww2 planes. That block looks cool. I hope you have told your neighbours to kindly bugger off so you dont get a repeat of the sand issue.

I am not sure wether Tricki has told you we are researching a squirmish from the moari wars but have done a couple of hunts with him now and he is a good fella. Always good to see another Kiwi preserving History.

Anyway if ya need a hand with that block let us know and we can see what we can manage, you never know tricki might be able to give you a hand as well. Anyway keep diggin.

Sasnz

Tonys18 · Sep 15, 2009

Hi there!

Sounds like a plan! I think I heard trikikiwi talking about the maori wars stuff. Sounds good also! Would be interesting stuff!

Tonys18 · Sep 16, 2009

Well Guess who got that engine part out today? Cutting the story short, it was stuck on a piece of pipe, so thats why I couldnt move it and thought I would have to move the sand! Ok check it out!

Look like Corsair maybe...

Cheers! :icon_thumleft:

TiredIron · Sep 18, 2009

I believe what you have there is the Accessory/Blower Section from a radial engine....don't know which engine exactly. Starting from the front of a radial engine you have the Nose Section...then the Power section then the Blower section then the Accessory Section. Each Power section has Nine cylinders. A lot of the fighters had two power sections....the largest engines on later bombers has four. My 450hp Pratt Whitney R985 Jr. Wasp has one row of Nine. This Youtube shows a lot of the engine....it just takes them a while to get to the back where the Blower/Accessory Section is.

Nice stuff....keep digging.

TiredIron

Tonys18 · Sep 20, 2009

Hi everyone!

Just found out what it is!

Its off a Corsair, R-2800-8W Engine. Heres a pic of it too!

Cheers and thanks for the support!

trikikiwi · Sep 20, 2009

Cool Vid TiredIron. :icon_thumleft:

Great ID of that engine part Tony. Who has helped with the ID?
I recall reading books by Kiwi Corsair pilots about their WWII experiences. Like other planes of that design, the pilot couldn't see forward until in level flight. Considering the Corsairs were also used on aircraft carriers in the Pacific war arena, you just have to admire the courage of those guys.

I like the irony of the name too - Corsair meaning Pirate - perfect for a TreasureNet find :icon_pirat:

Mike

Edit: I meant to mention for those interested, we Kiwis put on an awesome annual Warbirds show in our beautiful South Island http://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/

Tonys18 · Sep 20, 2009

We sure do put on a good warbird show.

Uh the person that helped me fully identify it was a friend off mine, he is also trying to make a kittyhawk, one that wont be able to fly of course.

Cheers! :icon_thumleft:

P.S: Before I forget. The hole where that Corsair engine part was, 2 days after I got it out I went back down and dug in it for 30min and I felt that something was wrong and 5min after that while I was having a drink break out of the hole. It caved in, I would of be well.......buried if I was in there! Close. Alwell time to dig another one.

Its also a bugger as I finaly found a person that knows about that dump, as his dad built the dismantling sheds, and the news is there is way more of those engine parts in there as they are made of certin metal instead of alloy. He said there is no full or guted planes there. Even if he helped with the dismantling im still keeping my hopes up, until the day that the dump has been completely dug out and there is no planes then I will believe him

.

Tonys18 · Oct 7, 2009

Just an update on the dump. It had a massive cave-in during a downpour of rain and it took out everything nearly! Now a 20 ton digger would be cool right about now...... ::)

Will keep people posted! Might do some research as well on other dig spots, possible sherman tanks or helmets or nothing at all! :read2:

.

Cheers :icon_thumleft:

Monty · Oct 7, 2009

If you are digging deep holes in that sand it's just a matter of when the thing caves in on you. That is a very dangerous thing to do. Two young teen boys dug into a sand bank across town a few years ago and it caved in and suffocated both of them. And we are often getting workmen trapped in a cavein even when precautions are taken. Please be very very careful. Monty

Tonys18 · Oct 7, 2009

Thanks for your concern monty

. I might take a break from the dump while we figure out how to get rid of the sand thats blocking it after the slip. Its slightly safer now as the sand wont be over my head, it should be upto half the size of me now. I will look at other WW2 spots now. Just need to find: A boat, divers (If we find it all), Those bags that lift heavy objects, a bulldozer, underwater camera to look at the bottom oh and time to do it

.

wavecrazed · Oct 12, 2009

I wonder if there are any expensive alloy metals in there like titanium which is used in modern jet engines. Just the scrap value there could be good too. Get It all and put in in your garage and sift through with a magnet.

Tonys18 · Oct 15, 2009

I dont think I would have the heart to send it to the scrap as its such interesting history and most parts still have the numbers and/or ink stamps on them saying they passed inspection.

Tonys18 · Oct 21, 2009

Hi there just an update on what ive been doing, been cleaning some parts up and I got em clear coated. 1st one is 2 Kittyhawk conrods and the 2nd one is out of a corsair. They are not painted gray, its just what it looks like under the clear coat.

Tonys18 · Nov 22, 2009

Hi everyone! Its been a while and I just finished my course on computing and decided to put some photos on of my new finds, I found these yesterday!

The tag says:

COUPLER UNIT
TYPE C(Unknown letter, might not be one)R-50050 DWG.L70416
WEIGHT 3.9 LBS SERIAL 147
A UNIT OF MODEL DU EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURED FOR
NAVY DEPARMENT - BU OF ENGINEERING
BY
BENDIX RADIO CORP
BALTIMORE MD.
CONTRACT NOs 59120 DATED 12 FEB 1938
DATE ACCEPTED 9-38

(And on the edge of the tag right at the bottom) A1180

Tonys18 · Nov 22, 2009

My second part I found, I am certain its off a Hudson or a Ventura, but hay I can be wrong.

It says:

KOLLSMAN
TYPE 373 D-92
SER NO 4128
24 VOLTS- 100 WATTS
MADE IN USA

(on the other side)

PAT. NGS 2204367
DES 114362
PAT CANADA 1940
MADE IN USA