By Jack Beckett
War History Online
OMAKA AVIATION HERITAGE
CENTRE WELCOMES RARE WARBIRDS
The John Smith Collection, the aviation equivalent of Aladdin’s Cave.
We are excited
and honoured to announce that the family of deceased aviation collector, John
Smith have appointed the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (OAHC) to work with
them as guardians of his remarkable collection, to preserve and publicly
display these hero aircraft to New Zealand and the world.
The John Smith
collection had its beginnings in the 1950’s when as a young man he witnessed
wholesale scrapping of warbirds around the world and even in his own backyard.
John
lived in Mapua and was aware that over the hill in Marlborough, historic warplanes
such as Mustangs, Mosquitos and Hudsons were being broken up.
He managed to
save several key aircraft and stored them in a shed on his Mapua property,
where they remained as untouched, and for the most part unseen, records of NZ
aviation history.
Over the
decades, word of the Kiwi recluse with his rare warbird collection reached
around the world. Collectors travelled from across the planet to try to
purchase his aeroplanes but left empty handed.
John’s
shed was the aviation equivalent of Aladdin’s Cave, fuselages lined up parallel
to one another like sardines, symmetrically arranged either side of a fully
assembled Mosquito.
“Many of us
have seen restored combat aircraft from WW2, albeit in small numbers, however
these aircraft were the ‘real deal’, carrying the original paint they wore when
parked under the palm trees on some Pacific atoll, being rearmed before going
back to battle”, says OAHC board member Graham Orphan.
The Smith aircraft destined
for display at OAHC include a complete de Havilland Mosquito, John’s own
original Tiger Moth and New Zealand’s most famous P-40, ‘Gloria Lyons’.
They will join
the Lockheed Hudson, formerly gifted by John to Bill Reid, also on display at
Omaka.
Conservation
work has commenced on the P-40 and the next milestone is the disassembling of
the Mosquito and transporting it from Mapua to Omaka.
Given
the fragility and historical significance of the fuselage it requires
specialised expertise and transportation. Future fundraising efforts including
any profits from the Yealands Classic Fighters Air Show will be funnelled into
this significant project and any donations or offers of sponsorship in kind
will be gratefully accepted.
About Omaka Aviation
Heritage Centre
Established to provide a world-class destination for the appreciation of historic aircraft, the Omaka AHC opened in 2006 with the Knights of the Sky exhibition, featuring Sir Peter Jackson’s extensive Great War collection of aircraft and rare memorabilia.
The calibre of
the displays, enhanced by Weta Workshop’s mannequins and sets produced by
WingNut Films, launched the Centre to international acclaim. Dangerous Skies,
the WWII exhibition opened in 2016 and explores the stories of both male and
female aviators.
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