Wings Over Wairarapa

Wings Over Wairarapa 22/23rd January 2005

 

Report by Cpl Rae, J 22nd Battalion Historical Re-Enactment Society (Inc) 29/1/05

In attendance from 22nd (Wellington) Batt HRS:

 

Others:

Sgt Tuohy, C

Cpl Rae, J

L-Cpl Bates, N

Pvt Biddle, R

Pvt Brown, M (Batt Armourer)

Pvt Payne, T (Day 1 only)

Pvt Rodgers, G

Pvt Thorpe, W

Pvt Shaun Moloney

21st Batt (Auckland) HRS:

Pres Johnson, J & Fiona

Cpt Gunson, G

Pvt Jim Edmonds

 

The Japs:

Dave Lochead (ground theatre coordinator)

Pvt Alan Carino

Pvt Chris Alip

 

Friday 21st Jan 

Several of us arrived in the early afternoon at the Masterton Aerodrome to attend a short briefing about the airshow, set up camp on the airstrip and to do a practice run on the 25 pounder in preparation for the weekend’s events.  With most of us still on the way to the airshow, we scraped together some volunteers (a crew of six) and did a dummy run with truck, limber and gun until we were reasonably satisfied with the result. That evening we retired to the Carterton Camping Grounds where most of the military vehicle people were also staying.

 

Saturday 22nd Jan/Sunday 23rd Jan 

Reveille at 6.30 am, dawned fine and hot.  Donned our rather warm WWI woollen attire and were at the airstrip by 8am to do some more practice on the 25 pdr.  Several briefings followed from 9am.  By 10.30 we were at the rallying point in preparation for the WWI scenario starting 11am.  By this stage the temperatures were already into the early/mid-twenties.

 Our job was to pull two carts along the crowd line, equipped with blank-firing Bren guns on AA mounts, and engage the Germans on both the ground (infantry supported by a Krupp gun) and in the air (Fokker Triplanes).  Peter Jackson’s WWI British Mk5 tank was also there in support, however it experienced some mechanical problems and didn’t arrive till late in the battle.  It didn’t take us long to start running out of steam as the heat built up inside our woollen tunics, and we were greatly relieved to change into our khaki drill WW2 outfits after the battle.  During the battle I fired five magazines or approximately 150 rounds through my Bren, while about 100 rounds went through the other Bren and the rifles.  Much of the ammunition was kindly provided by Hamish of WETA studios, who also provided the WWI German outfits, weapons and Krupp gun.

 Several of our re-enactment group also served as enemy party, or helped man the WWI tank.

WWI Allied team: Capt Gunson, Sgt Tuohy, Cpl Rae (MG No. 1), L-Cpl Bates (MG No. 2), Pvt Biddle, Pvt Payne, Pvt Edmonds

On the Sunday when we repeated the WWI scenario (in similar warm conditions) we ensured we were better hydrated and had a rest in the shade under the trees near the airstrip, and wondered how we could get WWI tropical outfits for future events.

There was another briefing at 1pm to discuss the WW2 (Pacific) scenario. As this scenario was mostly vehicle based, those of us not serving on the 25 pdr crew (five in total) either rode in Axis vehicles or became enemy party

 

HRS 25 pdr crew, left to right: Cpl Rae (no. 2, firer), Pvt Biddle (no. 3, loader), Pvt Rogers (no. 4, loader), Sgt Tuohy (no.5, loader) and Gun Group Commander Brian (no. 1) from the military vehicles society.

The WW2 scenario consisted of allied vehicles attacking a small Japanese group equipped with a rocket launcher and some vehicles.  Also some Harvard’s posed as Zeros for the event.  This was the ‘main event” of the day and featured a lot of spectacular pyros and a lot of vehicles and aircraft.  For our part, the unlimbering, loading and firing of the 25 pdr all went pretty smoothly. In fact, it was remarked we were TOO fast!  As the firer I had the least amount of work to do, although of course I was nearest to the blast when it went off!  I think the shells had at least a good pound of black powder in them.  We fired 4 rounds in total, the final round destroying the enemy position. The second day we fired six shells in total. Ear plugs were mandatory. Other than a slight problem with a 25 pdr shell that wouldn’t eject on the second day, all the events went off without a hitch, and we hope to return in 2007.

Below: also on the second day we had two Bren carriers in support of the gun crew, complete with blank-firing Bren guns (manned by Pvt Bates) and Capt Gunson with his Sten gun.

Below: on a shoestring and with a bit of improvisation, we managed to dress two of Warwick’s Phillipino relatives as Japanese enemy party.  In the middle is ground coordinator, Dave Lochead.