Tag Archives: RNZAF Hobsonville

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – REHUTAI 428

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – REHUTAI 428

Last week WW was contacted by Mitchell Hutchings regarding the classic 43’ Sam Ford built (1926) wooden launch – REHUTAI, his note is reproduced below. Mitchell also supplied the photos we see above of REHUTAI under construction and on a cruise.  Sam Ford built REHUTAI for C C Ross of Wellington and when launched she was powered by a 50/75 hp Stearns engine.

“The photos were taken by my Uncle, Peter Parsonson, a Milford resident and past Commodore of the Devonport Yacht Club. His wife, Eva, is shown in some of the onboard photos. Also Bob and Bertie Davidson are named, probably the owners? They look like a happy crew. “

In Sept 2023 REHUTAI was in Wellington (painted yellow) and we learnt from Nathan Herbert that she had has several name changes over the years eg ARAWA, NOMAD, IRIHAPETI. Converted to her current configuration by Allan Williams in Milford, Auckland. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/09/05/mystery-wellington-launch-2/

Nathan Herbert pointed WW in the direction of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand (Photograph Collection) where there are two stunning WWII photos on file (last two above) of REHUTAI W428, during her time with the Air Force Marine Section, based at RNZAF Station Hobsonville. At the time she was ‘on-loan’ from Stan Parker.

NZ Airforce Maritime Craft

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NZ Airforce Maritime Craft

The owners of the very fine 36’ Colin Wild 1939 built launch – Rehia were recently going thru a family photo album and uncovered the photos above from one of their grandparents. The grandfather in the late 1940’s > early 1950’s was a mechanic based at the Hobsonville airbase servicing the fleet of maritime support craft.

In my eyes in the photos above there are 3 different craft but it has been suggested that the top 2 photos are the same boat. Also the size of the airforce insignia on the bow of the top craft looks very large , maybe not a NZ vessel?

Can we ID the craft.

INPUT EX John Bullivant – The top 2 photos are of US built 63ft Maiami class crash boats. The RNZAF had a few of these operating from Hobsonville and Laucala Bay in Fiji . The class was originally powered by 4 Kermath 500hp ‘Sea Raiders’ (linked nose to nose in pairs) but later were powered by twin 630 hp Hall Scott ‘ Defender engines as standard, – some with V drives. A number of variants were made. Top speed was around 36 knots (16 model 168s were built with twin Packard 1250hp for a speed of around 48 knots) Boats were used by Russia, UK, Australia, Sth Africa, NZ and the Dutch.

INPUT EX Mitchell Hutchings – the two photos below show the two vessels featured above. The first one is of the 63’ Rescue Launch 276 and the second of 313, both at RNZAF Hobsonville.

Curlew

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Curlew 1916

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CURLEW

Built by Rope brothers 1913
Lots of history on the Waitemata and Kaipara Harbours…

She was W68 when used By RNZAF at Hobsonville.

Photo & details from Andrew Pollard

Update & older photos from Zach Matich
A few Curlew pic’s first is her before the war, next is when she was sold to Cal Crooks
she is on the Kaipara Water Transport slip, last one is a newspaper shot so her towing sand barge ‘Wakarere’ for Kaipara Water Transport LTD, my dad Ron Matich is skipper and Ken Beattie is bargeman.
She was the back up tug for the ‘Lady-Kay’. Always had a obsession with her when I was young, she was sold well before I started as deckhand for the company.
Update 29-07-2019 – 1953 photo below
Curlew