Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 6

While I was in Fiji we had two hurricanes pass by. There was only hangarage for one Sunderland, so everything else had to fly back to NZ.

We had just started a servicing that takes four to five days when the message came down - ”Work until the aircraft can fly back to NZ.”

Forty hours later we finished, had a feed just as the winds were building, and then got into bed.

By the time we woke up we were soaking wet with the hurricane winds slowing down.

For the second one, everything was flyable so we had no panic. Just tie down the hanger, shut the doors, have a big feed and wait it out.

All the vehicles were put into the hanger for safety, including those belonging to the married guys.

The barracks were made from concrete blocks, so we had no worries. The windows were louver type, and no matter how hard you tried the rain would slip between the louvers and spray over the whole room.

Now I know why we woke up wet last time.

The hurricane passed directly over the base. In the calm center, one of the officers decided to get his car out of the hanger and go for a sight-seeing tour so he could see what damage had been done.

As he wasn’t going to be long and as a labour saving idea, he left the hanger doors open.

While he was away the winds returned, entered the open doors and tore off about a third of the roof.

The hanger that had withstood countless hurricanes since it was built in 1941 now required major repair.

Managed to get a lightning strike that looked far better before the slide faded.

Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 1
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 2
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 3
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 4
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 5
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 6
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 7
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 8