De Havilland DH 60 G, M, G111 1929 to 1943

GIPSY MOTH DH 60

Design:
Developed from
DH 51 Bi-Plane

Company:
De Havilland

Wing Span:
30 ft 0 in

Wing Area:
243 sq ft

Length:
23 ft 11 in

Height:
8 ft 9 ½ in

Speed:
102 MPH

T/O Weight:
1,400 lb

Crew:
1 Pilot
1 Student / Passenger

Role:
Utility
Light Communications
Sea Plane
Navy Co-op

First Flight:
22 Feb 1925

Armament:
Nil

Years Served:
1929 to 1939
1939 to 1943

Qty Served:
28

Original DH 60 sold for 650.00.00 pound in 1925 [$1300]
DH 60 G was sold for 650.00.00 pound in 1930 [$1300]

DH 60 G Gipsy 1 Engine upright cylinders
DH 60 M metal fuselage Gipsy 1 Engine
DH 60 G111 Gipsy 111 engine inverted cylinders

An advantage of the DH 60 Moth series was that the wings could be folded back
reducing the hanger area needed to store the A/C

In 1931 a variant of the DH 60 M was marketed for military training as DH 60 T

This was re-engined with the Gipsy 111 and called the DH 60 Tiger moth

This was modified with swept-back wings,
The Cabane struts were moved forward to
improve egress from the front cockpit in case of emergency

These changes were considered enough to rename the A/C as DH 82 Tiger Moth

By 1929 it was estimated 85 out of 100 A/C were Moths of one form or another

EFTS = Elementry Flying Training School
ATC = Air Training Corps
Inst = Instructional Non-Flying Airframe
A/C = Aircraft
PWD = Public Works Department
Comms = Communications

ENGINE

Type:
De Havilland Gipsy 1

De Havilland Gypsy 111

Horse Power:
Gipsy 1 100 HP

Gipsy 111 120 HP

Bore:
4.5 in

Stroke:
5.5 in

Volume:
350 cu in 5.7 ltrs

Compression Ratio:
5.2 : 1

Max RPM:
2300 RPM

Take Off Power:
120 HP

Fuel:
73 Octane

Oil:
OMD 370

Length:
48 in

Width:
20 in

Height:
29 in

Weight:
298 lb

Power to Weight Ratio:
0.402 BHP/lb

NZPAF 870

Constructors No.: 870
Mark: DH 60 G
First flight At Stag Lane UK 7 Dec 1928
Shipped to NZ
Unpacked at Wigram 16 Mar 1929
First flight In N Z 21 Mar 1929
Code letter A
Loaned to Canterbury Aero Club 19 Oct 1929
Flew approx 100 hours
Returned to NZPAF 31 Jan 1930
Transferred to Hobsonville 18 Feb 1940
Fitted with floats 8 Jun 1931 - 31 Jul 1931
Reverted to wheels 1 Aug 1931 – Nov 1931
Refitted with floats Nov 1931
Reverted to wheels Dec 1931 - 7 Mar 1933
Refitted with floats 7 Mar 1933 – 12 May 1933
Damaged In a landing accident 27 Jan 1939
Withdrawn from service 27 Jan 1939

NZPAF 871

Constructors No.: 871
Mark: DH 60 G
Shipped to NZ early 1929
Assembled and test flow from Wigram early 1929
Transferred to West Coast United Aero Club 12 Mar 1936
Registered ZK – ADZ 12 Mar 1936
Crashed Into sea 200 meters from shore
At Blaketown Beach, Greymouth 1400 on 11 Apr 1937
The A/C was carrying out an aerobatic exercise
When it went into a spin from a height of 500 ft
And failed to recover
Pilot swam to shore with minor injuries
A/C extensively damaged and written off

NZFAF 872

Constructors No.: 872
Mark: DH 60 G
Shipped to NZ early 1929
Assembled And test flown from Wigram early 1929
Code letter C
Transferred to Marlborough Aero Club 21 Jan 1936
Registered ZK – AEM
The A/C overturned after a heavy landing
On a “First Solo Flight” 14 Dec 1937
De Registered
Written off 12 Dec 1938

NZFAP 873

Constructors No.: 873
Mark: DH 60 G
Shipped to NZ early 1929
Assembled And test flown from Wigram early 1929
Forced landing at Geraldine resulted in A/C
Being trucked back to Wigram for repair 23 Feb 1931
Withdrawn From service late 1936

NZPAF 995

Constructors No.: 995
Mark: DH 60 G
Shipped to NZ Jul 1929
Assembled And test flown from Wigram Jul 1929
First A/C to fly from Wellington to Hobsonville non stop
Fitted with Floats 6 Jan 1930
Embarked On board HMS Dunedin
To Samoa
Arrived 21 Jan 1930
Carried out military duties inc leaflet dropping
Aerial photography, and passenger flights
Also used to help quell the Mau Uprising
Based at Mantautu
Armed with a lewis gun and home made bombs
Re – embarked on board HMS Dunedin
To Auckland 2 Mar 1930
During lifting operations the A/C was dropped
Only the engine and floats were salvaged
The floats were later fitted to
“Francis Chichester’s” Moth ZK – AKK
For his trans – Tasman flight

NZ 501

Constructors No.: 866
Mark: DH 60 G
Assembled At Wigram
As a Government Gift A/C Jan 1929
Registered G – NZAW
Allocated to Auckland Aero Club 1 Dec 1929
Registered ZK – AAL 1 Dec 1929
Crashed into a hill in clouds
Near source of Red Rocks Stream, Wellington,
En route Rongotai to Nelson 17 Mar 1934
E W Boucher president Auckland Aero Club killed
L W Swan Sec Aero Club injured
Salvaged And rebuilt by 16 Sep 1935
Ownership Passed to club on completion
Of 1,000.00 hrs flown 22 Mar 1935
Impressed into RNZAF
Cost 350.00.00 pound [$700]
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Damaged in landing accident at New Plymouth
Wing tip hit a fence while landing 22 Feb 1941
Written off at New Plymouth

NZ 502

Constructors No.: 922
Mark: DH 60 G
Imported for Ian Horton publisher of NZ Herald
Flown by him at Cambridge Aero Club Display
Conington, England Jun 1929
U K C of A No 1948 issued 20 Apr 1929
Purchased by UK Government
Allocated as a Government gift A/C
To Wellington Aero Club 18 Mar 1932
Registered ZK – AAO
Ownership passed to club after the requisite
1,000 hrs had been flown 22 Mar 1934
Impressed into RNZAF
Cost 300.00.00 pound [$600] 15 Sep 1939
Converted to Inst 21 at T T S Rongotai Jun 1940
To 2 Stores Depot, Mangaroa near Wellington
To Wellington A T C
Broken up before the end of WW 2

NZ 503

Constructors No.: 5121
Mark: DH 60 G 111
Shipped on SS Port Fairey
Arrived 18 Apr 1935
Code letter/No.: 40
Assembled And tested at Wigram
To Wellington Aero Club as Government Gift A/C
Registered ZK – ADP 20 May 1935
Ownership passed to club after requisite
1,000 hrs had been flown Aug 1938
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 12 Sep 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
To 2 EFTS Ashburton
Converted to Inst 47 at Ashburton Nov 1942
To Wanganui ATC

NZ 504

Constructors No.: 1217
Mark: DH 60 G
To Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club
As Government Gift A/C early1930
Registered ZK – ABB 9 Dec1929
Ownership passed to club when requisite
1,000 hrs had been flown 22 Mar 1935
Extensively damaged in accident at Hastings 25 May 1937
To New Plymouth Aero Club
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 11 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Crashed at New Plymouth and written off 19 Apr 1941

NZ 505

Constructors No.: 1562
Mark: DH 60 M
To Southland Aero Club
As Government Gift A/C 17 Dec 1930
Registered ZK – ACF 23 Dec 1930
Ownership passed to the club when requisite
1,000 hrs had been flown 22 Mar 1935
Loaned to Canterbury Aero Club May 1935 – 12 Oct 1935
To Western Federated Flying Club 16 Apr 1937
Name changed to New Plymouth Aero Cub 25 May 1937
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 11 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Badly damaged in a landing accident a
At New Plymouth 19 Feb 1941
Written off 29 Jul 1941

NZ 506

Constructors No.: 1202
Mark: DH 60 G
Imported as a Government Gift A/C 11 Oct 1929
Assembled And tested Wigram Jan 1930
To New Plymouth Aero Club 24 Mar 1930
Registered ZK – AAX 24 Mar 1930
Club changed it’s name to
Western Federated Flying Club Apr 1930
Crashed into a hill near Wellington
Pilot and Passenger killed 25 Oct 1932
A/C repaired and returned to service
Damaged by hitting a car while taxiing at Te Rapa
Trucked back to New Plymouth,
On the way the truck caught fire at Ohaupo
And the A/C was almost totally destroyed 9 Dec 1933
Rebuilt as a DH 60 M using a metal fuselage
From ZK – ABT [Con No 1487] Jan 1935
By A Dingle, Wellington
Test flown 18 Jan 1935
To Wanganui Aero Club 2 Nov 1938
Impressed into RNZAF
Cost 350.00.00 pound [$700] 11 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Withdrawn and Converted to Inst 40
At New Plymouth Mid 1941
To Levin as Inst 40
To Gisborne ATC
Broken up during W W 2

NZ 507

Constructors No.: 1250
Mark: DH 60 G
Imported for Air Survey and Transport
Registered ZK – ABP 19 Jun 1931
To Western Federated Flying Club
New Plymouth 1931
This was the first A/C to fly from
The North Cape to the Bluff in one day 1 Dec 1933
To New Plymouth Aero Club late 1938
Impressed into RNZAF
Cost 250.00.00 pound [$ 500] 11 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Converted into Inst 39 at New Plymouth
Transferred to Taieri Jun 1941
Declared surplus [by which time
It was the last Moth in the RNZAF] 26 Nov 1953

NZ 508

Constructors No.: 5114
Mark: DH 60 G111
Shipped on SS Rangitane 18 Mar 1935
Assembled And tested at Wigram
Allocated to Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C 3 Apr 1935
Registered ZK – ADK 11 Apr 1935
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 20 May 1940
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Landing accident at New Plymouth 28 Apr 1941
Written off 17 Sep 1941

NZ 509

Constructors No.: 1561
Mark: DH 60 M
Allocated to Otago Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C 3 Dec 1930
Registered ZK – ACE
Ownership passed to club after required
1,000 hrs flown 22 Mar 1931
Hired to Middle Districts Aero Club 31 Mar 1939
To Middle Districts Aero Club 8 Jun 1939
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 6 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Engine failure at take off
Crashed at New Plymouth 9 Jul 1940
Written off 21 Nov 1940
Parts recovered and sent to
South Island as spares
Fuselage and other parts recovered
From a barn at Balclutha by Colin Smith
Believed under restoration at
Croydon Aircraft Co, Gore

NZ 510

Constructors No.: 1438
Mark: DH 60 M
Original Registration G – AASA 9 Oct 1929
To Arthur H Youngman
Nominee for H Gordon Selfridge Jr, Heston 9 Nov 1929
To Oscar Garden, Brooklands 18 Sep 1930
Named Kia Ora
Flown from Lympne UK to Wyndham Australia
By Oscar Garden between 17 Oct – 4 Nov 1930
Flown to NZ Nov 1930
Registered ZK –ACK 3 Mar 1931
To T G Mullen, Hamilton 25 May 1931
To M A Scott, Frankton Junction, Hamilton 17 May 1933
To Auckland Aero Club 12 Sep 1933
To Waikato Aero Club 5 Dec 1937
Impressed into RNZAF cost 350.00.00 pound [$700] 11 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Converted to Inst 37 mid 1941
To Whangarei ATC
Written off at Hobsonville 11 Jun 1946

NZ 511

Constructors No.: 1549
Mark: DH 60 M
Original Registration G – ABAN 13 Jun 1930
Sold from De Havilland Stag Lane UK
To NZ Government 9 Sep 1930
Allocated to Auckland Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C 23 Dec 1930
Registered ZK – ACC 23 Dec 1930
Ownership passed to Club
On completion of required 1,000 hrs 22 Mar 1935
To Hamilton branch of Auckland Aero Club 4 Dec 1937
Reconstituted as Waikato Aero Club
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 11 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Converted to Inst 41 at New Plymouth Jul 1941
To Napier ATC
Scrapped Feb 1945
Engine to Christchurch ATC

NZ 512

Constructors No.: 5118
Mark: DH 60 G111
Shipped on SS Rangitane
Arrived 18 Mar 1935
Assembly And testing at Wigram
To Southland Aero Club
As Government Gift A/C 30 Mar 1935
Registered ZK – ADM 13 Apr 1935
Ownership passed to Club
On completion of required 1,000 hrs Aug 1938
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 27 Sep 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Damaged in a landing accident
At New Plymouth 4 Sept 1942
Written off 26 Nov 1941

NZ 513

Constructors No.: 1910
Mark: DH 60 G
Allocated to Southland Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C 2 Mar 1933
Registered ZK – ADB 21 Mar 1933
Ownership passed to club
On completion of required 1,000 hrs 11 Mar 1936
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 27 Sept 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Withdrawn from service and written off 19 Sep 1941

NZ 514

Constructors No.: 1909
Mark: DH 60 G
Allocated to Marlborough Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C 9 Mar 1933
Registered ZK – ADA 9 Mar 1933
Ownership passed to club
On completion of required 1,000 hrs 11 Aug 1936
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 5 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Damaged in a landing accident
At New Plymouth 9 Sep 1940
Written off 18 Dec 1940

NZ 515

Constructors No.: 5119
Mark: DH 60 G111
Shipped on SS Rangitane
Arrived 18 Mar 1935
Assembled And tested at Wigram
Allocated to Otago Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C Apr 1935
Registered ZK – ADN 17 Apr 1935
Ownership passed to club
On completion of 1,000 hr 31 Mar 1938
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 26 Sep 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Damaged in a landing accident
At New Plymouth 22 Jul 1941
Written off 4 Sep 1941

NZ 516

Constructors No.: 1447
Mark: DH 60 M
Imported for Air Survey and Transport
Registered ZK – ABF 8 Jan 1930
To National Airways [NZ] Ltd early 1930
Used to survey a route between Auckland
And Dunedin.Political changes dictated that
The Airline did not eventuate
To Cadbury Fry Hudson 19 Jun 1930
Painted a chocolate colour,
Spent 6 months flying around NZ
To Otago Aero Club 23 Jan 1931
Impressed into RNZAF
Cost 350.00.00 pound [$700] 26 Sep 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Damaged in a landing accident
At New Plymouth 5 Feb 1941
Written off

NZ 517

Constructors No.: 1925
Mark: DH 60 G
Constructed by De Havilland Apprentices
For Canterbury Aero Club after
Production of this model was terminated 1938
Registered ZK – AGU 24 Nov 1938
Impressed into RNZAF 31 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Attempted a Stall turn
Dived into a paddock near New Plymouth 19 Jan 1940
Written off 15 Aug 1940

NZ 518

Constructors No.: 1926
Mark: DH 60 G
Constructed by De Havilland Apprentices
For Canterbury Aero Club after
Production of this model was terminated 1939
Registered ZK – AGV 14 Aug 1939
Impressed into RNZAF 31 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth until Oct 1941
Overhaul by De Havillands, Rongotai
To Nausori, Fiji Nov 1941
Light communication duties with Unit 20 10 Feb 1942
To 4 Sqn
To 5 Sqn
Maintained an accident free record during
it’s service life
Written off due to deterioration due to
humid conditions 4 Jul 1943

NZ 519

Constructors No.: 1102
Mark: DH 60 G
Imported for Air Survey and Transport 14 May 1929
Registered ZK – AAR 28 Aug 1929
To Falcon Airways 5 Sep 1929
James Duff Hewett flew the A/C non stop
From Dunedin to Auckland
740 miles in 10 Hours 15 Mar 1930
This set a N Z Record for the distance
Flown in one day
To Air Survey and Transport 29 Aug 1934
Rebuilt using new fuselage and mainplanes Dec 1934
To Canterbury Aero Club 23 Aug 1935
Crashed at Wigram
Repaired 19 May 1939
Impressed into RNZAF 31 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Converted to Inst 36 TTS Rongotai Jul 1941

NZ 520

Constructors No.: 1560
Mark: DH 60 M
was NZPAF 1560 9 Sep 1930
Registered ZK – AEB 28 May 1936
To Canterbury Aero Club
Impressed into RNZAF as a gift A/C 13 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Crashed at New Plymouth 6 Sep 1940
Converted to Inst 38 at New Plymouth mid 1941
To Harewood
To Christchurch ATC
Written off
Engine scrapped Nov 1952

NZ 521

Constructors No.: 5115
Mark: DH 60 G111
Shipped on SS Rangitane
Arrived 18 Mar 1935
Assembled And tested at Wigram
Allocated to Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club
As a Government Gift A/C 5 Apr 1935
Registered ZK – ADL 3 May 1935
Ownership transferred to club
On completion of 1,000 hrs Jun 1938
Impressed into RNZAF 9 Oct 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
Mid air with Tiger Moth NZ 745
While landing at New Plymouth 6 Sep 1940
Converted to Inst 25 at New Plymouth
To Rongotai
To Woodbourne
Written off

NZ 522

Constructors No NZ 1
Mark: DH 60 M
Constructed At Wigram for Public Works Dept
From spares purchased from De Havilland
Delivered to PWD
Without registration or S/No late Jul 1937
Serial /No NZ – 1
Registered ZK – AFR
Ownership passed to PWD 29 Aug 1938
Impressed into RNZAF
Cost 702.00.00 pound [$1404] 8 Nov 1939
To 2 EFTS New Plymouth
To Nausori, Fiji 1 Dec 1940
To Unit 20
Crashed into sea off Nadi Bay 4 Oct 1941
It is thought the pilot may have been hit by
A stray bullet from Vincent NZ 358
That was testing it’s guns in the area at the time
P/O Ronald Williams P/O Francis Pilland both killed
Written off

NZPAF 870 G
NZPAF 871 G
NZPAF 872 G
NZPAF 873 G
NZPAF 995 G
NZPAF 1560 ZK - AEB M
NZPAF 1567 ZK - AEP M
NZ 501 G – NZAW ZK – AAL G
NZ 502 ZK – AAO G Inst 21
NZ 503 ZK – AAR G111 Inst 47
NZ 504 ZK - ABB G
NZ 505 ZK - ACF M
NZ 506 ZK – AAX G
Rebuilt ZK - ABT M Inst 40
NZ 507 ZK - ABP G Inst 39
NZ 508 ZK - ADK G111
ZK 509 ZK - ACE M
ZK 510 G - AASA ZK - ACK M Inst 37
NZ 511 G - ABAN ZK - ACC M Inst 41
NZ 512 ZK - ADM G111
NZ 513 ZK - ADB G
NZ 514 ZK - ADA G
NZ 515 ZK - ADN G111
NZ 516 ZK - ABF M
NZ 517 ZK - AGU G
NZ 518 ZK - AGV G
NZ 519 ZK - AAR G Inst 36
NZ 520 ZK - AEB M Inst 38
NZ 521 ZK - ADL G111 Inst 25
NZ 522 ZK - AFR M

Others

ZK – AAD Crashed Waitaroa 16 Feb 1938
ZK – AAZ Crashed Hokitika
ZK – ABV Crashed Miramar 3 Dec1937
ZK – ADG Crashed Kawhai Beach 1938
ZK – AEM Crashed Marlborough 15 Dec 1937

Flown By:

NZPAF Wigram
NZPAF Hobsonville
2 EFTS New Plymouth
4EFTS
Comms Flight Fiji
HMS Dunedin NZ 995 on floats

photos official

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner