Airfields and Stations in New Zealand Used By the RNZAF, Part 3

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Waipapakauri
35^2’0” S x 173^14’0”E

Approx 8 miles north of Kaitaia

A civil airfield opened on 29 April 1935. Originally it was within
a racecourse track.

Taken over in August 1940.

The first aerial seeding done in NZ was done at Waipapakauri in March 1941,
was carried out by the Public Works Department.

Lupin seeds were sown onto the sand dunes in a reclamation effort.

Developed by No 1 Aerodrome Construction Squadron into a fully equipped
RNZAF Station.

This was completed before March 1941, by September 1943 there was
also a fully equipped anti-aircraft artillery unit on site to protect the airfield.

Being situated North of Kaitaia in the very North of the North Island it was
an important Station in the Defence of NZ and the transit of Squadrons
from NZ to the Pacific forward area.

In 1940, with the threat of German Raider ships in the Tasman Sea and the
Pacific, a detachment of No 1 GR [General Reconnaissance] Squadron
was sent to patrol the area.

At it’s height, there were about 1,200 people stationed there, the bar mentioned below was closed in June 1942 and reopened 1 March 1945.

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“RNZAF, Waipapakauri and the pub that went to the war

1942.Dark days for New Zealand. The Japanese had entered into the war after
bombing the US Base at Pearl Harbour. The Japanese Army, Navy and Air Force
had captured Singapore and were moving south. The Solomon Islands had fallen
and the Army were on Guadalcanal, the most southern island in the group.

Was New Zealand to be a potential target? and, if so, how soon?

To be prepared for possible attack the Royal New Zealand Air Force moved aircraft
and personnel as far north in New Zealand as possible, and established an airfield at Waipapakauri.

The Army also moved personnel into the area.

Late in 1941 I had been posted from RNZAF Station Harewood in Christchurch to
RNZAF Station Hobsonville in Auckland, and as a medic, was attached to the
medical sick quarters.

One morning, early in 1942, a young airman from the sick quarters roused me
from my sleep, and told me, "You have been posted. I don't like to tell you where.
You are to report to the Flight Sergeant pronto." I dressed and reported to the
Flight Sergeant.

"Get packed," he said. "You're posted to Waipapakauri, and are to fly up in a
Vilderbeest aircraft at 1230 hours [12.30 pm] today."

"Where," I asked, "is Waipapakauri?"

"Way to hell up north, past Kaitaia, near the Ninety Mile Beach. I believe it is a
bloody awful sort of dump," said Flight Sergeant Ralph.

I packed and, as required, reported to the pilot of the aircraft, the late Sergeant
Vic Cairns.

At that period everyone flying in Air Force aircraft was required to wear a parachute,
but I had been informed by the parachute section there were no spares to go on a
one way trip to Waipapakauri.

"Don't worry Sport," said Sergeant Cairns, "We'll be flying well under 1000 feet,
so a brolly will be of no use. in any case 'you'll be in the tunnel, so get in.'

The vilderbeest was a large bi-plane with three cockpits. Pilot front, navigator
in the middle, and gunner in the rear.

Between the gunner's cockpit and the navigator was a covered space about
one and a half metres long and about the same wide, and approximately the
same or rather less amount of head room.

Into this I squeezed, together with my kitbag, and lay down. Not a lot of space.

The gunner's cockpit was of course occupied. What a way to fly!

I can't remember the duration of the flight I think about one and a half to
two hours, but was delighted to get out and stretch my legs on landing at
Waipapakauri.

Oh, the surprise in store for me.

Having signed in, I was directed to my accommodation - a small two man hut
just off the edge of the airfield, some distance I found from the ablutions and
toilet block, some distance from the mess hall, and isolated, I later found, from
my place of work, the station hospital.

A big change from the comfortable accommodation I had been used to at both
Hobsonville and Harewood.

Next morning my hut mate showed me the way to the station hospital.

Imagine my surprise when after a long walk he turned into the only building
past the airfield - the local pub. Waipapakauri hotel, no less.

'”Won't be open yet," I remarked.

"This, Alf, is the station hospital. We go around the side door."

Sure enough, the pub had been taken over by the Military to serve as a
base hospital for the Air Force and Army personnel in the area.

But yet another surprise. The dining room had been converted to a ten bed ward.

While the room adjacent to the bar had been converted into the Medical Officer's
consulting room, the guest rooms as smaller wards, the corridors fitted with
sterilizers, and the kitchen taken over by an Air Force cook, the public bar was
still operating, but strictly out of bounds to RNZAF and Army personnel on duty.

The situation with the bar operating went on for some weeks until after a statutory
period the liquor licence was held in abeyance until the pub was no longer required
for war service.

Following the closure of the bar for the last time, the bar area became a casualty
treating area, but each time the bar floor was mopped with hot water a delightful
aroma of stale beer wafted up out of the floorboards.

Not many weeks after arriving at Waipapakauri, which I enjoyed, the Medical Officer
and I were posted together to join No 3 GR Squadron and proceed overseas.

It was some years before I saw Waipapakauri Pub again, now back in full use as
the local hotel, and I was surprised to find that very few people in the area seemed
to know of the pub's wartime role.

So, a little later, I started writing letters.

First to New Zealand Breweries, the owners of the hotel, and to the RNZAF Publicity Department, telling of the pub's wartime history.

Neither the Brewery Public Relations Officer, nor the Air Force Public Relations
Department, was aware that the hotel had been used as an RNZAF Hospital,
and later an officers' mess.

But when my facts were verified, they agreed to my suggestion that a suitable plaque
should be installed.

This was done in about 1978 or 1979, but I did not see it until February 1996 when I
made a special trip with an ex Air Force friend to the far north to do so.

The plaque, the Air Force crest mounted on New Zealand native timber,
is in the main bar, and has attached a brass plate which reads:

THIS RNZAF BADGE RECOGNISES THE UNIQUE FUNCTION OF THE HOTEL
DURING RNZAF OPERATIONS FROM WAIPAPKAURI IN THE 2ND WORLD WAR,
WHEN PART OF THE HOTEL WAS USED AS AN AIR FORCE HOSPITAL WHILE
THE BAR CONTINUED A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC. LATER THE HOTEL
BECAME AN OFFICERS' MESS.

Externally, the hotel looks much the same as when I first saw it in 1942, but the bar area
is far more swept up.

The owner of the hotel, Mr Adrian Clark, an ex All Black, informed me that the crest is
an item of considerable interest to patrons and visitors, and I am delighted that my
efforts to have recognition paid to the hotel have been carried out in such a worthy
manner by cooperation between New Zealand Breweries and the RNZAF.

A.T. Sindlen, J.P.
Ex Flight Sergeant/Medical Technician
RNZAF

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Units Known To Have Been Permanently Stationed There

No 1 Aerodrome Construction Squadron:
To construct the airfield into a Station

No 1 GR Squadron Detachment

A detachment of three Vickers Vincents were sent to the racecourse airfield.

The Grandstand was adapted to become a hanger so maintenance could be
carried out under cover.

Other racecourse buildings became the Mess, Living Quarters etc, the local
Hotel became the Officers Mess, and later, the Station Hospital as the war
progressed.

The detachment aircraft came from Ohakea’s Air Gunnery and Air Observers
School, the crews and staff from Whenuapai.

Along with the Ohakea AG&OS,[Air Gunners & Observers School] and the
TEAL [Tasman Empire Airlines Limited] Short Empire flying boats from
Auckland, they were searching for the German Raider “Orion”, that had sunk
the SS Turakina 400 miles west of Cape Egmont in August 1940.

The Raider escaped without being detected.

The detachment grew into a Flight and covered the Northern approaches
to NZ, carrying out escorts, anti-shipping and anti-submarine patrols.

The members of the detachment were rotated by A and B flight of
No 1 GR Squadron doing alternate stints in the far North.

This developed to full Squadron strength and was re-numbered
No 7 GR Squadron.

No 7 G R Squadron

Developed from the original detachment, it was re-named in February 1942.

The Squadron grew in strength to have 12 Vincents in daily use,
and 6 in reserve for servicing etc.

The Squadron was disbanded in May 1943, has not been reformed.

The Commanding Officers were:
S/L A J Turner Feb 42 to Dec 42
S/L Ron A Kirkup Dec 42 to May 43

Anti-Aircraft Unit

Established to defend the airfield, was fully operational before
September 43.

NZ Army Fortress Troops

Immediately after Japan entered the war a section of 120 men were
sent to the airfield to protect it from coastal attack.
These were later joined by members of the Territorials, some of whom,
in 1942, were given the option of joining the RNZAF, and many took
up that offer.