A couple of mysteries to clear up
News of a restored World War II Catalina flying boat visiting Kaitaia this weekend has brought to light photographic evidence showing the reality of Northland as New Zealand’s front line against potential invasion during the first half of World War II.
The Catalina’s visit reminded Heritage New Zealand volunteer researcher Jack Kemp of a series of photographs capturing the landing and unloading of a Martin Mariner flying boat in Mangonui Harbour during the war.
“Kevin Hall, one of the people I interviewed as part of Heritage New Zealand’s Northland World War II Heritage Inventory project, is a collector of photos associated with the history of Mangonui and the Far North,” he said.
“The pictures were taken by Kevin’s father Ivan, probably in late 1943 or 1944, and look as if they had been taken from the end of Colonel Mould Drive, just down from the primary school, where Ivan was the headmaster. The photos quite clearly show the flying boat in the harbour. Unfortunately we don’t have any further details about what the plane and its crew were doing there.”
Kevin had asked immediate family members about the photo, but was unable to shed more light on what was going on, apart from one intriguing fact.
“My father described the plane as being on a ‘hush hush’ mission. Beyond that I haven’t been able to learn anything further,” he said.
Like the Catalina, the Martin Mariner was used widely throughout the Pacific as a submarine spotter and rescue aircraft for downed airmen and lost seamen, as well as intelligence gathering. With its distinctive gull wing configuration and twin tail, it was designed to complement the Catalina and was used widely in the Pacific, although not so much in New Zealand.
“That makes its presence in Mangonui Harbour all the more interesting, particularly as there was a high level of secrecy around military movements at the time,” Jack said.
“We’d love to hear from anybody who might recall the visit of the plane to Mangonui, when it came here, how often they recall Air Force planes flying into Mangonui, and anything else about those years they might remember.” The inventory project, which included oral history interviews and archival research by Jack and Dr Bill Guthrie, of Parapara, had enabled a lot of information about Northland during World War II to be recorded and catalogued.
“It’s a continuous work in progress, however, and we are always keen to talk to people who have information on those war years, and particularly those who were alive at the time,” he added.
And while locals were racking their memories of the mysterious Martin Mariner, they may also like to turn their attention to the visit of a Fairmile ship seen hugging the coast as it steamed into Mangonui.
The ship’s arrival was also captured on film by Ivan Hall, at much the same time.
“The Fairmile ships were used primarily as motor torpedo boats and for mine clearance,” Jack said.
“Most famously HMNZS Kahu was used as a passenger ferry after the war.”
The vessel in the photograph did not appear to have any naval markings on its hull, but Jack was very keen to hear from anyone who might have any further information on either or both of the wartime visitors.
“It all adds to our knowledge base, and helps us build a broad, comprehensive picture of what was going on militarily in Northland during World War II,” he said.
Anyone who had any information to offer was invited to contact Heritage New Zealand’s Northland manager, Bill Edwards, on (09) 407-0471.
Recording history