Comments on: Laucala Bay and the history of the RNZAF in Fiji – research trip to Suva http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/ Author, social & oral historian Sat, 10 Dec 2016 20:58:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Bee http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2982 Bee Sat, 10 Dec 2016 20:58:26 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2982 Hi Christine, Sorry about the tardy reply but I've only just discovered your comment on my website. Obviously I don't check it often enough! I'm delighted to report that the book is finished and that I have an advance copy on the desk beside me. There are lots of lovely tales and many images which should do much to evoke those Laucala Bay days. It's going to be available from the end of February, so keep an eye out in the bookshops or online, Kind regards, Bee Dawson Hi Christine,
Sorry about the tardy reply but I’ve only just discovered your comment on my website. Obviously I don’t check it often enough!
I’m delighted to report that the book is finished and that I have an advance copy on the desk beside me. There are lots of lovely tales and many images which should do much to evoke those Laucala Bay days.
It’s going to be available from the end of February, so keep an eye out in the bookshops or online,
Kind regards,
Bee Dawson

]]> By: Bee http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2981 Bee Sat, 10 Dec 2016 20:58:00 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2981 Hi Jeanne, Sorry about the tardy reply but I've only just discovered your comment on my website. Obviously I don't check it often enough! I'm delighted to report that the book is finished and that I have an advance copy on the desk beside me. There are lots of lovely tales and many images which should do much to evoke those Laucala Bay days. It's going to be available from the end of February, so keep an eye out in the bookshops or online, Kind regards, Bee Dawson Hi Jeanne,
Sorry about the tardy reply but I’ve only just discovered your comment on my website. Obviously I don’t check it often enough!
I’m delighted to report that the book is finished and that I have an advance copy on the desk beside me. There are lots of lovely tales and many images which should do much to evoke those Laucala Bay days.
It’s going to be available from the end of February, so keep an eye out in the bookshops or online,
Kind regards,
Bee Dawson

]]> By: Bee http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2980 Bee Sat, 10 Dec 2016 20:57:23 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2980 Hi Grey, Sorry about the tardy reply but I've only just discovered your comment on my website. Obviously I don't check it often enough! I'm delighted to report that the book is finished and that I have an advance copy on the desk beside me. There are lots of lovely tales and many images which should do much to evoke those Laucala Bay days. It's going to be available from the end of February, so keep an eye out in the bookshops or online, Kind regards, Bee Dawson Hi Grey,
Sorry about the tardy reply but I’ve only just discovered your comment on my website. Obviously I don’t check it often enough!
I’m delighted to report that the book is finished and that I have an advance copy on the desk beside me. There are lots of lovely tales and many images which should do much to evoke those Laucala Bay days.
It’s going to be available from the end of February, so keep an eye out in the bookshops or online,
Kind regards,
Bee Dawson

]]> By: Grey Williamson http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2978 Grey Williamson Mon, 31 Oct 2016 21:41:51 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2978 Hello I am currently living in Laucala Bay, I was born here in 1960 , My father was cased here at the time in the workshops. He spent approx 6 years serving here We have a number of Photographs which may be of Interest I also have visited Married Quarters 36 on the University Campas and have some current photos I am happy to be of any assistance and look forward to being able to get a copy of the book My fathers name was Terence Walter Lionel Williamson known as Des Grey Williamson Hello

I am currently living in Laucala Bay, I was born here in 1960 , My father was cased here at the time in the workshops. He spent approx 6 years serving here

We have a number of Photographs which may be of Interest

I also have visited Married Quarters 36 on the University Campas and have some current photos

I am happy to be of any assistance and look forward to being able to get a copy of the book

My fathers name was Terence Walter Lionel Williamson known as Des

Grey Williamson

]]> By: Jeanne Bell http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2940 Jeanne Bell Sat, 12 Mar 2016 10:04:24 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2940 I would be very interested in your book, as after being in our local Home Guard, my Dad enlisted in the RNZAF, training in Wigram, then Ohakea, then Rongatai, before going to Laucala Bay, where he spent the rest of the war. He was part of the team building the breakwater, and servicing the Flying Boats.I remember him telling me stories about his time there, and I would love to read more about it. He did tell a story about propaganda pamphlets being dropped at Christmas, by a Japanese aircraft, wishing them a Merry Christmas and something about them waiting for the breakwater to be finished so they could then come back and bomb it. I have a few photos that may be of interest to you, of the men working on the aircraft, and a couple of others. He spent a lot of time underwater, and in years later developed otitis in one ear as a small piece of coral had become lodged in the ear canal at some time. I see from his war record that he was eventually granted £1 per week war pension because of hearing loss. Can you advise how I can obtain a copy of your book please? It would be great to add to my Family History resources, I wasn't born until July 1945, by which time he was home and back on civvy street. But my Mum did tell me I was "created" on his 24 hr Demob leave, and his WW2 Record confirms the date of his November leave, which corresponds perfectly with my birth in July! LOL I look forward to hearing from you, Jeanne (Mathews) BELL I would be very interested in your book, as after being in our local Home Guard, my Dad enlisted in the RNZAF, training in Wigram, then Ohakea, then Rongatai, before going to Laucala Bay, where he spent the rest of the war. He was part of the team building the breakwater, and servicing the Flying Boats.I remember him telling me stories about his time there, and I would love to read more about it.

He did tell a story about propaganda pamphlets being dropped at Christmas, by a Japanese aircraft, wishing them a Merry Christmas and something about them waiting for the breakwater to be finished so they could then come back and bomb it.

I have a few photos that may be of interest to you, of the men working on the aircraft, and a couple of others.

He spent a lot of time underwater, and in years later developed otitis in one ear as a small piece of coral had become lodged in the ear canal at some time. I see from his war record that he was eventually
granted £1 per week war pension because of hearing loss.

Can you advise how I can obtain a copy of your book please? It would be great to add to my Family History resources, I wasn’t born until July 1945, by which time he was home and back on civvy street.
But my Mum did tell me I was “created” on his 24 hr Demob leave, and his WW2 Record confirms the date of his November leave, which corresponds perfectly with my birth in July! LOL

I look forward to hearing from you,
Jeanne (Mathews) BELL

]]> By: Christine Spencer http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2939 Christine Spencer Thu, 10 Mar 2016 23:36:42 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2939 I have just found out that my father served with the RNZAF at Laucala Bay in 1948. His name was George William Lewis. I think he was an M T Fitter and he may have been NCO I/c Transport Section. I don't know anything about him at all, so I would be interested to read your book. When will it be published? I have just found out that my father served with the RNZAF at Laucala Bay in 1948. His name was George William Lewis. I think he was an M T Fitter and he may have been NCO I/c Transport Section. I don’t know anything about him at all, so I would be interested to read your book. When will it be published?

]]> By: Bee http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2935 Bee Thu, 08 Oct 2015 03:02:23 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2935 Hi Murray, Just found this on my website... sorry for the tardy response. I was most interested to hear that you'd crewed the last Sunderland to fly from Laucala Bay. I'd be keen to have your recollections of this - all colourful stories enthusiastically received. If you have anything it's probably most reliable to email it to me at dawsonsbjl@xtra.co.nz Kind regards, Bee Hi Murray,
Just found this on my website… sorry for the tardy response.
I was most interested to hear that you’d crewed the last Sunderland to fly from Laucala Bay. I’d be keen to have your recollections of this – all colourful stories enthusiastically received.
If you have anything it’s probably most reliable to email it to me at dawsonsbjl@xtra.co.nz
Kind regards,
Bee

]]> By: Murray Rutherfurd http://beedawson.co.nz/2015/08/laucala-bay-and-the-history-of-the-rnzaf-in-fiji/#comment-2906 Murray Rutherfurd Mon, 24 Aug 2015 19:59:17 +0000 http://beedawson.co.nz/?p=385#comment-2906 Hi Bee I look forward to your book on the RNZAF in Fiji, with emphasis on Laucala Bay. As an aircrew member on Sunderlands during the last three years of its operation I enjoyed a number of detachments to the "Bay" and crewed the very last Sunderland flight from the "Bay" to Hobsonville on the 2nd April 1967. An end to a great era in the RNZAF's history. Kind regards Murray Hi Bee

I look forward to your book on the RNZAF in Fiji, with emphasis on Laucala Bay. As an aircrew member on Sunderlands during the last three years of its operation I enjoyed a number of detachments to the “Bay” and crewed the very last Sunderland flight from the “Bay” to Hobsonville on the 2nd April 1967. An end to a great era in the RNZAF’s history.

Kind regards

Murray

]]>