World War II

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Designed as a maritime reconnaissance bomber, the Anson was one of the RAF’s most important types when WWII began. It was soon replaced in the front-line, but was widely used as a multi-engine trainer.

Twenty-three Ansons were supplied to the RNZAF; in total over 11,000 were built in the UK and Canada. The Anson has two 400hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radial engines and can reach 188 mph (300 kmh).

Bill Reid acquired his Anson 10 years ago and restored it as an airworthy Mk1. It rst ew again in 2012 and is presented as MH120 of the RAF, which was shot down early in the War. Its pilot, New Zealander Laurie Edwards, became the rst prisoner of war from the RAF.

Span: 17.2m Length: 12.8m Speed: 303km/h

Span: Span: 11.4m Length: 9.7m Speed: Speed: 538km/h The P-40 Kittyhawk is one of the important fighters of WWII. It was developed from the radial-engined P-36 Hawk by installing the powerful Allison V-12 into the older airframe.

The Curtiss company began mass production in April 1939, when French and British orders were given priority. The P-40 held the line in North Africa, China and Burma, New Guinea and the Solomons, as well as on the Eastern Front. At the height of WWII the RNZAF operated nearly 300 Kittyhawks of various marks.

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Bringing their distinctive looks - re ecting the Red Air Force on the Eastern Front - are two Russian Yakolev ghters. The Yak 3 is considered one of the best of the Russian ghters of WWII; over 4800 were built. With its small sleek wings and big V-12 engine, the Yak 3M is often compared with the Spit re. When the original drawings and production jigs were rediscovered during the 1990s, a modern production run was undertaken in Romania for the contemporary market.

Yak 3M ‘Full Noise’, is owned by Graeme Frew, and instead of the original Russian V-12 engine, an Allison V1710 is installed, which gives the Yak a cruise speed of 285 mph and a maximum speed of 407 mph.

Span: 9.2m Length: 8.5m Speed: 646km/h

By the end of WWII the Yakolev designers had also planned a radial engine version of the Yak 3. During the modern production run in Romania, several were built with radials, as the Yak 3U.’ Steadfast’ (its racing name) has a big Pratt and Whitney R2000 radial, producing 1750 hp. Steadfast was built with a second seat to allow ghter experience ights; it is also equipped with Sanders smoke generators on the wing tips. Initially Steadfast raced in the USA where it set a world record of 669kmh (416mph) in its class – which still stands.

In 2013 the ghter was exported to Australia and in 2019 it was sold to Ronan Harvey and Mark O’Sullivan of Blenheim. WOW 21 is the rst major air show for ‘Steadfast’ under its Kiwi ownership.

Span: 9.4m Length: 8.0m Speed: 669kmh

Spitfire Mk IX, PV270, is owned by Brendon Deere, the nephew of WWII flying ace Alan Deere. PV 270 was built in 1944 for the RAF and post-war served in three air forces before being retired in 1956.

It then served as a gate guard for the Burmese Air Force until Brendon bought it and fully restored it. Based at Ohakea, the sleek aircraft is now in the colours of the Spitfire flown by Alan Deere. Famous from its role in the Battle of Britain (1940) the Spitfire maintained its position as a frontline fighter throughout WWII.

Span: Span: 11.2m Length: 9.1m Speed: Speed: 600km/h

Spitfire Tr.9 MH367 is also to appear at Wings Over Wairarapa 21. Owned by champion aerobatic pilot Doug Brooker, the two seat Spitfire is painted in RAF desert colours with the code FL-A, to honour the Spitfire Mk IX flown by the New Zealander Squadron Leader Colin Gray, the CO of No. 81 Sqn, based in Tunisia during 1943. Colin Gray had joined the RAF in 1939 from New Zealand. He was an ace by the end of the Battle of Britain. He commanded No.64 Sqn on the “Channel Front’ in 1942 before being posted to the Mediterranean theatre.

There, he commanded No.81 Sqn, but was later promoted to lead 322 Wing at Malta and in Sicily. By then he had 27 confirmed victories. From 1943 onwards he filled various staff posts. He subsequently retired in 1961 and returned to New Zealand. He passed away in 1995.

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Top Dressing planes are an integral part of Hood Aerodrome and Wairarapa. The industry ‘took off’ in 1949 after the official trials conducted here.

This year four fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter will demonstrate both the history and the skill of the industry and its pilots.

A NZ development of the famous Fletcher Fu 24. This year Super Air display one from their fleet.

John Bargh’s powerful Air Tractor has been displayed at Wings several times.