IN MEMORIAM.....R.I.P :





This page (which is filed alphabetically) is dedicated to the memory of those of our exclusive fraternity of Air New Zealand's FLIGHT ENGINEERS who are now no longer with us…....









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Noel (Grub) Baker 26 July 1936 - 19 May 2016

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BROOKS, Gordon Barrett






Dad loved flying. It wasn't just his job, it was something that deeply interested him. He was a dedicated air crew member. And he was our dad. Its hard to put into words just what losing him means - he was and is so very loved. He is part of our life stories - still.  

Kia Kaha Dad x  
  
Virginia Brooks
 




I am Gordon's sister and remember him with great pride as one of the chief engineers in Air New Zealand. His voice on the black box voicing his concerns and then faithfully counting down as the distance between the plane and the ground so unexpectedly lessened, illustrated his courage, integrity, and meticulous service to duty in the Airline which was his life. I and my family remain very proud of him and are thankful that we sense him still close to us in spirit. 

Alison Panckhurst

Position:
Flight Engineer
Country:
New Zealand




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KEVIN DENHOLM

22.10.1934   -   20.03.2018



















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MICHAEL FITZPATRICK 

14.11.34 - 08.01.2019






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Bevan Harding

21.06.1934–01.
11.2021












JIM HOOKER

21.07.1929  -  23.07.1987











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This article is from an email with background information from Les Brass, sent to Verne Linkhorn’s daughter Robyn, the day prior to Verne’s funeral…


Hi Robyn,
  
I am Les Brass and I wish to pass on to you my sadness at the news and sincere regrets that I am unable to be with you on 10.10.2017.

I can, however give you some information about the ‘GRADUATES' and when they began.

There was a TEAL Apprentices Prize giving to be held and the "manager loosely in charge / control" of us all was looking for some talent to make a sort of show for the families and management who actually expected to see a good show. 

Well they got what they wanted.

I had learned to mime to tapes but as a single act only and was asked to find a couple of likely idiots from the "apprentii" group.

I was an Instrument basher, and along came Bob Brann (the tall one from somewhere downstairs) then Verne Linkhorn (Electrical Shop - the one with the tiny saxophone) with me (the short one and one short from the Instrument Shop), supposed to be the straight man. 

We were given time off, permission to proceed and a huge tape recorder to make some humour.

We put together Stan Freberg’s "Shaboom"  and "The Banana Boat Song"  

Old humour, and with the occasional props – with the aforementioned Saxophone in Verne's hands we made a bit of a hit.

This led to a slightly professional shot at show time entertainment with some success. 

We toured with

"The Howard Morrison Quartet"  
"Ray Columbus and the invaders" 
"Ann & Jimmy Murphy" 

around the entertainment capitals of the North Island, such as

"THE SHERALEE NIGHTCLUB"  

"MONTMARTRE NIGHTCLUB" [AND SLY BOOZE JOINT] ( Maître d', Kenny Ball) , 

THE AUCKLAND TOWN HALL
"FEATURING  HOWARD MORRISON ETC. AND The GRADUATES - WELL KNOWN MIME TRIO".

Verne and Bob taught me things I had never known, such as starting a show with my very first hangover ever at Mount Maunganui sound shell.

This time was most educational and I treasure the times we had. 

A few years later (1966) I started as a Flight Steward with Air New Zealand aka "TEAL, grownup"  and things changed a little..

Before I retired I did have the pleasure of crewing with Verne then a Flight Engineer and had a bit of a catch-up. 

There is now a gap in our lives where Verne use to be and we may be the lesser for that, but such memories can never be erased. 

Farewell dear friend and rest at whichever place you so choose. You are missed.

Robyn I hope this can fill in a few gaps for you. 

Kindest regards even though we haven’t met. "Let the glasses clink, for the Link"




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TOM MOODY
20.08.1935 – 19.06.2020








The following is an extract from a booklet produced for the 50th Anniversary Reunion in January 2003 for the 1953 R.N.Z.A.F. #6 Boy Entrant School Course  (this was the 2nd Boy Entrant Course at Woodbourne) 


Moody. Thomas Hilton. 76822. Trade: Engines                          


Tom completed 21 years’ service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. 

After 2 years at Woodbourne where he completed Boy Entrant School and an Engine Mechanics course Tom went to Whenuapai for a few months & then on to Lauthala Bay for 2 years. 

He returned to Woodbourne in 1958 for a Fitters course. 

He then proceeded to Ohakea where he was promoted to Corporal. 

In 1961 he attended an Aircrew course and emerged as a Sergeant Flight Engineer and was posted to N°5 Flying Boat Squadron, Hobsonville. 

1963-64 saw him operating on Sunderlands from Lauthala Bay. 

Tom married in 1965 and 1966 saw him on a Lockheed P-3 Orion course at USN Moffett Field, California, with fellow ex Boy Entrant, Graham Corkill. 

Tom & Graham participated in the delivery flight of the Orions. 

He was promoted to Flight Sergeant in 1967 and was commissioned Flying Officer in 1969. 

In 1972 he was posted to a ground job as an Instructor at Pilot Training School at Wigram, & promoted to Flight Lieutenant. 

Retired in 1974 and spent 5 months in civvy street as a licensed Motor Mechanic. 

Later that same year Tom was hired as a Flight Engineer by Air New Zealand and flew on DC-8’s until 1981 when he converted onto DC-10’s. 

In 1987 he moved onto Boeing 747’s where he remained until retirement in 1990. 

Tom has two sons and one daughter. One son is an Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 pilot and the other a Boeing 737-300 pilot. 

Tom’s one regret of 1953 was missing the end of year camp at Rainbow Valley due to double pneumonia.


Another interesting fact about the 1953 R.N.Z.A.F. #6 Boy Entrant School Course.

Five members of #6 R.N.Z.A.F. Boy Entrant School Course subsequently went on to become Air New Zealand FLIGHT ENGINEERS....
Noel Baker, Graham Corkill, Warwick Knox, Tom Moody and Gary Sommerville.




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JOHN NAISH 
 20.09.1945 – 27.08.2015











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MOLONEY, Nicholas John (Nick)




 
Born in Auckland December 10th 1934. Layed to rest Dec 10th 1979. Joined Teal (Forerunner to Air New Zealand) as an apprentice Aircraft Engineer at Mechanics Bay, Auckland in 1950. Flight Engineer on Electra's in 1966, followed by DC8's and the DC10. Survived by wife and three sons. Always in our hearts.

Position:
Flight Engineer



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Terry Reed 

 (16.08.1940 - 12.10.2021)
























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DAVID ROSEINGRAVE

15.11.1937  -  23.09.2019










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TWIGGY SCHMIDT

27.07.1929  -  30.03.2018

















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If you have any copies of 'orders of service' from funerals or suitable photos that should be added to this memoriam please Email us.