BARGAIN HUNTERS SEEK TO BUY AEROPLANES

Chronicle (Levin), 6 January 1948, Page 5

BARGAIN HUNTERS SEEK TO BUY AEROPLANES

AUCKLAND, Jan. 5. Onee the pride of the Royal Xew Zealand Air Force, 442 foinier combat aircraft awaiting disposal -at Rukuhia aerodronie will be put to a variety ot prosaic and ignominious uses if they are bought by some of the hundreds or people who have inspec'ted them. Tenders for their purchase havfe now closed with the War Assets Realisation Board. It was estimated that at least 50U bargain hunters had visited Rukuhia ancl examined the derelic^ planes since the calling of tenders was announeed. ,'Tliey included farmers who thought the fuselages might make pigsties or worivshops, business men in search of serap nietal, and prospective holidav makers in search of something suitable tor conversion into a cheap seaside bach. Although these people came Hlled with high hopes, most of them went away disappointed after examining the aircraft. The cost of taking the planes away from the aerodronie, it was stateci, would be prohibitive for the average man. To carry them by road the wings would have to be stripped from them and even then some would exceed the regulation dimensions. There are Ventura bombers, Hudsons, Warhawk figliters, Corsairs and Avenger torpedo bombers. Most of them were used in the Pacific war zone and are in an advaneed state of deterioration.