Memories of Uncle Rex by Terry Daniell

Memories of Uncle Rex
Circa 1948

In thinking on the long life of Uncle Rex I am taken back to the years after the Second World War and the Christmases we had many of them at Penwain (Bill & Elsie’s) and some at Ben Hame (Winstone & Margaret’s). All the FCD’s used to meet on these occasions including the Masterton relies who made the long trek to the Waikato.

In those days Rex flew Dakotas with National Airways Corporation (NAC) or its forebear and somehow used to get himself rostered on the Norfolk Island route. Just before Christmas he would collect a large bunch of ripe bananas directly from the palm tree and deliver it to the Christmas party where it was greeted with great delight by all present. He reckoned he got the bunch in exchange for a pound (500gms) of butter.

On occasions when he was unable to make the family Christmas gathering he was inevitably rostered for flying. On these Christmas days if we were on the flight path from Rukahia (Hamilton) he would “buzz” Penwain early in the morning flying at 1000 feet (about 300 metres) directly over our house. Must have been quite a thrill for the passengers who might have thought the pilot was looking for an emergency landing place! I wonder what the authorities would do today if a Boeing 737 tried the same tactic. Oh for the freedom of another age.

Later Circa 1960.
Rex with long time friend Bob Anderson had left NAC to form SPANZ (South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand flying viewmaster Dakotas on scienic routes through New Zealand (they were not allowed to fly on the main routes in direct competition with NAC!).

Rex had just arrived back at Whenuapai (Auckland’s main airport in those days). Our family who were renting a bach for a holiday in Rothesay Bay at the time were there to greet him and have a look over the aircraft. Among the family and some other friends of Rex’s or Bob’s were our maternal grandparents who at that time would have been close to their 80’s (considered very old at that time).

Rex had the crew still on board and half way through the visit decided he needed to take the aircraft on a test flight which just happened to involve a circuit over Auckland City centre (no sky tower in those days!). For most of the family it was our first flight in an aircraft and for our grandparents who were absolutely terrified but could not dodge the experience it was their only flight.

Fast Forward to 2000
A flight to commemorate SPANZ 40th anniversary since its inception (the company folded about 1966) was being organised to coincide with the launch of a book on the history of SPANZ compiled by Richard Waugh a New Zealand aeronautical historian in association with Peter Layne . The idea was to sell seats on a DC3 which would fly the old SPANZ routes around NZ and at each stop books would be sold.

In the event 3 DC3’s made the 10 day trip – one aircraft taken completely by Americans – all at $3,000 per seat. At many airports they were given a civic reception as many residents remembered the service SPANZ had provided to get them on the tourist map.

During the planning stage which was conducted largely at my accountancy practice office Rex arrived one afternoon at about 4pm to see how plans and costings were going, a visit I expected would take about an hour.

I had started early that morning and had had a busy day and was looking forward to knocking off. Rex and I worked through the exercise twice (thoroughly) until about 7.30pm and then went home to our place for dinner. At about 9pm we were discussing plans again and at midnight Rex left for Peter Rushbrookes place at Maraetai driving Peter’s ute. We swear Rex was doing 100kph by the time he had travelled the 100 metres to the traffic lights to take the free left turn.

That 80 year old left a 60 year old nephew absolutely exhausted after the visit and admiring forever the energy and mental agility shown which would have done a forty year old proud. The thoroughness of the workings left one in no doubt that this was one airman who survived because he did not take chances with mathematical calculations!

We share many happy memories with you all.
Love to all
Terry