A downsizing Dunedin pilot has visited an old aircraft, of the type he trained in during World War 2.
Andersons Bay resident George Hurst (87) said he and his wife, Patricia (84), were moving into a furnished retirement village so, as part of the downsizing, he presented a drawing of a Harvard to Southair Ltd in Mosgiel. Its chief engineer, Dave Patrick, said the company owned a Harvard and the picture would be hung in the smoko room at Southair.
Mr Hurst said he began flying Harvards after enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wigram, in Christchurch, on his 18th birthday in 1944. Training included dogfight practice, firing and high-level bombing.
He had expected to go to war in Japan, he said.
''We knew the Japanese air force was pretty well shot but we knew they would fight to the end. I was ready to go and then they dropped the bloody [atomic] bomb.''
The Harvards were notoriously loud and kept many Christchurch residents awake during night training, he said.
The noise from the ''nine cylinder, 22-litre and 600-horsepower'' Harvard engine was a ''big beautiful relaxed rumble''. He often thought about his days in the air force, he said.
''When I can't sleep at night, I just recall different aspects of it, especially the Harvard.''
