WONZ 307 – Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet 3: Tom Williams

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Guest: Tom Williams
Host: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 28th of April 2024
Released: 9th of June 2024
Duration: 27 mins 36 secs

This episode is the third of the recordings from the recent Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet, hosted by Bevan Dewes and Lucy Newell of Legend Aviation at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, on Sunday 28th of April 2024.

Tom Williams is a legend in the Wairarapa. He was responsible for setting up the Sport And Vintage Aviation Society in 1974 with Bob McGarry and Bill Dittmer, which eventually absorbed the Golden Age Flying Society from Blenheim. SVAS later became the Wairarapa Flying Tigers.

And Tom led the team that built the SVAS’s big hangar in 1978, and later he had the building moved onto the airfield that would become the George Hood Museum. This is the same building that the WONZ Forum Meet was held in, now known as the Legend Aviation Auditorium.

He talks about the inspiration that got him into aviation, and learning to fly Tiger Moths with the legendary instructor and ex-RNZAF WWII Mosquito pilot, Beryck Dalcom, at the Wanganui Aero Club. He then joined the Marlborough Aero Club, and then the Southland Aero Club with Ian Ritchie.

In 1967 he bought his first Tiger Moth, ZK-BAT, the first of a number of aircraft Tom has owned over the years. He talks about his adventures in various types, and he talks about how he saved DH89 Dominie ZK-AKY from going overseas.

Tom also talks about his great friend Tim Wallis, and how he led a team that created an airshow in 1999, which in 2001 was renamed the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. Tom was chairman of the organising committee for many years, and he has many memories of the airshow.

And he speaks about his fond memories of the WWII veterans that used to come along to the airshows.

Quick Links:
• Legend Aviation
• Legend Aviation Facebook Page
• The Wings Over New Zealand Forum
• Wairarapa Flying Tigers
• Wings Over Wairarapa

The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud

Thanks to Allan Udy for the loan of his audio recording equipment.

Tom Williams at the Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet (Dave Homewood photo)

Tom Williams at the Legend Aviation WONZ Forum Meet (Phil Treweek photo)