Phil Maynard sent this picture to me that his father had taken of a crashed Hastings C3 at Darwin, Australia on the 9th September 1955 of RNZAF NZ5804, the aircraft had lost power on three engines after suffering a multi bird strike on take-off, all 25 on board escaped
A nice view of an NZ Hastings http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/NZ-Hastings/Handley_Page_Hastinngs_RNZAF_NZ5801 I always recall when they visited Lyneham in the early 1950's that the fern was the emblem in the centre of the roundel, when did this change to the Kiwi? I have a photo that I took from the inside of another Hastings showing a NZ type on dispersal, must dig that photo out
NZ5804 Took part in 1953 London-Christchurch Air Race in October 1953 flown by Wing Commander R F Watson. The RNZAF Hastings withdrew after engine failure and emergency landing at RAF Negombo, Ceylon, a new engine was flown out to Negombo from New Zealand, and 5804 returned to NZ on 20th October.