The last of the Mosquito Fleet...

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Unknown to most historians, six local lads were responsible for stopping the Japanese invading NZ in the Second World War.    Forget the military forces, the Home Guard battalions, armed horsemen and territorial army, it was a fleet of small boats on Hellyers Creek that had the most impact.    
"We patrolled our creek most weekends and were definitely responsible for stopping the Japanese invading New Zealand."  said two of the original Mosquito Fleet crew - Doug Day & Lloyd Mumme (both now deceased) 
One of the Mosquito Fleet's boats was a seven foot canvas canoe known as MYSTERY.  She had been brought for fifteen shillings ($1.50) from Scratchy Taylor and came with a sail, rudder and centre board.  While anti aircraft batteries conducted constant aerial patrols around the coast, the Mosquito Fleet were on patrol on Hellyer's Creek.   Their regular patrol included Whidifod's Hill, past the lonesome dead pine and the wharf piles, right up to Kaipatiki Creek.  "There was less vegetation over there because of a fire  and they would see the Japs coming easier." remembers Denis Mumme.
On Hellyer's Creek, the clumsy 'Walrus' amphibious aircraft would fly over the Devil's Back before landing in the creek.    After taxiing up to Bodles Point, they would lumber down the creek becoming airborne before reaching Hobsonville.
Telephone lines crossed the creek at Lancaster Road and until they were lead weighted & buried in the mud, were constantly being hit by the bi-planes.  At low tide, the redundant copper wires left behind became another hazard.    
By the end of the war, MYSTERY - now named RIPPLE - was showing the effects of her war service. She was dried out, her canvas cladding ripped off, rotten frames replaced and her shell re-clad with new plywood.     In the early 1950's RIPPLE was semi retired for a few years, then began her new life as tender to the Sam Ford launch AVALON.  
In this role, she was in constant demand transporting daughters and friends to and from shore, and later, many grandchildren & friends learning to row in her. During transit RIPPLE would be lifted onto the boarding platform or hung on davits off the stern.
This amazingly buoyant little canoe can carry two people with ease or one with long legs stretched right up under the fore deck.  She's been in dry storage for many years and now this sole remaining vessel from the long forgotten Mosquito Fleet is reluctantly up for sale.    

To own this piece of NZ history, please contact me on carolfour@xtra.co.nz

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