MARTIN BUTLER/ PIETENBOLD CONNECTION

For over a quarter of a century I had often wondered where Dad had got the idea of building his own monoplane. He was an apprentice mechanic working at the Ford franchise garage in Levin (Milnes garage). He was 22 years of age; the monoplane had taken him three years to build. Research showed me that Dad had exceptional support and practical help from Mr Bill Harding who owned a company in Levin. This family link has survived down through the generations. Whilst there were several trials his maiden fight was in July 1932 at Waiterere Beach fifteen kilometres from Levin.

Little did I realise that I was about to find out where the source originated from. In my research at the Aviation Museum at Paraparaumu Airport at Kapiti Coast, I saw a photocopy of Dad’s homebuilt monoplane and written in pencil was the word “Pietenpold”.

That word wracked my brain. I came home and placed the name into Google.

What followed were many sites that were dedicated or implemented by descendants of Bernard’s family (Andrew here)(Describe family) Bernard P like my father (Martin) was very resourceful, this personal skill followed him through all of his adult life. I was excited, then I went through the old aircraft photographs that loomed up. A plane just like Dads appeared. I compared my original sepia photograph (old and grainy) with what was on the screen. They looked identical even to a novice like me so I decided to email the company, not expecting any response. I had forwarded numerous requests all over the USA without receiving a reply. Something told me this time it would be different. (Divine intervention maybe).

How did Dad discover where to write to for the monoplane plans, where did this seed germinate? Then I remembered what Mr Laurie Jenson said. Dad had found the advertisement in a Popular Mechanics magazine. That was confirmed by Laurie who as an eight year old lad complete with Fair Isle jersey (verified by an old photo) crossed the road after school every day to Milnes garage and watched the birds progress. These were the Depression years in New Zealand. Cash was tight. My Dad Martin (this average kiwi bloke) with little formal education was blown away by the idea of building his own monoplane using material that was recycled or purchased over the counter of the local store. A Ford engine used in the plane was salvaged from the side of the Paekakariki hill, the remnant of a motor car accident. The idea of working with his fellow apprentices must have appealed as a project. This was something to get their teeth into. Working on a task with your mates was avant guade at the time in New Zealand history. Kiwis are known to be do it your selfers. In New Zealand there has always has been New Zealanders (“Kiwis”) who have a need to create, discover, probe and implement and share their success. Others would say that Dad was crazy to attempt such a feat. His achievement of building and flying his own monoplane to me was mind boggling. There were numerous flying machine accidents in the 1920s and the 1930s in New Zealand. People built their own planes, took to the sky with little regard for their own personal safety.

JUNE 2007 KAPITI COAST, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

The month was June. That’s the middle of winter in New Zealand. I couldn’t sleep. Something urged me to get up and look at my emails. Guess what , there was a reply with information. Andrew Pietenbold had responded, he confirmed that his granddad Bernard was the founder of home built aircraft in the USA. Andrew (hall of fame) Andrew wrote his Grandfather had sent plans to NZ, his family stamp collection that was now in his possession verified that. He also said that from the photo I sent, Dad’s monoplane certainly resembled a Pietenbold (this Andrew confirmed after two days of intent study).

The safety aspect haunted me. Was Dad afraid or just stupid. Statistics and research verify that homebuilt planes at that period in history were more likely to crash. This was bought about, usually by the inexperience of the pilot, or a design fault in the aircraft.

My final question that has stayed with me for years was now answered. I was fairly confident that Dad’s monoplane was a Pietenpold and delighted that Andrew wanted to dedicate a page on his family’s website to Dad and his story.

Thank you Andrew Pietenbold and (Andrew) other members of your family for bringing completion to my Dad’s story of endurance, bravery and resourcefulness.

All the pieces of my jigsaw puzzle are in place. It has taken me a lot of research to complete the total picture, almost a quarter of a century. The next challenge is to self publish Dad’s story. There is also a New Zealand film company interested in using his story in a documentary.

If you require any further information or have anything to share with me please (etc)