Swooper Cooper and the Tasman Rd Bombing

NAC plane pictured flying low over 44 Tasman Rd

The Cooper brothers were always known as practical jokers and this time was no exception.

Jeremy Cooper, for once, was the lucky one. In 1958 he was safely tucked away in his first year of boarding at Wellington College—far from the scene of the so-called Tasman Road Bombing. Had he been home, history suggests he may well have been considered… collateral damage.

Setting the scene: 1958

Arthur Cooper had completed his Pilot training with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was flying for NAC, based at the Paraparaumu Airport. During this time he was rooming with his younger brother Nick in the second bedroom at Marly’s Cottage. Meanwhile his mate, Pilot Mack McGregor was lodging in the tiny back room in the Cottage. This where the ensuite and laundry are now located. Back then this luxury suite was known as the annex, or more recently, the bunk room. It was really only just a covered-in verandah.

Part of the requirements of all NAC Pilots, was to maintain a certain number of flying hours. So, one day Arthur and Mack decided to head to Palmerston North Airport, to clock up some more air mileage.  They also decided to bring along a couple of Arthur’s brothers for entertainment.

Youngest brother Nick went with Mack

Older brother Tim flew with Arthur

Older brother David, feeling unwell, stayed home at Marly’s Cottage

Operation: Mildly Irresponsible

Arthur, clearly the ringleader, had plans. The first target was Otaki Primary School, where he thought they could swoop in low and give a ceremonious wave to the students.  The aircraft performed several low swoops so there was no doubt that they were swooping in for a bit of mischievous fun.  Funnily enough, it was all Nick’s mates who were outside waving to them!

Tim, however, was not enjoying the ride with all the swooping. In fact, Tim was feeling violently unwell and soon made active use of a sick bag.

This is where the story takes a turn.

The “Bombing”

Arthur, now in possession of a well-used sick bag onboard, was struck by inspiration.  He remembered that older brother David was home, recovering outside Marly’s Cottage—almost certainly keeping an eye out for his airborne siblings.

Arthur saw an opportunity.

What happened next is a Cooper brother story, not to be forgotten.

As the plane swooped low over the cottage, a “departing gift” was released. The sick bag was aimed squarely at David. We don’t know who released the payload—no-one would ever own up to that, but gravity did the rest. We presume it missed however the intention was clearly obvious; it was right up there in the book of practical jokes.

Thus, the Tasman Road Bombing was born.

Bonus Acts of Aviation Madness

Not content with one incident, the flight continued with dangerously low swoops over a fisherman on the beach, who was later remembered waving his arms in absolute horror at the aircraft above him—possibly questioning his life choices, or aviation regulations, or both.

Eventually, they returned to Palmerston North as if nothing unusual had happened.

It is absolutely no surprise that Arthur Basil Cooper earned the nickname: Swooper Cooper. 

We believe there were other flights that were equally daring throughout Arthur’s life as an Airline Pilot.  He just had a very clever knack of, ‘getting away with it.’

A popular photo of Arthur, taken by his brother in law, Brian Casey who was also well endowed with a warped sense of humour.