On august 11, 1944 assembled by unit 60 on espiritu santo. The number of personnel serving in the rnzaf shrinks to 7154. Figures for the squadrons achievements in the far east are difficult to determine, but one notable pilot, pilot officer noel sharp, who flew a brewster. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. They are also an excellent source for building a picture of squadron. Rnzaf timeline royal new zealand air force nzhistory. It is also a diversion landing point for civilian aircraft. Some 424 vought f4u1 corsairs equipped rnzaf squadrons, including no.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Formed as a day bomber unit, it was initially equipped with lockheed venturas crewed by royal new zealand air force pilots, and based at raf feltwell in norfolk. Our air force is 75 years old as an independent service, but new zealand s involvement in military flying extends back to 1912. The bases motto is defensio per vires latin for defence through strength. A prolific writer, this is i believe the first of his rnzaf related books, and was followed up later by of wind and water. The book continues into peacetime when he went as part of 14 squadron to japan as part of the allied occupational forces. With the establishment of the rnzaf in 1937 flying training was a priority with a flying training school no. It was formed under article xv of the empire air training scheme and served in europe under the operational command of the royal air force. Aircraft history built by curtiss in buffalo, new york. Most of the f4u1s were assembled by unit 60 with a further batch were assembled and flown at rnzaf hobsonville.
Also a number of fb 9 and t 11 aircraft were loaned by the raf to no. List of aircraft of the royal new zealand air force and. Even our ongoing commitment to the antarctic had its origins influenced by cold war rivalries. The book includes an amazing eyewitness account of the worst single day in rnzaf history, when a flight of corsairs in which bryan was one of the pilots ran into bad weather and all but two were lost. During my visit to the rnzaf airforce museum at wigram for the no. Assigned to 14 squadron operating from fighter 2 kukum on guadalcanal. July 2009 learn how and when to remove this template message. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the national. Embroidered cloth patch designed to be sewn on to a garment. The history group approached margaret mcclure to write the book. Mar 03, 2019 this book would be a fantastic addition to any library of ww2 aviation books. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd. Both were formed under article xv of the empire air training scheme and served under the operational command of the royal air force.
Margaret mcclure takes us through those early, tenuous days, when flying machines were. A history of the rnzaf to the end of the cold war new zealand military series book 1. It is a well researched and very well written history of raf 488 squadron in europe from june 1942 until the end of the war. Rnzaf rnzaf history book royal new zealand air force. Episode 159 the curtiss p40 in rnzaf service part one. They were to be a fully self sufficient unit, reverting back to prewar rnzaf practice. Rnzaf 14 squadron former assignments 15 squadron 24 squadron. Pilot flight sergeant ian james munro, 4212589 mia kia auckland, nz mia january 15, 1945. We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics. The new zealand government hurriedly formed 488s battleexperienced pilots into the rnzafs first fighter unit. The board provided a guiding hand to the author for this fresh and up to date history. Books and further reading relating to the royal new zealand air force. Employed in a defensive role, they were initially equipped with obsolete harvards. Staff via national geographic magazine, reported in bentleys rnzaf a short history.
Please print a copy and post to the secretary of the nz association. Figures for the squadron s achievements in the far east are difficult to determine, but one notable pilot, pilot officer noel sharp, who flew a brewster. The squadron served in espiritu santo, guadalcanal, new georgia, bougainville, green island and jacquinot bay. The squadron remained at wigram until 1993 when all flying training was concentrated at rnzaf base ohakea.
Helicopters 3 squadron, royal new zealand air force, new zealand. The crest from this squadron was adopted in the late 1960s as the official crest for the then formed rnzaf strike wing, based at rnzaf base ohakea, north island, new zealand. Edited by ian mcgibbon, published by oxford university press nz, auckland 2000, isbn 0 19 558 376 0. This book would be a fantastic addition to any library of ww2 aviation books. Wartime history assigned to the royal new zealand air force rnzaf as corsair serial number nz5428 with code 28. Book follows history of 3 squadron and marks the retirement. Seek and destroy the history of 3 squadron rnzaf by paul harrison, is the official history of the machines and personnel that make up the colourful and wideranging operations of this unique squadron, whose aircraft and personnel have seen service all around the world from the uk to asia, the pacific and the antarctic. Mackenzie at masterton on 25 april 1942, equipped with north american harvards until p40 kittyhawks could be obtained. Royal new zealand air force nzhistory, new zealand history. The squadron was one of several commonwealth squadrons equipped with brewster buffaloes, and arrived at kallang airfield singapore in november 1941, where it. As part of new zealands contribution to the british commonwealth occupation forces in japan commonly known in nz as j force, no.
The squadron moved to its first permanent base at fairhall. List of aircraft fleet 3 squadron royal new zealand air. The photo was taken by leo white and is air force museum of new zealand official. On 23 february, the squadron evacuated tjililitan, to fremantle in australia where it disbanded on 2 march, the new zealand pilots returning home to form the nucleus of no. Military pilot training in new zealand extends back to the days of the new zealand permanent air force formed in june 1923. It was formed in 1930 as part of the territorial air force with the main headquarters at wellington and shadow flights at new plymouth and wanganui. In 2015 the squadron was reraised and equipped with 11 beechcraft t6 texan ii. Too many new zealanders know little of the cold war or understand the strategy of the western allies. The black falcons display team, etc when their actual bird in their badge is a kea.
The oxford companion to new zealand military history. The records can be used to create a list of all the flying operations that raf aircrew completed. By david duxbury, ross ewing and ross macpherson, published by heinemann publishers nz, auckland 1987, isbn 0 86863 412 3. Expansion finally began to take place during the late 1930s and the government removed the rnzaf from army control in early 1937.
Rnzaf base ohakea is an operational base of the royal new zealand air force. Opened in 1939, it is located near bulls, 25 km northwest of palmerston north in the manawatu. I consider this 41 squadron operation to be some of the most dangerous days in postww2 history of any rnzaf unit, and yet, rnzaf and nzdef senior officers have to this day ignored the fortitude and courage of the personnel involved under the leadership of squadron leader bob davidson. The photo is air force museum of new zealand official. The story of new zealands first night fighter squadron by graham clayton. Wilf clouston, a veteran of the battle of france and battle of britain with 9 victories to his credit. Seek and destroy the history of 3 squadron rnzaf air. Rnzaf 17 squadron former assignments 14 squadron 16 squadron rnzaf september 1943 usmc circa septnov 1943 pilot fsgt donald alfred williams, 421125600 survived nelson, nz ditched september, 1943. This article needs additional citations for verification. A new aerobatic display team called the black falcons was also formed using the new aircraft.
List of aircraft of the royal new zealand air force and royal. Random house have created an excellent and wellillustrated publication. Dec 27, 2018 in late march 1942, the rnzaf formed the surviving pilots from operations at singaporenos. It is a well researched and very well written history of raf 488 squadron in europe. The story of jim winkie kirk, rnzaf by zane kirk paperback. By the end of the war, 3635 rnzaf personnel have been killed on active service, 350 in the pacific and 3285 in europe the majority with raf bomber command. This new official history covers the origins and growth of the rnzaf. The squadron was equipped with curtiss p40 kittyhawks and later f4u corsair fighters. Royal new zealand air force nzhistory, new zealand history online. This accident remains the heaviest single loss in rnzaf history. Between 1955 and 1958 vampires and venom fighterbombers of no. Pacific wrecks f4u1d corsair serial number nz5428 code 28. Dec 18, 2019 history squadron ncos at raf methwold early 1943. During early 1934 the nzpaf was given permission to change its name to the royal new zealand air force by the king, and the rnzaf came into being on 27 february 1934.
Pacific wrecks p40m5cu kittyhawk serial number nz3006. This is a list of squadrons of the royal new zealand air force. Home book shop wars battles biographies timeline weapons blog full. Page for the 75th anniversary commemorative history book on the rnzaf. This book tells the story of a forgotten raf squadron of wwii, 488nz nightfighter squadron.
The chance to write about the retirement of iroquois helicopters from the defence force was an opportunity one aviation enthusiast jumped at. Feb 06, 2020 some 424 vought f4u1 corsairs equipped rnzaf squadrons, including no. The forms on this page are provided for any person who either served on 75 squadron or is a family member of an airmen that did, so that they can provide the association with as much detail as possible to ensure their history is recorded correctly and properly. The pilot training squadron was disestablished on 30 jan 2015 and no. Both were formed under article xv of the empire air training scheme and served under the operational command of the royal air force history day fighter unit.