ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force

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Book reviews FiGhTinG SPiRiT: 75 yEARS oF ThE RnZAF by Margaret Mcclure; Ministry for culture and Heritage with Random House NZ, 2012 This new official history covers the origins and growth of the RNZAF. our Air Force is 75 years old as an independent service, but New Zealand’s involvement in military flying extends back to 1912. Margaret Mcclure takes us through those early, tenuous days, when flying machines were fragile and sceptics were many. The author spends only two of the chapters in Fighting Spirit covering the RNZAF war effort in wwII—a chapter each for the european and the Pacific theatres. of course many books exist covering New Zealanders’ part in the air battles of that war; Margaret presents a lively and concise summary that introduces the reader to some of the personalities and touches on the strategies behind the key decisions of where our people and units were deployed. The main part of the book, and its special value, is in the six chapters which cover the years from 1946 until today; the years in which the RNZAF was clearly a national air force undertaking tasks at the direction of our government in wellington. Few New Zealanders know much of the cold war nor do many understand the strategy of the western allies; this book throws fresh light on the RNZAF’s part in the events of 1948-1990, including the berlin Airlift, the deployment of No.14 Squadron to cyprus and later Singapore, and our commitment to Malaysia and Singapore. even our on-going commitment to the Antarctic had its origins influenced by cold war rivalries. In the final chapter, Margaret has clearly had frank interviews with senior officers who guided the RNZAF through the turbulent years since the ANZUS rift of 1984. The winding up of the Air combat Force in 2001 is a scar that is only slowly healing, but the book reveals how the RNZAF leadership sat down and rethought the raison d’etre of the RNZAF. That they were successful is revealed in the final pages, which discuss the acquisition of new helicopters and the upgrading of the orions and Hercules. At the same time the RNZAF was playing a full part in New Zealand’s response to a new world of terrorism and 30 Air Force news ‘asymmetric’ conflict. The RNZAF commissioned (and funded) the History Group of the Ministry for culture and Heritage to produce this history. The History Group approached Margaret Mcclure to write the book; she was then assisted in her research and assessments by the RNZAF History board, chaired by former cAF, AVM John Hamilton. The board provided a guiding hand to the author for this fresh and up to date history. Random House have created an excellent and wellillustrated publication. The book is recommended not only to all in the Air Force past or present, but to military professionals and scholars generally.
dUMbo dIARY, RoYAl New ZeAlANd AIR FoRce No.6 (FlYING boAT) SQUAdRoN 1943-1945. by Jenny Scott; published by the author via lulu, 2012 Dumbo Diary is the story of No.6 Squadron RNZAF during the Pacific war, when air-sea rescue catalinas were known by the callsign dumbo (after the walt disney flying elephant). Jenny Scott, daughter of the late wGcdR Alastair Scott who was Adjutant of the Squadron, spent many years researching the Squadron’s activities—and this is a definitive history. The author draws on the archival records in private and public collections, for the experiences of the New Zealand airmen flying long missions over the south west Pacific patrolling for THe elePHANT oN MY wING. by Peter A wright. woodfield Publishing, england, 2011 The wartime experience of New Zealander FlTlT bobby campbell during 1939-43, is described ‘as told to’ the author. bobby campbell learned to fly in Taranaki and in 1938 went to the Uk for a short service commission in the RAF—like so many dominion pilots. Flying with No.211 Sqn (blenheims) in support of the Greeks against the Italians during 1940-41, bobby and his crew were shot down and taken prisoner, dumped in a concentration camp for Albanians and treated abominably. They were rescued by the Red cross and transferred to an official Pow camp in Italy. when Italy surrendered in 1943—and minutes before the Germans took over the Pow AnZAC ExChAnGE by FlTlT dan hayward Communications and Information systems officer each year, the NZ defence Force engages in a series of personnel exchanges with the Australian defence Force (AdF). This programme, known as exchange Programme ANZAc (eXPANZAc) is a reciprocal exchange where NZdF and AdF personnel swap jobs for roughly three months with the aim of broadening the professional knowledge of exchange participants and promoting a closer relationship between our two defence forces. last year, among the 22 NZdF personnel who ‘crossed the ditch’ to work with the AdF, six RNZAF personnel were chosen to go, including one spot for an RNZAF cISo, me. I was fortunate enough to take an exchange post with No.1 combat communications Squadron (1ccS) at RAAF base Richmond west of Sydney. 1ccS is a busy, operationally camp—bobby escaped. He tells an exciting story of his travels down Italy to Allied lines. The book is worthwhile reading, reminding us all of the need for escape and evasion training for aircrew. bobby came home to fly with the RNZAF in the Pacific during remainder of the war, and later, in 1965, became the first Adjutant of No. 3 (battlefield Support) Squadron. Sadly for the NZ reader, this story is not included. but ‘The Elephant on my Wing’ is a reminder of all the kiwis who joined the RAF and had many unexpected adventures. focused, squadron and is very similar to Air cIS in the way it contributes to the wider AdF. during my time at Richmond, I was able to take part in a tactical communication international enemy submarines and looking for downed airmen. The book, in a detailed diary format, includes the experience of many of the hundreds of airmen—cooks and clerks, wireless mechanics and beaching crew—who were needed to run an effective and efficient flying boat squadron. The author was present at the Air Show and her book was formally launched at Artel Gallery, lindale centre, on the kapiti coast, the day after the Air Show. website: www.lulu.com http://www.lulu.com/shop/jenny-scott/dumbo-diaryroyal-new-zealand-air-force-no6-flying-boat-squadron-1943- 1945/hardcover/product-18929187.html A detachment escorting a 6x6 land Rover FFR (fitted for radio) during the Tactical communications course at the Singleton Army Training Area, NSw. Photo: AdF course that culminated in a field phase, attend RAAF cIS conferences and visit some of the other AdF bases. Throughout the exchange, there was plenty of opportunity to discuss ideas with RAAF personnel and see how the RAAF approaches similar day-to-day problems that we encounter in New Zealand. I came away with a new appreciation of how our closest defence neighbours operate and how we can work together on exercises and potential deployments. eXPANZAc is a lot of fun and very fulfilling. It is open to a wide variety of trades across all ranks from Ac – FlTlT. It is a reflection of the close working relationship between the NZdF and AdF and anyone taking part will find it well worthwhile. Air Force news 31
Page 1 and 2: ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! FIGHTING SPIR
Page 3 and 4: First word First Word By Air Vice-M
Page 5 and 6: The chief of defence Force has laun
Page 7 and 8: Rear Admiral Steer, VcdF and AVM St
Page 9 and 10: SECoND P-3K2 ACCEPTED on 16 March P
Page 11 and 12: The tail of Hercules NZ7004 checker
Page 13 and 14: Air Movements personnel at work: lA
Page 15 and 16: Antarctica seen from a c-130 cockpi
Page 17 and 18: celebrating 75 Years of service to
Page 19 and 20: wwI dogfight; the Fokker dVII ( r)
Page 21 and 22: The c-17 on a slow pass with flaps
Page 23 and 24: A No.3 Sqn Iroquois is crowded with
Page 25 and 26: one of the warbird stars of the RNZ
Page 27 and 28: y simon gault ThunDER MuSTAnG! why
Page 29: Air Force Photographers corporals b
Page 33 and 34: y FlTlT lee bradford RNZAF personne
Page 35 and 36: Activity camps for young offenders.
Page 37 and 38: Avionics Pirates meet a watery end
Page 39 and 40: The 75 Years of the RNZAF stamp iss

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