RNZAF 75th Anniversary

[Samuel]

The Royal New Zealand Air Force will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary with a number of events next year, but including an air show at Ohakea on March 31st, to include "overseas participation". That will mean the RAAF and USAF of course, and wouldn't it be nice if they were joined by the RAF with a couple of Typhoons perhaps.....or is that a dream too far?

[fergineer]

Dont think the RAF have the manpower or the hardware available anymore Samuel. Would be nice but a pipe dream methinks.

[Dengue_Dude]

Shame that.

I recall the New Zealanders individually and the RNZAF collectively helping GB out of the pooh when required in the past.

It would be small fry to show WE remember that, but suspect Fergi is right.

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

DD,

I suspect that, as individuals, RAF personnel would be delighted to support our antipodean colleagues. I'd be there like a rat up a drainpipe! However, I'm not sure that our lords and masters really care what happened 75 years ago. Or, if they did care, they don't have the funds to support what is, IMHO, a good cause.

Shame, though. I'm sure it will be a great series of events.

Duncs:ok:

[Samuel]

Given the RNZAF/RAF connection over those 75 years, it would be a sad day indeed, if the latter is unrepresented...if not by something fast and noisy, then ...anything. They'll have a ball and a great reception I'm certain.

[typerated]

Me thinks it would be too hard to bring out Typhoons or Tornados to NZ, especially considering the lack of tanking assets. Obviously the transport fleet is too busy. I imagine the only type that could make it on its own steam and that may well be not that busy (assuming Libya is quiet by then) is the E-3 force.

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

RAF MPA 'seedcorn' personnel deploy to NZ in the very near future. Whilst they will not have an aircraft, I have no doubt that they will enter the spirit of the celebrations!

Duncs:ok:

[Chugalug2]

Thanks for the heads up Samuel. I am sure that the Royal Air Force will want to join in the celebrations and say Happy Birthday as well as Thank You for much help and assistance in years past. What that presence will involve remains to be seen, but it should be as substantial as possible because anything less would be an unforgivable slight to a stalwart and faithful sister Air Force.

[aw ditor]

Send the Lanc!

[LT Selfridge]

'...a stalwart and faithful sister Air Force.' Sheesh!

[Whenurhappy]

Gosh, just to think I was a Junior Officer (1 Sqn 1 Flt Supp Offr) on parade at the 50th Anniversary of the RNZAF in front of HRH Prince of Wales at RNZAF Wigram in 1987. A hell of a hangar party afterwards...

The RNZAF is held in high regard at the most senior levels of the RAF and I am sure that there is not shortage of goodwill. It's just the affordability and practicality of sending a significat det all that way in today's climes. Perhaps sponsorhsip from the likes of BAe is needed....

[Samuel]

...while I was a very junior P/o at the very last Battle of Britain parade held in Wellington in 1968!

For those that don't know, the contribution of Kiwis to the RAF has always been out of proportion to the size of the country, and many of them made their own way to the UK to join up before the war actually started. Many of them stayed on after the war and achieved some pretty senior ranks. Canterbury farmer's son Lord Elworthy , ACM Elworthy, former CAS and CDS RAF; Sir Keith Park; 'Mary" Coningham, Alan Deere, Jamieson, and some 1800 who died in Bomber Command alone. They also contributed to the RAF tally of VCs! So keep on reminding them Whenur! This may well be the last chance the RAF will have!:ok:

[Dengue_Dude]

Samuel

Absolutely (says he currently visiting on Waiheke Island)!

It's the disproportionate nature of that commitment I personally acknowledge the most.

Whatever is or is not done, a whole mess of ex or serving RAF personnel wish RNZAF a Happy Birthday - with thanks.

[DC10RealMan]

In September 1939 the RNZAF had bought a number of new Vickers Wellington bombers and had their crews in England training to fly them when war against Germany was declared.

The New Zealand Government declared that "Britain's fight is our fight" and handed over the Wellingtons and their crews to the service of RAF Bomber Command.

Thank God that Britain has such friends.

[fergineer]

And as an ex serving member of the RAF now living here in NZ I will be at the celebrations and will pass on any thanks from the UK.

[Piggies]

NZ is only a little country, but its contribution over the two world wars was magnificent. We owe a debt to all the dominions

[reynoldsno1]

Recently watched a documentary about the Mosquito raid on the prison at Amiens - 487 Sqn RNZAF lead the raid. In an interview one of the pilots remarked that he descended to 'about 10 or 12 ft above the ground' during the run-in to the target, but 'I was a bit uncomfortable about going any lower' ... :eek:

[Samuel]

NZ is only a little country, but its contribution over the two world wars was magnificent. We owe a debt to all the dominions

Former Dominions I hasten to add...NZ ceased to be one in 1947, though I appreciate you meant at that time!

[Samuel]

Recently watched a documentary about the Mosquito raid on the prison at Amiens - 487 Sqn RNZAF lead the raid. In an interview one of the pilots remarked that he descended to 'about 10 or 12 ft above the ground' during the run-in to the target, but 'I was a bit uncomfortable about going any lower'

...and he was doing that from chinagraph marks on the windscreen! High-tech indeed!

[Runaway Gun]

Samuel, I feel silly for asking but "How does that work?"

[Runaway Gun]

Did he simply write "Don't go below ten or twelve feet" ?? :hmm:

[Samuel]

Samuel, I feel silly for asking but "How does that work?"

I have no idea, sorry, I'm not a pilot,[although I have spent the best part of 30 years going partly deaf listening to them!] but the Kiwi pilot said that to gauge the correct height, without looking at any instruments, which I presume would be an inaccurate distraction, they drew a crayon line at the height they wanted, which became the horizon, and if they went lower they had a second crayon line! Either way, it was ingenious and incredibly brave. Blink at that height and speed wouldn't have a good result I'm picking! He also said that the release of the bombs was done entirely by the pilot when he thought everything was good, "and we were fairly accurate" which seems to me to be a helluva statement given the target was an outer wall of a prison! There was also a comment in the film of the pilot waving to a German sentry on a guard tower as they flew below his position!

[Samuel]

The latest news release in NZ is that the RAF will attend...but have yet to say with what!

[typerated]

RNZAF - Air Force Media Release (http://www.airforce.mil.nz/operations/media-releases/media-release.htm@guid=%7Bee2bf3a5-6267-4583-9b23-0404c733a01b%7D.htm)

Steve Moore - I would be thinking that would be the same bloke that had the dramas spinning a hawk during the BBC test pilot series.

[reynoldsno1]

Pretty sure it's the same guy - ex Skyhawk driver and top bloke!

[Samuel]

I think he's also a Test Pilot Course Graduate from some years back...pre Skyhawk.

[bakseetblatherer]

Looking forward to seeing some proper jets again, even if they are Ozzie ones!

[Samuel]

According to the latest Air Show Bulletin, the RAF is sending an A330 Voyager!

Static display only!:ok:

I can hear the trampling for seats from here!

[Wander00]

But will they let CAS on board?

[bakseetblatherer]

That'll be interesting, thanks for the info!

[Runaway Gun]

Hmmm - has the RAF confirmed this?

[Samuel]

Presumably, it's on the official RNZAF website, [and only added very recently]

International Aircraft
Flying and Static Displays:
Royal Australian Air Force F-18A Hornet
United States Air Force C-17
Static Displays:
Royal Australian Air Force B737 Wedgetail
Royal Australian Air Force C-17
Royal Australian Air Force C-130J
Singapore Air Force C-130
French Armed Forces of New Caledonia CASA 235
US Marine Corps KC-130
RAF A330 MRTT