Saturday 29 December 2018

RNZAF Skyhawk History

31 Years of RNZAF Operations 1970-2001

Text : Don Simms

RNZAF Official
New Zealand ordered 14 brand new Skyhawks (ten A-4K and four TA-4K) in 1968 at a total cost of NZ$24 million (including the aircraft, spares, support equipment and training).  The Skyhawk replaced the Canberra medium bomber and Vampire day fighter in RNZAF front line service.  All 14 aircraft were delivered to New Zealand by the USN aircraft carrier USS Okinawa in May 1970. 

Other aircraft considered as possible Canberra/Vampire replacements at the time were the F-5 Freedom Fighter, F-4 Phantom (the RNZAF’s first choice), Mirage III (just entering Australian service), A-7 Corsair, F-104 Starfighter and the F-111 (on order for Australia).  In the end, political conservatism and cost determined that the Skyhawk was the aircraft most suitable for New Zealand’s needs.


It was not the Air Force’s first choice, but it was cheap, had good performance/payload for its size and had a proven combat record in Vietnam and the Middle East.  It was also in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Fleet Air Arm (FAA).  Ten brand new (eight A-4G and two TA-4G) Skyhawks had entered service with the RAN  in 1967, with a further ten second hand ex-USN A-4F/TA-4F’s being purchased in 1971 (eight A-4F’s and two TA-4F’s).

When the Skyhawk entered RNZAF service in May 1970, the Canberra had completed just 11 years RNZAF service and the Vampire 21 years.  Since then the Skyhawk has completed over 30 years of RNZAF service (1970-2001), proof of its sound design and ruggedness.

In 1984 Australia sold their ten remaining A-4G/TA-4G Skyhawks (eight A-4G’s and two TA-4G’s) and all spares and support equipment to New Zealand for A$27 million.  At the time this was considered a bargain – the package was later estimated to be worth closer to A$75 million. 

In the late 1980’s all 21 RNZAF Skyhawks were given an extensive Avionics and weapon systems update, known as Project Kahu.  The cost of the project was NZ$140 million and gave our Skyhawks the electronic “eyes and ears” of a modern fighter aircraft such as the F-16/F-18.  Also under taken at the same time was a re-winging program to “zero life” the wings of each aircraft.

In 31 years of service, the RNZAF lost seven Skyhawks in accidents, a safety record better than any other Skyhawk operator in the world (the Australian Navy lost ten Skyhawks in just 15 years service).

Four of the RNZAF’s Skyhawks are genuine “Warbirds”, having flown combat missions with the USN in Vietnam between 1968 and 1970, prior to being sold to Australia in 1971 (NZ 6215, NZ 6216, NZ 6217 and NZ 6218).  NZ6218 was also the last single seat Skyhawk built for the USN in 1967 and has a chequered history, having been crashed and rebuilt twice in its life (once with the USN and once with the RNZAF).  Several of the other former USN/RAN aircraft also have a chequered past and most have been “bent” to some degree or another.  This is testimony to many years of hard service (including hundreds of carrier landings and catapult launches in USN and RAN service) and the odd mishap during their lives.


RNZAF Skyhawk Serial Numbers and Significant Dates 

Text : Don Simms / Calum Gibson

Serial No

Model

US BuNo

First Flight

RAN No

Significant Events

Disposal Details

NZ6201A-4K15790410 Nov 1969N/A26/06/75 - USN exchange pilot jettisoned his drop tanks after the aircraft became uncontrollable due to a hydraulic fault during a night exercise off RAAF Williamtown, Australia. Pilot awarded the AFC for saving the aircraft.
Mount Maunganui New Zealand
NZ6202A-4K15790514 Feb 1970N/A
New Zealand
NZ6203A-4K15790619 Feb 1970N/A
Crashed 20/06/96 six miles north of OhakeaNZ, after engine failure caused by a total loss of oil pressure. Pilot ejected safely
NZ6204A-4K15790711 Mar 1970N/A
Ashburton
New Zealand
NZ6205A-4K1579086 Mar 1970N/APrototype Kahu Update single seater
Wigram, Christchurch New Zealand
NZ6206A-4K15790911 Mar 1970N/A
NZ6207A-4K157910Not KnownN/A
Crashed 18/10/74 one mile north of Ohakea after engine failure caused by a total loss of oil pressure. Pilot ejected safely but broke a leg on landing
NZ6208A-4K1579116 Apr 1970N/A
27/08/80 nose section damaged when nose wheel retracted on the ground.
 
Engine flamed out after experiencing fuel transfer problems. Crashed 23/07/92 on the south east coast of the North Island of NZ. Pilot FO Scott Amour ejected safely.
NZ6209A-4K15791215 Apr 1970N/A
Ardmore, Auckland,
New Zealand
NZ6210A-4K157913Not KnownN/A

Crashed Ohakea 24/10/89 after mid aircollision with NZ 6211 during Kiwi Red aerobatics practice. FO Graham Carter killed. RIP.
NZ6211*A-4G/K15490320 Jul 1967882Damaged in mid air with NZ 6210 on24/10/89. Repaired and returned to service 17/11/90.
Crashed Nowra Australia 16/02/01 during plugged barrel roll air show routine practice. Sqn Ldr Murray Nielson killed. RIP.
NZ6212*A-4G/K15490326 Jul 1967883Lost canopy in flight 29/01/86
US FAA Rego N142EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida USA
NZ6213*A-4G/K15490326 Jul 1967884
US FAA Rego N143EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida
USA
NZ6214*A-4G/K1549038 Aug 1967887Carried out a wheels up landing on its drop tanks at RAAF Base Amberley after loosing a wheel during a touch and go on HMAS Melbourne. Date unknown. 10/01/92 suffered severe damage from a bird strike on the RH intake while at 250ft and 420kts. Repaired and returned to service Dec 1992
US FAA Rego N144EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida
USA
NZ6215**A-4F/G/K15505226 Jun 1967871

Served on USS Ranger with VA-155 during its Vietnam deployment 26/10/68 - 17/05/69, and on USS Hancock with VA-212 on a similar deployment to Vietnam 02/08/69 - 15/04/70.
US FAA Rego N145EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida
USA
NZ6216**A-4F/G/K15506121 Jul 1967874Same Vietnam deployment details as above. 02/06/86 20mm HE round detonated prematurely 3ft from the end of the cannon barrel damaging the RH side of the nose area with shrapnel punctures Click here for an image of NZ6216 in USN Service
NZ6217**A-4F/G/K155063Not Known876Deployed to Vietnam on USS Ranger, with VA-155 (26/10/68 - 17/05/69) and USS Hancock with VA-55 (02/08/69 - 15/04/70).
US FAA Rego N146EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida USA
NZ6218**A-4F/G/K15506929 Jun 1967877Last A-4F built. Served on VA-155 on USS Ranger during its Vietnam deployment 26/10/68 - 17/05/69. Severely damaged by a wire strike 02/07/69 with the USN. Also severely damaged in RNZAF service in roll over on landing at RAAF Base Townsville on 3 June 1985. Repaired and returned to service 29/03/90.
US FAA Rego N147EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida USA
NZ6251TA-4K1579145 Dec 1969N/ASold to US  JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida USA. FAA Rego N140EM
Aircraft crashed near Nellis AFB Las Vegas 18 Aug 16. Pilot Ejected with minor injuries
NZ6252TA-4K15791524 Jan 1970N/A
Canopy inadvertently jettisoned in flight 05/02/97 near Nowra, Australia. Repaired and returned to service 14/07/97.
FAA Rego N141EM JDI Holdings LLC, Lakeland, Florida USA
NZ6253TA-4K157916Not KnownN/A

Crashed 25/03/81 on a ridge in the Ruahine Ranges while on a low-level training exercise. Pilot Flight Lieutenant John Dick killed. R.I.P
NZ6254TA-4K15791721 Feb 1970N/APrototype “Kahu” T-bird. Damaged in heavy landing at Ohakea 16/03/94. Repaired and returned to service 01/02/95.
Wigram, Christchurch New Zealand
NZ6255*TA-4G/K15491121 Jul 1967880Carried out a wheels up landing on its drop tanks at Ohakea 14/09/89 after tearing off the RH main landing gear touching down short of the runway threshold. Repaired and returned to service 12/03/90.
Nowra NSW, Australia
NZ6256*TA-4G/K15491216 Aug 1967881Painted in special RNZAF 50th Anniversary golden colour scheme for 1987 anniversary celebrations.
Crashed into sea off Perth Western Australia 20/03/01 after pilot lost control during ACM. Flt Lt Barnes ejected safely

Notes.

* Part of the RAN’s original A-4G/TA-4G purchase, delivered in 1967.
** Part of the RAN’s second batch, delivered in 1971. Made up from modified, former USN A-4F’s.

Skyhawk “NZ 6207” displayed at the RNZAF Museum at Wigram in Christchurch New Zealand, is a modified former USN A-4L (itself a modified A-4C), BuNo 149516, and is on permanent loan from the USN (presumably until the RNZAF retires one of its own aircraft!). 

Skyhawk "NZ6257" currently stored at RNZAF aircraft is an airframe made of parts originally for display at the RNZAF museum's now defunct Ohakea site.

RNZAF Skyhawk Squadrons


No 75 Squadron

“AKE AKE KIA KAHA” – “FOR EVER AND EVER BE STRONG”

(Text Don Simms)

RNZAF Official
No 75 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was first formed in October 1916, being used in the home defence of Britain against German Zeppelin Airships during WWI. In 1918 the unit became part of the renamed Royal Air force (RAF). In mid 1939 New Zealand sent personnel to England to train on Wellington medium bombers, 30 of which had been ordered for the RNZAF. However when war broke out in September 1939 these crews and aircraft were placed at the disposal of the RAF, and in April 1940 No 75 (NZ) Squadron was formed. For the next five years the Squadron flew Wellington, Stirling and Lancaster bombers over Europe. By the end of the war 75 Squadron had dropped 21,630 tons of bombs, laid 2344 mines and had shot down at least 45 enemy aircraft. However, this impressive (and record setting) tally was not without heavy losses. Over 220 aircraft were lost and over 1100 aircrew killed during the war, a loss rate that was at times amongst the highest in Bomber Command. 
75 Sqn Coat of Arms from 1943
RNZAF Official) 

In recognition of their wartime record, in October 1946 the RAF officially handed over the 75 Squadron title and badge to the RNZAF. This is the only occasion that the RAF has “gifted” a Squadron title and badge to another Commonwealth Air Force and is a tribute to the sacrifices and contribution made by all New Zealand’s in the RAF during WWII.

Post WWII the Squadron reformed at Ohakea and re-equipped, initially with twin engine Mosquito fighter/bombers and later Vampire jet fighters. In February 1958 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, presented No 75 Squadron with its Squadron Standard, having earned the Sovereign’s appreciation for outstanding service. Fourteen Battle Honours were awarded, eight of which are depicted on the Standard.

In June 1958 75 Squadron returned to the UK to convert to the then brand new Canberra bomber (leased from the RAF) and soon after again found themselves in the thick of it, taking part in what was known as the “Malayan Emergency”. Based out of Singapore, the Squadron carried out bombing missions against Communist insurgents in Malaya for the next two years (this “police-action” had been going on since 1948 and had involved both RNZAF ‘strike’ Squadrons – 14 and 75, before finally reaching a conclusion in 1962). In March 1962 the Squadron returned to Ohakea and flew Vampire’s until the arrival of the Skyhawk in 1970.


No 2 Squadron

“WHAKATOPA KIA MATE ” – “We Swoop To Kill”

(Text Edited from Wikipedia by me)

RNZAF Official
No. 2 Squadron RNZAF was formed in 1930 as part of the Territorial Air Force . During World War II it served in New Zealand, providing air cove for troop ships over Cook Straight, and the Pacific where equipped with Lockheed Ventures it carried out reconnaissance, anti-submarine, supply dropping and bombing of land targets.

On return to New Zealand in October 1945, No.2 Squadron operated a variety of aircraft, including Hudsons and Venturas (twin-engine pilot conversion and meteorological flights). Early in 1946, No.2 Squadron also began training crews for the new Mosquito aircraft to be ferried from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. On 11 October 1946 No.2 Squadron ceased to exist when became No.75 Squadron RNZAF, in commemoration of the New Zealand Bomber Squadron which served throughout the war in the RAF.

In December 1948 No.2 (TAF) Squadron was raised. This squadron operated in a similar manner to its 1930s predecessor with annual flying carried out at Ohakea and Wigram on Harvards and Mustangs. The Territorial Squadrons were eventually disbanded in 1957.

Reformed in December 1984 at Ohakea, No.2 Squadron was equipped with the A-4 Skyhawk when it took delivery of 10 ex-RAN Skyhawks (8 A-4G and 2 TA-4G) aircraft. While stationed at Ohakea (alongside No. 75 Squadron), the squadron provided pilot conversion and operational training, as well as being tasked for reconnaissance, systems evaluation, and procedures development. In the middle of 1988 the Squadron received delivery of the first Project KAHU updated Skyhawks for test flight trials.

In February 1991 No.2 Squadron was relocated to HMAS Albatross in Australia with the updated Kahu Skyhawks to provide the ADF, particularly the RAN, with Air Defence Support, participating in exercises with the RAN Eastern and Western Fleets. The squadron was equipped with two A-4K and four TA-4K aircraft supported by 50 to 60 personnel. The highlight of the RAN exercises was the successful sinking of the decommissioned Navy Reserve Vessel HMAS Adroit in August 1994 by No.2 Squadron Skyhawks. No.2 Squadron continued to provide air defence training to the Australian Defence Force until November 2001.

No 14 Squadron

 “KIA MAIA, KIA U, KIA NGAWARI” – “  "Active, Ardent, Adaptable.”
(Text Edited from Wikipedia by me)


RNZAF Official
No. 14 Squadron RNZAF formed on the on 25 April 1942. It was initially equipped with harvards and then P-40 Kittyhawks.

14 Sqn served in the Pacific, on Guadalcanal, New Georgia. In February 1944 to Bougainville, in December Green Island and in July 1945 Emirau. Whilst operating P-40’s it claimed more than its share of the 99 air victories the RNZAF claimed. One of its pilots Geoff Fisken, was the top scoring Commonwealth ace in the Pacific (although half his victories were acquired with 243 Squadron). In 1944 it was re-equipped with Corsairs, and as the Japanese fighter force was virtually eliminated 14 Sqn conducted mainly ground attack missions.

In March 1946, 14 Squadron went to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.On return from Japan, the squadron briefly operated de Havilland Mosquitoes, converting pilots to the fighter bomber role. No.14 Squadron re-equipped with sixteen De Havilland Vampire jets in 1952. It was based in Cyprus from 1952 to 1955 as part of a Commonwealth peace keeping force in the area, although the unit travelled within Europe and Africa, providing a flypast on Queen Elizabeth II's accession, and being in Kenya at the time of the Mau Mau action. 

In May 1955 14 Squadron moved to Singapore and re-equipped with sixteen De Havilland Venoms, a swept wing development of the Vampire. No. 14 Squadron operated from Singapore against Indonesian-backed communist insurgents in what is now Malaysia until relieved by No.75 Squadron RNZAF English Electric Canberras in May 1958.

After receiving nine B(I)12 and two T.13 English Electric Canberras at Ohakea in 1959, 14 Squadron deployed to Singapore in September 1964 to defend Singapore and Malaysia at the end of the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, (following in the footsteps of No. 75 Squadron RNZAF's Canberra B.2s). No 14 Squadron operated from RAF Tengah with detachments to Labuan (North Borneo) October/November 1964, RAF Gong Kedak (Malayan Peninsular) June 1965 and RAF Kai Tak (Hong Kong) October 1966. The Squadron returned to Ohakea in November 1966. The Canberras were phased out of service in July 1970 and sold to the Indian Air Force.

No. 14 Squadron took up the role of advanced training. It briefly operated a small number (up to 4) of two-seat A-4 Skyhawks and two-seat Vampires before re-equipping with 16 BAC Strikemasters in 1972. The Strikemasters were replaced by eighteen Aermacchi MB 339CBs in 1991


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