There are a few books I know are being written right now that I hope will come out soon. One is a history of No. 75 (NZ) Squadron being written by Group Captain Colin Hanson. Though a very good history of the squadron has been written before by Norman Franks called “Forever Strong”, (as well as an earlier wartime book called “Return At Dawn”), Colin is a meticulous researcher and will no doubt turn out a superb book. He wrote ‘By Such Deeds’ which lists every New Zealand airman and woman who has received a medal or award, with the citation, circumstances, personal details, etc. That’s a great resource.

Another in the pipeline is the third volume of Errol Martyn’s superb books, “For Your Tomorrow” listing every New Zealand airman and woman who died while in the service of the RNZAF, RAF and other air forces from 1915 till 1997. The third volume is much anticipated by researchers. I wish him best of luck with it and hope to see it soon.

As for a wishlist, I’d like to see squadron histories written for a few of the RNZAF wartime squadrons. One would be No. 490 (NZ) Sqn. which has been very much overlooked. The other NZ squadrons in the RAF have each had some sort of official or unofficial history written in the past, but not 490.

And I’d love to see a full history written of No.s 3 Sqn and 5 Sqn RNZAF. Both were GR squadrons in the Pacific in WWII, and today both sqns still exist within the modern RNZAF, each having a long and awesome history. Perhaps histories of some of the other squadrons would be great too, especially No. 2 Sqn which began in the 1930’s and went through to the 1999 disbandment of the combat wing. Or No. 25 (DB) Sqn with its Dauntlesses, and No 6 Sqn with its Hinds and then Catalinas. There are many possibilities. A few people have told me I’d better start writing. Uh-oh.

Thanks mmitch, an excellent article with great photos

Helen Clark (the winner of the ugliest political leader of the year award).

And that includes Victor whats-his-name in the Ukraine who was poisoned with agent orange, disappointingly he came runner-up agaijn in this competition but clearly this time it wasn’t a rigged vote. 🙂

Glass half full? Since you’re in the chair, I’ll have an ‘alf

Dave

New Zealand doesnt have an Air Force any more so cant have a historic flight 😉 (a bit of a flip comment but now the A-4’s have gone you only have C-130’s and P-3’s – all very sad considering wht might have been)

er, and Iroquois, Soiux, Seasprites, Boeing 757’s, Airtrainers, Beechs, a Harvard and a Tiger Moth!! Plus some new choppers coming very soon, and two hangars full of A4K and Maachi jets that still belong to the RNZAF.

When I was in the RNZAF their Historic Flight was an active flight within the Central Flying School, using CFS pilots, mechanics, etc. The planes were on the RNZAF’s books, and treated like all other active aircraft in terms of maintenance, etc. (I assume it is still the same – that is, of course, if it is still going).

Looks lovely, thanks John.

I have come across that colour blue before once, someone at my old modelling club discussed it when he was researching for painting a Med Blenheim. I can’t recall what the paint’s name was though. It’s pretty odd. Does it look lighter in reality? It always appears in shadow in the pics.

Interesting to have two warbirds together in the scheme of the same pilot.

Those photos are great Spiteful, but oh my gosh that long nose is ugly! I’d never seen one like that before, Why was it exyended? Did it house specialist equipment?