Airforce

18 Skyhawks form an airborne ‘50’ to mark the RNZAF 50th Golden Anniversary. Pilot’s names and positions in the ‘50’ are included in my kneeboard chart below. Photo RNZAF C269/87 8 Apr 87
Big Formations of Jet Aircraft at Ohakea, 8th April 1987

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) began its 50th Anniversary celebrations at RNZAF Base Wigram on 1st April 1987 with a formal parade and flypast, followed by the official opening of the brand new RNZAF Museum.       Later, a 50th Golden Anniversary......

A 75 Sqn Skyhawk TA4K at low level on the Crow Valley weapons range, Ex Cope Thunder 84-7 – US DoD photo in ‘Skyhawks’, pg 115
RNZAF 75 Sqn Overseas Deployment

RNZAF 75 Sqn overseas deployment for Ex Vanguard 84, and Ex Cope Thunder 84-7 13 Aug 84 to 25 Sep 84 – written in 2024 by (then) Wg Cdr Jim Barclay, CO 75 Sqn From the mid-1950s with leased Royal Air Force (RAF) Vampires and......

Sgt Pilot George Barclay
George Barclay – Prisoner of War Escapee

The Editor, Air Force News airforcenews@nzdf.mil.nz 27 Apr 23 Dear Editor, In Air Force News magazine #255 Mar 23, at page 30, there is an interesting story by Michelle Sim of the Air Force Museum of NZ titled ‘Kiwi escaper’s disguise preserved at the Museum’; ......

1992 - BAC Strikemaster Mk88 NZ6370 and its replacement, the Aermacchi MB339CB NZ6463 – photo RNZAF
Flying the BAC Strikemaster Mk88 in RNZAF Service: Part 4 Jan – Jun 1983

My story “Flying the BAC Strikemaster Mk88 in RNZAF Service” began with ‘Part 1 the 1970s’, continued with ‘Part 2 Feb-Jun 1982’, and ‘Part 3 Jul-Dec 1982’, and concludes with ‘Part 4 Jan-Jun 1983’ January 1983 183 Opcon, weapons at Raumai BAC Strikemaster Mk88 NZ6372......

Jim Barclay podcast
PODCAST: WONZ 266 Vampire Month Jim Barclay

November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore. In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with......

From left -Sqn Ldr Nick Pedley (14 Sqn), Sqn Ldr Gordon Alexander (CO 14 Sqn), Wg Cdr Jim Barclay (OC Strike Wing) being congratulated by Sqn Ldr John Duxfield (Strike Wing Exec Officer), Wg Cdr Frank Sharp (CO 75 Sqn) and Skyhawk TA4K NZ6251 in the background – photo RNZAF OH G2540-87
My Final A4 Skyhawk Flight

My final RNZAF flight as an aircraft captain was on 11th December 1987 from RNZAF Base Ohakea, wherein I flew a two-seater Skyhawk TA4K NZ6251, with passenger LAC Glen Edwards in the back seat. The purpose of my flight was to be a ‘Red Air......

1973 Strikemasters NZ6365 and NZ6366 in flight
Flying the Strikemaster Mk88 in RNZAF Service: Part 1 the 1970s

In late 1972, after phasing out from service the De Havilland Vampire, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) began to introduce to service the first ten of what eventually became a squadron of sixteen British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) Strikemaster Mk88 dual-seat training aircraft.  The......