Airforce

The underbelly of BAC Strikemaster Mk88 NZ6374 carrying a drop tank and a PMBR on each wing with BDU33 SDB bombs on the two front stations of the PMBR and two Mk106 HDBs on the rear stations – photo RNZAF C588-86
Flying the BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk88 in RNZAF Service: Part 3 Jul – Dec 1982

My story “Flying the BAC 167 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’ July 1982 – air-to-air live firing, plus 581 Pilots Course BAC Strikemaster...

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 former...

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...

Airshow Pilots Gisborne 1969
75 Sqn Vampires at Ex Golden Kiwi 1969

75 Squadron RNZAF - Exercise Golden Kiwi/Cook Bi-Centennial, Gisborne, September/October 1969 ‘Exercise Golden Kiwi’ was the name given to 75 Squadron support to New Zealand’s 200th year commemoration of the landing at Gisborne, New Zealand, by Captain James Cook in 1769. Supporting the ‘Cook Bi-Centennial’ saw the...

Jim & Joanie Barclay in F4D Phantom 66-467
Joanie Barclay’s F4 Phantom ‘Burner Bust’

In early 1981, Joanie Barclay, wife of the then Squadron Leader Jim Barclay, a Royal New Zealand Air Force exchange pilot with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing (31 TFW) at United States Air Force (USAF) Homestead Air Force Base (HAFB), located near Miami, Florida, was...

The remains of the fuselage centre section and severed main wheels of an RNZAF Hastings CMk3 – either NZ5802, or NZ5803. Some of the cockpit windows are just visible through the cockpit entry door as seen in the middle of the centre-fuselage section. Jim Barclay photo Ohakea July 1969
The Last Battles of Hastings: 1969 and 1971, at RNZAF Base Ohakea

RNZAF Hastings in service - The RNZAF operated four Handley Page (HP) Hastings (serial numbers NZ5801 to 5804) CMk3 four-engined transport aircraft from 1952. These aircraft were flown initially by No. 41 Squadron, but they were transferred to No. 40 Squadron when it reformed on...