BOMBING WEEK - Royal New Zealand Air Force

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8 L-R: Alec Brook ex 3 Sqn, Neil Morgan ex many AF squadrons, Cliff Cashmore ex 3 Sqn and WT and CTY Flights, Dave Hobman ex 3 Sqn & WT fl ight current 6 Sqn civvy MR RICHARD JACKSON NAVY TODAY EDITOR On a hot, calm Auckland morning, No. 6 Squadron RNZAF marched onto the tarmac in front of their Whenuapai hangar and before a crowd of VIPs veterans and Defence Force colleagues. Two of the Squadron’s Seasprite helicopters formed the back drop; the Squadron marched on in two fl ights. But the ranks and fi les of Air Force blue were broken by the stark white of naval summer uniform – No. 6 Squadron is a joint Service unit combining naval and Air Force personnel under the command of LTCDR Keith Gilchrist RNZN [see Air Force News, February 2006]. The 16 March parade marked the formal re-formation of the Squadron, which has evolved from the Naval Support Flight, formerly a sub-unit of No. 3 Squadron. The Chief of Air Force explained that it is because of the RNZAF’s strong maritime heritage that he wanted the new Squadron to carry a number from a squadron that had seen active service and was part of that heritage. Air Vice-marshal Hamilton commented, ‘It is not often that we get the pleasure of establishing squadrons, and this occasion is important to both the Navy and the Air Force.’ Rear Admiral Ledson (CN) also spoke during the ceremony, emphasizing that the former Naval Support Flight and now No 6 Squadron have set the benchmark for ‘the joint effect’ and he hopes that No 6 Squadron’s future will be as illustrious as its past. The privilege of inspecting the Flights on parade was given to Dr G Hitchcock, who is the last surviving pilot from the original No 6 Squadron. Dr Hitchcock trained on Catalinas in 1942 with the USN, then fl ew six delivery fl ights across the Pacifi c to bring Catalinas to the RNZAF. He remains proud of No 6 Squadron’s record which, he pointed out, includes rescuing 80 fl iers by open water landings. (Dr Hitchcock is also a veteran of Bomber Command, fl ying Lancasters of No.635 Sqn RAF in 1944-45.) WN 06-0119-01 AK 05-0503-03 WN 06-0119-03 AK 05-0168-21 LTCDR K Gilchrist with Arthur Strother, Iain Hill & Norman Atkins. PROUDLY In the crowd, a number of other maritime veterans watched with personal interest. Some had also fl own in No 6 Squadron, some in P-3 Orions and others had crewed ships’ fl ights in the Leander-class frigates. Among them was Arthur Strother, who served as a fl ight engineer in No 6 Squadron during the war. In fact, Arthur said - after some prompting - that he was one of those who collected and crewed the biplane Short Singapore fl ying boats that they delivered to the RNZAF Base in Fiji in 1941, as the Pacifi c War began. ‘One day we attacked a Japanese sub off Tonga,’ he commented. ‘We saw black smoke in the distance [from the sub’s diesel engines] on the horizon, and pushed the throttles through the gate. We almost reached 100 miles an hour,’ he said with a grin, recalling the old fl ying boat’s inherent low speed. ‘I was in the front turret; we reached the spot where AFN69 APRIL 06 www.airforce.mil.nz
REFORMED NO. 6 SQUADRON MARCHES ON there was a large swirl still visible on the water [the submarine had dived after sighting the approaching fl ying boat] and we dropped a bomb with a 3 second delay. After we passed over, the bomb went off and the rear gunner saw the submarine heave onto the surface and then submerge again. He fi red a whole tray of ammo at the sub, but all he did was to shoot off our trailing aerial! But they must have got a fright though,’ he said with evident pride. The veterans enjoyed mixing with today’s Air Force and naval personnel over a cup of tea; they shared memories and learned something of today’s Defence Force. But for most it was soon back to work. As the CAF said, ‘Seasprite tasks are among the most diffi cult of any of our units; the environment for ship-borne fl ying is demanding and unforgiving. You [the new squadron] have the skill and the ability to carry out these tasks.’ SQNLDR Owen Rodger and family. www.airforce.mil.nz AFN69, APRIL 06 WN 06-0119-02 9
Page 1 and 2: V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E : W W
Page 3 and 4: OUR MISSION: To carry out military
Page 5 and 6: In last month’s Air Force News we
Page 7: AK 06-0065-11 TRAINING FOR AFGHANIS
Page 11 and 12: AK 06-0087-01 FORTY YEAR ANNIVERSAR
Page 13 and 14: - the Squadron also uses the leg fo
Page 15 and 16: the process before returning to Whe
Page 17 and 18: WN 06-0088-02 WN 06-0088-01 FLTLT J
Page 19 and 20: www.airforce.mil.nz AFN69, APRIL 06
Page 21 and 22: WN 06-0114-01 Adapting to change is
Page 23 and 24: own Copyright, RAF Museum* Flight L
Page 25 and 26: www.airforce.mil.nz WN 06-0107-03 t
Page 27 and 28: Heading to the start block in Auckl
Page 29 and 30: THE 50 MILE CHALLENGE On 11 March,
Page 31 and 32: OH 06-0066-39 OHAKEA’S INTERNATIO
Page 33 and 34: The Air Force on forward defence. T
Page 35 and 36: OH 060105-07 OHAKEA RUNS FOR OUR LI
Page 37 and 38: OH 06-0087-07 HERO’S FAMILY GET T
Page 39 and 40: NO. 9 SQN RAAF REUNION 3-4 June 200

BOMBING WEEK - Royal New Zealand Air Force

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