New Zealand Territorial Squadrons

In 1920, following WW 1, a small Permanent Air Force [PAF] was established, under Army control, until 1937, when it became a separate part of the NZ Defence Force.

In 1923, there was a strength of 4 Officers and 7 other ranks, also there were over 100 members of the territorial air force,

The first military operation was to assist in controlling the Mau uprising in Western Samoa in 1930

A De Havilland DH 60 Gypsy Moth, converted to a seaplane, was taken to the Island by the HMS Dunedin.

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

The aircraft had been modified to allow the pilot to fly one handed, and operate a Lewis gun, mounted on the side of the cockpit with the other.

This aircraft also made the first bombing mission of the NZPAF, a bomb, made from a treacle tin, was dropped onto a ship suspected of gun running.

Fortunately, it failed to explode, the ship was a local missionary vessel going about the Lord’s work.

In 1934, King George V gave his permission for the NZPAF to be renamed the RNZAF, but it remained under Army control.

In 1937, the Government passes the Air Force Act, establishing the RNZAF as a separate military body.

The Territorial Squadrons were centred on the major cities,
Auckland,[Hobsonvile, with a flight at Hamilton and Napier]

Wellington, [Rongotai Airport, with flights at New Plymouth and Wanganui] and

Christchurch,

[a fourth Squadron was planned for Dunedin,] but lack of finance and materials delayed its formation until the war had been declared.

They held annual flying meetings at Wigram, Christchurch and Hobsonville, Auckland.

When the war was declared on 3 September 1939, all members of the Territorial Air Force were immediately transferred to the RNZAF for the duration of the war.

At the declaration of war, there were 91 Officers and 685 other ranks in the RNZAF, with 79 Officers and 325 other ranks in the TAF.

There were 102 aircraft, mostly second hand Blackburn Baffins, and Fairey Gordons, the only new Aircraft were 5 Airspeed Oxford [twin engined trainers] and 9 Vickers Vildebeest’s, single-engined, bi-plane bombers.

All of the aircraft operated by the TAF were re-allocated.

Blackburn Baffin,

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

29 purchased second hand in 1937, intended for the territorial Squadrons, there were 16 in Wellington, 8 in Wigram, Christchurch, and of the 5 remaining, 1 had crashed, and 2 were being used as instructional airframes at the training schools.

They had been classified as trainers until the arrival of the German Sea Raiders in the South Pacific, when they were reclassified operational again and the remainders being merged into NZ GR [New Zealand General Reconnaissance] Squadron in March 1940.

The Aircraft were divided and half of them were transferred to No 3 [GR]Squadron when the NZGR Squadron was separated into No 1, 2 and 3 Squadrons.

They were all replaced by the Lockheed Hudson prior to the Japanese entering the war.

Vincent Vildebeest

Image Source

The Vincent was very similar, [removal of the torpedo launching equipment, provision for an auxiliary fuel tank and pyrotechnic signalling gear],

Large 2 or 3 seat, bi-planes with a single engine, designed as a light bomber or torpedo bomber.

First flown in 1928, 12 had been purchased in 1935 for coastal defence, a further 27 were acquired from RAF stocks in 1940 - 41

The presence of German Sea Raiders led to No 1 and 3 Squadrons flying Vildebeest’s and Vincents, as their front line aircraft, until the arrival of the Lockheed Hudsons.

A video of a trial flight of a Vildebeest in 1935 is at

https://www.google.co.nz/search?ei=3W7jW4TLJc_6rQGJ9oKADA&q=Vickers+Vildebeest+rnzaf&oq=Vickers+Vildebeest+rnzaf&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i30k1.6108.14908.0.20133.18.18.0.0.0.0.334.3995.2-15j1.16.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..2.16.3989...0i7i30k1j0i8i7i30k1.0.SffebQ5Z2j0

The occasion was a demonstration flight for the NZ High Commissioner

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner