No 7 Squadron RNZAF

MOTTO

HISTORY

Formed, February 1942
Disbanded, May 1943

COs

S/L, A. J. Turner. February 1942 to December 1942
S/L, R. A. Kirkup. December 1942 to May 1943

BASES

Waipapakauri, Kaitaia, Northland February 1942 to May 1943
Whenuapai, Auckland, May 1943

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Image Source

Vincents February 1942 to May 1943

Image Source

Vildebeests February 1942 to May 1943

ROLES
General Reconnaissance February1942 to May1943

CODE
Waipapakauri Vincent UW
Vildebeestes

The Squadron was formed at Waipapakauri in reaction to the outbreak of war with Japan,

It was initially a detached flight from No 1 [GR] Squadron and Whenuapai, Auckland, but it rapidly increased its strength to 18 obsolescent Vickers Vincents and Vilderbeests, tasked with patrolling the Northern approaches to NZ.12 on duty, 6 on servicing/repair]

It was planned to re-equip the Squadron with Lockheed Ventura’a but as the immediate threat of invasion and surface raiders had passed, the Squadron was disbanded at Whenuapai in May 1943

While at Waipapakauri, on 12 February 1942, NZ 125, a Vickers Vildebeest ex RAF No K8081, crashed while attempting to take off, it stalled about 20 feet above the ground, crashed and burned.

AC 1 David Sutton killed, Sgt J Worden and AC 2 K Curtis both injured.

For info on Waipapakauri click here

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner