No. 6 Sqn History?

[Dave Homewood]

I have read that a book was written some decades ago that recorded the history of No. 6 Squadron RNZAF.

Does anyone know anything about the book? I read this in a 1970's AHNZS book in the library, which was listing other NZ aviation books. It stated then that it wasn't known if the history had been published.

No. 6 Squadron would be an interesting read. Original an Army Co-operation Sqn flying Hawker Hind bombers, it disbanded and then reformed on Catalinas as a Flying Boat Squadron. After training in Fiji they advanced up to Halavo Bay, Florida Island, and rescued many downed pilots.

If anyone has any info on the book about the squadron I'd love to hear please.

[Sean Strang]

In case you were not aware, 6SQN has just been reformed (WEF 31 Oct 2005) in the RNZAF to take over the duties of the Seasprites in AKL ex 3 SQN..

[Dave Homewood]

Hi Sean, welcome to the forum, great to see you here.

Yes, we had a thread on that last month. Great to hear a historic squadron has reformed.

[SEAN]

Dave

How do I insert images ?. I have a nice scan of the 6 Sqn crest, from the NZAP 3327 Colours, Standards, Flags & Badges in the RNZAF.

[Dave Homewood]

Sean,

Sadly this forum does not allow images to be uploaded internally as it's a free forum and does not have that function. However you can do it by using an image hoster. We all seem to use, and recommend, Photobucket for this. It's easy and reliable.

Go to this thread and look for a link to Robbo's tutorial on how to do it.
rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=info&action=display&thread=1111039920

If you have any questions or cannot work it out, let me know.
Looking forward to seeing the crest. Are there other squadron crests in the book? I've never seen crests from some of the wartime squadrons.

[SEAN]

Yep, all of them. I will try and work out the photobucket, and post which ever oens you are after.

[corsair67]

Hey Sean,

Photobucket is great; and if a computer illiterate 'tool' like me can work out how to use it, then most other people should be able to pick it up pretty quickly!

I look forward to seeing all those crests.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Sean,

I't be great to see all the squadron crests if it's not too much bother, as I only have poor copies of a few of them.

If it is too much hassle I'd be particularly keen to get the General Reconnaissance and Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron crests - these being
No.s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Sqns

I'm not sure No. 10 Sqn was around long enough to gain a crest, the others should have been.

Are there also crests for schools such as:
No. 1 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit
The School of General Reconnaissance and Navigation
The Air Gunners and Air Observer's School

Apart from No. 14 Sqn I've never seen any of the fighter squadron crests either - 15 Sqn to 26 Sqn. They'd all be of interest.

Did you know that all Sqn crest designs had to be approved by King George VI, then made up by the Coat of Arms people at the Tower of London (can't recall their official title) and then the King would sign the back of it to give official approval, and it would then go to the sqn HQ. But No. 490 (NZ) Sqn's crest was lost between London and Africa when the Catalina transporting it crashed into the sea, so they never officially received their crest!

[SEAN]

Dave

Here is 6 Sqn. I will work on the others. I like this Photobucket....

Yep we have detailed manuals on how to apply for crests etc, and the whole approval process. I had to use it once to get approval from the CAS of the time to use the RNZAF Shelly Bay crest, which had been approved, but never released. We used it get some medellions struck for each of the W/O's SNCOs mess member, when "the bay" closed down.

i31.photobucket.com/albums/c391/Sean1552/6SQNCREST.jpg

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for the crest, it's excellent!

So Shelly Bay DID close down? We had a thread on here recently about the Bay because I'd read something about RNZAF activity there as late as 2003, but I rememebr it supposedly closing when I was in the RNZAF around 1993, so we couldn't work out if it was open or closed
rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Postwar&thread=1119497901&page=1

[SEAN]

Yep, "the Bay" is closed down, but it is still Defece land, as Defence can not sell it due to issues with the orginal owners Vs the local Iwi etc. I understand the Police are using the "O"s Mess, and there is some kind of artists retreat using the W/Os & SNCO's Mess. There are no Defence personal or units uning any part of it.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Sean, that clears that mystery up then. A pity more wasn't done about saving Wigram in the same way

[camtech]

Dave,
Did you ever get a copy of the 6 Sqdn history? If not let me know and I'll copy it for you - I have one!!!
Les

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Les, I actually did get a copy in the end. Thanks anyway.

[SEAN]

admin said:

Thanks Les, I actually did get a copy in the end. Thanks anyway.

Dave

Was this No6 Flying Boat Sqn - RNZAF - Brief History by FGOFF G Wrathall?

[Dave Homewood]

That's the one, yes.

[sniff]

Is the book a PDF file? If so, I wouldnt mind a copy. I flew with Gary Wrathall on 42 Sqn back in the 70's.

[Dave Homewood]

It's just a paper copy. It's fairly basic, almost like a unit diary. Contact me by PM if you want to go further with it.

[camtech]

Yep, that's the one. Tried to get Gary Wrathall to autograph it while he was on Andovers, but no deal. Bit of a hard man!