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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2012 12:56:31 GMT 12
Does the RNZAF still carry out exchanges of individual personnel with other air forces these days? I seem to recall reading some German pilots were flying with No. 3 Squadron a few years ago.
Also, have you ever been on an Air Force exchange? Where, when, which air force, what types did you work on/fly?
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Post by meo4 on Mar 24, 2012 15:33:58 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2012 15:44:41 GMT 12
Huh?
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Post by meo4 on Mar 24, 2012 15:49:40 GMT 12
Just pic found on another forum good see Ozzies still taking the piss, You get that if you do ANZAC exchange.
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Post by beagle on Mar 24, 2012 16:15:24 GMT 12
Did an ANZAC Exchange to RAAF Pearce from July to Oct in 1993
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Post by skywarrior on Mar 24, 2012 17:39:21 GMT 12
I know they send maintenance pers from 40sqn to work in the RAF for 3 months at a time, usually to work on C-17s.
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Post by beagle on Mar 24, 2012 18:13:30 GMT 12
since when have they been doing that.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2012 18:33:25 GMT 12
meo4, I can't see that photo, it's a broken link or something. Can you see it?
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Post by skywarrior on Mar 24, 2012 18:34:41 GMT 12
They have been doing it for a few years now. You can volunteer to do it once you reach CPL.
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Post by curtiss on Mar 24, 2012 18:46:46 GMT 12
I took part in an exchange with the RAF. Went from 14 Sqn to LLADTS (Low level air defence training Sqn) at RAF Finningly where Jet Provosts were used to train navigators for Tornado Sqns.
An extremely busy place with less aircraft than 14 Sqn , but a lot more sorties every day. Almost every sortie was low level Nav. No weapons to worry about though.
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Post by phil on Mar 24, 2012 19:01:37 GMT 12
Long look is on at the moment, they've just left.
I applied this year, but being on a FEG I'm apparently irreplaceable and my application wasn't supported. So no one from my trade is going. Pitty, it was to Conningsby too - Typhoons, Tornados and BBMF.
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Post by beagle on Mar 24, 2012 19:35:04 GMT 12
meo4, I can't see that photo, it's a broken link or something. Can you see it? Put ya glasses on old man |
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Post by beagle on Mar 24, 2012 20:19:09 GMT 12
As for aircraft I worked on while at pearce, well none really.
As the RAAF have seperate trades for their Safety Equipent and painting, I was exchanged with the NCO ic Safety Equipment, or in their terms Aircraft Life Support.
We all left WP on a monday morning aboard a 'Draggie" to Richmond via Norfolk Island.
The RAAF also have SATS flights and since their Richmond to Pearce flight is only on Mondays, i had to wait there a week till the next one. Lucky me as the next regular flight was a B707 instead of long Herk flight, not that I don't mind flying in a Herk, but a herk full of Aussies.......
Anyway, got a good insight of Richmond and Sydney, then after a stop off at Edinburgh arrived on the west coast. Off to the Sgts mess. Who are you, how long, sorry haven't heard a thing. Thats a good start I thought. But got a nice room etc
First day at work and into the Engineering Officers office, no I hadn't done anything wrong, but "you Kiwi guys paint as well hey" Well we have no painters on base so can ya help us out a bit.
So spent a few weeks sorting out their paintshop and clearing a bit of a backlog of work, luckily they were using the same paint system we were using etc
After that I left for 3 weeks touring the easy coast. Bugger, herk flight chokka full of aussies to Richmond. Was supossed to have taken the next days flight to amberly, but that Herk broke down, try thursday to go to Townsville, Herk broke down.
The W/O at Richmond had just been posted in and family was still in Willytown so got invited to go with him and spend the weekend with him. Got to see around a fighter base etc and spend a nice weekend.
The next tuesday, yippee, Herk "S" so off to Amberly, arrived and got greeted by the first rain they had seen in 6 months.
Checked out some old aircraft they were doing up, think from memory it was a beaufighter. Caught up with one of out B727s which stopped over for a few hours.
Left there after a week, great place, the sgts mess used to have regular stripper nights and I arrived for the last one. The $5 bottles of port got me though and had a few rough nights, well mornings really.
The day I left, we taxied out and sure enough, she broke so back we went, but after a few beers in the mess got talking to a Caribou crew who were going to Richmond next morning so got a ride with them. What a great plane.
Missed my flight to Fairbarn so got a train and bus etc and arrived there the same night so not too bad.
At the same time I was touring their CAS was leaving and was going around the bases saying his goodbyes etc and I was meeting up with him at each base, each time at a luncheon. and they put on some great spreads. Heaps of prawns and Moreton Bay bugs.
The base there was pretty boring so got out for some sight seeing, esp the musuems etc and the weekend watching both NFL and aussie rules grand finals on big screen tv's. Never had big screens in NZ then.
Instead of flying back to Richmond and staying there a week before taking a herk all the way back across to Pearce, I managed to leave Fairbairn a few days early and catch a ride in one of their Dassault 900's. Only pax onboard apart from 2 female flt stewards who were picking up VIP's from Perth.
Rest of time in Pearce was great cause The Singaporeans had arrived and I got on quite well with one of the Safety Equipment girls.
Got a flight in a PC9 but they wouldn't let the exchange 14sqn pilot take me up. Funny that.
Could keep going but..................
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Post by sqwark2k on Mar 24, 2012 21:27:29 GMT 12
The German is still here with 3Sqn. We have a 3Sqn pilot just left for UK for 3yr exchange with RAF to fly Chinook's with 18SQN I think. SQNLDR Ben Prior has just returned or about to return to NZ after 3yrs on same exchange. His exchange saw him fly in Afganistan, link below has a story about his unit in theatre. There's a permanent exchange for CFS/PTS instructors to spend 2years at RAAF Pearce with No. 2 Flying Training School (FTS). Current 3 Sqn CO, WGCDR Shaun Clarke spent 2 years at 2FTS prior to returning and taking command of CFS and Red Checkers. Most recently SQNLDR Brett Clayton returned to be posted to the Kingair replacement project in Wellington. Thats all Im aware of, Im sure there might be something for the Maritime and transport dudes as well. ukforcesafghanistan.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/international-rescue-the-multi-national-face-of-jhfa/ |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2012 21:34:28 GMT 12
Great stuff Beagle, What is/was a 'Draggie'?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2012 21:37:17 GMT 12
Thanks for that info Craig.
I'm wondering, did NZ have any exchange pilots who went to the USA or other countries and flew operationally in combat in Vietnam or Iraq (1991)?
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Post by sqwark2k on Mar 24, 2012 21:46:57 GMT 12
Ross Ewing and John Scrimshaw were seconded to the USAF and flew US aircraft in Vietnam in the Forward Air Controller role.
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Post by bobajob on Mar 24, 2012 21:51:17 GMT 12
I did an exchange with the RAAF for three months early to mid 1980's as an
Electrician. Although I held the rank of Sgt I was given the duties of a Cpl
as the RAAF responsibilities were the same from a Technical point of view. I
believe it was due to the RNZAF not being granted a cost of living pay-rise
some years before so they promoted every one. Can anyone confirm this. Once
the aussies were happy with my abilities I was able to continue to work on
their C130's. Had a great time too. I was impressed by their independant
inspections that had to be carried out before access panels were sealed up.
On one such inspection I noticed that the aileron push-rod rollers were
scoured on one aircraft, so I made the aircaft unserviceable in their F700
equivelant. Then spend some considerable time explaining my actions to the
flightline boss. It was part of our training in those days to be aware and
on the look out for any abnormality. I felt at the time that the aussies did
not believe that a leckie would be aware of that kind of anomally. The whole
trip did not involve any other free rides. How ever the Aussie that was at
40Sqn was given a number of trips away. Still I did have a great time.
bobajob
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2012 22:16:50 GMT 12
Ross Ewing and John Scrimshaw were seconded to the USAF and flew US aircraft in Vietnam in the Forward Air Controller role. Ah yes, I was aware of all the guys that went and flew in Vietnam as FAC and in the RAAF Iroquois, I was thinking along other lines such as on transport or fighter-bomber squadrons, etc. I guess not as we'd have probably heard of them. |
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Post by harvard1041 on Mar 25, 2012 1:40:47 GMT 12
Not sure about flying in combat there Dave - but in the 1970s the RNZAF / USAF had regular exchange postings for aircrew - and both 14 & 75 had USAF people down in NZ as well .... I recall some RNZAF people who flew in the US - Darryl Simpson flew P-3s with the USN at Moffett Field, Dudley Harrison flew C-130s with the USAF at Little Rock, and John Bates flew USAF A-7s & A-10s ... am sure there were various people who had flown F-4s as well - Frank Sharp.
There was also - last 20 years or so - a regular RAF exchange flying Hawks - Herb Kettley is one I recall.
Also Eng Officer exchanges - Des Ashton & Joe Keegan were Maint Flight Commanders of Singaporean A-4 Sqns.
Pre - ANZUS bust up - there were regular visits to USN & USAF bases by many people each year ...
Rgds
Hvd1041
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