|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2007 23:33:17 GMT 12
When No. 14 Squadron was operating Skyhawks back in the 1970's did they wear the black and white diamond markings flanking the roundel, as had been done on their Vampires, Strikemasters and the Maachis?
No. 75 Sqn's wore the red and yellow boards at that time, so I wonder if 14 followed suit. I've never seen a photo of a Skyhawk in 14 Sqn service I don't think.
|
|
|
|
Post by redkiwi on Jan 13, 2007 9:01:15 GMT 12
From the research I've done I'm pretty confident that the answer is no. I've only uncovered a couple of photos and the TA-4 didn't carry any squadron markings.
Mark
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2007 11:43:05 GMT 12
Cheers Mark. That's what I thought.
|
|
Glen T
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 85
|
Post by Glen T on Jan 14, 2007 15:01:38 GMT 12
I've just asked my neighbour who was part of the Skyhawk team that trained in the US and was on 75 in the early years of A4 ops... he cannot recall 14 Sqn ever marking the A4's with their crest etc, but there are several photos of the aircraft in service with no sqn markings on the sides. The early roundel markings had the Silver Fern, then from November 1970 (??) the Kiwi replaced the fern. There is a photo of an A4 with a straight probe and the 75 crest in full colour - but the probes were replaced by May 1973.....
From the book "Kiwi Air Combat Forces" produced by Paul Harrison, it reads on page 41:
To take pressure off No75 Squadron, the process of conversion to the Skyhawk, and introduction to Strike Operations was passed to No. 14 Squadron. Initially TA4-K and A4-K aircraft were drawn from the Skyhawk pool of aircraft as required for each of the conversion courses. In March 1971, three TA4K and one A4K were allotted to No. 14 Squadron.
Qualified Skyhawk instructors were posted from No. 75 Sqn to carry out the training task. At this time No. 14 Sqn still had some Vampires, two FAC Harvards, plus the Skyhawks.
...
This was to continue until 1975, when all the Skyhawk conversion training reverted to No. 75 Sqn. In 1984, this training was passed to No. 2 Sqn where it has remained. ...................!!
Sqn Ldr jim Jennings was on the first conversion course, and is still on base. I'm back at work on Tuesday so I'll ask him if he remembers anything about the 14 Sqn connection.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 14, 2007 15:59:40 GMT 12
Thanks Glen.
|
|
