Seasprite summaries

[rubberduck]

There's an excellent summary of both RNZAF and RAN Seasprites in the August issue of Warships - International Fleet Review magazine (has a photo of the roll-out of a Royal Navy submarine on the cover).

The RNZAF page is well researched, and to be commended. There's an interesting sidebar to the main text that says the Royal Navy offered NZ one of the old World War 2 Fleet Air Arm squadron numbers (ie 700, 800, 1700, 1800 series) for the nascent Seasprite unit, to reflect both the NZ heritage of naval aviation during the war and the mission profile of what became, instead, the recommissioned 6 Squadron.

Does anyone have any further detail regarding this offer?

The page on the RAN Seasprites seemed little more than a pared down rewrite of official media releases, with a good measure of optimism thrown in.

[corsair67]

Rubberduck, that sounds like a good article.

How do we find a copy of this magazine: is it available through newsagencies, or only via subscription?

[Dave Homewood]

That's interesting regarding the squadron number. Although many Kiwis flew in the Fleet Air Arm and No. 700 Squadron served aboard our own HMNZS Achilles, I'm rather glad they chose to resurrect the very historic No. 6 Squadron RNZAF.

[rubberduck]

I bought the magazine in a newsagent in Woollahra (Sydney), sitting among the aviation and technical magazines. As such, if it's not normally to hand in your local newsagent, I'd say it's part of the major distribution companies' titles and could be easily ordered to the shopfront, without any need for subscriptions. It's from the UK.

[corsair67]

Thanks Mr Duck, I'll see if I can chase up a copy here in 'rural' Canberra.

[beagle]

Just had a look online, yes you have to subscribe but you can seewhat is coming up in the current and next issue.
Cannot see the last issue which was probably what we were trying to look at.