RNZAF strength 3/9/39

[waken]

At the start of the war the RNZAF had 91 officers, 665 airmen in the Regular Force and 79 officers and 325 airmen in the Territorials. There were 102 aircraft, mostly second-hand Baffins and Gordons, the only new aircraft were five Oxfords and nine Vildebeests.
My question is how many of these aircraft were in operational squadrons as opposed to training units?

Thanks,

Neil

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome to the forum Waken.

The three Baffin Squadrons were virtually operational, though only on weekends of course. They were the Auckland Territorial Squadron (Hobsonville), the Wellington Territorial Squadron (Rongotai) and the Christchurch Territorial Squadron (Wigram).

On the 4th of September 1939 all Territorial squadron members except a tiny few exempt were drafted straight into the regular RNZAf and that day became officially operational.

There had been also two flights of Vildebeests, four aircraft at Hobsonville and four at Wigram, which were basically bomber units. They were really more operational trainers and supposed to be lead ins for the Wellingtons we never got. From 1937 till sometime in 1939 the two flights were tere for the country's defence I guess but at some point they were all sent to the Flying Training School at Wigram. I'm not sure what date, but they became advanced pilot trainers, possibly also after the outbreak of war. I think I have the data somewhere, just finding it.

So basically 3 squadrons, three undertrained, under equippped squadrons with obsolete aircraft. Still, better than today eh?

[Dave Homewood]

By the way a week after the war began the Rongotai Squadron moved to Woodbourne, and then in March 1940 those three Baffin squadrons were all amalgamated into the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron aty Hobsonville. They moved to Whenuapai when it opened, and for a whole year that one squadron was our only operational squadron in the Dominion. The RNZAF was all about training for the RAF at that point.

[phil82]

Right next door to the Waterloo Hotel, in Wellington, now a backpackers, was an air force bulding which extended along Bunny Street, and up Featherston St to where the new Holiday Inn is almost nearing completion. When I worked there in the late 1960s, Air Staff were in the Featherston St side, and the Works Directorate were in the bit that faced the back of the Waterloo. The floor was very uneven, and I made some inquiries one day, and the buildiing turned out to have once been a part of the old Manawatu Rail line signal box [it was opposite the Wellington Railway Station]. I found an old file in there one day, relating to the Permanent Air Force, and there had been a discussion on an application from the RAF for an 'engine fitter' position but which was declined because "we already have one"!! I kid you not. Don't know what happened to those files. and the building has long since gone. It was demolished when everyone moved out to the 'new' Freyburg Building, but which proved to be too small as other departments with more powerful portfolios than Defence 'stole' some floors, so the Defence Staffs all went to the Stout St Building awaiting construction of the "new" defence building which is, surprise, surprise, too small and no one is in it yet! The Freyburg Building , incidentally, was intended to house all of Defence, but construction was delayed by a number of years due to one Keith Holyoake insisting the building design, essentially the same as that of the then Ministry of Works Building next door, had to be changed because he didn't like the MOW building and he didn't want another one looking like it in the same area as Parliament!

The phrase "piss-ups and breweries" comes to mind.

[waken]

Thanks for the info. How many Baffins did the Territorial squadrons have? Is there any information regarding losses of Baffins (due to accidents etc.) during the war?

Thanks,

Neil

[Dave Homewood]

This would be the most useful site online
www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz150.shtml

There will be much more info on the operation and service of the Baffins and the men who flew and maintained them in my book, if I ever get it finished.

[waken]

Thanks for the link.

Neil

[waken]

The first Baffin taken on strength by the RNZAF appears to have been NZ155 which was delivered to Rongotai in March 1938. When was the last of the 29 Baffins delivered?

Thanks,

Neil