RNZAF B2 Canberras in Malaya

[corsair67]

I recently purchased a copy of the Oxford Companion to NZ Military History (on special - $20!), and in it it states that the leased Canberras the RNZAF operated in Malaya had a "Kiwi with a map of NZ superimposed over it" painted on their tails.

Can anyone confirm if this is true, as I have never heard of that before. Also, has anyone seen or got pictures of this image?

[Dave Homewood]

That is true indeed.

See the third photo here
www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/canberras/wk102.htm

[corsair67]

Thanks for that. Looks like a red Kiwi with black NZ?

[Dave Homewood]

Quite possibly, and if that's the case, perhaps this is the first instance of the red Kiwi being used on RNZAF aircraft?

[steve]

I wonder how long the NZ map remained as a national tail symbol...was this after or before the circled black kiwi?

[Bruce]

The circled Kiwi I beleive is mainly associated with 14 Sqn, rather than RNZAF aircraft as a whole - thier venoms had black rudders with white Kiwis. When 75 Sqn used leased canberras overseas, the tail symbol was the Tiki off the squadron crest - although often mistakenly referred to as a frog!