RNZAF Vampires from Singapore?

[Dave Homewood]

I was curious about why the Vampire at Motat wears its original RAF markings and number WR202. When I looked at Ivan's adf.serials site I see it never served in the RNZAF as such, apart from as an Instructional Airframe at No. 1 TTS. But prior to that it had been used by No. 14 Sqn RNZAF at Tenghar, Singapore.

So, when the RNZAF left did they bring home their loaned Vampires? How did that work? Did they all come to NZ with the returning Sqn? Or did just WR202?

Does anyone know the situation?

[steve]

My guess Dave is this...Seperating the RNZAF from our parent RAF in aircraft markings,serial nos etc just didn"t seem important at a time when kiwis saw themselves more as British Subjects than New Zealand Citizens.......same as ensign issue..honestly you cannot tell them apart.....that aside the RAF has a really special place in our hearts and will be for generation to come...I hope....maybe RAF and RAAF pilot ground crew etc could re establish our air "FORCE"!

[Bruce]

As far as I can tell, the RNZAF left the loaned aircraft behind when it left Singapore. At a later date when it needed a few extra instructional airframes, WR202 was chosen, probably because Singaporean based examples were closer for shipping, and ex 14 sqn machines were probably sitting around in storage there. I think it was mainly coincidence that it was an ex 14 sqn machine. WR202 is actually an FB-9 whereas the RNZAF used FB5s and 52s (original export version of the FB5) the key difference being cockpit air conditioning systems for tropical use. If you look closely WR202 has extended leading edge sections inboard of the air intakes, which fairs over part of the aircon system. I would imagine not a lot of use was made of WR202 because with the end of the TAF squadrons, there were plenty of FB5s purchased for them that were available, and more relevant for ground instruction.

[Dave Homewood]

Cheers for that. Well as it was an INST at 1TTS it probably got a fair bit of use there, that is where the aircraft finishers (painters), safety equipment workers, armourers and machinists were trained. So it was probably painted a few times over.

[phil82]

The RNZAF never operated Vampires in Singapore, they were Venom FB1s, leased from the RAF. They did, however, operate leased Vampires [ the FB9 was simply a tropicalised FB5] in Cyprus, as part of the RAF Middle East Air Force, but they were RAF machines ,not RNZAF Issue. The RNZAF purchase a total of 58 Vampires of various Mks, including some two-seat trainers, but none of them ever served overseas for the simple reason they didn't have the range to go anywhere!

[Dave Homewood]

Welcome Phil82,

(two new Phil's in a week!)

I knew about the Venoms being used in Squadron strength, but additionally to that, it seems that Motat Vampire was indeed used by No. 14 Squadron RNZAF while they were there, according to
www.adf-serials.com/nz-serials/nz5721.shtml
(see last aircraft at bottom of the page)

Quote:
"Used by 14 Squadron RNZAF at Tenghar 04 July 1955 to 10 October 1955 flying a total of 541 hours"

Why it was used, I do not know. I don't know if others were also used.

Cheers
Dave

[phil82]

I was very near "Phil O'Sophical" but the system wouldn't allow it!

My son put me onto this site! Can we enter photos?

[Dave Homewood]

Photos are tricky at first to add here. The forum itself has not got the capability, but you can use photos hosted on a webhost. That's what we all do, and we use Photobucket which is a free and easy webhost.

All the instructions can be fouind here in the forum admin section
rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=info&action=display&thread=1111039920

Click on this link and scroll down to Robbo's post. His own forum has the same problem, so he's set out a clear and concise step-by-step tutorial so members can get photos onto the forums.

[Dave Homewood]

Photbucket is here by the way

photobucket.com/