RNZAF at NAS Kwajalein, 1964

[chrisnpl]

These photos were sent to me by John Voss from California, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force passing through US Naval Air Station Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, in 1964.

The aircraft were on their way to Singapore, to support the Federation of Malaysia (of which Singapore was then a part of); to do battle with Indonesia and the konfrontasi started by President Sukarno. Of course; it was all more complicated than that and there were broken promises on both sides; but the long and the short of it was that Indonesia began attacking Sarawak and British North Borneo (now Sabah), and as a loyal Commonwealth member, New Zealand went in to assist. The konfrontasi lasted 1962 - 65.

Indonesian airspace was closed to Malaysia's supporters, so the general route was Ohakea or Whenuapai to RAAF Edinburgh (Adelaide) - Perth (joint civil/military aerodrome at that stage); Cocos Islands - Singapore.

For some reason, on this occasion, the route was Whenuapai or Ohakea to Nadi, Kwajalein, Guam, a base somewhere in the Philippines, and then to Singapore.


Handley Page Hastings NZ5001 of 40 Squadron, Whenuapai



A Canberra of 14 Squadron, Ohakea



A line up of Canberras, on the way to Singapore

[flyjoe180]

Very interesting photos, thanks for sharing them. The serial on the Hastings appears to be NZ5801.

[skyhawkdon]

Great (historic) photos! One thing about the Canberra's in these photos which has me a bit confused is I thought they were camouflaged prior to heading for Singapore for "The Confrontation"? Maybe I'm wrong, but I seem to recall reading somewhere how they were hastily camouflaged at Ohakea before departure (which would have been in 1962)? I know there were several aircraft (and even Squadron) change overs during the confrontation years, so by 1964 I would have thought they would have all been camouflaged. Canberra's were well before my time (I wasn't even born in 1964!) so perhaps someone else on the forum who was around Ohakea or even served in Singapore can elaborate on the colour schemes at the time.

Out of interest does your contact have any photos of 75 Sqn's A-4's refuelling at Kwajalein on their way to/from Hawaii for RIMPAC 78?

[phil82]

That early route may well have been for the Hastings, but not for the Hercules I went up to join 14 sqn on! We went Whenuapai, Perth, Darwin, Singapore. The flight Darwin-Singapore was the usual 10 hours or so because we had to fly all the way around Indonesian air space. On return to NZ, the 'war' was officially over, and the flight Singapore -Darwin was a mere four hours! Those Canberras are shown in the paint initially carried, but all were returned to NZ on rotation to be painted in the camouflage scheme, which suited them much better I thought.

14 weren't the only Canberras at Tengah; across the pan was 45 Sqn RAF with the B6, and 39 Sqn RAF had the PR9, [which took photos of Indonesia every morning], you could just about see Indonesia from Singapore! There were also two squadrons of Javelins, and one of Hunters. One of the Javelins shot down an Indonesian C130 after it had dropped troops in Borneo, although that was kept pretty quiet at the time.

We actually arrived at RAF Changi, and not Tengah, although when the squadron was withdrawn in late 1966 the Hercs came into Tengah. My arrival at Changi was notable from the point of view that the Sqn Landrover that collected me had the Squadron payroll in the back, and I was given a Sten gun and told I was the security for the ride to Tengah! Casual but effective!

[phil82]

Don, 14 Canberras used to do detachments to Singapore, called Vanguards, but they were based at Tengah from 1964 I think, and were originally in that silver paint. Rumour had it that they were eventually returned on rotation to NZ to be camouflaged at the behest of the RAF, which didn't want non-camouflaged aircarft in theatre. Certainly by late 1965 they were all camouflaged, and a lovely job it was by the guys at Ohakea. The Canberrra T-birds were never camouflaged bu the way.

[chrisnpl]

Oops, yes it was NZ5801 (Hastings).
No other photographs - John left Kwajalein in late 1964 after his contract was complete, and returned to the United States via Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand.
He left New Zealand from Whenuapai - and took the photos of the Britannia there on December 18th, departing on Canadian Pacific to Nadi and from there on a Qantas 707 to the USA.