WONZ 232 - Gulf War 30th - W/C Bob Henderson

[Dave Homewood]

In this episode I talk with former RNZAF Wing Commander Bob Henderson, who was the Commanding Officer of No. 40 Squadron RNZAF from 1989-1993.

Bob discusses his Royal New Zealand Air Force career, flying the Douglas C-47 Dakotas, Fokker F-27 Friendships, and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, etc. But a fair amount of the interview focuses on his experiences as the mission commander for New Zealand’s transport commitment to Operation Desert Storm. Under Operation Frescoe, two of No. 40 Squadron’s Herk’s were working alongside five RAF C-130’s, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bob headed up one of the crews that flew the two RNZAF Hercules into the war zone on a daily basis through Operation Desert Storm. A fascinating and largely untold story of New Zealand’s experience in the First Gulf War.

Bob also discusses his subsequent aviation career with Air New Zealand, and in world gliding circles.

A note: Just confirming some dates that were questioned in the interview – the ground war finished on the 28th of February 1991 and Bob’s crew arrived back at RNZAF Base Whenuapai on the 12th of April 1991.

This episode is available both as an audio podcast and as a YouTube video.

cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2021/01/wonz-232-gulf-war-30th-w-c-bob-henderson/


Above: Bob and his crew at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Storm. No. 40 Squadron RNZAF Lockheed Hercules NZ7003 is behind them. L-R: Back; Flight Sergeant Bruce Melvin (Flight Engineer), Sergeant John Buchler (Air Loadmaster), Wing Commander Bob Henderson (Detachment Commander and aircraft captain). Front; Flying Officer Kevin McEvoy (Navigator), Sgt Ty Cochran (Air Loadmaster), and Flying Officer Mike Morgan (Co-Pilot).

[Dave Homewood]

Some photos from the Air Force Museum of New Zealand's FotoWeb page:


Operation Frescoe, Gulf War 1. Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Sir JA Mace speaking with No. 40 Squadron Hercules air crew. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Squadron Leader Vernon Clark, 2nd from right. LINK


Operation Frescoe, Gulf War 1. Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Sir JA Mace speaking with No. 40 Squadron pilot, Squadron Leader Vernon Clark. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Frescoe, Gulf War 1. Personnel refueling a No. 40 Squadron Hercules. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Frescoe, Gulf War 1. Corporal Tony Gibbs refueling No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Frescoe, Gulf War 1. Sergeant Phil Lane, wearing a gas mask and carrying a Steyer rifle, on security duty on the tarmac in front of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK

[Dave Homewood]

The Air Force Museum must have one of those captions wrong, naming two different pilots as S/Ldr Vernon Clark.

[30sqnatc]

Very interesting show. Thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

My pleasure, Paul.

[Dave Homewood]

I have received some great feedback from this already and hopefully this is leading into some other things for future shows.

[planewriting]

Jan 18, 2021 9:25:24 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I have received some great feedback from this already and hopefully this is leading into some other things for future shows.

I sent it to a gliding friend. I knew both had been in the RNZAF and were keen glider pilots but didn't know they had been in the same class at school, ATC and did their first flight in the same glider. 

[skyhawkdon]

Brilliant!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Peter and Don.

[Dave Homewood]

More RNZAF Gulf War photos have been added today to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand FotoWeb page. Here are some of them:


Operation Fresco. Corporal John Felton acts as patient on a stretcher in a No. 40 Squadron Hercules fitted out for aeromedical evacuation, with Squadron Leader Pauline Gwyther (No. 4626 Aeromedical Squadron, RAF) and Air Loadmaster Gary Porteous. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Fresco. Corporal John Felton acts as patient on a stretcher in a No. 40 Squadron Hercules fitted out for aeromedical evacuation, with Flight Sergeant Stephen Skudder (left) and Air Loadmaster Gary Porteous (middle). Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Fresco. No. 40 Squadron Navigator, Squadron Leader David Forbes-Dawson, with the New Zealand flag on top of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In the background are US Army Grumman Mohawk aircraft. LINK


Operation Fresco. No. 40 Squadron Navigator, Squadron Leader David Forbes-Dawson, at his position in the cockpit of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules in flight. LINK


Operation Fresco. No. 40 Squadron pilot, Flight Lieutenant Dave Wake, at the controls in the cockpit of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules in flight. LINK


Operation Fresco. No. 40 Squadron second-pilot, Flying Officer Paul Tighe-Umbers, at the controls of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules in flight. LINK

[Dave Homewood]

And more:


Operation Fresco. No. 40 Squadron Flight Engineer, Flight Sergeant Daryl McGifford, in the cockpit of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules in flight. LINK


Operation Fresco. No. 75 Squadron mascot, Henry Fanshaw and Krazy Kiwi, sitting in the Flight Engineer's seat in the cockpit of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules. LINK


Operation Fresco. No. 75 Squadron mascot, Henry Fanshaw, with the New Zealand flag on top of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.In the background are US Army Grumman Mohawk aircraft. LINK


Operation Fresco. Saudi (?) soldiers wearing gas masks at a guard post during a Scud missile alert at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Fresco. Corporal Karl Szalardi working on a No. 40 Squadron Hercules. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Fresco. Corporal John Gibson installing a radar antenna in a No. 40 Squadron Hercules at King Khakid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK


Operation Fresco. TVNZ reporter Ewart Barnsley presenting VHS tapes to Wing Commander Bob Henderson (centre) and Squadron Leader Davis Forbes-Dawson (left) inside a No. 40 Squadron Hercules at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. LINK

There are loads more on the site too.

[ZacYates]

I'm only halfway through the episode but I am thoroughly enjoying it. I'll be honest and admit (like Kiwi civilians of the era, apparently) when I learned our Hercs had been to the Gulf I figured it must have been for all the mundane stuff the Yanks and Brits were too busy to do - the actual story is so, so much more interesting. Thank you Bob for sharing, and thank you Dave for recording it.

Jan 19, 2021 14:54:05 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Operation Fresco. No. 75 Squadron mascot, Henry Fanshaw, with the New Zealand flag on top of a No. 40 Squadron Hercules. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.In the background are US Army Grumman Mohawk aircraft. LINK

Until the podcast I didn't realise Henry was deployed. What a great photo!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Zac. Yes it is a fascinating and almost unknown topic. And what was known has been forgotten by most. Do it is great to highlight the RNZAF's awesome contribution by bringing it back to the public consciousness through Bob's interview.

It's really generating some interest and I am now fired up to record more Gulf War stories if I can.

[30sqnatc]

i sat and listened right through. A great interview.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul.

[tbf2504]

Zac as you say most kiwis were unaware or not interested in the NZ contribution to the first Gulf War. Perhaps even more recognised is the deployment of two Andovers to Iran in 1989. This has rarely been
covered in historical records

[Dave Homewood]

I have been thinking exactly the same thing about the Andover guys who were based in Tehran, pretty much up till the Gulf War from what I recall. I need to track some of them down and record their stories too.