No. 1 Squadron Disbandment

[Dave Homewood]

When No. 1 Squadron RNZAF disbanded at Whenuapai, its Andovers moved onto the strength of No. 42 Squadron that had been at Ohakea. But No. 42 Squadron then moved up to Whenuapai.

Did the doubling of number of aircraft on 42 mean that most of the personnel of No. 1 Squadron basically stayed where they were and they got absorbed into 42 Sqn, doubling that squadron's strength?

[tbf2504]

Dave, the answers will be in the RNZAF Admin Order which covered the disbandment and shift of 42 Squadron. I would suspect that there was no need to transfer all of the maintenance support from Ohakea,
but it would be interesting to see what the aircrew establishment changes were, noting a mixture of loadmasters and stewardesses now required by the squadron in its VIP/Transport roles
now

[davidd]

From RNZAF Administrative Orders, dated 8/7/79. Re-allocation of Andover Training Tasks. (SPECIAL NOTE: Extracts only!)

Following the Cabinet decision to reallocate full responsibility for all VIP flying to the RNZAF, a review was carried out of the roles and tasks of No. 42 Squadron. As a result if this review, CDS and CAS have approved the transfer of the Andover conversion training task from No. 42 Squadron to No. 1 Squadron w.e.f. August 1979. CO, RNZAF Base, Auckland, is to ensure that Andover conversion training can commence at No. 1 Squadron from August 1979 (etc, etc). It was also noted that no change in total flying hour allocations to Nos. 1 and 42 Squadrons had been authorised. (Reference Administrative Order No. 18/1979, cancelled by Admin Order No. 17/1983.)


RNZAF Admin Order No. 19/1984, dated 11/10/84. Relocation of No. 42 Squadron, RNZAF, to RNZAF Base Auckland, w.e.f. 10/12/84.

RNZAF Admin Order No. 19/1984, dated 12/10/84. De-activation of No. 1 Squadron, RNZAF (at Base Auckland), to be formally de-activated w.e.f. 7/12/84.

Also No. 42 Squadron's Golden Eagles to be retained in a separate Cessna Flight, to be formed at Base Woodbourne w.e.f. 3/12/84.

No. 42 Squadron to retain its four Andovers (NZ7622, 25, 27, 28) currently allocated. Additional Andover aircraft may be allocated to No. 42 Squadron once a study of tasking requirements has been completed.

RNZAF Admin Order No. 20/1984 dated 12/10/84. Formation of No. 2 Squadron, to be formed at RNZAF Base Ohakea w.e.f. 11/12/84, etc.



Board members may be aware of this rather momentous period in RNZAF history, when for the first time since WW2 it was increased in front-line strength to three regular strike squadrons which came under Strike Wing Headquarters at Ohakea. Of course between about 1948 and 1957 the RNZAF fielded two regular and four Territorial day fighter/ground attack squadrons, but the Territorials were, in reality, only about a quarter the strength of individual regular squadrons, and their equipment was totally obsolete, with about half pilot strength and quarter the number of aircraft operated by the regular squadrons. In fact they only flew with "full strength" at their annual camps at Ohakea during the summer holiday period, and their flying hours per year were way below the regulars. They also never had full Territorial groundstaffs, and had to call on the regulars to help maintain the aircraft for the annual camps and even routine weekend flying.

The purchase of the second-hand RAN Skyhawks in 1984 brought about this sudden reorganization of squadrons and bases to enable the third strike squadron to be accommodated, and extraordinary arrangements (at least in the eyes of the RNZAF) had to be taken to fit in the newcomers. Later, of course, the pressure came off when 2 squadron (or was this a detachment only?) was moved to RAN Base Nowra, Australia, in 1991.

[Dave Homewood]

Ah right, I had not considered that the addition of a second Skyhawk squadron at Ohakea necessitated No. 42 Squadron's move north. That makes sense.

But that only talks about aeroplanes. My question was about the people of No. 1 Squadron, did they all merge into No. 42 Squadron? I thought there may be people here who were on one or other of the squadrons at the time who might recall.

[tbf2504]

The personnel details would have been incorporated in the above Admin Order 19/1984 for both squadrons. There is a specific section in these Admin Orders that covers personnel and any establishment changes.
The air force museum will have copies of them

[davidd]

1984 is nearly 40 years ago now, so I hope that tbf2504 is right, and that these administrative orders also include changes in personnel establishments. There are copies of these Orders at Wigram, so I may be able to get a chance to have a look in the next week or so. However don't expect any names from this source, as Admin. Orders are not intended to name anybody, more likely to be found in unit histories if you are lucky. I think the RNZAF still maintains PON's (Personnel Occurrence Notices, previously known as Personnel Occurrence reports) which is (or was) the normal method of recording postings (in and out) and other useful details centred on units and formations.