100th Anniversary of the Air Force in New Zealand

[Dave Homewood]

Next year in 2023 will see the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of the Air Force in New Zealand.

On the 14th of June 1923, the New Zealand Gazette records the formation of the New Zealand Air Force, which was a Territorial unit. 


Above from Gazette No. 53, dated 21st of June 1923.

Later on the 6th of September 1923 that initial proclamation was cancelled and re-gazetted with the addition of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force also to be established. This as you will see was back dated to the original date.


Above from Gazette No. 67, dated 6 September 1923

So 2023 is the year that our Air Force turns 100, even if it was not independent from the Army till 1st of April 1937.

I wonder if there will be any special events to mark the centenary, whether standalone like maybe an air event at Whenuapai and/or Ohakea, or big emphasis on the centenary at airshows like Wings Over Wairarapa and Classic Fighters. 

[tbf2504]

Can't see the current air force having that much imagination in the current covid environment.

[ZacYates]

I'd be surprised if it was even mentioned in commentary - 1937 seems to always be touted as THE anniversary date.

[nuuumannn]

Wasn't the NZPAF still under control of the army, but the RNZAF in 1937 an independent branch of the services? Makes sense for the RNZAF to commemorate 1937 as "Year One". Still, we might see something of interest from the air force next year, maybe with the army's help - perhaps they'll push a LAV out the back of a C-130...

[Dave Homewood]

I see no reason to not consider 1923 as the beginning of our Air Force proper. It was exactly that. It had permanent Air Force staff and it had its own stations and aircraft.

Sure, the date that the RNZAF became a separate service on its own is important and it rightly gets celebrated of course. There was planned to be a big celebration at Wanaka this year marking the 85th Anniversary but now that is canned.

However I want to point our that the RNZAF did mark the 50th Anniversary of the Air Force forming in 1973 with a big airshow at Wigram. Why not do the same for the 100th? If it was the theme of Wings Over Wairarapa we could have aeroplanes from right back at the beginning with the Avro 504K and Bristol Fighter, through to the modern era, with not too much hassle.

[Dave Homewood]

Hmm now that I look at my Airshow Archive database I do not see that 1973 airshow listed, which leads me to wonder if I dreamed it? I am sure I read about that happening. I know they did a 50th Anniversary of the Tasman crossing, and I think also one to mark 50 years of Wigram Aerodrome? Hmmm.

[tbf2504]

Dave, from my slides index:
16 June 1973 when I was at Wigram on my STC OPR course airshow with checkers, Dakota paradrop, strikemaster formation, P3 low pass, and on 15 June NZ1050 was mounted on the pole at the gate.
So indeed there was an airshow!

[30sqnatc]

I'm being pedantic but there is some rewriting of history occurring in this thread. The Air Force was not formed under control of the Army nor could it be accused of not being independent from the Army in 1935 or even 1937 as 'The Army' did not exist at the time. It was formed as part of the New Zealand Defence Forces which consisted of the Permanent Staff, the Permanent Force and the Territorial Force (for domestic employment only).

'The Army' did not gain that title until after WW2.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul H, that is great to know I did not imagine it. Any chance of seeing the photos please?

Paul N, well as the Air Force is still part of the New Zealand Defence Force then I guess that makes it 100 years old next year.

I have to admit I was unaware that the Army did not got the name Army till after WWII. I guess that makes the RNZAF the senior service then, and not the Army.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks to Peter Layne who sent these scans through from the AHSNZ Journals dated July and September 1973 AHSNZ journals. He says, "Scans 4 & 5 came from contributions by Dave Bates and I assume the first three are from Derek Woodhall."

[baz62]

Yes rember going to this show, my first airshow and the first time being on any RNZAF Base.

[30sqnatc]

Feb 4, 2022 16:09:15 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Paul N, well as the Air Force is still part of the New Zealand Defence Force then I guess that makes it 100 years old next year.

I have to admit I was unaware that the Army did not got the name Army till after WWII. I guess that makes the RNZAF the senior service then, and not the Army.

Now calm down. The Navy is the senior New Zealand service. Both the Navy (even thought the were actually still part of the Royal Navy up until 1941) and the Army have claimed their historic links right back to the earliest NZ milita days. There are several current Army units that have unbroken links right back even having 'New Zealand' as one of their approved battle honors. So predating the RNZAF by more than a few years

[nuuumannn]

Feb 4, 2022 15:43:40 GMT 12 30sqnatc said:

I'm being pedantic but there is some rewriting of history occurring in this thread. The Air Force was not formed under control of the Army nor could it be accused of not being independent from the Army in 1935 or even 1937 as 'The Army' did not exist at the time. It was formed as part of the New Zealand Defence Forces which consisted of the Permanent Staff, the Permanent Force and the Territorial Force (for domestic employment only).

'The Army' did not gain that title until after WW2.

I don't think anyone is rewriting anything. I asked a question as to whether the NZPAF was under army control, NOT that it definitely was, and again asking that in 1937 the RNZAF became a separate branch. I too was not aware that the army was known as anything but the army before WW2, so again, I'm asking, what was the difference between the NZPAF and the RNZAF and what did the different dates define if the NZPAF in 1923 was indeed an independent air force?

[Dave Homewood]

"what was the difference between the NZPAF and the RNZAF"

The King gave permission to add the word Royal to the title in 1934 and so the NZPAF was renamed the RNZAF. But they already had Air Force ranks, uniforms, traditions, etc. In 1937 when it became a separate service I think it was merely an accounting matter, so the Air Force did not have to beg the Army's accounting system for money. It was made separate because of the Cochrane Report which resulted in a massive expansion of the RNZAF, and getting that past the Army's bean counters might have been too difficult when the Army itself was struggling to find enough staff.

(I use the word Army for all intents and purposes here).

[Mustang51]

So 14 June 1923 it is then.......

[Dave Homewood]

NZ Warbirds normally have their Warbirds On Parade Open Day in June. Could be perfect if the weather plays ball, which it often doesn't that time of year.

The problem with June is it's the first month of winter and is often wet. And September is the first month of spring and is usually very windy.

My pick would be for the RNZAF to ramp up their presence at both Wings Over Wairarapa and Classic Fighters in 2023, and aim to also be at Ardmore for Warbirds On Parade in force. Cover all the bases.

[Dave Homewood]

I have just added the 1973 50th airshow to the New Zealand Airshow Archive and would like to fill in pilot and crew names and serials where missing. See the third entry under 1973, here:

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_History_1970s.html#73

[tbf2504]

Dave,
in addition to the email just sent, the following are the lists for all Harvards that I snapped.
NZ1061, NZ1085 (Checkers), NZ1075, NZ1083, NZ1078, NZ1079 (Checkers 5), NZ1085 (Checkers 3), NZ1087 (Checkers 2), NZ1092,NZ1096,NZ1098,NZ1091,NZ1065 (Checkers possibly B.J. Mitchell),
Devons, NZ1802 VIP visiting, NZ1806,NZ1821

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul.

[Damon]

All the Harvard's and one Devon still survive flying today from Paul's above list.Quite something.