RNZAF's First Exchange Pilot to USAF (*and other Exchanges)

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone know if S/Ldr Richard Francis Lawry is still around?

This photo is from the Air Force Museum of New Zealand collection:
PR1043-73
   
Squadron Leader RF Lawry, on exchange to the United States Navy, sitting in the cockpit of an A7E Corsair 2, after making a deck landing on the USS Lexington.

[davidd]

That photograph tends to make the A-7 look like a huge monster of an aircraft, just slightly smaller than B-52!! Actually A-7s were VERY chunky aircraft, a lot chubbier than the F8U (later plain F-8) Cutlass.

[Dave Homewood]

Another interesting exchange posting - I assume it was an exchange - is this one where he did not even need to move away from New Zealand. There is a photo of S/L Don McAllister in the Press dated 1st of March 1974, and it has this caption:

"Squadron Leader D. G. McAllister, of Mosgiel, who will assume command of the Central Flying School at the R.N.Z.A.F. base at Wigram later this month. For the last two years he has been the commanding officer of the Singapore-based No. 41 Squadron. He joined the Air Force in 1958. For a brief spell he was a flying instructor at Wigram and in the summer of 1962 served with the United States Navy’s VXE6 Squadron flying Hercules between Christchurch and the Antarctic."

[Dave Homewood]

I wonder if he was New Zealand's first C-130 pilot?

[Dave Homewood]

And by chance, some more interesting ones from The Press, 8 April 1974:

Overseas postings

Three Royal New Zealand Air Force officers left New Zealand late last month on two-year exchange postings with overseas armed forces.

Squadron Leader C. W. Adamson of Fairlie, South Canterbury will fly Hercules transport aircraft with the United States Air Force; Flight Lieutenant G. J. W. Goldsmith, of Wanganui, will fly Corsair fighter-bombers with the United States Air Force; and Flight Lieutenant R. V. Skillern, of Auckland, will serve in a ground appointment with the Royal Air Force in Britain.

Three officers of similar rank and experience, two (from the United States Air Force and one from the Royal Air Force, will serve with the R.N.Z.A.F. for about two years.

[Dave Homewood]

Was that AVM Carey Adamson?

[Dave Homewood]

Frank Sharp's exchange with the RAF:

N.Z. pilot may fly latest jet

A pilot instructor at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Wigram is likely to be flying in the Royal Air Force’s new jet trainer, the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, early next year. He is Flight Lieutenant F. Sharp, of Gisborne, a member of the Pilot Training Squadron, who will leave New Zealand on January 15 for an exchange appointment on instructional duties with the Royal Air Force. Flight Lieutenant Sharp will serve at the R.A.F. Station Valley, Wales.

He has been a reasonably familiar face to the New Zealand public having been featured in a large amount of recruiting and publicity material for the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flight Lieutenant Sharp began training in January, 1967, under the R.N.Z.A.F.’s university cadet programme which he completed in 1969 when he gained his bachelor of science at the University of Canterbury.

Before coming to Wigram he flew Skyhawks with the Strike Wing at Ohakea.

PRESS, 23 DECEMBER 1976

[Dave Homewood]

A whole crew exchange with this one, from The Press, 5th of December 1978:

N.Z. helicopter crew with U.S. squadron

PA Wellington

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopter crew from No. 3 squadron is in the Antarctic flying with a United States Navy helicopter squadron. Flight Lieutenant G. C. Alexander, of Petone, Flying Officer D. M. Laird, of Blenhelm, and Sergeant A. M. Farrell, of Hamilton, joined the Naval Air Development Squadron VX-6 on exchange earlier this month, according to an R.N.Z.A.F. statement. A crew from VX-6 is flying with No. 3 squadron.

The New Zealand crew will return to New Zealand on December 12 after spending four weeks in the Antarctic. The Naval Air Development Squadron is based at McMurdo Station and flies twin-engined Iroquois helicopters in support of the United States and New Zealand Antarctic research programmes, flying scientific teams and equipment to remote areas of the continent. A second R.N.Z.A.F. helicopter crew will be attached to VX-6 in January.

[Dave Homewood]

An article from The Press dated 30 May 1979 on Jim Barclay's exchange:

Pilot swap with U.S.

A former Royal New Zealand Air Force Skyhawk pilot will fly F4 Phantom aircraft with the United States Air Force for the next two years. Squadron Leader J. S. Barclay, of Whangarei, is only the second R.N.Z.A.F. exchange pilot to fly these aircraft for the United States Air Force.

Squadron Leader Barclay left New Zealand recently, for Florida, where he will serve at the Homestead Air Base. A U.S.A.F. exchange officer will serve with No. 75 Squadron at Ohakea, flying Skyhawks.

[Dave Homewood]

Air Force pilots on Ice exchange

PA Wellington
Four Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopter pilots and two crewmen have been selected to fly with the United States Navy’s Antarctic Development Squadron in an exchange programme.

Earlier this month two R.N.Z.A.F. pilots. Flight Lieutenant I. O. McLeod, of Titirangi, and Flight Lieutenant D. J. Watson, of Oamaru, and a helicopter crewman, Sergeant E. K. J. Shangs. of Massey, began four weeks exchange duty with the United States Navy squadron at McMurdo Sound.

They will be replaced early next month by Flight Lieutenant J. Cole, a Royal Australian Air Force pilot serving on exchange with the R.N.Z.A.F.; Flight Lieutenant A. W. Lloyd, of Epsom; and another helicopter crewman, Sergeant C. P. Barnett, of Massey.

Squadron VXE-6 flies twin-engined versions of the Iroquois from McMurdo Station in support of the United States and New Zealand Antarctic research programmes, flying scientific teams, and equipment to remote areas of the continent. United States pilots and crewmen of Squadron VXE-6 will join the R.N.Z.A.F.’s No. 3 Squadron at Hobsonville early in January.

PRESS, 29 NOVEMBER 1979

[Dave Homewood]

Pilots at Antarctic

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 15.

Two Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter pilots are spending two months this summer in the Antarctic flying on helicopter operations with the United States Antarctic naval support force.

Flight Lieutenant V. S. Paul, of Palmerston North, and Flying Officer K. Jolly, of Timaru, left for the Antarctic this month and will return to New Zealand next February.

They are the first R.N.Z.A.F. pilots to fly helicopters in the Antarctic and will serve with the Naval Air Development Squadron VXE 6 equipped with the twin-engined version of the R.N.Z.A.F. Iroquois helicopter.

PRESS, 16 DECEMBER 1972

Note: That last paragraph is incorrect because Peter Tremayne was attached to VX-6 in 1960 to fly the DHC Otter, and he ended up learning to fly their helicopters too. He is likely the first ever RNZAF pilot to fly a helicopter.

[Dave Homewood]

I am guessing this was an exchange posting to the Royal Singapore Air Force for Don Smith?

Personal items

Squadron Leader D. R. Smith, the leader of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvard aerobatic team at Wigram for the past two years, has been posted to Singapore to command “Falcon” squadron of the Singapore Air Defence Command. He was appointed commanding officer of the Central Flying School in 1971.

PRESS, 22 AUGUST 1973

[Dave Homewood]

It seems AVM John Hamilton did an exchange to fly Iroquois with the RAAF from 1979 to 81. See here

And F/Lt Michael Holding was on an exchange with the RAAF also flying Iroquois when he had a crash in 1981. See here

EDIT: His name was F/Lt Michael Holden in this article

[Dave Homewood]

I had not realised the RNZAF did exchanges with the Malaysian Air Force, bit it makes sense.

MALAYSIAN AWARD

N.Z. Air Force Officer

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 11.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force officer has won a Malaysian award, the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) said today. Mr Eyre said it was an unusual award for a New Zealander.

The Malaysian Ahli Mangku Negara has been granted to Squadron Leader M. W. Hodge, of Rotorua, in recognition of his services to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. As a flight lieutenant, he served for two years on exchange with the Malaysian Air Force. The award was granted by the Malaysian Government.

PRESS, 12 OCTOBER 1965

[Antonio]

Impressive award

[Dave Homewood]

Gosh yes, it sure is.

[Dave Homewood]

From The Press, 5th of December 1978.

N.Z. helicopter crew with U.S. squadron

PA Wellington

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopter crew from No. 3 squadron is in the Antarctic flying with a United States Navy helicopter squadron.

Flight Lieutenant G. C. Alexander, of Petone, Flying Officer D. M. Laird, of Blenheim, and Sergeant A. M. Farrell, of Hamilton, joined the Naval Air Development Squadron VX-6 on exchange earlier this month, according: to an R.N.Z.A.F. statement.

A crew from VX-6 is flying with No. 3 squadron.

The New Zealand crew will return to New Zealand on December 12 after spending four weeks in the Antarctic.

The Naval Air Development Squadron is based at McMurdo Station and flies twin-engined Iroquois helicopters in support of the United States and New Zealand Antarctic research programmes, flying scientific teams and equipment to remote areas of the continent.

A second R.N.Z.A.F. helicopter crew will be attached to VX-6 in January.

[Dave Homewood]

Harold "Mo" Moss's exchange from the Press, 30 April 1956:

AIR FORCE POST IN GERMANY

R.N.Z.A.F. OFFICER ON EXCHANGE

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLIGTON. April 29.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force officer will join a Royal Air Force ground attack squadron of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany on an exchange basis, the Air Department announced at Wellington. The officer is Flight Lieutenant H. G Moss, of Auckland, an experienced fighter pilot. He will be exchanged with an R.A.F. squadron leader for about two years.

While with the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany, Flight Lieutenant Moss will gain experience in fighter ground attack work so that when he returns to New Zealand he will be able to take up an executive post in the R.N.Z.A.F.’s fighter wing.

It is R.N.Z.A.F. policy to exchange its officers with R.A.F. officers so they can gain experience in training with the R.A.F.

Flight Lieutenant Moss is a permanent commissioned officer, and till recently was a member of the directing staff at the Officers’ School at Whenuapai. Mrs Moss and their two children will also travel to Germany.

[errolmartyn]

Feb 24, 2024 23:44:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Harold "Mo" Moss's exchange from the Press, 30 April 1956:

AIR FORCE POST IN GERMANY

R.N.Z.A.F. OFFICER ON EXCHANGE

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLIGTON. April 29.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force officer will join a Royal Air Force ground attack squadron of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany on an exchange basis, the Air Department announced at Wellington. The officer is Flight Lieutenant H. G Moss, of Auckland, an experienced fighter pilot. He will be exchanged with an R.A.F. squadron leader for about two years.

While with the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany, Flight Lieutenant Moss will gain experience in fighter ground attack work so that when he returns to New Zealand he will be able to take up an executive post in the R.N.Z.A.F.’s fighter wing.

It is R.N.Z.A.F. policy to exchange its officers with R.A.F. officers so they can gain experience in training with the R.A.F.

Flight Lieutenant Moss is a permanent commissioned officer, and till recently was a member of the directing staff at the Officers’ School at Whenuapai. Mrs Moss and their two children will also travel to Germany.

Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds – Honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923 – 1999:

MOSS, Air Commodore Harold Gordon, CBE, AFC.
NZC437321, NZ48309 & Q72349; Born Hamilton, 1 Dec 1924; RNZAF 14 May 1943 to 8 Dec 1945 & 24 Jun 1948 to 1 Dec 1979; Pilot.
Hon Aide-de-Camp to HE the Governor-General, Nov 1965 to Nov 1966.
Citation Air Force Cross (QB1962): Not available, awarded by the RAF - “For leadership as Commanding Officer No 75 Sqn RNZAF (Canberra), at RAF Station Tengah, Singapore 1960-1962.”
Citation Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (QB1977): Air Commodore Moss joined the RNZAF in 1943. His experience has covered a diverse range of Service activities principally in the areas of operational flying, flying training and the command of major units. In 1971 he was promoted to his present rank and took command of the RNZAF Operations Group. In this post, which is the senior operational command appointment in the RNZAF, Air Cdre Moss bore the major responsibility for the control and co-ordination of the operational effectiveness of the RNZAF. He directed numerous search and rescue missions, mounted disaster relief flights at home and overseas and yet ensured the continuation of a complex and extensive training programme that enabled his units to react with customary speed and impact. In 1974 Air Cdre Moss was appointed the Deputy Chief of Air Staff. It was in this position that he was able to exert considerable influence on the development and improvement of operational and training capabilities throughout the RNZAF. He assumed his present post as Head of the New Zealand Defence Liaison Staff, Canberra in 1976. Air Cdre Moss’s career is studded with achievements of significant benefit to the RNZAF and its personnel.
Member of the first 41 Sqn Dakota flight to be based at Singapore, 1949. CO 14 Sqn RNZAF (Canberra) Jan 1959-Jan 1961. CO 75 Sqn RNZAF (Canberra) Jan 1961-Apr 1962.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

I have just been having a conversation with Chris Newey, and a result of it is we have discovered the first members of the RNZAF to be sent away on Exchange Postings. There were S/L Maurice "Buck" Buckley and F/O Duffey.

Buckley left New Zealand on Friday 18th of June 1937 to head to the UK. I assume Duffey travelled with him.

This article was published in the Manawatu Standard on the 17th of July 1937:

R.A.F. OFFICERS

EXCHANGE WITH DOMINION.

TWO ARRIVALS FROM ENGLAND.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 16.

The first, officers to come to the Dominion under arrangements made by the Government for the exchange of Royal New Zealand Air Force officers with Royal Air Force officers, arrived from England by the Arawa. They are Flight-Lieutenant W. M. Grundy, who is a specialist signals officer, and Flight-Lieutenant L. Crocker, a specialist engineer. Both will be attached to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for a term of two years.

The New Zealand officers sent to England under the agreement between the two Governments were Squadron-Leader Buckley, officer commanding the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Hobsonville, and Flying-Officer Duffey, who was stationed at Wigram Aerodrome. In order to overcome the difficulty of providing the necessary specialist officers the Royal Air Force agreed to send in exchange a specialist engineer and a specialist signals officer.

Flight-Lieutenant Grundy, who joined the Royal Air Force in 1926, has served with fighter squadrons since then, and was attached to the fleet air arm for three years. Recently he has been serving with one of the squadrons concerned with the defence of London.

Flight-Lieutenant Crocker, who has been in the Royal Air Force since 1927, has served in flying-boat squadrons, and was once stationed at Singapore. He was one of the crew of the Supermarine Southampton flying-boat that made a flight from Singapore to Sydney some time ago.

The two officers were met on arrival by Squadron-Leader Nevill, Air Staff and Intelligence Officer at air headquarters, Wellington. and Flight-Lieutenant Lester, officer commanding the Hobsonville Air Base. They will spend a few days at Hobsonville and will then proceed to Wellington, where they will probably be attached to the air headquarters staff.