RNZAF Vampire Pilots

[Dave Homewood]

I am assisting Jim Barclay to try to compile a complete list of names of the pilots with flew de Havilland Vampires in the RNZAF. A big task.

One thing, apparently fifty Territorial Air Force pilots from all four P-51D squadrons converted to the Vampire at a Territorial camp between February and March 1954. Does anyone happen to have a list of the TAF pilots who attended that camp and did the conversion course, please?

Also, the old The Press newspapers usually reported on the graduation of flying training courses at Wigram, when they'd received their wings after training on the Harvard. But in the 1950s to 1972, did all new trainees go on to do a training phase on the Vampire (like the Wings Courses later with the Strikemaster and the Macchi), or did only those pilots selected as strike pilots do the Vampire course?

Thanks.

[tbf2504]

Don't forget to include the first batch of Iroquois bound pilots who were given Vampire training prior to being posted to 3 Squadron for conversion onto the Iroquois

[davidd]

Dave, no, in the 1950s, only pilots "streamed" for Vampires went to Vampires, all the "Wings" training was on purely training aircraft (Tigers till 1955, Harvards, and Oxfords as required, latter for ME training only, till 1952 only). Devons were later for multi-engine training on post-graduate courses at Ohakea (with 42 Squadron), from about 1955/56 I think. Putative Vampire pilots would not have required "multi" training. Later they had a JCU (Jet Conversion Unit) which operated for a relatively short while in early 1960s, I think it "filled a gap" in the training pattern for a short while, about the same time that they awaiting the opportunity to train Canberra pilots (multi-engine). The first Vampire pilots (apart from the CO and flight commanders) were trained on 14 Squadron in 1951/52 - this was before we received any of the dual Vampires. I think the TAF pilots were trained on Vampires at Ohakea in 1955, not 1954. Most of the Vampire conversions were carried out on FOCU at Ohakea until it was disbanded (in about 1958?) I really need to study my chronology to brush up on this period - there was always A LOT going on in the 1950s!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks David.

Sept 20, 2022 13:41:11 GMT 12 davidd said:

I think the TAF pilots were trained on Vampires at Ohakea in 1955, not 1954.

From The Press, 22 March 1954

TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

USE IN TIME OF WAR

PILOTS COULD BE READY IN THREE MONTHS

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 20.

Pilots of New Zealand’s four Territorial Air Force fighter squadrons could be ready for operations within three months of the outbreak of war, said Wing Commander D. F, St George, D.F.C., Officer Commanding the Fighter Wing, Ohakea.

He was asked to rate the efficiency of pilots of No. 2 (Wellington) and No. 4 (Otago) Squadrons, T.A.F., at present holding their annual training camp at Ohakea, and No. 1 (Auckland) and No. 3 (Canterbury) Squadrons, which completed their annual training camps a fortnight ago.

The four squadrons would become two squadrons in the event of war, and the aim would be to have those two squadrons operational within three months. Six weeks of concentrated flying and tactical training would be necessary, and six weeks would probably be allowed for transportation and acclimatisation.

“For the limited time that these officers can spend in training, their standard is high,” said Wing Commander St. George.

The four squadrons are at present equipped with Mustangs, but over the last four weeks each of the 50 pilots attending the annual camps has had one familiarisation flight of about 45 minutes in a dual-control Vampire jet fighter.

It is hoped to re-equip the territorial squadrons with Vampires, and as Whenuapai and Ohakea are the only R.N.Z.A.F. stations suitable for jet aircraft, it seems likely that the Auckland and Wellington squadrons will be re-equipped first.

Teams of four pilots from each of No. 2 and No. 4 squadrons competed yesterday for the Kingsford Smith trophy, at present held by the Wellington squadron.

Each pilot did one sortie on four weapons exercises—rocket firing against ground targets, bombing, air-to-air (firing live ammunition at towed drogues), and air-to-ground (firing live cannon ammunition against a 10ft wide white square).

The Auckland and Canterbury squadrons did their shooting for the trophy a fortnight ago.

Targets will have to be checked, percentages worked out, and the result may not be known for some days.

So, whilst not yet full conversion training they had some preliminary flying training in the jets.

[tbf2504]

From "SEEK AND DESTROY" page 52
"As consolation for the loss of the Mustangs, during the 1956 camp selected pilots would be given up to eight hours' dual flying time in Vampires, staring in April and May 1956.
" The unit history records that on 1 May 1956 a few pilots were nearing their first solo flights on a Vampire during the course at Ohakea, and on 3 May that four pilots had flown solo.
"Of the ten pilots who took the course, seven soloed.
"On 5 May 1957 .... to attend the annual Jet Grading Course. (weather interruptd the flying programme) However, only two pilots managed to go solo on the Vampire."

[Dave Homewood]

Do you have their names please?

[tbf2504]

Sorry, the unit history didn't record that detail, was a fairly broad brush comment

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks anyway.

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone have names of any RNZAF Vampire pilots they recall, so I can check if they're on Jim's list? There must be heaps of them, so there will be a lot of obscure ones, I'd think.

[davidd]

Dave, one means of flushing out some of the NZ Vampire pilots (particularly the later ones) would be to peruse the Flight Authorisation Books (AP 1575 I think) covering 14, 75 Squadrons, and perhaps also FOCU and/or JCU if there are any in the collection. Accident reports should pick up quite a few too. One problem with the AP1575's is that initials were rarely, if ever, entered by the person responsible for keeping these documents up to date, presumably as they would have been pretty well known to all at the time. Also relatively senior-ranking officers seemed to have the option of staying "current" on certain types of aircraft, including Vampires, should they be that way inclined, so had to attend refresher courses thoughtfully arranged for them from time to time to maintain that currency. These were often listed in the Ohakea Station histories in the 1950s and 1960s, if you ever get the time to hunt them down. Plenty of ways to skin a cat, as they say (and if you can live long enough).

[Dave Homewood]

That sounds like a trip to Wellington?

[davidd]

Wigram for the FAB's (Flight Authorisation Books)!

[chinapilot]

Antoni (Toni) Głowacki - instructed on them.

Brian Dunn - still active and would remember a lot of names I would imagine.

Ken Barley - still active and flew the leased Venoms so maybe the Vampire.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Ian, those last two are new to the list.

[tbf2504]

David, during the reunion for 3 Squadron the other weekend, I asked one of the museum staff on the relocation of the Air Files held by Archives. He indicated that they are now housed at the Wigram National Archives building.
Can you confirm this??

[davidd]

Certainly the National Archives (now Archives NZ) located on the former RNZAF Wigram airfield were receiving copies of 3 Squadron's Form 540s in the 1990s, although I imagined that other copies would have been retained in Wellington, and perhaps another with National Archives there too, but could be mistaken on this. The Museum also receives copies of most Form 540s still being generated by units/formations, etc.

[tbf2504]

In my day (2000) Copies of the 540s were raised as follows:
1. Squadron Retention
2. Air Staff
3. National Archives
4. ( A copy was started to be sent to the Museum, in addition to the Air Staff ones that had been transferred before that time)