History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets Biography

From 1949 Compulsory Military Training reinvigorated the reserve component of the Air Force. The four Territorial squadrons, No. 1 Squadron RNZAF (Auckland), Wellington, Canterbury and No. 4 Squadron, Territorial Air Force, at Taieri Aerodrome, Mosgiel, Otago, were equipped with the 30 Mustangs re-activated from storage, along with a few Tiger Moths and Harvards for each squadron. No. 4 Squadron TAF was active from at least 1951-55. From 1952-57 No.6 Flying Boat Squadron operated as a Territorial unit at Hobsonville, flying Catalinas and later Sunderlands.
A Gloster Meteor arrived in 1945, introducing the jet age.[citation needed] The force was equipped from 1946 with the De Havilland Mosquito before the arrival of De Havilland Vampires. Initially used in peacekeeping in Cyprus and Singapore the Vampires were supplemented by loaned De Havilland Venoms and, later, English Electric Canberras, both of which saw action in the Malayan Emergency and subsequent confrontation with Indonesia.[citation needed] The RNZAF bought its own Canberras in 1962, these were replaced from 1969 with A-4 Skyhawks. In the late 1980s 10 further Skyhawks were obtained from Australia and, under the Kahu (Falcon) programme, the fleet was updated with F-16 avionics, (including APG 66 radar), allowing use of AIM-9L and AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided bombs.
During the 1960s the ageing Vampire fleet was used largely for training and any pretence of maintaining a fighter arm was abandoned when these were replaced with BAC Strikemasters in the early 1970s.[citation needed] When, in the early 1990s these had to be retired due to serious wing fatigue problems, they were replaced in the training role by 18 Aermacchi MB-339s.[citation needed]
No. 75 Sqn. TA-4K in 1984
In the immediate post war period, internal communications and transport and other services were maintained by No. 42 Squadron RNZAF. It supported the Army and Navy using TBM-1 Avengers (to tow drogue targets for gunnery), the Territorial Air Force's P-51D Mustangs and T-6 Harvards, the VIPs with De Havilland Devons, also used for support, communications and multi-engine conversion training, and Dakotas for VIP and communications support.[citation needed] De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter and Auster types helped to explore Antarctica.[citation needed] A research flight helped develop Aerial Topdressing.[citation needed] Later, Hawker Siddeley Andover and Cessna 421C Golden Eagle aircraft were used for transport and VIP duties.
After the war, Nos. 5 and 6 Squadrons traded their lend-lease Catalinas for Short Sunderland MR5s operating in maritime patrol and search and rescue roles from Hobsonville and Laucala Bay, Fiji.[citation needed] 6 Squadron was disbanded and 5 Squadron received P-3B Orions in 1965.[citation needed

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets

History Of Fighter Jets