14 Squadron Years
1971 to 1975
Jan ‘71
A new era for 14 Squadron was signalled with the announcement that four Skyhawks and supporting ground crew were to be transferred to the unit. On paper the Squadron’s assets were increased to include 4 Skyhawks ( 3 TA-4k’s and 1 A-4K) on 11 January however the transfer of aircarf did not take place in January being two Instructors (FLT LTs K Gayfer and R Ewing).
No 3 Skyhawk Course was run by 14 Squadron but all the flying and servicing was carried out by 75 Squadron. As part of the course tactical formation and night formation flights were conducted on the 13th and 14th. These were followed by Hi-Lo-Hi exercises, weapons training and refuelling on th 18th through to 22nd.
4 Feb
WingCo Kinvig became the first member of the Skyhawk Course to go solo. The following day three other pilots on the course completed their solo flights.
5 Feb
FLT LT Ewing flew a function airtest combined with some simulated strikes for an FAC Course in a TA-4.
22 Mar
NZ 6201, 6251, 6253, 6254 on strength at 14 Squadron.
14 Squadron strength at this date:
April
No 3 Skyhawk Course ended having been extended from 12 to 16 weeks.
1-2 Apr
Three aircraft used for bombing, rocket and gunnery practise at Raumai Range
5-7 Apr
Refuelling and night formation exercises flown.
May
Inactivity on Skyhawk Flight due to lack of pilots, 14 Squadron having no qualified pilots to fly the three A-4’s on the hardstanding.
Only flying was two trips to Auckland, two weapons sorties and four trips testing a new Australian Navy brake parachute and trials with the “Harley” light to be used in Navy Coop Exercises for calibration.
6 June
FLT LT Jones flew a photographer to obtain night shots of Ohakea and Palmerston North for use in a TV film featuring A-4 night flying.
14 to 22 June
The Squadron carried out the first ever Skyhawk Familiarisation course in the RNZAF when WGCO LJ Thompson (CO Aviation Medicine Unit) flew approximately 10 hours. All flights were dual covering general and instrument flying, navigation and night flying.
9 July
One aircraft transited to Whenuapai for the first of several Navy Coop Tasks.
12 to 19 July
Weapons training against a splash target in the Hauraki Gulf and at Kaipora.
15 – 21 Aug
On Sunday 15th Exercise Southern Clime commenced with 75 Squadron undertaking a max effort strike against the carrier 500 miles from Ohakea. Two 14 Squadron Skyhawks acted as high level decoys flying out to a position to the north of the carrier task force. 75 Squadron flew in at low level undetected.
Sept
The last few days of September saw an aircraft repositioned to Auckland for Navy coop tasks and also gave the pilot an opportunity to take a “clean” aircraft supersonic.
4 Oct
TA-4 transferred to Auckland for Navy Coop tasks but a Whenuapai a tyre was found to be beyond worn limits and the exercise was cancelled.
18 to 24 Oct
Newly appointed Chief of Air Staff AVM D C St George flown in a Skyhawk on a familiarisation flight by SQN LDR Boys.
3 to 10 Nov
As part of Exercise Blue Goose II two Skyhawks (along with six Vampires and two Harvards) flew missions in support of the RNZAF’s Annual “Command Post” exercise (CPX 71)
21 Dec
Diamond formation flown over Ohakea, a Skyhawk flown by FLT LT Ewing leading three Vampires.
10 Jan 72
No 5 Skyhawk Conversion course commenced.
27 to 31 March
SQN LDR Bland performed two handling displays over Ohakea for visiting dignitaries.
3 to 7 April
Week commenced with a mixture of nav ex, battle formation flying and mach runs.
25 April
Presentation of 14 Squadron Standard in a ceremony including a Skyhawk handling display by FLTLT Henstock.
May
A ground FAC demo for Waiouru based Army units was supported by the Flight. FAC was FLTLT Ewing supported by SQNLDR Bland and FLTLT Bevan in the airborne aircraft. The FAC was required to drive to Waiouru as bad weather prevented using the FAC aircraft.
8 to 12 May
Skyhawk Flight undertook bulk of Flypasts conducted over the week with various formations over Kaitaia, Tauranga, Napier, Kaikohe and Rotorua.
15 to 19 May
Flybys of Hawara, Raglan, Te Kuiti, Taupo and Taumaranui along with normal Flight activities of nav-exs, continuation training sorties and instrument flying.
19 May
Max effort flypast with 7 Skyhawks and 4 Vampires airborne for flypast with 75 Squadron returning from Australia.
25 to 31 May
During this week a planned dusk strike was terminated in the descent to the target because of problems encounter with Wellington Air Traffic Control. This resulted in an aborted mission.
May
Flight flew 166% of allotted tasks due to having three 75 Squadron pilot on Squadron when 75 Squadron was in Australia.
11 July
SQN LDR Hosie performed a handling display for Tolaga Bay District High School
21 Aug
No 6 Skyhawk Conversion Course started, delayed due to the grounding of all Skyhawks until all hydraulic T-junctions have been x-rayed.
20 to 22 Oct
A sometime during this period NZ 6254 was ferried from Woodbourne.
26 to 27 Oct
Skyhawks continue nav-ex and dry plug exercises
4 Nov
Skyhawk Flight started flying weapons sorties using low drag bombs and then flew profiles using hi-drag bombs. This was the first time these bombs had been used by the RNZAF.
1 Jan 73
14 Squadron strength:
17 Jan
Three aircraft flew formation flypast over Wanganui funeral of FLT LT Able.
12 Feb
14 Squadrons Skyhawks and 5 servicing personnel were attached to 75 Squadron until the next Skyhawk Conversion Course.
1 April
The Skyhawk Training Flight officially transferred to 75 Squadron.
A new era for 14 Squadron was signalled with the announcement that four Skyhawks and supporting ground crew were to be transferred to the unit. On paper the Squadron’s assets were increased to include 4 Skyhawks ( 3 TA-4k’s and 1 A-4K) on 11 January however the transfer of aircarf did not take place in January being two Instructors (FLT LTs K Gayfer and R Ewing).
No 3 Skyhawk Course was run by 14 Squadron but all the flying and servicing was carried out by 75 Squadron. As part of the course tactical formation and night formation flights were conducted on the 13th and 14th. These were followed by Hi-Lo-Hi exercises, weapons training and refuelling on th 18th through to 22nd.
4 Feb
WingCo Kinvig became the first member of the Skyhawk Course to go solo. The following day three other pilots on the course completed their solo flights.
5 Feb
FLT LT Ewing flew a function airtest combined with some simulated strikes for an FAC Course in a TA-4.
22 Mar
NZ 6201, 6251, 6253, 6254 on strength at 14 Squadron.
14 Squadron strength at this date:
- 4 Skyhawks,
- 8 Vampires,
- 2 Harvards
April
No 3 Skyhawk Course ended having been extended from 12 to 16 weeks.
1-2 Apr
Three aircraft used for bombing, rocket and gunnery practise at Raumai Range
5-7 Apr
Refuelling and night formation exercises flown.
May
Inactivity on Skyhawk Flight due to lack of pilots, 14 Squadron having no qualified pilots to fly the three A-4’s on the hardstanding.
Only flying was two trips to Auckland, two weapons sorties and four trips testing a new Australian Navy brake parachute and trials with the “Harley” light to be used in Navy Coop Exercises for calibration.
6 June
FLT LT Jones flew a photographer to obtain night shots of Ohakea and Palmerston North for use in a TV film featuring A-4 night flying.
14 to 22 June
The Squadron carried out the first ever Skyhawk Familiarisation course in the RNZAF when WGCO LJ Thompson (CO Aviation Medicine Unit) flew approximately 10 hours. All flights were dual covering general and instrument flying, navigation and night flying.
9 July
One aircraft transited to Whenuapai for the first of several Navy Coop Tasks.
12 to 19 July
Weapons training against a splash target in the Hauraki Gulf and at Kaipora.
15 – 21 Aug
On Sunday 15th Exercise Southern Clime commenced with 75 Squadron undertaking a max effort strike against the carrier 500 miles from Ohakea. Two 14 Squadron Skyhawks acted as high level decoys flying out to a position to the north of the carrier task force. 75 Squadron flew in at low level undetected.
Sept
The last few days of September saw an aircraft repositioned to Auckland for Navy coop tasks and also gave the pilot an opportunity to take a “clean” aircraft supersonic.
4 Oct
TA-4 transferred to Auckland for Navy Coop tasks but a Whenuapai a tyre was found to be beyond worn limits and the exercise was cancelled.
18 to 24 Oct
Newly appointed Chief of Air Staff AVM D C St George flown in a Skyhawk on a familiarisation flight by SQN LDR Boys.
3 to 10 Nov
As part of Exercise Blue Goose II two Skyhawks (along with six Vampires and two Harvards) flew missions in support of the RNZAF’s Annual “Command Post” exercise (CPX 71)
21 Dec
Diamond formation flown over Ohakea, a Skyhawk flown by FLT LT Ewing leading three Vampires.
10 Jan 72
No 5 Skyhawk Conversion course commenced.
27 to 31 March
SQN LDR Bland performed two handling displays over Ohakea for visiting dignitaries.
3 to 7 April
Week commenced with a mixture of nav ex, battle formation flying and mach runs.
25 April
Presentation of 14 Squadron Standard in a ceremony including a Skyhawk handling display by FLTLT Henstock.
May
A ground FAC demo for Waiouru based Army units was supported by the Flight. FAC was FLTLT Ewing supported by SQNLDR Bland and FLTLT Bevan in the airborne aircraft. The FAC was required to drive to Waiouru as bad weather prevented using the FAC aircraft.
8 to 12 May
Skyhawk Flight undertook bulk of Flypasts conducted over the week with various formations over Kaitaia, Tauranga, Napier, Kaikohe and Rotorua.
15 to 19 May
Flybys of Hawara, Raglan, Te Kuiti, Taupo and Taumaranui along with normal Flight activities of nav-exs, continuation training sorties and instrument flying.
19 May
Max effort flypast with 7 Skyhawks and 4 Vampires airborne for flypast with 75 Squadron returning from Australia.
25 to 31 May
During this week a planned dusk strike was terminated in the descent to the target because of problems encounter with Wellington Air Traffic Control. This resulted in an aborted mission.
May
Flight flew 166% of allotted tasks due to having three 75 Squadron pilot on Squadron when 75 Squadron was in Australia.
11 July
SQN LDR Hosie performed a handling display for Tolaga Bay District High School
21 Aug
No 6 Skyhawk Conversion Course started, delayed due to the grounding of all Skyhawks until all hydraulic T-junctions have been x-rayed.
20 to 22 Oct
A sometime during this period NZ 6254 was ferried from Woodbourne.
26 to 27 Oct
Skyhawks continue nav-ex and dry plug exercises
4 Nov
Skyhawk Flight started flying weapons sorties using low drag bombs and then flew profiles using hi-drag bombs. This was the first time these bombs had been used by the RNZAF.
1 Jan 73
14 Squadron strength:
- 4 Strikemasters
- 4 Skyhawks
- 1 Harvard.
17 Jan
Three aircraft flew formation flypast over Wanganui funeral of FLT LT Able.
12 Feb
14 Squadrons Skyhawks and 5 servicing personnel were attached to 75 Squadron until the next Skyhawk Conversion Course.
1 April
The Skyhawk Training Flight officially transferred to 75 Squadron.