RNZAF Archives - CONTACT magazine

Karen Curtis and her grandchildren with the World War 2 service medals of her great uncle Sergeant William O’Shea at the Timaru War Memorial in New Zealand, after the medals were returned by Chaplain Haydn Lea. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Medals land in safe hands

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 622 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, No. 25 Squadron, RNZAF, WWII

As New Zealander aviator Sergeant William O’Shea’s Wellington bomber barrelled through heavy flak over Germany, a cone of light tracked

Royal New Zealand Air Force Group Captain Susie Barns is promoted to Air Commodore by Air Commander Australia Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz, left, and her spouse Tom at her promotion and appointment to Deputy Air Commander Australia ceremony, held at the ADF Academy officers mess. Story by John Noble. Photo by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.

ADF People News Royal Australian Air Force

Kiwi appointed Deputy Air Commander Australia

14/01/202515/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2269 Views 1 Comment Australian Defence College, RNZAF

In a show of enhanced cooperation and interoperability between Australia and New Zealand, a senior member of the Royal New

Firefighters from the Royal Air Force, RAAF and Royal New Zealand Air Force at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Annabel Francis-Jones. Photo by Aircraftwoman Campbell Latch.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Triple the fire power on Ex Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1246 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, fire, RAAF Amberley, RAF, RNZAF

Fire fighters from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Air Force seized the opportunity

Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Image supplied.

New Zealand News Talisman Sabre

Kiwis call ‘operational pause’ on NH90 flying

02/08/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5105 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023, NH90, RNZAF

The Royal New Zealand Air Force paused flying of its NH90 medium utility helicopters for 48 hours from yesterday morning

An RNZAF P-8A Poseidon at RNZAF Base Ohakea. RNZAF's Poseidon fleet is now operational, taking over the role carried out by P-3 Orions for the past 57 years. RNZDF photo supplied.

New Zealand News

New Zealand’s P-8A Poseidon fleet now operational

01/07/202330/06/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2248 Views 0 Comments P-8A Poseidon, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

After four years preparing to operate and maintain the new Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol

Royal New Zealand Air Force officer, Flying Officer Ben Pickering travels on board a RAAF C-27J Spartan to asses remote airfields affected by Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

New Zealand News Royal Australian Air Force

ADF’s disaster assistance in NZ

27/02/202302/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1488 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, RNZAF

An Australian Defence Force contingent has deployed to New Zealand as part of the Australian whole-of-government response to a request

An artist's impression of a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon. NZDF image.

New Zealand News Overseas Science & Technology

New Zealand buying Poseidon

09/07/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4085 Views 0 Comments Poseidon, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

The New Zealand government has announced it will purchase four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to replace its ageing P-3K2

An RNZAF 'thunder formation' of two C-130 Hercules, a Boeing 757 and a P-3 Orion. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

RNZAF announces busy first-quarter show schedule

19/01/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2931 Views 0 Comments RNZAF

The Royal New Zealand Air Force showcases its capability and personnel to the public at big events around the country

File photo RNZAF P-3K2 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Phillip Pavlovich.

New Zealand News Overseas

RNZAF Orion to survey volcanos on way home from Middle East

25/09/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3866 Views 0 Comments P-3K2 Orion, RNZAF, RNZDF, Vanuatu

The New Zealand Defence Force is planning to conduct an aerial survey of an erupting volcano on Vanuatu’s Ambae Island

David Bradley, restoration manager for Aerospace Bristol, and the RNZAF 49 Squadron Bristol Freighter he's preparing for its journey home to Bristol in the UK. Photo by Mike Millett.

New Zealand News Veterans

RNZAF Bristol Freighter going home to Bristol

20/08/201724/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6685 Views 2 Comments 49 Squadron, Bristol Freighter, RNZAF

The long journey begins… October 2017 update August 2017 story…. David Bradley, Restoration Manager from Aerospace Bristol, is currently

A Zodiac from HMNZS Otago, with fisheries officers from New Zealand and Vanuatu, approaches a fishing vessel in the south-west Pacific during Operation Island Chief. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

NZDF boarded 26 vessels during Pacific fisheries patrols

10/08/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3292 Views 0 Comments Forum Fisheries Agency, HMNZS Otago, New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF, P-3K2 Orion, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

New Zealand Defence Force personnel located 60 vessels of interest and boarded 26 others in multilateral fisheries patrols conducted recently

New Zealand Defence Force Hercules contingent in the Middle East. ADF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

Kiwi Herc serving well in Middle East

22/06/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3496 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) transported 120 tonnes of supplies and about 500 military personnel supporting coalition operations in

A New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

New Zealand clips NH90’s wings after emergency landing

20/04/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5794 Views 0 Comments NH90, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

NZDF file photo The New Zealand Defence Force has put severe restrictions on all its NH90 helicopters after one was forced to

New Zealand News Overseas Veterans

Recruits help restore WWII RNZAF station

11/07/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3761 Views 0 Comments RNZAF

Forty-nine Royal New Zealand Air Force recruits have helped the Marlborough Garrison Society to restore some of the buildings that

New Zealand News Operations

RNZDF Air Transport team get down to work in Middle East

23/06/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3497 Views 0 Comments Middle East, RNZAF

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft has completed its first set of sustainment flights to Afghanistan

File photo – NZAF C-130 Hercules coming in to land at Bamyan Airfield, Afghanistan.

New Zealand News Overseas

New Zealand Hercules to join Aussie ME task force

03/06/201609/06/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4806 Views 1 Comment Hercules, RNZAF

The New Zealand Defence Force is deploying a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H(NZ) Hercules aircraft and up to 40

New Zealand News Overseas

RNZAF gained four new members this week

17/01/201616/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3949 Views 0 Comments Military Working Dogs, MWD, RNZAF

The Royal New Zealand Air Force gained four new members this week when two men and their dogs graduated from

New Zealand News Overseas

Black Falcons to feature at Ohakea Air Show

18/11/201516/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5125 Views 0 Comments Black Falcons, Ohakea Air Show, RNZAF

One of the biggest air shows in New Zealand will thrill crowds at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea,