- No. 40 Squadron RNZAF
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No. 40 Squadron RNZAF (motto: Ki Nga Hau e Wha - To the Four Winds) is a transport squadron in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It remains on active duty.
A 40 Squadron Handley Page Hastings refuelling in the 1950s
Contents
Origins
The squadron was formed in the south pacific in 1943 with Dakotas. It also used Lockheed Hudsons and Lockheed Lodestars during World War II. The Squadron was disbanded in 1947, with most of its crew and aircraft being transferred to the government owned National Airways Corporation.
No. 40 Squadron was reformed in 1952 with four Handley Page Hastings, one of which competed in the October 1953 London-Christchurch air race. The Squadron was supplemented with 3 Douglas DC-6 acquired from the defunct Australian airline, British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines by 1961. The present Lockheed C-130H Hercules were purchased in 1965, and supplemented by three Boeing 727s, (including the infamous Spud One) in the early 1980s. The 727s were replaced by two Boeing 757-200s in May 2003.
Modern days
A No. 40 Squadron Boeing 757-200 in 2006
A 40 Squadron Hercules on a visit to Australia in 2010Located at RNZAF Base Auckland on Whenuapai airfield, the Squadron today operates five C-130H Hercules and two Boeing 757-200s. The squadron saw action throughout the pacific war against Japan, and subsequently helped supply New Zealand forces fighting in Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq as well as providing transport to United States and United Kingdom forces in the 1990 Gulf War. Recent humanitarian missions have included assisting victims of the Bali bombing and Boxing Day Tsunami. Since the late 1960s the squadron has detached aircraft each summer to work in the Ross Dependency of Antarctica.
As of 2008, the Squadron was preparing to modernise its Hercules aircraft with new avionics and aircraft systems to extend their life expectancy (for NZ$234 million), and has replaced its two Boeing 727 with two Boeing 757 (for NZ$220 million).[1]
References
- ^ Mateparae, Jerry (8 September 2008). "Jerry Mateparae: Can't fight? In fact we still punch above our weight". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10531009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
External links
Categories:- Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons
- Royal New Zealand Air Force
- Military units and formations established in 1943
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