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Kiwi Skyhawk Operations 1991-1997 In February 1991 2 Sqn RNZAF moved to HMAS Albatross on the South Coast of NSW, Australia. HMAS Albatross was/is known as Naval Air Station (NAS) Nowra and was the home of the RAN A-4G fleet before it was sold to the RNZAF in 1984. All of the ex RAN A-4Gs (now updated to A-4K Kahu configuration) would return at times to HMAS Albatross. The Royal Australian Navy contracted the RNZAF to provide fleet support for their surface fleet. 2 Sqn were soon in the thick of things working up ships deploying on Operation Damask (Desert Shield/Storm). 6 aircraft and about 55 personnel and their families began what would be a 10 year association for the RNZAF Skyhawk with the NSW South Coast. 2 Sqn would remain in Australia until 2001 when it returned home to be disbanded along with the rest of Air Combat Force. 75 Sqn continued to operate from RNZAF Base Ohakea as well deploying as usual to various countries in South East Asia. 75 Sqn often transited through Nowra which meant there were sometimes large number of Kiwi A-4's at HMAS Albatross Most of these photos aren't mine. Most are credited to the owner. If these credits are incorrect please advise me. |
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75 Sqn 1991 (RNZAF-Official). |
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The runways at HMAS Albatross (Don Simms). |
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2 Sqn over the NSW South Coast (Peter Steinemann/Don Simms). |
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1. 2 Sqn at the Richmond Airshow. (Don Simms) 2. 2 Sqn Dec 1991 (RAN Official) 3 & 4. Avionics hard at work for a publicity shot. |
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Photos 1 & 2 RAAF Pearce 1992 (Don Simms) Photos 3 & 4 Exercise Iron Thunder RAAF Townsville 1992 (Calum Gibson) |
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1. 2 Sqn and HMAS Newcastle (RAN Official) 2.-4. TA-4K over Jervis Bay (Calum Gibson) |
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1. Fanshaw (75 Sqn mascot) taking a break with 2 Sqn in Nowra 2-4. Nowra Line (Don Simms) |
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Exercise Vanguard 1992 was the first RNZAF deployment to RTAF Base Korat in Thailand. They utilised the ACMI range there. After 2 weeks 75 Sqn redeployed to RSAF base Peya Leba in Singapore. (RNZAF Official) |
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(All RNZAF Official) |
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1. Farewall to the Strikemaster 2. Engine run 3. 75 Sqn 1992 4. 75 Sqn STO training Early 1990s (All RNZAF Official) |
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In 1992, NZ6214 suffered a very large bird strike. (RNZAF Official). |
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In 1992 the RNZAF lost their 4th Skyhawk. NZ6208 crashed after running out of fuel, the pilot F/O Scott Armour ejected safely. (RNZAF Official). |
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1. Avionics at AMS. 2. Hotshot Skyhawk trainer 3. Birdstrike A-4K Vanguard 1993 4. GBU-16 Drop (all RNZAF Official) |
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2 Sqn Various 1993 (Don Simms/ RNZAF Official) |
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2 Sqn Skyhawks in, around and returning from Darwin 1993 (Don Simms) |
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2 Sqn Flight line NAS Nowra 1993 (CG) |
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75 Sqn passing through (CG/Don Simms) |
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A No 2 Squadron ground crewman making a few artistic improvements to No 75 Skyhawk whilst they were passing through HMAS Albatross, Nowra NSW Australia in 1993. The 75 Sqn logos on the intakes were modified with a 2 Sqn spear through a modified Tiki (actually a "squashed frog"!). (Don Simms/CG) |
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2 Sqn in Australia (RNZAF and RAN Official) |
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75 Sqn depart from Ohakea for Vanguard 1994 (Don Simms) |
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75 Sqn at RTAF Korat and RSAF Peya Lebar, Vanguard 1994 (RNZAF Official) |
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1. & 2. After a low fuel indication the
pilot decided to return to Ohakea. He tried to dump gas but due to a
fuel transfer problems he couldn't dump enough. As the fuel indicator was
showing 0 lbs he thought the engine was about to flame out, the weather was also
bad, so he came straight in and landed heavy. The main gear couldn't handle the
weight and collapsed as the aircraft slid of the runaway.
3. & 4.Late December 1994 75 Sqn got the opportunity to attack a burnt out trawler drifting of the south coast off the South Island (All RNZAF Official) |
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1. RNZAF PR Photo Ohakea 1995 2. Armed A-4K during a operational readiness exercise 3. 75 Sqn A-4K during Exercise Gun Runner 1995 4. RNZAF & Indonesian A-4's 1995 (All RNZAF Official) |
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In 1995 the RNZAF A-4 Fleet celebrated it's silver jubilee (Don Simms/ RNZAF Official) | ||
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A-4Ks in flight 1997 (All RNZAF Official) |
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1. 75 Sqn RNZAF & RAAF aircrew Tindal 1995 2. RNZAF & RTAF personnel Thai Kiwi 1997 3. NZ6215 turns 30 (All RNZAF Official)) |
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1. This incident (NZ6211)
occurred at RNZAF Base Woodbourne.
Whilst washing with no fuel plus no engine, plus no radar etc equals one light
A-4!!! All it took was one of the a/c washers to walk a bit close to the edge of
the wing and (Photo RNZAF Official courtesy Tim
Jordan) 2. NZ6203 crash site near Marton NZ (All RNZAF Official) |
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NZ6201 in the trail all green scheme, including markings (RNZAF Official) | ||
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NZ6252 lost it's canopy after the pilot jettisoned it in error, whilst trying to deploy the RAT. Fortunately the canopy landed safely in a feld near HMAS Albatross, shortly later the aircraft also landed safely at HMAS Albatross (All RNZAF Official) | |
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This site is owned by Calum Gibson |
