| No. 488 Wing | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2010–2015 |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| Branch |  Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | RNZAF Base Ohakea |
No. 488 Wing was the wing of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) with responsibility for commanding all units based at RNZAF Base Ohakea. It was established in December 2010 and disbanded in March 2015.
In mid-2010 the RNZAF conducted a review of its command and control arrangements. [1] This review followed the death of a member of the Red Checkers aerobatics team in a flying accident on 14 January 2010 and the crash of a No. 3 Squadron RNZAF Bell UH-1 Iroquois on 25 April 2010 which resulted in the death of three airmen. The courts of inquiry into both accidents concluded that insufficient supervision of the units stationed at RNZAF Base Ohakea had contributed to unsafe flying practices. [1] [2] In particular, the court of inquiry into the Iroquois accident found that the abolition of the RNZAF's geographically co-located base command positions in 2001 had resulted in a harmful lack of clarity around command responsibility. [1]
As a result of the recommendations of the command and control review, the RNZAF decided to establish a wing headquarters to command the units stationed at Ohakea. [1] The new unit would complement No. 485 Wing, which commands the units stationed at RNZAF Base Auckland. [3] Accordingly, No. 488 Wing Headquarters was raised on 8 December 2010. [2] [4] The wing's name was selected to honour No. 488 Squadron RNZAF, a fighter unit which saw combat in the Pacific and Europe during World War II. [4] As part of the new command arrangements, the RNZAF's Training Group was disbanded, with its Flying Training Wing being reassigned to No. 488 Wing. [5] No. 3 Squadron was also transferred from No. 485 Wing to No. 488 Wing. [6]
In early 2011 No. 488 Wing headquarters issued directives aimed at addressing "urgent deficiencies" in the Defence Force Flying Orders. The flying orders were eventually completely re-written during 2012. [7] In addition to its work in improving flying standards, the wing has also overseen the process of introducing RNZAF's AgustaWestland AW109 and NHIndustries NH90 helicopters into service. [8]
No. 488 Wing was disbanded on 2 March 2015 as part of a major reform to the RNZAF's structure. No. 485 Wing and No. 209 Squadron were also disbanded as part of the reorganisation. [9]
As of December 2014, No. 488 Wing comprised the following units: [10]
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand elements of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s.
No. 42 Squadron is an active transport squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It was formed at Rongotai Airport (Wellington) in December 1943 to provide a communications service around New Zealand, initially using impressed civilian types. It was briefly officially disbanded in 1946, but its aircraft continued with general purpose operations at RNZAF Station Ohakea. When reformed, the squadron was equipped with various numbers of North American Harvard, Auster, Grumman Avenger, Airspeed Oxford, de Havilland Devon, North American P-51 Mustang and Douglas Dakota aircraft.
The New Zealand Air Training Corps is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces, alongside the Sea Cadet Corps and New Zealand Cadet Corps. It is funded in partnership between the RNZAF and local communities, with its members being civilians. Members are under no obligation to enlist in the New Zealand Defence Force. Should a cadet enlist their service in the ATC cadet does not translate into higher pay, rank, or seniority.
No. 3 Squadron RNZAF is a unit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It currently operates NHIndustries NH90 and Agusta A109 helicopters. The squadron was initially formed as a territorial unit of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force in Christchurch in 1930. During World War II, the squadron served in the Pacific, undertaking patrol operations. In the early post war period, the squadron was converted to a Territorial formation flying fixed wing aircraft, but later converted to rotary wing aircraft, and returning to permanent status. Since then, personnel from the squadron have served in the Vietnam War, East Timor, Singapore, the Sinai, and the Solomon Islands.
No. 5 Squadron RNZAF is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It operates the Boeing P-8 Poseidon from RNZAF Base Ohakea. The squadron was formed during the Second World War and has since been in continuous operation. A number of maritime patrol aircraft have been operated by the squadron over the course of its existence including the Short Singapore, Consolidated PBY Catalina, Short Sunderland and the Lockheed P-3 Orion.
No. 75 Squadron RNZAF was an air combat squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was formed from the RAF's World War II bomber squadron, No. 75 Squadron, which had been initially equipped by the New Zealand government and was largely manned by New Zealanders. The squadron was created when, in a unique gesture, the squadron number, colours and battle honours were transferred to the RNZAF in 1946. It had flown more sorties and suffered more casualties than any other in the European theatre.
No. 2 Squadron RNZAF was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It was formed in 1930 as part of the Territorial Air Force with the main headquarters at Wellington and shadow flights at New Plymouth and Wanganui. Squadron personnel conducted their annual flying at RNZAF Base Wigram. In 1937 the Territorial Squadrons were re-organised and No. 2 Squadron became the Wellington Territorial Squadron.
14 Squadron RNZAF is a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In 2015 the squadron was re-raised and equipped with 11 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. A new aerobatic display team called the Black Falcons was also formed using the new aircraft. They replaced the RNZAF display team known as the Red Checkers.
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RNZAF Base Auckland is a Royal New Zealand Air Force base located near the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand. The base formerly comprised two separate airfields, Whenuapai and RNZAF Station Hobsonville. Hobsonville was established as a seaplane station in 1928 and was the RNZAF's primary flying boat base in New Zealand until 1967. Construction of Whenuapai as a base for Vickers Wellington bomber aircraft began in 1937, the hangars being built in 1939. Whenuapai was also Auckland's civil international airport from 1945 to 1965. After World War II Auckland became a centre for RNZAF transport and maritime squadrons. RNZAF Station Hobsonville was administratively joined with Whenuapai in 1965 to become RNZAF Base Auckland. Hobsonville subsequently became a grass airfield for No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, which later moved to Ohakea. A New Zealand Army unit comprising various personnel from different regiments as well as the New Zealand Special Air Service were relocated to Papakura Military Camp in 2003.
RNZAF Base Ohakea is an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Opened in 1939, it is located near Bulls, 25 km north-west of Palmerston North in the Manawatu. It is also a diversion landing point for civilian aircraft. The base's motto is Defensio per vires.
No. 488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.
No. 487 (NZ) Squadron was a light bomber squadron established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were largely drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force as part of Bomber Command. Formed in mid-1942, it operated the Lockheed Ventura and then the de Havilland Mosquito and took part in over 3,000 operational sorties before being disbanded at the end of the war in late 1945.
John Milne Checketts, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Second World War, who was credited with the destruction of 14+1⁄2 enemy aircraft, three probably destroyed and 11 damaged.
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No. 485 (NZ) Squadron was a fighter squadron established for service during the Second World War. It was the first New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were largely drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force.