No. 62 Squadron RNZAF

No. 62 Squadron RNZAF
Active	August 1943 – October 1944 4 July 2025 – present
Country	New Zealand
Branch	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Type	Space operations
Engagements	World War II

No. 62 Squadron RNZAF is the only space squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and was reformed in July 2025. Historically, No. 62 Squadron was a radar squadron which operated in the Pacific from August 1943 to October 1944 and comprised all the RNZAF radar units sent overseas during the Second World War.

History

Second World War

No. 52 Unit at Guadalcanal, September 1943

In January 1943 the Americans were short on ground based radar equipment in the pacific and asked New Zealand to supply one of theirs. No. 52 unit was therefore established to install and operate a Ground-controlled interception radar system at Guadalcanal. The system was operational by 21 March and over the coming months further radar units (No.s 53–59) were formed and deployed to the Pacific. In August 1943 No. 62 Squadron was formed to bring all of the radar units under a unified command. The Squadron's units were deployed throughout the Solomon Islands, including Guadalcanal, Malaita, Bougainville Island, Rendova Island and New Georgia. The radar units provided fighter direction to USAAF fighter squadrons in the area and early warning of incoming Japanese air raids. By mid 1944 the radar units were no longer necessary due to the effective elimination of Japanese air power in the Solomons. As most of the RNZAF men had completed their tours of duty and American radar equipment and personnel in the Pacific was deemed adequate, No. 62 Squadron was disbanded in October 1944. Some of the radar units (Nos. 52, 53 and 58), however, continued to operate independently until February 1945. ^[1] No. 62 Squadron was the only New Zealand Radar Squadron to serve overseas. ^[2]

Present

No. 62 Squadron was re-established on 4 July 2025 as the RNZAF's first space squadron with 15 personnel. ^{[3] [4]} Defence Minister Judith Collins said that the squadron would "initially focus on monitoring, analysing, and understanding space activity to safeguard national and international interests." ^{[5] [6]}

References

1. Ross, J. M. S. (1955). Royal New Zealand Airforce. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. pp. 227–237. OCLC   226971024.
2. "Hall of Memories". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
3. Craymer, Lucy (30 April 2025). "New Zealand Air Force to set up space squadron as it grows in importance". Reuters. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
4. "New space squadron unveiled". 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
5. "WWII squadron resurrected as NZ's first dedicated space unit". 1News . 4 July 2025. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
6. Collins, Judith (4 July 2025). "New space squadron for NZDF" . Retrieved 4 July 2025.