No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
No. 3 Squadron RNZAF | |
---|---|
Wing Commander Greg Jane | |
Insignia | |
Squadron Badge | Crouching Maori Warrior holding a Taiaha |
No. 3 Squadron RNZAF is a unit of the
History
No. 3 Squadron formed as a territorial unit of the
Following the outbreak of World War II, the unit was equipped with
Assigned to the Search and Patrol Group, No. 3 Squadron flew search operations on a daily basis, including night operations. In this time, sorties were flown along the approaches to Guadalcanal and around the island coastlines where it was believed the Japanese might establish staging points, replacing dive bombers and long-range heavy bombers in this role.[1]: 147–8 Despite being lightly armed, a Hudson flown by Flying Officer Gudsell twice saw off attacks by three Japanese aircraft; Gudsell was awarded the US Air Medal. The squadron moved to Kukum Field on Guadalcanal and stayed there until October 1943 when it returned to Santo where it remained until January 1944. From February to March 1944 the Squadron returned to Guadalcanal, returned to Santo from May to July and deployed to Guadalcanal again from July to August 1944. The squadron re-equipped with Lockheed Venturas and in August 1944 moved to Piva Airfield on Bougainville. In October 1944, the squadron moved to Emirau where they flew interdiction patrols against Japanese shipping and ground targets. No. 3 squadron was replaced by No.4 Squadron in November 1944 and returned to New Zealand.[1]: 266 The squadron returned to Guadalcanal from February to March 1945 and was then deployed to Green Island from March to June 1945.[1]: 322
From 1948 to 1957, No.3 Squadron reverted to being a territorial squadron, based at
The squadron's Naval Support Flight flew helicopters for the
Pilots from No. 3 Squadron served in Vietnam and in UN peace keeping in the Sinai. The squadron served in East Timor. For many years a detachment was based in Singapore, to support the New Zealand Army presence there, and combat Indonesian insurgents. Detachments have recently served in the Solomon Islands and Antarctica.[citation needed]
No. 3 Squadron UH-1s transported the participants on the first episode of Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.[citation needed]
Today, No. 3 Squadron provides tactical air transport for the
Current strength
The squadron has a total personnel strength of approximately 135, and operates the following aircraft:[citation needed]
- Five Agusta A109 LUH helicopters.(Callsign:MAKO) (One extra purchased as a source for spare parts and/or an attrition airframe). A procurement to purchase a further three A-109 signalled by the Defence Force White Paper.
- Eight NH-90helicopters.(Callsign:WARRIOR) One NH-90 purchased used as a source of spare parts and/or an attrition airframe.
Former helicopter fleet
Bell 47G-3B-2 Sioux
The first helicopters to be flown by the RNZAF, six Bell 47G-3B-1 (NZ3701 -NZ3706) were delivered in 1965. Seven Bell 47G-3B-2 (NZ3707 – NZ3713) were purchased in 1968 and delivered during 1970. All Bell 47G-3B-2 have been retired and replaced by the Agusta A109LUH since 2011.[2]
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
The RNZAF has retired its fleet of 16 Iroquois helicopters as of 1 July 2015.[3] The first delivery was five UH-1D in 1966 followed in 1970 by nine UH-1H and one more UH-1H in 1976. All of the UH-1D aircraft were upgraded to 1H specification during the 1970s. Two ex-US Army UH-1H attrition airframes were purchased in 1996, one of which is in service. Three aircraft were lost in accidents.[citation needed]
Capacity was nine passengers or five troops with full packs or seven troops in light order. Equipment included a rescue winch, nightsun searchlight and night vision goggle capability. Armament was the M60 7.62mm, replaced by the MAG58 7.62mm.[citation needed]
The NH-90s took over all official duties on 1 July 2015. Following this, it was decided that 10 Bell UH-1H airframes would be advertised for sale to domestic and international purchasers and the remaining three airframes would be donated to museums around New Zealand.[citation needed]
On 2 March 2016, after a successful tender acquisition, the Iroquois helicopter fleet was shipped to Dakota Air Parts International, warehouse in Phoenix, Arizona. Six of the ten helicopters remain in an airworthy condition.[citation needed]
Current helicopter fleet
NHIndustries NH90
The
AgustaWestland A109LUH
Five AW109s were purchased by the RNZAF to replace the
Accidents
In more than fifty years of service there have been few serious accidents involving the Bell UH-1H Iroquois. These include:[citation needed]
- NZ3810 (c/n11938 69-15650) was written off after its rotor blades clipped a sand dune during a low level tactical approach. The aircraft careered over a 70 foot high sand dune near the Kaipara Harbour on 27 April 1972 with the loss of all three lives.
- NZ3807 (c/n11706 69-15418) and NZ3814 (c/n11942 69-15654) were involved in a mid-air collision in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Australia, on 23 October 1981. These aircraft were rebuilt and put back into service.
- NZ3803 (c/n11707 69-15419) suffered serious damage in a ground strike on Aoraki / Mount Cook on 28 November 1982 while trying to retrieve trapped climbers during a SAR mission. One of these climbers was notable New Zealander Mark Inglis. The aircraft was subsequently rebuilt and returned to service.
- NZ3809 (c/n11708 69-15420) was badly damaged while lifting an aerial at Kaipara in July 1990.
- NZ3813 (c/n11941 69-15653) was written off in March 1995 after crashing during a low level tactical approach and overturning in the Ngamatea swamp near Waiouru. The crash was caused by an engine flame out after fuel starvation due to the fuel control unit failure. On investigation it was found that the FCU internal fuel pump drive splines had been incorrectly lubricated during a factory overhaul in the USA causing the splines to wear and fail, preventing fuel delivery to the engine. Nil fatalities.
- NZ3806 on 25 April 2010, at about 5.45 am, crashed near Paekākāriki Hill Rd, about 40 km north east of Wellington. The Iroquois was en route to Anzac Day commemorations from RNZAF Base Ohakea when the helicopter crashed into a steep hill in the morning darkness, killing three men. A fourth crew member survived the crash with serious injuries. The cause of the crash was released to the public on 16 December 2011.[5] The Defence Force's court of inquiry into the accident found sub-standard protocols and a culture of "rule breaking" among 3 Squadron was partly to blame. The report found the crew lost situational awareness when they inadvertently flew into heavy cloud in the early-morning darkness, and did not recover in time to take evasive action. The court of inquiry made 20 recommendations – half of those directly addressed what it deemed to be the six causes of the crash.
Preserved aircraft
An
Three retired
References
- ^ ISBN 0898391873.
- ^ "B47G-3B-2 Sioux". airforce.mil.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "RNZAF – 3 Squadron History". Airforce.mil.nz. 31 October 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- ^ "NH90." Royal New Zealand Air Force. Retrieved: 30 January 2012.
- ^ Coleman-Ross, Hamish "Mixed feelings over Iroquois crash report", Stuff.co.nz, 16 December 2011
- ^ a b https://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/aircraft/bell-uh-1h-iroquois-nz3801/ | 18Dec2018
- ^ http://www.adf-serials.com.au/nz-serials/nzseasprite.htm | 18Dec2018
- ^ https://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/aircraft/kaman-seasprite-sh-2f/ | 18Dec2018
- ^ http://www.adf-serials.com.au/nz-serials/nziroquois.htm | 18Dec2018
- ^ http://www.adf-serials.com.au/nz-serials/nziroquois.htm | 18DDec2018