No. 75 Squadron RNZAF - Preserved Aircraft

Preserved Aircraft

A Vampire FB Mk.9 at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MoTaT) in Auckland, which never flew with the RNZAF in NZ but was used as a painting dolly, has 75 Squadron markings presumably painted by trainees at an RNZAF Station, alongside an ex-French Navy Avro Lancaster that has been restored and is wearing 75 Squadron colours on one side, and the colours of an RAF squadron with New Zealand aircrew on the other side. In a restoration hangar nearby is a de Havilland Mosquito formerly used by the squadron, which is being restored for display. A TA4 Skyhawk 'replica' assembled from parts in the late 90's at Ohakea and carrying the ficticous tail number of NZ6257 also carries 75 SQN low visibility markings on one side, with 2 SQN markings on the other. This is the scheme applied to all Skyhawks in the late 90's to 2001, to simplify the rotation of aircraft between 75 Sqn at Ohakea and 2 Sqn at NAS Nowra. This aircraft was positioned outside the Ohakea Museum, but when the Museum was closed in 2007, the replica TA4 was moved into storage at Ohakea. Another Skyhawk in 75 Squadron markings is preserved (in the original RNZAF A4 colour scheme, circa early 1970s) at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum at Wigram – originally an early model US aircraft, this was gifted to NZ by an American movie company and assembled by the museum with straight refuelling probe and typical bomb and missile load for display. Hanging from the roof alongside is a De Havilland Vampire FB5 in 75 Squadron colours.

In December 2001, the Air Combat Force of the RNZAF, comprising 2, 14 and 75 Squadrons was closed down, the squadrons disbanded, and the aircraft put up for sale. Since 2002, several private US flight training firms have undertaken due diligence and negotiations to purchase the 17 surviving T/A4K aircraft and the 17 Aermacchi MB339CB's as a package deal. The MB339's have been kept in flying condition by a contracted civilian company using personnel made redundant in 2001 at RNZAF Base Ohakea, however the Skyhawks have been stored in an outside location covered in a latex film at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. If the aircraft are eventually sold, most of the Skyhawks will require major refurbishment to regain flying condition. The national markings will have to be removed, but it has been mentioned that it is intention of at least one buyer to retain the squadron badges and colour schemes "to preserve the traditions of the RNZAF". On the 7 October 2009, the sale was confirmed to have been completed.