75th Year of the New Zealand Air Force
Last Friday, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) marked 75 years of service with a dazzling air show at Bae Ohakea, and the New Zealand Post issued a set of 15 commemorative stamps honoring the RNZAF fleet over the decades, such as the Supermarine Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, and the NH90 helicopter. The RNZAF had established a technical training school by 1940 in Rongotai, Wellington, and assembled its fleet for a family portrait of the De Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth, Hawker Tomtit, Blackburn Baffin, Vickers Vildebeeste, Airspeed Oxford, and Hawker Hind. In 1950, Rongotai aircraft were pushed to the tarmac (photo above) to inspire New Zealand youth to look to the skies.
Photo: National Library of New Zealand
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