RNZAF Station Nelson

Class: RNZAF Permanent Operational Flying and Ground Training Station
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Nelson
History under RNZAF usage: An operational station from at least as early as 1941
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1941 (?)
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19
Wartime Station Commanders
Wing Commander Ron Sinclair - who was Station CO in June 1942 at least
Wing Commander Alfred Morton Seafield Manhire - from when the TTS at Rongotai moved to Nelson until 1944
Today: Today the former RNZAF Station remains open as Nelson Airport, and is the base of Air Nelson (Air New Zealand) and Origin Pacific airlines. Much of the RNZAF buildings and hangars are still in use today by commercial aviation ventures.

Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

No 2 (GR) Squadron Operational from the 1st of January 1941, flying Vickers Vincents, and later Lockheed Hudsons and Airspeed Oxfords from this station

Technical Training School Moved to RNZAF Station Nelson from RNZAF Station Rongotai. The school trained mechanical trades, and its inventory included many instructional airframes, the most interesting of which was a captured Messerschmitt Bf109E

Takaka

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force?
Closest Major Town or City: Takaka
History under RNZAF usage: unknown, probably an emergency landing field for Nelson
Opened as RNZAF Landing Ground: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Landing Ground: 19??
Today: Is Takaka Airport, from where tourist operators take scenic flights, and also receives direct passenger flights from Wellington
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Motueka

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Motueka
History under RNZAF usage: unknown, probably an emergency landing field for Nelson
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today: Is Motueka Airport, from where tourist operators take scenic flights, and also receives direct passenger flights from Wellington
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Karamea

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Karamea
History under RNZAF usage: unknown, probably an emergency landing field for Nelson and perhaps an emergency defensive airfield in the event of invasion from the west?
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today: Is Karamea Airport
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Tophouse

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force?
Closest Major Town or City: The airstrip is close to the settlement of St Arnaid. Westport is to the west, Nelson to the north (Tophouse is situated in the Rainbow Valley National Park)
History under RNZAF usage: Tophouse was used as an airstrip for aircraft from flying schools at Blenheim and Christchurch to land on during cross country exercises. It may have been used for communications flights too
Opened as RNZAF Airstrip: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Airstrip: 19??
Today: This airstrip still exists today but is known as the Lake Station strip, as it's situated on land owned by Lake Station, near St Arnaud. It is used regularly still by the Nelson Gliding Club. Tophouse itself is a tourism area with a historic homestead, golf course and Department of Conservation area.
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: None

RNZAF Station Woodbourne

Class: RNZAF Permanent Flying Training Station
Airfield Type: Permanent paved runway
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Blenheim
History under RNZAF usage: Built specifically for the RNZAF just before the war, RNZAF Station Woodbourne was designed as a flying training facility, and it performed that very task throughout the war.
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1939
Closed as RNZAF Station: Still currently RNZAF operated, as well as partly civil
Wartime Station Commanders:
Group Captain Keith Caldwell (whilst in charge of No. 2 SFTS)
Today: Today though outwardly Woodbourne looks largely unchanged since the war, in RNZAF terms it is a mere shadow of its former self. Most of the base has sadly been civilianised by various Government cutbacks. What does remain there are the various ground training schools of the RNZAF and all new entrants begin their careers on the base. What was once No 1 Repair Depot, probably the best aviation maintenance facility in the country, has now been contracted out to civilians. The station is also now the regional airport with many regular flights from various airlines

Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Dental Unit
A Dental Unit was established at RNZAF Station Woodbourne in April 1940, one of the first three RNZAF Dental Sections (the others being at Levin and Ohakea)

No. 2 Service Flying Training School
This SFTS was the last flying school to be established in 1939. Wing Commander Keith Caldwell was appointed Commanding Officer and Squadron Leader Nicholl became the first Chief Flying Instructor. The first course of eighteen airmen pilots arrived on the 28th of December 1940.

Flying initially Vickers Vildebeeste and Vincent bombers as advanced trainers, from 1941 the North American Harvard single-engined trainers began to take over the role, releasing the the biplanes for General Reconnaissance duties. The majority of the Harvards in the wartime RNZAF were on charge at this station, and it was the main advanced flying training school for single seat training.

There were two levels of training within the SFTS system, and they were two distinct courses at different squadrons within the school. The No. 2 SFTS Initial Training Squadron, or ITS, was the period where trainees converted from the basic aircraft they'd learned on (Moths, Tiger Moths, etc) to more the powerful aircraft. They furthered their aeronautical training. At the No. 2 SFTS Advanced Training Squadron, or ATS, more advanced flying techniques such as formation flying were taught. For a more detailed account of the activities of this school I highly recommend the book 'Beckoning Skies' by the late Bryan E. Young.

16 (F) Squadron
This unit was based at nearby RNZAF Station Fairhall, which was initially a satellite grass airfield to Woodbourne. The squadron's Harvards and Kittyhawks also reportedly operated from Woodbourne but may never have been permanently based there. Can anyone confirm this?

Aerodrome Defence Unit
Equipped with 40mm Bofors Guns

No. Repair Depot
Set up in April 1942 to overhaul the Harvards

No.2 Aircraft Storage Unit
Established near the end of the war to store surplus aircraft

 

Official Website for RNZAF Woodbourne - Click Here

Above: RNZAF Station Woodbourne, near Blenheim. This is a composite of three photos that were taken by webmaster Dave Homewood in the Autumn or Winter 1989 whilst he was based at Woodbourne. They show No's 2, 3 and 4 Hangars as viewed from the eastern edge of the airfield. The runway would be to the left of the picture.

RNZAF Station Omaka

Class: RNZAF Permanent Flying Station and Ground Training School
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Blenheim
History under RNZAF usage: Prewar this had been a busy and historic aerodrome, and from almost the war's beginning RNZAF activities moved in. Initially used as a satellite to nearby RNZAF Station Woodbourne, from February 1941 Omaka became an operational station. Later that year it became home to the School of General Reconnaissance, and in 1943 the brief home of the NCO's School. New recruits who had previously been trained in the Air Training Corps also were inducted into the RNZAF on this station through a system designed to fast track them through and not double up on the previous training. By late 1943 the station was beginning to be wound down significantly and from 1944 till the end of the war became merely a satellite storage depot for nearby RNZAF Station Woodbourne.
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1939 (?) - Operational from February 1941
Closed as RNZAF Station: April 1944
Today: Today Omaka is a thriving regional aerodrome for Marlborough, where general aviation continues to flourish as it did before the war. It is also home to a wonderful collection of historic aircraft, including real and replica World War One fighters, and some World War Two aircraft too. Owners of aircraft based on this airfield include well-known WWI enthusiast and restorer Stuart Tantrum, the very famous film maker Peter Jackson, and also restoration expert Mike Nicholls.

The aerodrome holds a large bi-annual airshow, Classic Fighters, at Easter during the odd years to compliment the famous Warbirds Over Wanaka shows in the even years. Recently work began on the construction of a new aviation heritage centre on the aerodrome which will certainly become a major tourist attraction. Many of the former RNZAF buildings remain on site, some being used by the local Air Training Corps unit. I am sure that the new museum will reflect the history of the RNZAF on this important aerodrome.

Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

No. 2 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron Detachment
Flying Vickers Vincent and Vildebeest from Omaka as a detachment of the Nelson-based No. 2 (GR) Squadron, this unit was established to patrol the eastern approaches of Cook Strait against raiders and submarines. This detachment was set up at Omaka in February 1941, and another role that developed for the unit was the training of General Reconnaissance crews. This detachment was later divided from the squadron, and became the School of General Reconnaissance. See below.

The School of General Reconnaissance
Originally flying Vickers Vincent and Vildebeest aircraft inherited from the detachment of No. 2 (GR) Squadron, this school was formed in late 1941. The squadron had run the training of crews for its own and other GR squadrons since early 1941. With several new GR squadrons being formed the need arose for a larger, separate school, so the School of General Reconnaissance was formed.

More modern aircraft arrived from July 1942 for the school when 14 Avro Anson twin-engined light bombers arrived to train pilots, navigators, wireless operators and air gunners in the skills of General Reconnaissance fighting. The school was based at Omaka till about September 1943, at which point nine more Ansons had arrived, the school had expanded to train new navigators as well, and the unit moved to RNZAF Bell Block at New Plymouth

Initial Training Wing
The training of ex-Air Training Corp cadets began to be carried out here in 1942, and continued through 1943. They were trained with a more fast-track system to get them into flying training, because the ATC should already have given them a good grounding in Air Force knowledge, practices and skills that needn't be repeated in their training.

NCO's School
With the departure of the School of General Reconnaissance from RNZAF Station Omaka to New Plymouth, a new school took its place. The NCO's School was established here to train airmen who were being promoted to an NCO rank in the duties and etiquette of those ranks. However this was a short-lived posting, the school only being at Omaka through August 1943, before moving on again to RNZAF Station Levin. The similar Officer's School of Instruction replaced this school at the end of August 1943.

Officers' School of Instruction
This school rained new officers in the duties and etiquettes of being an officer. The school moved to Omaka in late August 1943 from RNZAF Station Levin - where a lack of accommodation had forced the school out, and returned to Levin when Omaka closed in April 1944

 

Above: Former RNZAF Station Omaka, near Blenheim. This photo was taken by webmaster Dave Homewood on a visit to the airfield in February 2004. It is now home to a great collection of historic aircraft including director Peter Jackson's World War One replica fighters. Centre of shot is a former Safe Air Bristol Freighter. An Aviation Historical Centre is currently under construction at Omaka, which is also the venue of the biennial Classic Fighters airshow.

 

RNZAF Station Delta

Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Blenheim
History under RNZAF usage: "The Delta", as it was known, was a collection of RNZAF camps, all established at the delta point where the Wairau and Waihopai Rivers meet on one side, and the Omaka river passes on the other. The site had been chosen by and developed under the guidance of Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, of the Aerodrome Services Branch of Air Headquarters. It included a runway and several camps where new airmen would undergo initial training.

The Delta was not the most popular of stations to be posted to, mainly due to the poor standard of food dished up to airmen there, and the primitive living conditions. However many men were to pass through the Delta on their way to bigger and better things.

Opened as RNZAF Station: June 1943 (the Delta camps were initially built for the Army but transferred to the RNZAF at this time). The Delta became a centralised point for several pre-flying training schools which moved in from other stations
Closed as RNZAF Station: October 1944
Wartime Station Commanders:
Squadron Leader Sidney Wiltshire GC (from September 1943, till January 1944, as Officer Commanding Elementary Ground Training School)
Today: I guess this land reverted to farm land, and is possibly also vineyards today.
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

GTD (standing for Ground Training Depot?)
Established at the Delta in late 1943. Closed October 1944

Elementary Ground Training Squadron
Established at the Delta in late 1943. Closed October 1944

Advanced Ground Training Squadron
Established at the Delta in late 1943. Closed October 1944

Initial Training Wing
The ITW moved to RNZAF Station Delta from RNZAF Station Rotorua in February 1944 and the grouping of all pre-flying training was then completed. When the Delta was closed in October 1944, the ITW was moved down to RNZAF Station Taieri.

 

Above: This map created by Dave Homewood is based on an old map supplied by John Skeen. The village of Renwick, then known as Renwicktown, would be just right of the map.

Ashford Camp – This was the RNZAF Hospital and WAAF Wing

Bedford Camp – The RNZAF Medical section [decompression chamber]

Cheshire Camp – Initial training & recreation

Dorset Camp – Aircrew candidates

Evesham Camp – Headquarters Wing & RNZAF Stores

Fareham Camp – Elementary Training Wing [and Gunnery training]

Guernsey Camp – Senior Training prior Wings Course. Also an RNZAF Dental School

Wairau Valley

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground?
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force?
Closest Major Town or City: Blenheim
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: unknown
Closed as RNZAF Station: unknown
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

RNZAF Dillons Point

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Blenheim
History under RNZAF usage:This site was chosen in 1942 by Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, of the Aerodrome Services Branch of Air Headquarters, to become an RNZAF airfield. It was approved as such by HQ, but was held in reserve. It is unknown whether any actual development of the airfield was made at that time.
Opened as RNZAF Station: not as such
Closed as RNZAF Station: see above
Today: unknown - probably returned to farm land
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: Nil

Clarence

Class:
Administered by: unknown
Closest Major Town or City: Blenheim
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: unknown
Closed as RNZAF Station: unknown
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Class: RNZAF Emergency Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: 16km south of Kaikoura, next to the Conway River
History under RNZAF usage: This was an emergency airfield. I am unsure how often it was actually used by the RNZAF but I do know of one emergency landing made there on the 29th of June 1943. This is detailed on page 100 of Alex Horn's excellent book "Wings Over The Pacific" (Random Century, 1992). A pilot with No. 42 (Communications) Squadron who remains unnamed in the text at his own request, ran into trouble on a flight from Rongotai to Wigram when he and his passengers unexpectedly flew into a frontal storm. Visibility became impossible and he decided to put down the Airspeed Oxford he was flying at Conway Flat. The book records, "There were there so they finished up, in a very wet state, at a local farmer's enjoying a cup of tea while waiting for the weather to clear. They phoned Wigram and explained the situation; the base had been closed by the storm."

Opened as RNZAF Station: unknown
Closed as RNZAF Station: unknown
Today: Most probably farm land I'd think
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

No units were based at Conway Flat as far as i can find. It was merely a flat empty field with no buildings, marked onto pilot's maps for emergencies

RNZAF Eyreton (Harris Field)

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage:This site was chosen in 1942 by Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, of the Aerodrome Services Branch of Air Headquarters, to become an RNZAF airfield. It was approved as such by HQ, but was held in reserve. It is unknown whether any actual development of the airfield was made at that time.
Opened as RNZAF Station: not as such
Closed as RNZAF Station: see above
Today: unknown - probably returned to farm land
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: Nil

RNZAF Station Wigram

Class: RNZAF Permanent Flying Station
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage:
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1923
Closed as RNZAF Station: 1995
Wartime Station Commanders:
Air Commodore George Stacey Hodson CBE, AFC, CdeG(Belg) RAF - Station CO April 1938 till June 1942
Group Captain Keith Caldwell - Station CO whilst in charge of No. 2 SFTS from June 1942 till November 1944
Group Captain Cyril Kay - November 1944 till March 1946

Today: The home of the RNZAF Museum, but sadly a ridiculous Government decision to close New Zealand's most historic and best base was made in 1993, and after its closure in 1995 it has endured mass destruction of the historic buildings, and much hosing has been built over the old station's grounds. The airfield still operates for various civilian aviation groups but is also under threat of being built on.
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

No. 3 (Christchurch) Squadron
Formed on the 4th of September 1939 at RNZAF Station Wigram, this had previously been No. 3 Territorial Squadron, but became a permanent unit at the immediate outbreak of war. The squadron flew Blackburn Baffins till it was disbanded in February 1940, with half the personnel going to the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron. This included its C.O., Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Roberts, who took command of the NZGR Sqn. The remainder of personnel were absorbed into other units at Wigram and elsewhere

No.22 (Fighter) Squadron
This squadron was stationed at Wigram from January 1943

No. 1 Electrical and Wireless School
A ground training school for wireless operators and electrical technicians. This developed postwar into the famous No. 2 Technical Training School where the Avionics trade trained

No. 1 Flying Training School
Flying Baffins, Vildebeests and other types. Became 1 SFTS, as below

No. 1 Service Flying Training School (Advanced Training Squadron)
Flying Airspeed Oxfords

No. 1 Service Flying Training School (Initial Training Squadron)
Flying Airspeed Oxfords

Unit 19
A maintenance unit on the station

Administrative Training School
Set up to train personnel in such trades as stores accounting clerks, pay accounting clerks, general duties clerks, and equipment assistants . Established October 1939. This scholl was the embryo of what went on to become No. 3 Technical Training School, which continued on the base till the mid-1990's

RNZAF Station Harewood

Class: RNZAF Permanent Flying Station
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage: An ex-municipal aerodrome that began to be constructed into an RNZAF station at the immediate outbreak of war in 1939, Harewood became a major training station during the war. It's first Station Commander was Wing Commander Sir Robert Clark-Hall. Whilst nearby Wigram concentrated on advanced multi-engined training for most of the war, Harewood was ab-initio pilot training on Tiger Moths, and was also an operational station for No. 3 (GR) Squadron on Baffins and Hudsons.
Opened as RNZAF Station: 15th of May 1940, training bginning August 1940
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Wartime Station Commanders
Wing Commander Sir Robert Hamilton Clark-Hall, KBE, CMG, DSO, Legion of Honour (France), mid 17th of June 1940 till 22nd of April 1944
Wing Commander W. Gordon Coull 26th of April 1943 till 26th of March 1944
Wing Commander E.A.A. Moen, AFC 27th of march 1944 till the 21st of March 1945
Wing Commander Roy Douglas Max DSO, DFC, CdeG(FR) - 21st of March 1945 till September 1945

Today: Harewood is now Christchurch International Airport, the country's second busiest after Auckland
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

No. 1 Ground Training Depot

No. 1 Service Flying Training School (Advanced Training Squadron)
Temporarily attached here

No. 3 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron
Flying Blackburn Baffins and Vickers Vincents and Vildebeests, then Lockheed Hudsons, patrolling the Canterbury region and seaways

No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School
Flying DH82 Tiger Moths, this school was established in August 1940 to train new pilots. This became one of the largest flying schools in the country when, after No. 2 EFTS was closed down at RNZAF Station Ashburton in October 1944, it's instructors and aircraft were absorbed into this school.

No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Flight

No. 3 Electrical and Wireless Training Squadron

311 Electrical and Wireless Squadron
A school for wireless repair engineers, Wireless Operators and all manner of other instrument mechanics and the likes to be trained in their trade at. This was eventually in postwar to become the famous No. 2 Technical Training School, which sadly closed when RNZAF Wigram was being wound down in 1993.

Unit 13
A maintenance unit

Recruit Training Squadron

RNZAF Station Norwood

Class: RNZAF Flying Training Station, satellite to RNZAF Station Wigram
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage: The following extracts that detail the history of RNZAF Station Norwood come from Wartime Memories of the RNZAF by Keith and Nona Morris, and have been repeated here with kind permission of the author, Mrs Nona Morris.

"Norwood, twenty five miles south west of Christchurch had been developed in 1939 as a satellite landing ground for Wigram, the senior RNZAF station in the country.

In November 1942, No. 22 Army Co-operation Squadron, equipped with Vincent aircraft, moved from Palmerston North to Norwood and about this time it was developed as a small station. However the Army Co-operation Squadron was short lived and the station reverted again to the status of a satellite for Wigram. It was now used to accommodate the advanced training section of No. 1 Service Flying Training School.

The pupil pilots and their instructors came down to Norwood for the last month of their course. They flew Oxford aircraft and were engaged in cross country navigation flying and bombing practice over Lake Ellesmere.

As well as the airman pilots and their instructors, there were maintenance and support staff. Altogether, when I was at Norwood, there were about 120 men and 20 WAAFS.

All the personnel slept in army huts. If Harewood rated "Hotel" status, Norwood didn't even make "one star". The girls huts were completely enclosed by a high, wooden fence and it was always referred to as "The Compound."

At one end of the Compound were the toilets - just long drop ones with holes in the ground. The ablution block contained a laundry and a boiler house, and a large, communal shower-room.

I recommend Nona's excellent book, in which she describes her time at Norwood in much more detail than noted above. She was a WAAF Telephone Operator and also in charge of all WAAFs on the station at the time. She served there from December 1943 through till October 1944.
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1939
Closed as RNZAF Station: 1945?
Wartime Station Commanders
Wing Commander William Leonard Harrison VD - Dates not known

Today: John Skene of Christchurch has a keen interest in the history of old RNZAF Stations in the South Island. He has recently visited Norwood and he reports about the former RNZAF station as it is today: "It is mostly back in farm land, however if you look you can find remains of the accommodation blocks and one of the old hangars."

The following photos of former RNZAF Norwood were taken by and kindly supplied by John Skene

Above: Remains of a former accommodation block at Norwood	Above: Remains of buildings at Norwood
Above: More remains of old buildings at RNZAF Norwood	The west side of former RNZAF Norwood
Above: Footings of one of the old RNZAF hangars at former RNZAF Station Norwood.

 

Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

No. 22 Army Co-operation Squadron
Flying Vickers Vincents from november 1942 till ?

No. 1 Service Flying Training School
Advanced Training Section, flying Airspeed Oxfords

No. 3 Anti-Aircraft Flight
Flying Harvards and Vildebeestes, towing targets for ship's Orkliekon Anti-Aircraft gunners to practice on. This flight covered shipping in the area from Christchurch down to Dunedin. Roy Russell's excellent book Aerial Circles - 50 Years of NZ Aviation 1935-1985 details his time with this Flight

Recommended Further Reading: Wartime Memories of the RNZAF by Keith and Nona Morris. This book details the station very well because Nona was based there for a long period during the Second World War.

RNZAF Lyttleton

Class: NZ Government Landing Ground
Administered by: New Zealand Government
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage: This was a port depot which dispatched and received RNZAF personnel who were going overseas and on the ferry to the North Island, etc
Opened as RNZAF Station: unknown
Closed as RNZAF Station: unknown
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

RNZAF Cashmere

Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Cashmere Hills, Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage: A number of private residences were taken over on the Cashmere Hills and converted to become the Southern Group Headquarters. Underground bunkers were dug secretly under the main building. There was also apparently a civil emergency landing ground that may have been used by the RNZAF
Opened as RNZAF HQ: 1939
Closed as RNZAF HQ: unknown
Today: The buildings are owned by the Historic Places Trust and are open to the public. Canterbury University has seismic equipment in the underground bunker
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Southern Group Headquarters
The highly secret and important Southern Group Headquarters were stationed here. I will add more to this soon, but in the meantime I recommend the book Wartime Memories of the RNZAF by Keith and Nona Morris. This book details the SGHQ very well because Nona was based there for a period during the Second World War.

RNZAF Darfield

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage:This site was chosen in 1942 by Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, of the Aerodrome Services Branch of Air Headquarters, to become an RNZAF airfield. It was approved as such by HQ, but was held in reserve. It is unknown whether any actual development of the airfield was made at that time. This theoretically may have been selected as a satellite field for Te Pirita, which is nearby to the south-west of Darfield
Opened as RNZAF Station: not as such
Closed as RNZAF Station: see above
Today: unknown - probably returned to farm land
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: Nil

RNZAF Maronan

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Inland from Ashburton
History under RNZAF usage:This site was chosen in 1942 by Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, of the Aerodrome Services Branch of Air Headquarters, to become an RNZAF airfield. It was approved as such by HQ, but was held in reserve. It is unknown whether any actual development of the airfield was made at that time.
Opened as RNZAF Station: not as such
Closed as RNZAF Station: see above
Today: unknown
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: Nil

RNZAF Mayfield

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Inland from Ashburton
History under RNZAF usage:This site was chosen in 1942 by Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, of the Aerodrome Services Branch of Air Headquarters, to become an RNZAF airfield. It was approved as such by HQ, but was held in reserve. It is unknown whether any actual development of the airfield was made at that time.
Opened as RNZAF Station: not as such
Closed as RNZAF Station: see above
Today: unknown
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: Nil

Timaru

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Timaru
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Waitaki

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Waitaki, below Timaru
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Ranfurly

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Christchurch
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Cromwell

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Cromwell
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Waianakarua

Class: PWD Landing Ground
Administered by: New Zealand Public Works Department
Closest Major Town or City: Waianakarua
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today: :
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Alexandra

Class: PWD Landing Ground
Administered by: New Zealand Public Works Department
Closest Major Town or City: Alexandra
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Waianakarua

Administered by: unknown
Closest Major Town or City: Oamaru
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

RNZAF Station Taieri

Class: RNZAF Permanent Flying Training Station
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Dunedin
History under RNZAF usage: An ex-municipal aerodrome, and home to Dunedin Aero Club, this airfield became an RNZAF station at the immediate outbreak of war in 1939. It had already been chosen as the base for a fourth Territorial Squadron that was being set up, No. 4 Squadron, but no accommodation for the squadron had begun to be built when war began. The Public Works Department set to work and built the station and all was ready for the RNZAF to take over and use within just six weeks of them commencing work!

No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, the first of four such EFTS's to be established, opened on the station on the 7th of October 1939 whilst construction work proceeded and at first had to make do with just one hangar.
Opened as RNZAF Station: September 1939
Closed as RNZAF Station: 1959
Wartime Station Commanders:
Squadron Leader Stedman - from opening of Station in September 1939
Wing Commander Edgar 'Ted' Harvie - from January 1941, as RNZAF's Chief Flying Instructor and CO of No. 1 EFTS (Previously commanded Central Flying School, Wigram from October 1939-January 1941, and in 1943 went to Canada. I don't know when he left Taieri as such but probably when Wg Comm Sinclair took over)
Wing Commander R.J. Sinclair - approx January 1942 till ? (previously commanded RNZAF Station Rongotai)
Wing Commander Peter Alister Matheson OBD (cvsa) - August 1943 till ??
Today: John Noble of Mosgiel wrote in to say. "The airfield albeit much smaller is still utilised by the local aero club. The hangars are still there as well as some of the original buildings." Thanks John.  
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

1 Elementary Flying Training School
Flying DH82 Tiger Moths

Unit 7
A maintenance unit

Initial Training School

Grading School

RNZAF Station Taieri Today

The following photographs have been kindly supplied by Mr John Noble of Mosgiel, and they show the former RNZAF Station as it looks today in 2006. The captions form here on are John's words; If anyone else who served on the station has comments to add, please contact me

"Taieri Airfield is still in use by the Otago Aero Club, home to our local Rescue helicopter and a base for the aircraft homebuilder of which there is quite a few. The main runway is still 23 --05 and grassed and is almost in line with the prevailing SW wind. There are several large industrial sites on parts of the former runway areas which include  a meat processing plant, a whiteware factory (Fisher and Paykel) and a bond store for locally made whiskey This image is of the Northernmost Hangar which is used as a bond store and storage for the Wilsons Whiskey Co"

"Another view looking NE of the Northern Hangar. The road separates the airfield and hangers from the remainder of the Base site."

"This the other hangar (the southern one) I remember this being used by NAC Airways in the 50's and 60's where the DC3's were overnighted and serviced as Taieri was Dunedin's main airport until Momona Airport about 10km south opened  as Dunedin's new airport in 1964, with Taieri reverting back to a club operated airfield." 

 

"The only surviving 'H' accommodation block  full of boorer and wood rot. Used by local cultural groups and completely run down."

"I believe that this was one of the Stores buildings. From the early 1960's until 1984 this was the Headquarters of No. 46 Mosgiel Squadron Air Training Corps and is now use by a local Motor Cycle Sporting Club.  I was one of the first Mosgiel ATC Cadets when the Squadron was reactivated and then became one of the Squadron's Officers and finally Unit Commander in 1982."

 

"Not too sure about this one  its on the North Side of the old ATC Building might have been HQ? "

"Another view of the previous. Possibly HQ."

 

"What used to be the Parade Ground."  

 

"This was where the Officers Mess used to be. The foundations and the front steps are still visible."

 

"I think that this was part of the Transport section,"

 

Thanks very much to John Noble for this glimpse into the remains of the historic RNZAF Station Taieri

Gore

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Gore
History under RNZAF usage: Already a landing ground before the war, Gore was apparently taken over by the RNZAF in 1939.
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1939
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Queenstown

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Queenstown
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Glenorchy

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Queenstown
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Makarora

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Wanaka
History under RNZAF usage: This civil airfield is situated at the northern end of Lake Hawea and was one of many maintained by the RNZAf for communications work, general reconnaissance and emergencies. It's remote nature probably means it was little used by the RNZAF and was probably little more than a field
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Jacksons Bay

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Queenstown
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Haast

Administered by: unknown
Closest Major Town or City: Haast
History under RNZAF usage: In 1942, the RNZAF, under the guidance of Flying Officer Arthur Bradshaw, had this aerodrome's existing runway extended, so that it could be used by Vickers Vincents of No. 2 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron from RNZAF Station Nelson in emergencies or during specific patrols.
Opened as RNZAF Station: 1942
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Mount Cook Hermitage

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Queenstown
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Waiho

Class: RNZAF Landing Ground
Administered by: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Closest Major Town or City: Queenstown
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Landsborough

Class:
Administered by:
Closest Major Town or City:
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today: :
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Mussel Point

Class:
Administered by:
Closest Major Town or City:
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here:

Arawata

Class:
Administered by:
Closest Major Town or City:
History under RNZAF usage: unknown
Opened as RNZAF Station: 19??
Closed as RNZAF Station: 19??
Today:
Wartime Units Permanently Stationed Here: