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new zealand 3 squadron

Royal New Zealand Air Force


1930 to present    


Unit History:

Formed as a Territorial squadron in 1930 at Christchurch, it became the first RNZAF unit to engage the Japanese in WWII.  The squadron returned to Christchurch and disbanded in 1957.
3 Squadron reformed as a rotary wing unit at RNZAF Hobsonville in 1965 with UH-1 Iroquois and the Sioux for training. In 1966 the unit received the Wasp HAS.1, which it operated and maintained on behalf of the RNZN until 1977, when the Naval Support Flight (still within 3 Squadron, RNZAF) was formed and this continued the Wasp operations.
The SH-2F Seasprite replaced the Wasps of the Naval Support Flight between 1997 and 1998 as an interim measure, based at RNZAF Whenuapai from Jul 1998. The SH-2Fs began to be replaced by the SH-2G Seasprite in April 2001. The Utility Flight (with the UH-1) and the Training Flight (still with the Sioux) moved to RNZAF Ohakea in Jan 2002.
The unit has deployed extensively in the Pacific and operated worldwide in support of the New Zealand Defence Forces. Part of the squadron's tasking is as a Force Element in response to the NZDF Rotary Wing Transport Force; another part is to maximise the effectiveness of the RNZN through its Naval Support Flight.

Bases / Heliports of this unit:

YearsBase / Heliport
2002/nowOhakea Airbase
1998/nowWhenuapai Airbase
1965/98Hobsonville Airbase

Models served in this unit: Login to Edit    

YearsModels
1997/05Royal New Zealand Navy
seasprite
1966/now205
1966/98Royal New Zealand Navy
wasp
1965/now47



Construction Numbers in this Organisation: (Not all in this unit) Help Us    

C/NVersionBuiltIn this OrganisationIn other Org
    191 SH-2F     NZ3441: ex BuNo 161641
US Navy 161641: xfer NZ
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3441: ex BuNo 161641
    236 SH-2F     NZ3442: ex BuNo 162585. preserved RNZAF Museum
US Navy 162585: xfer NZ
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3442: ex BuNo 162585. preserved RNZAF Museum
    121 UH-2B     NZ3443: ex BuNo 150171
US Navy 150171: Conv SH-2F. xfer NZ
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3443: ex BuNo 150171
    104 UH-2B     NZ3444: ex BuNo 150154. spares ?
US Navy 150154: Conv SH-2F. xfer NZ
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3444: ex BuNo 150154. spares ?
    NZ01 SH-2G     NZ3601: new built K-894 type. d/d aug01
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3601: new built K-894 type. d/d aug01
    NZ02 SH-2G     NZ3602: ex NZ3452. K-894 type. d/d jan03
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3602: ex NZ3452. K-894 type. d/d jan03
    NZ03 SH-2G     NZ3603: ex NZ3453. K-894 type. d/d dec01
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3603: ex NZ3453. K-894 type. d/d dec01
    NZ04 SH-2G     NZ3604: ex NZ3454. K-894 type. d/d aug01
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3604: ex NZ3454. K-894 type. d/d aug01
    NZ05 SH-2G     NZ3605: ex NZ3455. K-894 type. d/d jan03. code 05
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3605: ex NZ3455. K-894 type. d/d jan03. code 05
    6514 47g-3 1965     NZ3701: dd Dec 1965 as 47G-3B-1, to 3 Squadron. Crashed 19 Jan 1979.
    6515 47g-3 1965     NZ3702: dd Dec 1965 as 47G-3B-1, to 3 Squadron.
    6516 47g-3     NZ3703: RNZAF. w/o 30jun77
    6517 47g-3     NZ3704: RNZAF. w/o 16jan87
    6518 47g-3     NZ3705: RNZAF 3 sqd
    6519 47g-3     NZ3706: RNZAF 3 sqd
    6809 47g-3 1970     NZ3707: RNZAF. w/o 02apr74
    6810 47g-3     NZ3708: RNZAF
    6811 47g-3     NZ3709: RNZAF. w/o 11nov83
    6812 47g-3     NZ3710: RNZAF. w/o 16jul85
    6813 47g-3     NZ3711: RNZAF. w/o 15nov71
    6814 47g-3     NZ3712: RNZAF 3 sqd
    6815 47g-3     NZ3713: RNZAF 3 sqd
    4812 UH-1D     NZ3801: RNZAF 01. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-9768. Conv UH-1H
    4813 UH-1D     NZ3802: RNZAF 02. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-9769. Conv UH-1H
    5158 UH-1D     NZ3803: RNZAF 03. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-10114. Conv UH-1H
    5159 UH-1D     NZ3804: RNZAF 04. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-10115. Conv UH-1H
    5160 UH-1D     NZ3805: RNZAF 05. 3 sqd. BuNo 65-10116. Conv UH-1H. United Nations East Timor
    11705 UH-1H     NZ3806: RNZAF 06. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15417
    11706 UH-1H     NZ3807: RNZAF 07. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15418
    11707 UH-1H     NZ3808: RNZAF 08. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15419
    11708 UH-1H     NZ3809: RNZAF 09. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15420
    11938 UH-1H     NZ3810: RNZAF 10. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15650. w/o 27apr72
    11939 UH-1H     NZ3811: RNZAF 11. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15651
    11940 UH-1H     NZ3812: RNZAF 12. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15652
    11941 UH-1H     NZ3813: RNZAF 13. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15653. w/o 31mar95
    11942 UH-1H     NZ3814: RNZAF 14. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15654
    13849 UH-1H     NZ3815: RNZAF 15. 3 sqd. BuNo 74-22525
    11702 UH-1H     NZ3816: RNZAF 16. 3 sqd. BuNo 69-15414
    f.9678 wasp 1966     NZ3901: Delivered to Whenuapai Oct 1966. Undercarriage damaged in heavy landing on
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3901: Delivered to Whenuapai Oct 1966. Undercarriage damaged in heavy landing on HMNZS Waikato 21 Oct 1967 as c/s ZM-ZUV. Repaired Auckland. W/o 7 Apr 1973 Waitemata Harbour after tail rotor stopped on engine failure. Some parts re-used in NZ3909, wreck stored North Shore.
    f.9679 wasp 1966     NZ3902: Delivered to HMNZS Waikato at Portland in Dec 1966 and operated as 3 Sqdn/
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3902: Delivered to HMNZS Waikato at Portland in Dec 1966 and operated as 3 Sqdn/430 with c/s ZM-ZUW. Retired from service April 1998 and held for RNZAF museum. Destined for RNZN museum.
    f.9757 wasp 1971     NZ3903: Delivered Nov 1971. Arrived on HMNZS Canterbury Jun 1972 as 3 Sqdn/460 c/s
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3903: Delivered Nov 1971. Arrived on HMNZS Canterbury Jun 1972 as 3 Sqdn/460 c/s ZM-ZUX. Engine failure on 30 Nov 1973 caused crash into Waitemata Harbour off North Head. Written off and stored at Devonport (NZ) naval base.
    f.9587 wasp 1964     NZ3904: ex UK XT417. On loan to RNZN Apr 1974 to Aug 1975 as replacement for the w
Royal Navy XT417: dd 3 Dec 1964. Westland Yeovil by Nov 1969, A&AEE Nov 1969 still May 1970, SBAC 1970 Air Show exhibit, Nord AS12 ASM trials a/c by Sep 1970, Westland Weston-super-Mare before Sep 1973, Westland Yeovil by Sep 1973, left RNAY Wroughton by road 2 May 1974, loaned RNZN as NZ3904, returned to RNAY Wroughton 31 Jul 1975 still May 1977, loaned again to RNZN as NZ3904 and departed in C-130H NZ7004 on 7 Oct 1977, sold to RNZN Sep 1979.
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3904: ex UK XT417. On loan to RNZN Apr 1974 to Aug 1975 as replacement for the wrecked c/n F.9757 (NZ3903). Returned to RN. Loaned again Oct 1977 - Feb 1979, bought by RNZN Sep 1979. Destroyed by fire 20 Nov 1992 at Taupo when a tarpaulin boat cover was sucked up into the rotors during a hover taxi manoeuvre. NZ TAIC Aircraft Accident Report No.92-019.
    f.9669 wasp 1966     NZ3905: Delivererd Feb 1967 to RN as XT787. To RNZN Sep 1982. Retired 1997, sold t
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3905: Delivererd Feb 1967 to RN as XT787. To RNZN Sep 1982. Retired 1997, sold to Westlands. Became G-KAXT 5 Mar 2002. Based Cranfield, Bedfordshire painted as XT787. Reported still flying.
    f.9570 wasp 1964     NZ3906: Ex RN XS543. To RNZN Dec 1982. Retired 1995, sold to Westlands. Presented
Royal Navy XS543: d/d 3 Apr 1964 to RN, 700W Sq Ajax Flt/180-AJ by 1964, /420-S Sembawang Flt by 1966 until 1972, returned to the UK aboard HMS Triumph (R16) and to RNAY Fleetlands by May 1972. To RNAY Wroughton by Oct 1973 until at least Jul 1976, 829 Sq Scylla Flt/432 by Jun 1977 until at least Mar 1978, 703 Sq/602 by Jul 1982. To RNZN.
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3906: Ex RN XS543. To RNZN Dec 1982. Retired 1995, sold to Westlands. Presented to RNZAF museum at Ohakea by Westland in 1998. On display in No 3 hangar at Wigram (sw of Christchurch).
    f.9605 wasp 1965     NZ3907: Delivered to RN as XT435 Oct 1965. To RNZN 1983. Crashed after engine fail
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3907: Delivered to RN as XT435 Oct 1965. To RNZN 1983. Crashed after engine failure at RNZAF Hobsonville 1984, repaired. 3 Sq/Southland Flt by 1991. Operated in Bougainville for peacekeeping duties, when it was painted overall red and known as the Orange Sprat. Retired Apr 1998. Sold to Westlands. Became G-RIMM and flies painted as XT435.
    f.9663 wasp 1966     NZ3908: Westland
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3908: ex XT781 from Royal Navy. Retired Apr 1998. Sold to Westland. Became G-KAWW and flies from Swansea painted as XT781.  Moved to North Weald still as G-KAWW and departed 1 Dec 2005 for South Africa, via Felixstowe Docks. At Virginia (Durban) July 2008.
Royal Navy XT781: ex G-17-6. dd Royal Navy 1966. 829Sq/472 by Jun 1971, 829Sq Charybdis Flt/431-CY by 1976, 829Sq Gurkha Flt/444 by May 1979. To RNZN 1983.
    f.9664 wasp 1966     NZ3909: Delivered to RN as XT782 in 1966. To RNZN 1983 as spares source. Restored
Royal New Zealand Navy NZ3909: Delivered to RN as XT782 in 1966. To RNZN 1983 as spares source. Restored to operations with parts from NZ3904 and NZ3901 in 1994. Retired Apr 1997. Sold to Westlands. To Cranfield (UK) 1998, then to North Weald (EGSX) Nov 2002.
Royal Navy XT782: d/d 4 Oct 1966. Damaged in heavy landing 6 Jun 1983 when top hat section lifted. (Was due for SAAF as "97" but not delivered). On to RNZN (qv).
    f.9544 wasp 1963     XS528: To RNZN 1985 for spares.
Royal New Zealand Navy XS528: To RNZN 1985 for spares.
Royal Navy XS528: Built Hayes by Jan 1963, d/d 1963 to RN. At Hayes by Sep 1970, to Yeovil by Jan 1972, to Fleetlands seen test flying May 1972. 829 Sq/451 Lowestoft Flt by Jan 1973, to NASU VL by Jun 1973 for short term storage whilst HMS Lowestoft refitted at Gibraltar. To A&AEE by Aug 1973 and 829 Sq Trials Flt by Nov 1973. 829 Sq/423 Diomede Flt by Aug 1974, until at least Jul 1978. To Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton. Left May 1984.
    f.9559 wasp 1963     XS532: To RNZN 1985 for spares at Silverdale, New Zealand. Noted in hangar at Dai
Royal Navy XS532: d/d 1963 to RN.
Royal New Zealand Navy XS532: To RNZN 1985 for spares at Silverdale, New Zealand. Noted in hangar at Dairy Flat Airfield 1999 carrying its ex-RN code /406.
    f.9563 wasp 1963     XS536: To RNZN 28 Sep 1983 for spares.
Royal Navy XS536: d/d 1963 to RN.
Royal New Zealand Navy XS536: To RNZN 28 Sep 1983 for spares.
    f.9577 wasp 1964     XS566: To RNZN 20 Oct 1989 for spares to support RNZN Wasp fleet. Preserved Silve
Royal Navy XS566: d/d 4 Jun 1964 to RN. 829Sq Naiad Flt/470-NA by May 1970, 829Sq Apollo Flt/470-AP by May 1972, 829Sq HQ Flt/607 by May 1984.
Royal New Zealand Navy XS566: To RNZN 20 Oct 1989 for spares to support RNZN Wasp fleet. Preserved Silverdale/Dairy Flat, New Zealand by 1999.
    f.9585 wasp 1964     XT415: To RNZN for spares.
Royal Navy XT415: d/d 23 Oct 1965 to RN. 700W Sq Aurora Flt/185, 829 Sq /455 by 1965. Paris Air Show exhibit H96 in 1967. 829 Sq Danae Flt/464-DN by Sep 1968, ditched 6 Sep 1969. To RNAY Fleetlands for re-build, NATIU Lee-on-Solent by May 1972, re-delivered to Portland by Sep 1972, 829 Sq Nubian Flt/457 by Oct 1972, 829 Sq Rhyl Flt/446 by Jan 1973 still Sep 1974, 829 Sq Brighton Flt/461-BR by Aug 1975 (door swap with XT443 around Mar 1976 to /452-BR ?) still Sep 1977. 829 Sq Brighton Flt/461-BR by 1980, 829 Sq Leander Flt/476-LE by May 1984 still 1985, struck off charge Apr 1987. To RNZN.
Royal New Zealand Navy XT415: To RNZN for spares.
    f.9598 wasp 1965     XT428: To RNZN for spare parts to support remainder of Wasp fleet 1985/6.
Royal Navy XT428: d/d 13 May 1965 to RN. 829 Sq Londonderry Flt/447 by Aug 1971, 829 Sq Ambuscade Flt/323-AB
Royal New Zealand Navy XT428: To RNZN for spare parts to support remainder of Wasp fleet 1985/6.
    f.9602 wasp 1965     XT432: To RNZN for spares, either 1986 or 20 Oct 1989.
Royal Navy XT432: d/d 22 Jun 1965 to RN. Noted as 829 Sqdn/415 Hydra Flight, May 1984. HMS Hydra (A144) was an ocean-going hydrographic survey ship, rather than the more usual frigate.
Royal New Zealand Navy XT432: To RNZN for spares, either 1986 or 20 Oct 1989.
Royal Navy XT432: From ex CPOAEA W.L.Dixon: I know every nut and bolt of this airframe having been on HMS Hydra Flight for many years and also being the flying maintainer I have over 100 flying hours trying to sort out mainly the track and vibro so to this effect I have had a look in my flying log (my most treasured possesion )to find the following ; after disbanding of the flight we were both given to 829 Squadron and between october 28 and november 30 1987 I flew in it almost daily with a track and vibration problem the last pilot with me was LT CDR Adams so to this effect it must have been sent to RNZN IN 1989. regards
    f.9729 wasp 1968     XV634: d/d 1989 to RNZN for spares.
Royal Navy XV634: d/d 4 Feb 1969 to RN. Noted as 829 Sqdn/423 Diomede Flight, may 1984.
Royal New Zealand Navy XV634: d/d 1989 to RNZN for spares.
    55 C/N found in this Organisation.

Participated in operations :

DatesOperation
dec97 to apr98Operation Belisi






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