Air Force Museum Blog
‘Through Adversity to the Stars’
In this guest blog, Otago University postgraduate student Stacey Fraser discusses her experience using the Air Force Museum of New Zealand archives for her research into the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
Canberra WT346 heads to a new home
We’re really thrilled to share that our Trust Board has signed an agreement, loaning ex-RAF Canberra B(I)8 WT346 to NZ Warbirds Association Inc. at Ardmore for restoration to static display.
New to the Collection
Discover some of the newest additions to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand collection.
The ‘Battle of Britain’ comes to New Zealand
In 1969, the blockbuster film “Battle of Britain” was released in New Zealand, generating one of the largest paper objects in the Air Force Museum collection.
Remembering ‘The Few’ 80 Years On
The Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 was one the turning points of World War Two. For five months, from June until October 1940, a small number of young fighter pilots of the Royal Air Force (RAF) struggled against the much larger German Luftwaffe for control of the skies over southern England.
The Battle of Britain Lace Panel
Discover the story of one of the Museum’s most special artefacts – the Battle of Britain commemorative lace panel.
50 Years of Flying Kiwis
The Kiwi roundel has now graced the aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) for 50 years, more than all other roundel types in total. Just how did a flightless bird end up as an enduring symbol of our Air Force?
Cook Strait: the first flight
On 25 August 1920, three men of the Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Company conquered one of the great barriers to New Zealand aviation, when they made the first aerial crossing of Cook Strait.
Witnesses of Deliverance: New Zealand Airmen and Dunkirk, May-June 1940
The ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ ensured that Britain’s army would not suffer the same fate as those of France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Poland and fight on. While no New Zealand troops took part, there were significant numbers of New Zealand airmen involved and these are some of their stories.
50 Years On: RNZAF Skyhawk Purchase and Arrival
It has been 50 years since the McDonnell Douglas A4-K Skyhawk, one of the most iconic and longest-serving aircraft in the history of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), first arrived in New Zealand
Highlights from the Memorabilia Project
75 years ago, in April and May 1945, one of the first major humanitarian operations carried out by air forces took place over Holland.
Remembering Operation “Manna”, 1945
75 years ago, in April and May 1945, one of the first major humanitarian operations carried out by air forces took place over Holland.
Stories of service and sacrifice
Discover stories of service and sacrifice from Kiwis who helped shaped New Zealand’s military aviation story.
Avro 626 NZ203: fast facts on a unique aircraft
The Avro 626 on display at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand is a very unique aircraft with an interesting story: it is the only fully-intact surviving aircraft operated by the RNZAF before World War Two.
Researching your family history online
Whakapapa connections – who we are, and where we come from – are how we relate to our families and our own place in the world. Whether you’re researching a military or civilian ancestor, this blog will help begin your journey into exploring your family history – a journey you can start online.
Origins of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
On 1 April 1937, following the passing of the Air Force Act, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) was established as an independent service.
Let’s Talk Research: The Heavy and Continuous Sacrifice Conference
Over 13-15 February 2020, a major international conference on World War Two was held at Massey University campus in Wellington. Entitled ‘Heavy and Continuous Sacrifice’, it focused on New Zealand and international aspects of the conflict.
Handle with care
Every day, objects in our collection present our team with unique challenges to overcome if we are to look after them in the best possible way. Find out more about individual storage solutions.
My time at the Museum
The past three months I had the opportunity to work with the collections team and have discovered that there is so much more to the Museum than what is on public display.
‘Women Aviators’ by Karen Bush Gibson
This relatively small hard-backed publication, with just over 230 pages, is a little gem box of a book. Containing ‘26 Stories of Pioneer Flights, Daring Missions, and Record-Setting Journeys’, it is indeed a celebration of the dramatic, pragmatic, and often hard fought for, achievements of women throughout the history of aviation.
Within the Glass Case: The Red Baron
So, who was this Baron von Richthofen and who was A.V. Barrow? Why and how did Barrow collect these souvenirs and what is their significance?
Air Force Museum Photo Archives go online
We are really thrilled to announce that for the first time ever, researchers will be able to browse digitised parts of our photograph collection, online.
The ‘Bougainville Typewriter’ – Bill Williamson’s trusted companion
To run a successful military unit requires a lot of administration. Learn more about the Underwood typewriter was used during World War Two.
Messenger Pigeons of World War Two
Homing pigeons were widely used as messenger carriers by the armed and civil services during World War Two.
Wāhine Toa: Women in Defence: collaborating and curating online
The first collaborative, online exhibition of its kind by New Zealand’s national service museums explores the journeys of women serving in New Zealand’s military since gender integration.
Conservation of photo negatives
Our Keeper of Photographs, Matthew O’Sullivan takes us through an example of conserving a photo negative from the collection.
40 years of service – the military journey of Harry Leese
Read the story of the life of a veteran who served in both World Wars.
Never Forget by Jo Bailey
Reflect on personal stories in ‘Never Forget’, by New Zealand writer Jo Bailey, where she has combined extensive interviews with the use of wartime diaries, black and white photos, and written memoir, to create six compelling first person accounts of war.
What’s in the background?
What’s in the background? Find out more about this photo from our Keeper of Photographs.
Ron Hermanns’ trench art collection
Discover Ron Hermanns collection of exquisitely-crafted ‘trench art’, produced during two tours of operation to the Pacific islands during World War Two.
