Monday 15 July 2013

RNZAF De Havilland Vampires

RNZAF De Havilland Vampires

I went to the Soutward Car Museum in Paraparaumu, New Zealand with some visitors on Saturday, and found myself delighted to see a Vampire Aircraft suspended from the ceiling!



The aircraft is a Vampire (DH 100) FB.5 (NZ5770)


The aircraft is NZ5570, late of the RNZAF and Former Royal Air Force WA444


Previously WA444 delivered to RAF 20 July 1951 and served with Nos. 145 and 234 Squadrons and No. 2 Tactical Air Force Communications Support Unit. SOC with RAF on 17 May 1956.

 Shipped to New Zealand on 'Hertford". BOC 25 June 1956. Took part in Exercise Silver Bullet the farewell tour of New Zealand to mark the withdrawal of the Vampire during late 1972. 


Flown to Woodbourne for storage 15 December 1972 and sold by GSB tender number DO1523 16 March 1973. To Swedish Museum but sale fell through and aircraft was retendered.

Sold to Southward Motor Museum, Paraparaumu. Presently on display at Southward Motor Museum, Paraparaumu.




Also on display is this Bleriot replica, used in he 1960's movie 
'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines'.


Other Kiwi Vampires:
(Copyrights as indicate, and happy to credit if notified)
Vampire NZ5765  
Wanaka 
2nd April 2010
Photo by George Canciani

Vampire NZ5772
Ohakea 1980s 
Photo via Winstonwolfe Wikipedia

DH.115 Vampire 
NZ5710
RNZAF Photo

Vampire NZ5755 
Lilydale 
21st November 2004
Photo by George Canciani






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