No 3 Territorial Squadron RNZAF

MOTTO

KIMIHAA KA PATU

SEEK OUT AND DESTROY

Formed, 1 November 1948
Disbanded, 1957

COs

S/L, J.R.Maling. AFC

BASES

Christchurch Wigram

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Harvard

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Mustang

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ROLES

CODE

ROLE OF HONOUR

F/O V C Duckmanton 27 Septempilot's52 NZ 2424 Mustang into Lyttelton Harbour from a high altitude, caused by lack of the pilots supplementary oxygen system, this was the first Mustang fatality in NZ.

Sqn Colours “ Black & Red” Approved by RNZAF HQ Jan 1954
Affiliated with 610 County Of Chester RAuxAF Sqn Feb 1954

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Members of the Squadron in February 1949
F/L, S.F. Browne. DFC
F/L, J.M. Wilson
F/L, R.S.D. Kearns. DSO, DFC, DFM.
F/L, L.M. Noble. [Navigation Leader]

With the introduction of Compulsory Military Training [CMT]in NZ in 1949, with the aim to provide a core of trained personnel to protect the UK and Commonwealth interests, and the mutual interests in the Middle East the Territorial Squadrons were formed to keep the pilot skills up, and provide training for the CMT’s

The Squadrons were equipped with 30 North American Mustangs, re-activated from storage, with a few Harvards and Tiger Moths,

In 1957 the Squadrons were disbanded after the CMT had been replaced with a balloted system that provided smaller numbers, for service with the NZ Army.

At one stage the following Mustangs were on the Squadron

NZ 2409 sold as scrap, wings used in rebuild of NZ 2417
NZ 2412 lost wing in flight, F/O P.G. Vowles killed
NZ 2415 sold as scrap, tender 5926
NZ 2417 sold as scrap, rebuilt with NZ 2409’s wings, registered as ZK CCG in
1964, sold to USA, re registered N 921 in 1974
NZ 2424 Crashed into Lyttelton Harbour F/O V.C.Duckmanton killed
NZ 2426 from 4 TAF Squadron 3 September 1954, sold as scrap, tender 5926
NZ 2427 sold as scrap, tender 5926, rebuilt and first flight 12 July 2001
Registered G-MSTG

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner