The RNZAF fought in World War II, Malaya, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Gulf War and has undertaken United Nations peacekeeping missions. From a peak of over 1,000 combat aircraft in 1945, the RNZAF has shrunk to a strength of around 48 aircraft in 2022.

The military history of New Zealand during World War II began when New Zealand entered the Second World War by declaring war on Nazi Germany with the United Kingdom in 1939, and expanded to the Pacific War when New Zealand declared war on Imperial Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. New Zealand's forces were soon serving across ...

In late March 1942, the RNZAF formed the surviving pilots from operations at Singapore––Nos. 243 and 488 Squadrons––into No. 14 Squadron RNZAF under Squadron Leader J.N. Mackenzie. Employed in a defensive role, they were initially equipped with obsolete Harvards.

Two-engine maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Flown by No. 5 Squadron RNZAF, replacing the Lockheed P-3 Orion.

Equipped with American-made aircraft, the RNZAF conducted anti-submarine patrols, reconnaissance, bombing, rescue, and fighter escort missions throughout the Solomon Islands and over the Bismarck Archipelago off New Guinea.

Commanding Officer, 487 Squadron RNZAF (flying Mosquito - 6 operations) [Piloted Mosquito PZ395 [EG-E] that had taken off at 11:00 hrs from Rosières-en-Senterre (France) for Operation Clarion. The aim of the operation, in which 215 planes were involved, was to range over large areas of Germany attacking transport & communications.

In 1937 the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) became an independent service within the New Zealand defence forces. In the subsequent 75 years the RNZAF has built up a proud tradition of service, demonstrating resourcefulness and …

Timeline showing key events related to the history of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), 1913-2012. The Imperial Air Fleet Committee presents a Blériot XI monoplane – Britannia – to New Zealand as the nucleus of a new flying corps.

New Zealand declares war on Germany, joining allies Britain, France and Australia. On this day, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Territorial Air Force are mobilised and the reserves are called up. The strength of New Zealand's air capabilities on this day consisted of: 5 Airspeed Oxford monoplane modern twin-engined trainers.

The following photos show various aspects of the places where thousands of RNZAF personnel once lived, worked and fought in the Pacific. Apologies for the poor quality of some of these photos. They come from personal collections and are very old.