New Exhibition
Victory!
This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
A new exhibition, called Victory, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering. While it was a day to celebrate, there was still a war in the Pacific to fight.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about VE Day with us. The exhibition is on in our upstairs balcony in the atrium.
New Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
We are delighted to let you know that our latest exhibition, the Mighty Hercules, is now open. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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#Extraordinaryaircraft
Help us build a home for our #extraordinaryaircraft
Our Lockheed C-130H (NZ) Hercules and P-3K2 Orion have had long-term preservation work completed so they can be safely stored while we work on plans for a new permanent exhibition space large enough to house them.
Measuring 29.8m from nose to tail, with a wingspan of 40.5m and a tail soaring to just under 11m high, the Hercules is too large for our current exhibition halls. The Orion is almost as tall and even longer – stretching to 36m thanks to its submarine-detecting tail boom.
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Update
New charge for overseas visitors
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
We were sorry to have to charge after being free for so many years, but the charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $16 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
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Our Aircraft
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URGENT CLARIFICATION: We’ve become aware of potential confusion between the Devon GTX and the de Havilland Devon – so we wanted to get on top of this contagion before it spreads.
That’s because we’ve got a special talk on the de Havilland Devon this Saturday – and we wouldn’t want Devon GTX fans showing up only to be disappointed.
As you can see from our picture, as well as sharing the same name these two beautiful thoroughbreds are virtually identical.
With futuristic styling, aggressive stances and muscular good looks, they are extremely difficult to tell apart to the uninitiated.
So, we’ve prepared a handy guide to save your time and your eyesight.
The first giveaway is of course the bubble astrodome on the de Havilland – and lack of it on the Devon GTX. Sadly, Devon never offered an astrodome as an extra on the GTX.
The de Havilland Devon spent much of its career as a navigational trainer – so the dome was a must-have for owners and got a lot of use by star-gazing navigators.
The second major difference to be found is under the bonnet – or bonnets. The de Havilland Devon was powered by twin 345-horsepower DH Gipsy Queen 70-3 engines which gave it a top speed of 370km/h. Despite its racy looks, the Devon was never described as ‘over-powered’ in RNZAF circles.
By contrast the Devon GTX sported a single 8.4 litre Chrysler V10 capable of generating 650 horsepower. Like the de Havilland it featured light weight materials in its construction, with an estimated top speed of more than 300km/h.
The final giveaway is in the seating arrangements. Take a look inside the de Havilland and you’ll see those sporty good looks actually disguise what is a sleeper people mover, with seats for six in its RNZAF configuration, and up to 11 in its civil airliner mode (that’s the Dove from above – and a whole other story!)
By contrast the Devon GTX was strictly a two-seater, with barely enough room to swing a cat.
So, there you have it – never confuse your Devons again.
And come along to for a FREE talk on the history and characteristics of the de Havilland Devon (not the Devon GTX) this Saturday 5 July at 2pm at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
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*contagion* 🤣🤣🤣. Every time I think it's the best one yet then you serve up another beauty.
SSHHHH - TOP SECRET: The collection of Pilot Officer Donald Duff has just given up another surprise.
As Research Curator Simon Moody was preparing to deliver his Secret Diary of Pilot Officer Donald Duff talk (on today in the Atrium at 10.30am), he was alerted to the fact that one of Donald's uniform buttons were not what it seemed.
It is in fact a secret compass, cleverly built into the button and all set to help find the way home.
The Secret Diary of Pilot Officer Duff is the latest in our Talking Taonga series featuring gems from our collection.
This is a rare chance to have a look at one of our most fascinating personal collections from World War Two.
Donald Duff was taken prisoner by the Japanese following the surrender of the Dutch East Indies in March 1942.
Half-starved, often bedridden and suffering from dysentery and other infections, Don risked his life to keep a detailed diary during his imprisonment.
Meticulously detailed, the diary is a testament to Don’s courage and perseverance as he kept writing and hiding it away despite the risks he faced.
After the war his diary was able to be used as evidence in the criminal trials of the guards who mistreated him and his fellow prisoners.
Join our Research Curator Simon Moody in the Atrium for a chance to learn Don’s story, and see his diary, his battered cap, POW badge, arm band and secret compass from the collection.
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So much respect for those who suffered and survived. A great presentation 👏
WE HAVE A WINNER: Drumroll please …. and come on down Jessica Cooper, who correctly named our mystery airfield as Ardmore.
Jessica wins the most desirable coffee mug in the world* – the Air Force Museum of New Zealand round mug. It is white, round, and is decorated with a roundel!
Contact communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz Jessica and we will fire up the Bristol Freighter and air drop the mug to your address.
The picture of RNZAF Station Ardmore is from March 1945 when the Auckland airfield was three years old and in its prime as a fighter base and training school.
Two runways were built at Ardmore in October 1942 and it officially became RNZAF Station Ardmore in December 1943.
Fighter squadrons assembled and trained at Ardmore for operations in the Pacific. The station was also home for fighter operational training, gunnery training and fighter leader training as well as housing several servicing units and a maintenance wing.
In 1944 the Medical Investigation Unit moved there from RNZAF Delta (near Woodbourne) and became the Aviation Medicine Unit, which still exists today at RNZAF Base Auckland.
Fighter squadrons returning from the Pacific went to Ardmore to disband. No. 14 Squadron formed there in late 1945 to prepare to take part in the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan.
After the RNZAF departed in 1946, a Teacher’s Training College occupied most of the accommodation and the Auckland University College School of Engineering used the tarmac areas, but some aircraft and ground vehicles were stored there for some years.
Ardmore is still used for aviation with the NZ Warbirds Assocation based there.
*according to us – no evidence to back this claim at all.
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Thank you Air Force Museum of New Zealand! I’ll email you my address.
Nice piece of information, I must have not been paying attention when (if) we were told this little gem of history, whilst on recruit-course at Base Woodbourne in '79.
I had a school camp inside those barracks. We walked across the runway to do some sort of tour. 1978.
Bravo Jess... another addition to the memorabilia station!! 🥰🥰🥰
Jessica Cooper congratulations 👏
Score, Jess Jessica Cooper !! 😉 Well done!!
Wonderful heritage pics, and thanks for the history account too. Ardmore is my 'local'. 😉 🙂
Haha go Jess !!♥️🐾
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JUST LIKE DEVON!: Join volunteer guide, and de Havilland Devon specialist Terry Straight, for a FREE Short Talk on the story of this magnificent machine on Saturday 5 July at 2pm.
The RNZAF received its two first Devons in 1948 – and they were a modern marvel compared to the Oxfords, Ansons, Consuls and Rapides they replaced.
They went on to deliver an exceptional 32 years of service, finally retiring in 1980.
The RNZAF received 30 Devons, and they were used in a variety of roles including VIP transporters, air ambulances, and multi-engine communications and navigation trainers.
Terry will talk you through the history of the Devon, its service record in New Zealand and the mechanics and attributes of the aircraft.
It will be heaven if you like the Devon and want to learn more about this extraordinary aircraft and its service.
The talk is FREE and will begin in front of the Devon at 2pm on Saturday 5 July.
It'll be the cure you need for any winter afternoon blu#dehavillanddevond#dehavillandl#rnzafpastandpresentesent ... See MoreSee Less
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In reality... a very poor performer with a serious graveyard gap to enable flight on one engine.. and a cockpit that was a squeeze in & be seated in minimal comfort... they served a purpose but with some great luck as well.
I was on a Devon piloted by Flt Lt Paul Gazely (RIP), flying out of Wellington to Woodbourne in early June 1975. It was a howling southerly with 10m+ waves at the end of the runway. None of the civilian operators flying because of the conditions. Flt Lt Gazely taxied onto the runway and opened both throttles. That was when the Devon imitated an Iroquois take off, except for the standard Iroquois nose down attitude. Nearing the runway southern threshold looked like we had joined the submarine service with all the spray flying around. One of my most interesting flights in or out of Wellington.
The last "scheduled" engine change, #4 Hangar early 1980. Phil Smith on the left, I'm the other baggie and Sgt Warren Rintoul on the hoist.