What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
It is 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Our Victory exhibition, upstairs in the atrium, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) 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.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us.
Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
Learn More
Update
Overseas visitor charge
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.
The charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $20 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
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Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
Today we remember those who lost their lives on Black Monday, the darkest day in the RNZAF’s campaign in the Pacific during World War Two.
On Monday 15 January 1945, a strike by No. 14 and 16 Squadrons’ Corsairs on Simpson Harbour at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea ended in tragedy.
One of the pilots, Flight Lieutenant Francis Keefe was hit by flak and wounded in the arm but managed to parachute into Simpson Harbour.
His comrades attempted to protect him so that a Catalina flying boat could rescue him, and later, as dusk fell a Ventura tried to drop bamboo rafts to Keefe. The fire in both cases was too great from the Japanese defenders. The Corsairs were forced to leave Keefe and head home.
The RNZAF pilot was picked up by the Japanese and taken prisoner, he died of blood poisoning two weeks later.
The surviving Corsairs ran into a tropical storm on their flight to Green Island.
Three aircraft crashed into the sea enroute, two collided and one more crashed
trying to land at Green Island; the one other disappeared without trace.
Francis Keefe died in captivity on 30 January.
The loss of eight pilots and aircraft in a single mission was the worst day in the Pacific and is regarded as the worst in the history of the RNZAF.
It became known as Black Monday and you can read Simon Moody's blog about it here: airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/black-monday-kiyoshi-suzukis-depiction-of-a-pacific-tragedy/
Those lost were: Flying Officer Greville Randell, aged 24, Tauranga; Flight Lieutenant Thomas Randall French Johnson, 30, Gisborne; Flight Sergeant Ronald Wilfred Albrecht, 20, Palmerston North; Flight Lieutenant Bruce Stafford Hay, 23, Taihape; Flight Sergeant John Seddon McArthur, 24, Christchurch; Flying Officer Albert Norman Saward, 22, Hamilton; Flight Sergeant Ian James Munro, 20, Kaitaia; and Flight Lieutenant Francis Keefe, 28, Auckland (died 30 January).
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
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My grandfather, FO Peter Sheppard, was supposed to go out and fly this rescue/support mission but his CO stated that 'Sheppard, you don't look well' and sent Flying Officer Greville Randell in his place... If there are any of Greville Randell's family still around, I would love to make contact with them - if not for him, my family may not have ever existed. RIP, Greville, and all those that were lost. 💔
It was a day my Dad Leo Lyons 16 Sqd. remembered but did not talk of.He was able to return to base but lost many of his mates that day during their mission. A very sad day. RIP 🌹🙏
RNZ MUSEUM STOP: Radio New Zealand National's Summer Times programme is taking a national tour of the country's museums - and it was our turn today.
Our Director Brett Marshall talked to Anna Thomas about our history as the birthplace of the RNZAF, our role as a war memorial and Brett's personal connection to the aircraft in our collection he flew during his career in the RNZAF.
He aslo outlined our plans to build a new Home for Heroes - a space large enough to house our Hercules and Orion aircraft.
Brett - seen here just the other day - joined the RNZAF at Wigram 40 years ago - and told Anna he doesn't regret a thing about a career in the air force.
Have a listen here:
hhttps://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/summer-days/audio/2019019408/museum-sto#HomeForHeroesseum
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www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/summer-days/audio/2019019408/museum-stop-air-force-museum
ANTARCTIC SURVIVIAL TALKS TODAY: Join Flight Sergeant (retired) Bob Janek for a talk on Antarctic Survival at our place at 10.30am and 1pm today.
Bob is a crash rescue specialist, and made his first of 10 trips to Antarctica in 1977.
He'll talk you through everything you need to know about the evolution of survival techniques on the ice. Spoiler alert: it is cold!
This event is FREE.
Just meet Bob out in the Aircraft Hall in front of the Antarctic Auster at 10.30am and 1p#freethingstodoinchristchurchhurch ... See MoreSee Less
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Good to see you today Robert! 45 years is a long time😃
Your friendly smile will never,ever, fade or diminish. Cheers Bob. . .
Stacey Hood more research 😂
Where is Antarctic Auster please ? ( the meeting plac)
Hello Bob Janek 😀
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