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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JAMES WARD VC DAY: Today we recall the extraordinary Sergeant James Allen Ward.
On this day back in 1941, decided to crawl out on the wing of his Wellington bomber flying high in the night sky over the Netherlands to try and snuff out an engine fire.
Incredibly, he succeeded, allowing his aircraft to limp back to England safely.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, for his fearless act.
James Ward, who was born in Whanganui and trained as a school teacher before the war, celebrated the award of his Victoria Cross in August, but was killed a month later while on another mission. He was only 22 years old.
You can read his story here:
sergeant-james-allen-ward-vc-wing-walker
Today, 84 years on, we remember the extraordinary James Ward and his sacrifice:
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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😪😪😪🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍
HERC STORIES: Meet Rebecca Brierton and Craig Dobson.
Back in 2003 they were deployed as part of Task Force Crib to Bamyan, Afghanistan. Their mode of transport was – you guessed it – RNZAF C-130H Hercules.
Fast forward to 2025 and they’re on holiday in Christchurch and guess what they want to see at the Air Force Museum?
That old Hercules that got them to where they were going.
Rebecca served for 21 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy, and deployed to Bosnia, Timor and Afghanistan. Craig served 15 years in the New Zealand Army, and he was deployed to the Sinai, Timor as well as Afghanistan.
The Hercules brings back many memories for them including heat, dust, cold, long noisy flights and the C-130’s luxury toilet ‘compartment’ known as the honey pot.
Most of all, seeing the Hercules brought back memories of the comradeship they enjoyed during their service years, which they remember fondly.
Thanks for visiting Craig and Becks and thanks for your service.
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Don’t let him lead you astray Bec’s!! lol
Who let him out of Hutt! Welcome Craig 👋
What a story! Nice work Rebecca Brierton! 🙏⚓️❤️
Good on yer Dobbo 😉
That Herc is a real magnet!
Great to see three legends of our era! Looking good, Bec!
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Fire up the Merlin! Battle of Britain talk and screening takes off at 10am. ... See MoreSee Less
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FLYING KIWI: Some 129 Kiwis flew in the Battle of Britain, and our contribution to the aerial fight in the summer of 1940 was second only to that of the Polish contingent.
Which may explain why one of the opening scenes of the 1969 classic movie about the Battle of Britain features – you guessed it – a Kiwi pilot.
Check out the New Zealand on the fighter pilot’s uniform!
And while you are at it, correctly name the fighter aircraft type he’s flying and we will put you in the draw to win an exclusive Air Force Museum of New Zealand mug.
They’re round with a roundel!
Put your answers in comments below or email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz.
We’re playing the Battle of Britain movie FREE in its entirety each Saturday and Wednesday at 10am throughout July, with an introduction by our Research Curator Simon Moody.
Screenings are at 10am on 5 July, 9 July, 12 July, 16 July, 19 July, 23 July and 26 July.
Tally ho!
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Of course it's a Hurricane. Detailing a cockpit 1/48 as I write😆
That's 129 New Zealanders we owe a huge debt to. An amazing fact, thank you! And yes, Hurricane!
Yep, it's a Hawker Hurricane.
Hawker Hurricane. Watch movie every Christmas Day. Die hard be damned
That’s a Hurricane, the winner of the Battle of Britain.
Hawker Hurricane. I could quite happily sit through all your film showings- I went countless times to the cinema in 1969!
Hurricane. Very understated aircraft, cheaper and faster to build than the spitfire.
ITS A TIGER MOTH !!! 🧐
That has to be a Hurricane.
Hawker Hurricane - from the uttermost ends of the earth. Lest we forget.
"Get that bowser out of here, we'll go with what we've got!" Pictured is my favourite of the RAF Fighter Command's craft during the Battle, the Hawker Hurricane. ❤
As this scene was based in France on a grass airstrip when he was signalling to a French pilot to accompany him in the cockpit it has to be a Hawker Hurricane
That’s a hawker hurricane, the oft forgotten hero
hawker hurricane mot prolific british fighter during the battle of britain
yep the first Ace was a kiwi !
Hawker Hurricane Mk1. Unsung hero of the early war years.
Hawker Hurricane. A good family friend flew one in the Battle. Patrick (Jamie)Jameson. The first I believe to land a Hurricane on an Aircraft carrier (HMS Glorious)
Arguably the best Saturday arvo matinee movie you could wish for! That’s a Hurricane. It should be a Mk1 for the period and they did have one og Mk1 available for taxi duty only for the production. Would be especially fitting here as “taxi” has a double meaning in this scene…
Hurricane. And I’m surprised you didn’t mention Air Vice Marshall Sir Keith Park. He was instrumental in achieving victory in the air over England and he was a Kiwi too!
Hurricane Mk1 - the most numerous type in RAF Fighter Command at the time of BoB.
Hawker Hurricane. Kiwi, Sir Keith Park flew one if I remember correctly.
Hurricane. MK2, with the three bladed prop. Just back from watching the BoB at the museum. Thanks, it was great to see with a mate!
That's a Hunterville Hamiltron Mk IV with additional bilge tanks and a belly mounted 25mm Nek & Minnit fascism regret dispenser.
Hurry up ....
From memory that guy was flying a Hawker Hurricane. What was amusing in that movie was Trevor Howard playing New Zealander Keith Park in his English public school accent, not trying even an Australian one to be kinda close.. 😄
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