Episode Details

Guest: Graham Edward “Tommy” Thompson

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 22nd of July 2022

Released:  4th of November 2022

Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes 44 seconds

November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore.

In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with former RNZAF de Havilland Vampire pilot “Tommy” Thompson. He was one of the original RNZAF Vampire pilots and was the first postwar-trained pilot to fly the type in New Zealand. Following his conversion training and operational work up at Ohakea, Tommy left with No. 14 Squadron as one of the first pilots to deploy to the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. He talks about life on the island, doing the Coronation tour of Africa in Operation Long Trek Two, exercises with other nations over Malta, etc.

Tommy also talks about incidents in Africa, Cyprus and New Zealand, including his baling out of a Vampire following an aerial collision.

Quick Links:

New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires

The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg