Episode Details

Guests: Wing Commander Blair Oldershaw, No. 40 Squadron Commander
Flight Sergeant Dave Wood, Air Load Master Instructor
Flight Sergeant Robyn Claffey, Flight Engineer Instructor
Warrant Officer Darryn “Durry” Wells, Maintenance Warrant Officer

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 16th of November 2022

Released: 23rd of December 2022

Duration:  51 minutes 45 seconds

In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood visits No. 40 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, at RNZAF Base Whenuapai. Dave sat down with the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Blair Oldershaw, aircrew members Flight Sergeant Dave Wood, (Air Load Master) and Flight Sergeant Robyn Claffey (Flight Engineer), and Maintenance Warrant Officer Darryn Wells from the squadron to talk about their experiences with the Lockheed C-130H Hercules as the sun sets on its very long RNZAF career. Entering service in 1965, the five Hercules will be replaced in 2023 after 57 years of sterling service. And they discuss the upcoming replacement aircraft, five new Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules.

This discussion gives a great insight into the amazing work that the Hercules fleet has done over five and a half decades for New Zealand, and also looks forward to how the squadron will continue this work with their new aircraft.

Dave Homewood wishes to thank all those who took part in the interview, and those behind the scenes that helped to make it happen, especially No. 40 Squadron Adjutant Squadron Leader Garrick Anderson, No. 40 Squadron Deputy Adjutant Marie Prime, No. 5 Squadron Adjutant Flight Lieutenant Mandy Ferguson, Simone Millar of the Defence Public Affairs department, and Peter and Karola Wheeler.

Quick Links:

• The Royal New Zealand Air Force website

• The Royal New Zealand Air Force Facebook page

• The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules page

• An NZDF story on the C-130J-30