Episode Details

“We Span The Ocean”
The No. 5 Squadron RNZAF 75th Anniversary Reunion

Show Guests, As Below:
•  Wings Commander Daniel “D.J.” Hunt
Current Commander of No. 5 Squadron, Navigator, P-3K and P-3K2 Orions
•  Wings Commander Gordon Ragg AFC, JP
Former Commander of No. 5 Squadron, Pilot, P-3B Orions, and No. 5 Squadron Association president
•  Peter Culpan
Former No. 5 Squadron, Air Signals, Sunderland and P-3B Orions
•  Pilot Officer Jack Barnett
Current No. 5 Squadron, Air Warfare Officer, P-3K2 Orions Training Crew
•  Mike Karsten
Former No. 5 Squadron, Air Ordnance, P-3K Orions
•  Flying Officer Kate Galbraith
Current No. 5 Squadron Air Warfare Officer, P-3K2 Orions
•  Sergeant Trent Wyatt
Current No. 5 Squadron Flight Engineer, P-3K and P-3K2 Orions
•  Flying Officer Ben James
Current No. 5 Squadron, P-3K2 Orions
•  Alan Bleakley
Former No. 5 Squadron, Flight Engineer, Catalinas, Sunderlands
•  Peter Burch
Former No. 5 Squadron, Electrician, Sunderlands, Hobsonville Old Boys Association
•  Harry Hider
Cancer patient and special guest of No. 5 Squadron RNZAF Reunion
•  Squadron Leader Hilton Baker
Current No. 5 Squadron Maintenance Flight Commander, P-3K and P-3K2 Orions

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 23rd and 24th of September 2016

Duration:  2 hour 33 minutes 15 seconds

In this very special episode Dave Homewood had the great pleasure to visit No. 5 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, to join in on the squadron’s double-celebration reunion that marked 75 Years since the unit first formed, and 50 Years since the introduction of their current aircraft, the Lockheed P-3 Orion.

No. 5 Squadron RNZAF formed on the 18th of November 1941, operating Short Singapore flying boats from Princes Wharf, Suva, in Fiji, under the command of Squadron Leader Eric Lewis. They were the first RNZAF flying boat squadron, and their mission was patrolling the shipping lanes and seaways around Fiji, Tonga and other pacific areas, searching for submarines, surface raiders and anyone in need of rescue.

On the 24th of June 1942 the squadron was expanded, incorporating eight Vickers Vincents based at Nausori. While the Vincents made short and medium range patrols and operated with the New Zealand Army in Fiji, while the Singapores continued longer range reconnaissance patrols.

On the 13th of September 1942 the Singapores moved to the purpose built RNZAF Station Lauthala Bay,a new flying boat station built by the New Zealand Government. This place would become the centre of RNZAF maritime operations in the Pacific for the next two and a half decades. 

With the impending introduction of Consolidated Catalinas to RNZAF Service the squadron’s crews were slowly transferred to a US Navy Catalina unit for retraining, and the squadron was reduced in size. The last Short Sing