Episode Details

Guest: Cris George

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 2nd of March 2022

Released:  11th of March 2022

Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes 51 seconds

In this episode Dave Homewood talks with former Naval Aviator Cris George. Cris served in the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1966 till 1978. During that time he attended 771 Wings course at Wigram, and then headed to Britain for his first tour with Commando Squadrons in the Royal Navy, flying Westland Wessex helicopters. Upon return to New Zealand he converted to the Westland Wasp, and went on to serve aboard HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Waikato.

He then crossed the Tasman in 1978 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm, predominantly flying their Squirrel helicopters actively till around 1991, and in other roles until retirement in 2008.

Cris recalls the Wasp very fondly. “Not so much because it was a really nice aircraft to fly-which it was,” he says, “but mostly because of the job it did integrated with its parent ship performing for that time an important operational task day and night in most weathers. And that was along with being maid of all work, fetching the mail and flying the occasional Medivac own ship and others for treatment, etc. For a young  aviator on his second tour and as the sole aircrew (for that time) on the scene with a small team highly regarded and trusted RNZAF maintainers each a master of his trade overseen by a Senior Flight Sergeant, it was a mighty job.”

In the episode Cris gives a fascinating insight into his flying with the Royal Navy, the RAN, and particularly about his time on the ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Note: As promised during the chat, Cris followed up with these figures: “HMS Hermes complement  was 2100. The rule of thumb re size of a Commando was approximately 500. This figure would vary depending on role and the environment but that was the rough planning number.”

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