Realising that they needed an aircraft to quickly intercept unwelcome visitors, in the air and at sea, around the NZ oil fields (that NZ should have),
some 38 F101 voodoo fighters were acquired. Becoming operational in November 1961, the F101s were minus the nuke warheaded Genie missiles, using an all AIM 4 Falcon load.
Two units, 28 and 29 sqns, were stood up, known as the Blue ducks and the Kea sqns respectively, and the aircraft were used until 1973, even assisting the RAF in the Indonesian/Malaysian problems, eight operating from Tengha with the hunters and javelins.
The Blue ducks often painted a part of the aircraft blue.
They were replaced by... (To be continued)
The F4 Phantom 11, but I expect you guessed that.
29 Kea Sqn would paint some part of the aircraft green. Not wanting to wait for the U.S. to sort out the supply problems re the various systems for the E model,
New Zealand went for the U.K. M model, (with some small changes to suit themselves), benefiting from the U.K. lowering its order by 32, NZ ordering 42 in total.
The standard load out for QRA was as shown, planned patrols would often use the centre line tank instead of the gun pod.
29 received the first batch in 1971, and there was no rush to complete the conversion so as to allow full combat capability for the whole unit before 28 began concerting.
In 1991, 29 took 12 of the Phantoms to the first gulf war, providing wing men for U.S. wild weasels, and armed recce patrols of their own. Sqn/Ldr Barry Johnson with back seater Flt/Lt Terry McCabe, earning recognition for killing 2 T55 tanks and 3 Mig 21 fighters in one mission, while his wingman Flt/Lt George McDuff with Fg/Off Norm St'John took out 2 tanks and one Mig.
Nine 2nd hand F4s were acquired from Britain to help maintain the fleet until 1999.
