The Fleet Air Arm Association of New Zealand has gone into recess, after 63 years of activity. National reunions were held every three years, at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Napier, Rotorua, New Plymouth and Wairakei. Regional reunions were frequently held by the branches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The association’s small museum and continues as part of the Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology. The New Zealand Navy Museum will house the large collection of service records and photographs; the Association has donated its accumulated funds to the Navy Museum, to assist the servicing of the FAA aircrew records into the future.
New Zealand provided 800 aircrew to the Fleet Air Arm in World War 2. They all “graduated” from HMS St Vincent, had elementary flight training in the UK and continued training in Canada; or went directly from Portsmouth to Detroit, and on to Pensacola, Miami and similar US Naval Air Stations,
Over 100 were decorated (one DSO), twenty became squadron commanders and 150 were killed in active service or in action. New Zealand was the only Commonwealth country that supplied FAA aircrew throughout the duration of the war.
The 2012 function that signalled the recess of the association had an attendance of 35 ex-aircrew and partners. Farewell speeches were delivered by Frank Prosser (1940 entry), Bob Glading DSC, Ben Heffer DSC, and Ray Richards ONZM, DSC.
Secretary John Rowntree suggested that there may well be another ‘final function’ in 2013.
The New Zealand memorial history FLYING NAVY will now be distributed by the RNZ Navy Museum, PO Box 32901, Devonport, Auckland 0744. The ongoing address of NZ FAA Association is PO Box 31 240, Milford, Auckland 0741.