NZDF-Serials Vildebeest

Serial	RAF	c/n	Mark	Type	Aircraft history
NZ101		n/a	Mk.III	277	Demonstrated to the NZ High Commissioner at the Vickers Factory, Weybridge, England by Mutt Summers on 31 January 1935. Shipped to New Zealand in March 1935 on "Rangitata". Arrived Auckland 20 April and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Codes B-7, B-8. To No. 2 FTS Woodbourne in early 1940. Crashed on landing at Woodbourne 07 August 1940 while being operated by No. 2 FTS.
NZ102		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand in March 1935 on "Rangitata". Arrived Auckland 20 April and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Code B-5. With No. 2 FTS Woodbourne in early 1940. With No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Reduced to produce at Ohakea 14 June 1944. Remains dumped at Marton. Recovered by MoTaT volunteers. Project moved to Wigram. Presently under restoration at Air Force Museum, Wigram, along with components from other Vildebeest and Vincent remains. Currently the only Vildebeest under restoration worldwide
NZ103		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand in March 1935 on "Rangitata". Arrived Auckland 20 April and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Code B-9. Force landed in Canal Reserve, Christchurch on 06 February 1940. Badly damaged and withdrawn from use. Converted to INST117 at Hobsonville.
NZ104		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand in March 1935 on "Rangitata". Arrived Auckland 20 April and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Codes B-5, B-8. Forced landing after engine failure near Cape Campbell on 13 July 1938. Returned to Wigram by truck for rebuilding. Crashed into Lake Ellesmere on 09 June 1939 when a wing hit the water during bombing range practice. Not thought to have been repaired.
NZ105		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand 23 March 1935 on "NZ Star". Arrived on 23 April and trucked to Wigram in its crate for assembly. First flight in New Zealand 22 June 1935. Code B-2. To FTS Wigram from 01 June 1937. To No. 2 FTS Woodbourne in early 1940. Reduced to spares 04 June 1944. Parts of this aircraft are believed to be in storage with RNZAF Museum, Wigram.
NZ106		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand 23 March 1935 on "NZ Star". Arrived on 23 April and trucked to Wigram in its crate for assembly. Code B-3. To FTS Wigram from 01 June 1937. Crashed Ashburton 24 March 1938. Wreckage returned to Wigram by truck on 27 March for rebuilding. Probably not rebuilt.
NZ107		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand 23 March 1935 on "NZ Star". Arrived on 23 April and trucked to Wigram in its crate for assembly. Code B-4. To FTS Wigram from 01 June 1937. To No. 2 FTS Woodbourne in early 1940. To No.1 GR Squadron Whenuapai 1940-1941. Reduced to produce at Ohakea 04 June 1944.
NZ108		n/a	Mk.III	277	Shipped to New Zealand arriving at Lyttleton on 03 April 1935 aboard "Waipawa"and trucked to Wigram in its crate for assembly. Code A-5. To No.2 Bomber Reconaissance Flight. To FTS Wigram from 01 June 1937. To No. 2 FTS Woodbourne in early 1940. Force landed in river and written off 23 May 1940.
NZ109		n/a	Mk.III	277	Assembled at Wigram during May 1937 with first flight in New Zealand on 28 May. Code B-1. Served with No.2 FTS based at Woodbourne during 1940. Converted to INST24 at Rongotai 27 September 1940. No further details known.
NZ110		n/a	Mk.III	277	Assembled at Wigram during October 1937 with first flight in New Zealand on 26 October. Code B-1. Crashed at Wigram during a night flying exercise on 11 May 1939. The aircraft was on approach for landing at 2015 hours when it struck trees 150 yards from the boundary of the airfield, dived into the ground and burst into flames. Pilot Officer William Dawson, Acting Pilot Officer Reginald McCrorie and LAC George West all died of injuries that they received. Aircraft burnt out and destroyed.
NZ111		n/a	Mk.III	277	Served with No.2 FTS at Woodbourne during 1940. Reduced to produce at Ohakea 04 June 1944.
NZ112		n/a	Mk.III	277	Type 277. Code B-3. Served with No.2 FTS at Woodbourne during 1940. Crashed into sea while on training flight from Woodbourne on 23 June 1941.
NZ113	K4612	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4612 (Type 267). Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Reduced to produce at Hobsonville 27 August 1941 as time expired.
NZ114	K4598	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4598 (Type 267). Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Crashed at Muriwai while on training flight on Wednesday 25 February 1942. The aircraft made a low pass over a truck and climbed away in a steep left hand turn. It stalled at a height of about 250 feet and dived into the sea. Sergeant Alfred Todman and AC1 Edward Mannell killed and AC1 G. Tate seriously injured.
NZ115	K4596	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4596 (Type 267) with 22 Squadron RAF. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Crashed into sea while on training flight on 17 September 1941.
NZ116	K4592	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4592 (Type 267). Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Crashed into sea while on training flight on 17 September 1941.
NZ117	K4187	n/a	Mk II	267	Previously K4187 (Type 267) with 4AACU, RAF Singapore. Allocated to No. 2 (GR) Squadron Nelson during 1941. Took off from Nelson at 1045 hours on Wednesday 09 April 1941 but returned to the airfield with thick smoke pouring from the exhaust. The aircraft made a steep turn over the airfield at a height of about 100 feet and then stalled and dived into the ground on an adjacent golf course, bursting into flames when it hit. Flight Lieutenant Lionel Squire, Corporal Ernest Johnson and AC1 Lindo Thomson were killed in the crash.
NZ118	K4591	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4591 (Type 267) with 22 Squadron RAF. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Reduced to produce at Te Rapa 26 June 1943.
NZ119	K6401	n/a	Mk.IV	267	Previously K6401 (Type 267) with 100 Squadron RAF. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Reduced to produce at Te Rapa on 24 June 1943.
NZ120	K6397	n/a	Mk.IV	267	Previously K6397.(Type 267). A llocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Written off 29 January 1942.
NZ121	K6410	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K6410.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Badly damaged by whirlwind at Hobsonville on 21 August 1942 and probably written off.
NZ122	K6413	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K6413.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Code B-7. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. Missing on anti submarine patrol over Tasman Sea on Friday 30 October 1942 and presumed to have crashed into sea off Cape Reinga. Despite intensive search the only debris found was a wheel that washed ashore on a Northland beach on 05 December of that year. Flying Officer Charles Gunn, Flying Officer Stanley Bromley and Flying Officer Robert Dent missing presumed killed.
NZ123	K6414	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K6414.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF coded "4". Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942-1943. One of last aircraft of this type to be withdrawn from use in May 1943. Reduced to produce at Rongotai during 1943.
NZ124	K8080	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8080.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. Crashed while taxiing in high wind at Waipapakauri on 12 March 1942 and written off. Parts of this aircraft are believed to be in storage with the RNZAF Museum, Wigram.
NZ125	K8081	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8081.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF coded "2". Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. Crashed on takeoff from Waipapakauri on Thursday 12 February 1942. The aircraft stalled at an altitude of about 20 feet and crashed, bursting into flames when it hit the ground. Sergeant J. Worden and AC2 K. Curtis injured and AC1 David Sutton killed.
NZ126	K8083	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8083.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942-1943. Withdrawn from use at Waipapakauri on 02 January 1943 and reduced to produce at Te Rapa on 26 June 1944.
NZ127	K8086	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8086.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942-1943. One of last aircraft of this type to be withdrawn from use in May 1943. Reduced to produce at Rongotai 09 July 1943.
NZ128	K4593	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4593.(Type 267) with RAE. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Transferred to No.1 BOTU Ohakea and written off 01 February 1943. Reduced to produce at Ohakea on 28 April 1943.
NZ129	K8079	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8079.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand October 1940 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Allocated to No.1 (GR) Squadron Whenuapai during 1940-1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. Destroyed by gale at Waipapakauri on 26 August 1942.
NZ130	K4595	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4595.(Type 267) with RAE. Allocated to No.8 Squadron Whenuapai in March 1942 coded PA-B. Transferred to TTS Nelson on 09 November 1943 and converted to INST87. Written off in gale at Nelson in February 1944.
NZ131	K4589	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4589.(Type 267) with 22 Squadron RAF. Allocated to No.2 (GR) Squadron at Nelson during 1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron at Waipapakauri during 1942-1943. Reduced to produce at Ohakea 14 July 1944.
NZ132	K6396	n/a	Mk.Ill	286	Previously K6396.(Type 286). Damaged after Tiger Moth NZ807 collided with it on the ground at Gisborne on 16 November 1942 while being operated by No.8 GR Squadron. Repaired and re-entered service. Reduced to produce at Ohakea 10 March 1944.
NZ133	K6395	n/a	Mk.Ill	286	Previously K6395.(Type 286) with 100 Squadron RAF. Reduced to produce at Hobsonville 15 January 1942.
NZ134	K4597	n/a	Mk.III	267	Previously K4597.(Type 267) with 42 Squadron RAF. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942-1943. Reduced to produce at Ohakea 10 March 1944.
NZ135	K2821	n/a	Mk .I	267	Previously K2821.(Type 267). Converted to Mk III during RAF career. Reduced to spares at Hobsonville 27 August 1941 as time expired.
NZ136	K8078	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8078.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand April 1941 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly which was not undertaken until October 1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. Destroyed by gale at Waipapakauri 26 August 1942.
NZ137	K6409	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K6409.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand April 1941 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly which was not undertaken until October 1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. One of last aircraft of this type to be withdrawn from use in May 1943. Reduced to produce at Rongotai 24 June 1943.
NZ138	K8084	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8084.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand April 1941 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly which was not undertaken until October 1941. Allocated to No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri during 1942. Destroyed by gale Waipapakauri 26 August 1942.
NZ139	K8085	n/a	Mk.IV	286	Previously K8085.(Type 286) with 42 Squadron RAF. Arrived New Zealand April 1941 and barged to Hobsonville for assembly. Probably never flew in New Zealand. Reduced to spares at Hobsonville 15 January 1942.