Developed during WWII, the de Havilland Vampire went into production in 1944 but did not enter RAF service until 1946. The RNZAF operated more Vampires than any other aircraft type post-WWII, 58 in total between 1951 and 1972. History was made for the RNZAF on 1st May 1955 when Vampires of No. 14 Squadron took off from Tengah airfield, Singapore, to conduct a strike against guerrillas in the jungle during the Malayan Emergency (1948-60).
NZ was contributing to the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, the military response to the Malayan Communist Party’s attempt to overthrow the British colonial administration. This mission was the RNZAF’s first combat strike since WWII and the first time it had used jet aircraft in combat. Operationally, Vampires served in the fighter and ground attack role with both 14 and 75 Squadrons until the arrival of the Canberra bombers in 1959 saw them either stored or relegated to training duties. However, some were still active with these squadrons until the early 1970s, when they were completely phased out with the arrival of the Strikemaster and Skyhawk.
The Vampire on display at CF25 is an ex-RAAF example and is owned and operated by the E J Currie Family Trust. It is the first time it has flown at Classic Fighters and hasn’t been displayed anywhere else in at least six years.
About Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.
