Our History
1999 – Present
Detailed below are some of the many fascinating events that have happened for Number 3 Squadron.
1999 INTERFET
24 Sep 99 No. 3 Squadron joins an international intervention force in East Timor with
6 Iroquois
1999 UNTAET
What started as Op Castell migrated through Op Farina & Interfet to finally become a UN mission known as UNTAET
17 Sep 1999 No 3 Sqn Detachment closes
Due to the size of the commitment to East Timor. No. 3 Sqn Detachment closes its doors at Wigram after 29 years of service to the mainland.
1999 Suai Detachment established
26 Oct 99 No. 3 Sqn establishs a detachment of 3 Iroquois at Suai Airfield in East Timor.
2001 First SH2 G enters service
Aug 2001 Navy Flight receives its first SH2g
2001 Sioux Training Flight Moves to Ohakea
As a precursor to the close of Hobsonville Sioux Trg Flt moves to Ohakea
2002 Hobsonville Closes
31 Jan 2002 After 34 years at Hobsonville No 3 Sqn Iroquois head to their new home at Ohakea
2002 Last Flight in East Timor
14 Nov 2002 No. 120 Sqn RSAF on their first deployment in support of the UN, take over from No.3 Sqn in East Timor.
No 3 Sqn completed three years in theater, 7000 flying hours, 11 aircraft rotations and ten rotations of personnel.
2002 Unit Citation
16 Nov at a parade in Darwin Australian CDF, General Cosgrove, presents No. 3 Squadron a Meritorious Unit Citation for their work in East Timor
2002 RNZAF goes grey
12 December 2002 The RNZAF adopts a universal grey colour scheme for all of its operational aircraft/
2003 Op RAMSI Honiara
24 July 2003 No. 3 Sqn returns to its roots in Honiara on another ANZAC peacekeeping deployment/
Exercise Bluebird
September 2003 Navy Flight undertakes its own mountain flying exercise in Marlborough
NH 90
31 March 2005 NH90 is announced as the Iroquois replacement.
Exercise Tropic Fiji
31 July 2005 Following an 18 year hiatus No. 3 Sqn resumes Exercise Tropic in Fij.
No 6 Squadron reforms
31 Oct 2005 Naval Support Flight leave No. 3 Sqn and reforms as No. 6 Sqn RNZAF
The new squadron moves into the former No. 42 Sqn hanger at Whenuapai.
