New Zealand Military Aircraft Serial Numbers
RNZAF De Havilland DH.100 Vampire Mk 5,52


SerialTypec/nFate
NZ5721FB.52V0389New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitikei". BOC 10 April 1951. Crashed near Rongotea after engine fire while carrying out aerobatics and destroyed 15 December 1958.
NZ5722FB.52V0396New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Timaru Star". BOC 30 May 1951. Crashed on landing at Ohakea 15 June 1954. Converted to INST165 at No. 1 TTS Hobsonville on 12 April 1955. No further details known.
NZ5723FB.52V0398New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Timaru Star". BOC 01 June 1951. Destroyed in mid air collision with NZ5756 near Wanganui on 22 November 1955. The wingtip of NZ5756 struck the cockpit of NZ5723 and the fuselage disintegrated. Pilot Officer Henry Paine was killed instantly ijn the collision.
NZ5724FB.52V0427New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Newbrough". BOC 10 July 1951. Delivered to Ohakea in September 1951. Crashed at Ohakea in 1954 and stored at Woodbourne. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5725FB.52V0434New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Newbrough". BOC 10 July 1951. Delivered to Ohakea in September 1951. Destroyed in mid air collision with NZ5729 over Manukau Harbour 22 February 1952.
NZ5726FB.52V0442New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Port Brisbane". BOC 09 August 1951. Delivered to Ohakea in September 1951. Crashed on landing at Ohakea on 03 November 1954 and destroyed. Reduced to spares by 1956.
NZ5727FB.52V0445New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Port Brisbane". BOC 09 August 1951. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5728FB.52V0462New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Ruahine". BOC 16 July 1951. Delivered to Ohakea in early September 1951. Crashed in Raumai Ranges near Bulls at 1127 hours on 04 September 1952. The aircraft was rehearsing for a ceremonial flypast when it lost height during an inverted run at low altitude and failed to recover during the roll out. Flying Officer Gordon Jones-Prichard killed.
NZ5729FB.52V0471New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Ruahine". BOC 10 July 1951. First Vampire to be flown in New Zealand on 22 August 1951. Delivered to Ohakea in early September 1951. Destroyed in mid air collision with NZ5725 over Manukau Harbour 22 February 1952.
NZ5730FB.52V0473New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rhodesia Star". BOC 12 September 1951. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5731FB.52V0493New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitoto". BOC 11 February 1952. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5732FB.52V0520New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitata". BOC 01 May 1952. To No.14 Squadron. To No.75 Squadron 19 September 1952. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. On display at Asplins Garage, Hamilton from June 1963. To J. Chambers, Auckland in 1972. Stored with B. Billing at Torbay, Auckland.
NZ5733FB.52V0546New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Ruahine". BOC 09 May 1952. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 dated 09 January 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5734FB.52V0554New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitikei". BOC 21 February 1952. Ground collision with NZ5738 on 18 April 1952. Converted to INST184 at No. 1 TTS Hobsonville on on September 1962. Continued to be marked as INSTNZ5734. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 09 February 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. In storage with MOTAT at Ardmore, Auckland.
NZ5735FB.52V0575New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitane". BOC 15 February 1952. In storage after forced landing at Ohakea on 18 October 1954. Converted to INST186 at No. 4 TTS Woodbourne in July 1963. Held in storage by RNZAF Museum.
NZ5736FB.52V0596New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitikei". BOC 21 February 1952. Crashed on landing at Ohakea after encountering slipstream of preceeding aircraft just after 0900 hours on 28 March 1957. The aircraft stalled and then cartwheeled into the ground. Pilot Officer Howard Robinson killed and aircraft written off.
NZ5737FB.52V0629New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitane". BOC 07 January 1952. Disappeared while on night flying exercise near Foxton on 20 May 1952. Small pieces of wreckage wqere washed up on beaches near Foxton in the following few weeks. The pilot, Pilot Officer Graeme McGregor became the first airman to lose his life in an RNZAF jet aircraft. Main wreckage and pilot's body never discovered.
NZ5738FB.52V0708New aircraft to RNZAF contract. Shipped to New Zealand on "Rangitane". BOC 15 February 1952. Crashed in Raumai Ranges during gunnery exercise at 1537 hours on 08 June 1954. The aircraft pulled sharply out of a dive, stalled, and hit a sandhill exploding on impact. Flight Lieutenant Thomas Rabone killed.
NZ5750FB.5ePreviously WA299, delivered to RAF on 09 January 1951 and allocated to Far East Reserve. SOC with RAF on 07 April 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "New Zealand Star". BOC 01 July 1953. Stored at Hobsonville from December 1953. To 75 Squadron November 1954. Converted to INST198 at No. 3 TTS Wigram on 19 February 1968. Remains destroyed on fire dump in late 1972.
NZ5751FB.5V0508bPreviously VZ843 with RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "New Zealand Star". BOC 01 July 1953. WFU 1972. Sold by GSB tender number DO1523 16 March 1973. Airframe hours 2449. To K.Jacobs and D. Subritzky on 03 July 1973. In storage at North Shore, Auckland.
NZ5752FB.5ePreviously WG846 with RAF. SOC with RAF on 28 May 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "New Zealand Star". BOC 01 July 1953. Scrapped January 1968.
NZ5753FB.5ePreviously WA379, delivered to RAF in April 1951 and served with Nos. 94 and 26 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 17 April 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "Nottingham". BOC 14 July 1953. Placed in storage at Woodbourne in 1958. Reactivated with No.75 Squadron in October 1963. SOC 20 October 1970. Broken up at Woodbourne 1971. Wings in storage at Ferrymead Museum, Christchurch as at 2004.
NZ5754FB.5ePreviously WA249, delivered to RAF 31 October 1950 and allocated to No.60 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 11 June 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "Nottingham". BOC 14 July 1953. Placed in storage at Woodbourne in 1958. Reactivated with No.75 Squadron in October 1963. Crashed during formation landing at Ohakea at 1620 hours on 08 August 1967. The aircraft was caught in turbulence from the preceeding two aircraft and while attempting to overshoot stalled at an altitude of about 100 feet. Fire broke out after the aircraft impacted the ground to the right of the runway. Flying officer Murray Whineray was rescued by crash fire crews but died later in hospital and the aircraft was destroyed.
NZ5755FB.5ePreviously WA338, delivered to RAF 27 February 1951 and allocated to No.102 Flying Refresher School.SOC with RAF on 31 March 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hurunui". BOC 26 August 1953. Placed in storage at Woodbourne in 1958. Reactivated with No.75 Squadron in October 1963. Sold by GSB tender number DO1523 16 March 1973. To T. Packer, Christchurch. In storage in Christchurch.
NZ5756FB.5ePreviously WA376, delivered to RAF 11 April 1951 and allocated to Far East Reserve. SOC with RAF on 24 July 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hororata". BOC 12 September 1953. Written off in mid air collision with NZ5723 near Wanganui on 22 November 1955.
NZ5757FB.5ePreviously WA311, delivered to RAF 21 January 1951 and allocated to No.93 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 20 May 1953. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hororata". BOC 12 September 1953. Converted to INST193 with No. 4 TTS Woodbourne 05 April 1964. To Central Institute of Technology in 1965. Returned to RNZAF in 1972. Presently on display in RNZAF Museum, Wigram, NZ.
NZ5758FB.5V0400Previously VZ838 with RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "Huntingdon". BOC 31 October 1955. Stored Woodbourne from August 1958. Converted to INST196 with No.4 TTS Woodbourne on 19 February 1968. Sold in 1972 to G. Rhodes, Christchurch. Presently being rebuilt at Ferrymead Museum in Christchurch utilising some parts from NZ5775.
NZ5759FB.5ePreviously WA428, delivered to RAF 25 June 1951 and served with No. 72 Squadron, No. 202 Advanced Flying School, No. 210 Advanced Flying school and No. 5 Flying Training Scholl. SOC with RAF on 06 December 1955. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hinakura". BOC 10 January 1956. Converted to INST180 at No. 4 TTS Woodbourne on 28 April 1959. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 09 February 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5760FB.5ePreviously WG826 with RAF and served with No.1 Overseas Ferry Unit, and Nos. 16 and 145 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 06 December 1955. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hinakura". BOC 10 January 1956. Reduced to spares 1963.
NZ5761FB.5ePreviously WA317, delivered to RAF 01 February 1951 and served with Nos. 93 and 11 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 17 December 1955. Shipped to New Zealand on "Cambridge". BOC 25 January 1956. Converted to INST194 with No. 4 TTS at Woodbourne 05 April 1964. No further details known.
NZ5762FB.5ePreviously WA383, delivered to RAF 20 April 1951 and allocated to No. 16 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 11 January 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Norfolk". BOC 02 March 1956. Stored at Woodbourne from March 1960. Reduced to spares 1965.
NZ5763FB.5ePreviously WA388, delivered to RAF 30 April 1951 and served with Nos. 67 and 234 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 11 January 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Norfolk". BOC 02 March 1956. To storage Woodbourne May 1958. No further details known.
NZ5764FB.5ePreviously WA342, delivered to RAF 01 March 1951 and allocated to No.93 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 20 January 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Suevic". BOC 02 March 1956. Crashed near Hunterville after entering uncontrollable spin on 02 April 1958.
NZ5765FB.5ePreviously WA314, Delivered to RAF in early 1951 and allocated to No.102 Flying Refresher School. Also served with Nos. 145, 5, 71, 4 and 5 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 14 March 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Port MacQuarrie". BOC 23 April 1956. To storage at Woodbourne in February 1960. Removed from storage in mid 1960s and alloted to No.75 Squadron until May 1970. Converted to INST201 at No.4 TTS Woodbourne on 21 August 1970. Mounted as gate guardian RNZAF Te Rapa June 1984. To RNZAF Museum after closure of Te Rapa Base. Loaned to NZFPM Museum in late 1999 and presently on display at Wanaka.
NZ5766FB.5V0490Previously VZ841 with RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki". BOC 30 April 1956. Crashed after engine failure on takeoff from Ohakea 14 March 1958 and written off.
NZ5767FB.5ePreviously WA374 delivered to RAF 11 April 1951 and allocated to No. 102 Flying Refresher School. Also served with Nos. 118 and 14 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 26 March 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Cumberland". BOC 21 May 1956. Stored at Ohakea from September 1956. To various units from January 1958. Stored at Woodbourne from March 1960. To 75 Squadron October 1963. To 14 Squadron May 1970. Converted to INST202 at No.4 TTS Woodbourne on 21 August 1970. To RNZAF Museum. Fuselage presently on display at museum.
NZ5768FB.5V0609Previously VZ852 with RAF. Shipped to New Zealand on "Suffolk". BOC 17 June 1956. Damaged in collision with NZ5773 near Flock House on 20 August 1957 and crash landed at Ohakea. Converted to INST181 at No.4 TTS Woodbourne 24 April 1959. Sold by GSB tender number 8241 09 February 1963. To Dwen Distribution Company, Auckland. Broken up.
NZ5769FB.5ePreviously WA306 delivered to RAF 26 January 1951 and allocated to No.118 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 16 April 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Suffolk". BOC 17 June 1956. Stored at Woodbourne from September 1956. To INST197 at No.3 TTS Wigram 19 February 1968. Sold 1972. Parked in carpark in Timaru for some months during 1972. Restored by Ashburton Aviation Museum and on display by early 2005.
NZ5770FB.5ePreviously WA444 delivered to RAF 20 July 1951 and served with Nos. 145 and 234 Squadrons and No. 2 Tactical Air Force Communications Support Unit. SOC with RAF on 17 May 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on 'Hertford". BOC 25 June 1956. Took part in Exercise Silver Bullet the farewell tour of New Zealand to mark the withdrawal of the Vampire during late 1972. Flown to Woodbourne for storage 15 December 1972 and sold by GSB tender number DO1523 16 March 1973. To Swedish Museum but sale fell through and aircraft was retendered. To Southward Motor Museum, Paraparaumu. Presently on display at Southward Motor Museum, Paraparaumu.
NZ5771FB.5V0812Previously WL493 with RAF and served with Nos. 14 and 4 Squadrons and No.2 Tactical Air Force Support Unit. SOC with RAF on 21 June 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on"Hinakura". BOC 21 August 1956. Crashed after engine failure on takeoff at Ohakea on 07 January 1960 and written off.
NZ5772FB.5ePreviously WA452 delivered to RAF 13 August 1951 and served with No. 54 Squadron, No. 229 Opersational Conversion Unit and Fighter Command Communications Squadron. SOC with RAF on 19 July 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hinakura". BOC 21 August 1956. WFU June 1972. Converted to INST203 at Ohakea 14 September 1973. Mounted as gate guardian at RNZAF Ohakea 27 August 1975.
NZ5773FB.5ePreviously WA451 delivered to RAF 20 August 1951 and served with No. 54 Squadron and No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit. SOC with RAF on 25 July 1954. Shipped to New Zealand on "Otaki". BOC 04 September 1956. Destroyed in midair collision with NZ5734 near Flock House on 20 August 1957.
NZ5774FB.5ePreviously WA411 delivered to RAF 30 May 1951 and served with No.421 Squadron, Station Flight Odiham, No.229 Operational Conversion Unit, and Fighter Command Communications Squadron. SOC with RAF on 06 September 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Cambridge". BOC 17 September 1956. Flown to Woodbourne for storage 15 December 1972. Sold by GSB tender number DO1523 16 March 1973. To K. Jacobs 03 July 1973. To Yesterdays Air Force, Chino, California, USA. Transferred to Bagotville Military Station, Ontario, Canada at some stage. During 2004 restoration was commenced by students at E.M.A.M., a Montreal based aerospatial school for a museum in Ontario.
NZ5775FB.5ePreviously WA385 delivered to RAF 23 April 1951 and allocated to No. 145 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 27 August 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Norfolk". BOC 15 October 1956. Stored at Woodbourne from March 1960. To INST195 at No.1 TTS Hobsonville on 22 February 1968. To Wigram 1971. Remains noted in Wigram fire crew training area mid 1972. Some parts salvaged and are being used in the rebuild on NZ5758 by Ferrymead Museum in Christchurch.
NZ5776FB.5ePreviously WA375 delivered to RAF 11 April 1951 and allocated to No. 102 Flying Refresher School. Also served with Nos. 98, 266, 5, 93, and 266 Squdrons. SOC with RAF on 23 August 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Norfolk". BOC 15 October 1956. Took part in Exercise Silver Bullet the farewell tour of New Zealand to mark the withdrawal of the Vampire during late 1972. Flown to Woodbourne for storage during November 1972. Sold by GSB tender number DO1523 16 March 1973. To K. Jacobs 03 July 1973. To Yesterdays Air Force, Chino, California, USA. Presently stored at Museum of Flight Restoration Centre, Everett, Washington, USA.
NZ5777FB.5ePreviously WA392 delivered to RAF 01 May 1951 and allocated to No. 118 Squadron. SOC with RAF on 09 August 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Norfolk". BOC 15 October 1956. Crashed at Kairanga on 21 August 1962 after engine fire. Pilot bailed out safely.
NZ5778FB.5V0793Previously WG805 with RAF and served with Nos. 67 and 145 Squadrons, and No.83 Group Communications Flight. SOC with RAF on 21 September 1956. Shipped to New Zealand on "Huntingdon". BOC 29 October 1956. Stored at Woodbourne from August 1958. Reduced to spares 1963.
INST166F.1ePreviously TG443 with RAF. Used as experimental aircraft in United Kingdom during 1948 when fitted with a DH Goblin 3 motro and a high speed metal canopy. Became instructional airframe 7072M in May 1953. Damaged in June 1953 and reconditioned before being stored. Prepared for shipment to New Zealand on 16 May 1955 and BOC with RNZAF 09 August 1955 as INST166 at No.1 TTS Hobsonville. Transferred to No. 4 TTS Woodbourne 02 April 1958. Reduced to spares 05 February 1960. Fuselage stored at Mapua.
INST167F.3ePreviously VT806 with RAF. BOC with RNZAF 01 December 1955 at No.4 TTS Woodbourne. Fuselage sold to Ferrymead Museum.
INST169FB.9ePreviously WL514 with RAF serving with Nos. 60 and 45 Squadrons. SOC with RAF on 30 July 1956. BOC with RNZAF April 1956 as INST169 and erroneously painted as INST170 with No. 2 TTS at Wigram. Transferred to No. 4 TTS Woodbourne 12 May 1966. Marked as INSTA170. Sold as scrap.
INST171FB.9v1043Previously WR202 delivered to RAF 03 July 1952 and issued to No.60 Squadron at Seletar. Used by 14 Squadron RNZAF at Tenghar 04 July 1955 to 10 October 1955 flying a total of 541 hours. BOC with RNZAF 15 May 1956 at No.1 TTS Hobsonville as instructional airframe INST171 but was wrongly marked as INSTNZ1717. Gifted to MOTAT 03 May 1962 and presently on display there.

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    Source: AHSNZ publications 1963-2001. NZ Wings 1972-1988. "For Your Tomorrow" by Errol Martyn. UK Serials Resource Centre website. Air Britain Historians. Classic Wings Volume 12 Number 1. RAF Aircraft WA100-WZ999 by James Halley. Marcus Bridle.

    Emails: Philippe Cantinaux. Graham Wickens.




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    Updated 29th June 2005.