WONZ 320 – WONZ 20th: Kenn Cox

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts125/v4/54/5c/8c/545c8cfc-37d9-6b26-06bd-64fc281e9147/mza_17981480999288926943.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Dave Homewood

289 episodes

4 hours ago

The Wings Over New Zealand Show is all about New Zealand's aviation scene, past and present and the people involved - from the current RNZAF and Air Force veterans, to airshows and warbirds, to airlines, agricultural aviation, recreational flying, history and much more.

Aviation

Leisure

RSS

All content for The Wings Over New Zealand Show is the property of Dave Homewood and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Aviation

Leisure

WONZ 320 – WONZ 20th: Kenn Cox

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

49 minutes 40 seconds

7 months ago

WONZ 320 – WONZ 20th: Kenn Cox

Guest: Kenn Cox, former RNZAF jet fighter pilot

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 23rd of February 2025

Published: 3rd of April 2025

Duration: 44 minutes, 40 seconds

In this episode we hear from Kenn Cox, the second speaker from the WONZ 20th Anniversary Forum meet at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, at Wigram, Christchurch.

Kenn was a young ‘bog rat’ Vampire pilot on No. 75 Squadron RNZAF in the late 1960s, and found himself as one of the ten pilots selected to be posted to Cecil Field in the USA in 1970 to convert onto the McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk, which had just been purchased by the New Zealand Government to replace the English Electric Canberras.

Kenn talks about the trip to the USA, the introduction to US Navy training, learning to fly the Skyhawk, and various adventures in the USA during the months that the group of pilots was there.

He also talks about operating the Skyhawk in the early days of its New Zealand service, navigating them around the country, and taking them up to Singapore for their first international exercises.

Quick Links:

• The Air Force Museum of New Zealand

• The Air Force Museum of New Zealand on Facebook

Thanks to Allan Udy for his assistance with recording this episode.

Above: Brand new RNZAF A-4K and TA-4K Skyhawks in the USA, Dec 1969, before the Kiwis took them over. McDonnell Douglas photo, via Don Simms.

Above: Kenn Cox during his talk at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Dave Homewood photo.

Above: A brand new TA-4K Skyhawk NZ6251 in December 1969, before the Kiwis arrived in the USA. McDonnell Douglas photo, via Don Simms.

The chosen ten pilots from No. 75 Squadron RNZAF in front of the newly delivered TA-4K “T-bird” Skyhawk NZ6251. Left to right are: Graham Thompson, Ken Gayfer, John Woolford, Roger Henstock, Mike Callanan, Kenn Cox, Murray Abel, Ross Ewing, John Scrimgeour and Trevor Bland. Photo via Don Simms.

Training with the US Navy. Left to right, standing: A US Navy Instructor, John Woolford, Ross Ewing, Murray Abel, and Mike Callinan. Seated: Roger Henstock, Trevor Bland, John Scrimgeour, and Ken Gayfer. Squatted: Kenn Cox, and Graham Thompson. Photo via Don Simms.

Above: Handover for the first RNZAF Skyhawks from McDonnell Douglas to the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Photo via Don Simms.

Above: RNZAF Skyhawks lined up at Cecil Field, NAS Jacksonville, Florida, next to US Navy Skyhawks. Photo via Don Simms.

Back to Episodes