WONZ 310 – Roger Holdaway

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Guest: Group Captain Roger Selwyn Holdaway

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 2nd of May 2024

Published: 8th of September 2024

Duration: 2 hours, 4 minutes, 13 seconds

In this episode Dave Homewood chats with Roger Holdaway, a former RNZAF pilot who flew numerous types from the North American Harvard and de Havilland Devon to the Short Sunderland and the Douglas C-47 Dakota. Bell Iroquois helicopters between 1958 and 1984.

Roger details his training and learning to operate the Sunderland, and flying the big flying boats with No. 5 Squadron in Fiji. He recalls various search and rescue missions he was involved with, and also the sighting of a Soviet submarine during the last patrol of 1961.

He went onto No. 42 Squadron flying the Harvard, Devon and Dakota as a pilot on this VIP Transport squadron. He also did target drogue towing.

He then became an instructor and served at Pilot Training Squadron in that role.

His next posting was to Whenuapai to become an instructor on Bristol Freighters on No. 3 (Tactical Transport) Squadron. He trained new Freighter crews in this role, and also did all sorts of transport duties around New Zealand.

In 1974 Roger was posted to Singapore and joined No. 41 Squadron, flying Bristol Freighters operationally. He was involved in the very last chapter of the Vietnam War when the Allies were pulling out of the country.

When he returned to New Zealand he did a Staff Course, and was then made Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron, based at Whenuapai, and flying Hawker Siddeley Andovers.

And then Roger was sent to Wigram to learn to fly the Sioux helicopter, as he was being promoted Wing Commander, to take over No. 3 Squadron’s command, where he would be flying Iroquois helicopters. He converted to the Iroquois at Hobsonville.

And then Roger was posted to Woodbourne in 1982, to become the C.O. Base Wing of RNZAF Base Woodbourne. And then in 1984 he was posted to Defence Headquarters in Wellington for six months.

He then left the RNZAF for a job in Civil Aviation.

Parade for the presentation of the No. 3 Squadron Standard by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at Whenuapai, RNZAF Base Auckland. Prince Charles inspecting the parade of No. 1 Flight, accompanied by Wing Commander Roger Holdaway, Squadron Commander and Parade Commander. Warrant Officer MD Burke (nearest camera) is the Parade Warrant Officer. (Air Force Museum of New Zealand)

Parade for the presentation of the No. 3 Squadron Standard by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at Whenuapai, RNZAF Base Auckland. Prince Charles inspecting No. 1 Flight, accompanied by Wing Commander Roger Holdaway, Squadron Commander and Parade Commander. (Air Force Museum of New Zealand)