75 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (later RAF) was formed as a home defence fighter unit on 1 October 1916 but disbanded in June 1919 following the end of World War I.

In August 1939, with war seeming increasingly likely, the New Zealand government offered to place both men and machines at the disposal of Britain.

It flew more sorties than any other RAF heavy bomber unit, suffered more casualties than any other squadron, and dropped the second-largest weight of bombs.

A pilot of the Squadron was awarded a VC in 1941, Sergeant James Allen Ward climbed along the wing of a Wellington in flight, in an attempt to extinguish a fire from an engine after a night fighter attack.

75(NZ) Sqn began to exchange its Stirlings for Lancaster III's and was ready in time to participate in preparation and support of the Allied invasion, the bombing of flying-bomb sites and close-support of the armies.

A Lancaster, (ND917), a Mark III captained by Squadron Leader N A Williamson, RNZAF, on 30 June 1944 became the first British heavy bomber to land in Normandy after the invasion began.

An unusual sortie for 75(NZ) Squadron was the high altitude run over The Hague in March 1945 by a lone Lancaster piloted by Flight Lieutenant H W Hooper.

In 1970 14 McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks were purchased to replace the Vampire FB5s of 75 Sqn – which was the primary attack squadron for the RNZAF.

In 1984, the NZ Government bought another 10 A-4s from the Australian Navy, and in 1988–89, the Skyhawk fleet underwent Project KAHU which upgraded the avionics systems.

In 1994 a major escape system change was initiated to fit the UPCO SIII3S-ER ejection seat to replace the MDD EScapac1G3.

In 1998, the National Party under Prime Minister Jenny Shipley then decided to replace the A-4 Skyhawks with 28 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 15 surplus aircraft from the US in 1998.

A political group of concerned civilians and ex-serviceman, called "Save Our Squadrons" was formed to protest the move, and took High Court action in an attempt to prevent its loss.

The New Zealand National Party at the time had promised to re-establish an air combat force if it was re-elected, however in later years statements from their defence spokesperson suggested the cost to do so might be prohibitive.

The National Archives schools web-site features an interview with Gordon Ford, a British wireless operator who served with 75 Squadron.

[1] The biggest concentration of aircraft wearing 75 Squadron markings including some veterans is at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, New Zealand.

Former WU13 L’Aeronavale (Maritime) Avro Lancaster NX665 1945 RAF Bomber Command Heavy Bomber that has been restored and is wearing 75 Squadron colours on one side with the nose art of 100+ mission veteran NE181 "The Captain's Fancy", which was sadly scrapped and the colours of an RAF squadron with New Zealand aircrew on the other side.

Another Skyhawk in 75 Squadron markings is preserved (in the original RNZAF A-4 colour scheme, circa early 1970s) at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum at Wigram.

Originally an early model US aircraft, this was gifted to NZ by an American movie company and assembled by the museum with straight refuelling probe and typical bomb and missile load for display.

In 2018 the replica TA-4K Skyhawk was moved from storage and placed on permanent display in front of the Ohakea Officers Mess.