Description Comments

“Supersonic Bombers On New Zealand Visit”

Object type

Image

Description: These images were taken for the September 10th 1978 edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper – the first of which was published with the caption: “One of the Phantoms about to take off on an operation supporting Exercise Captive Lightning. Airman David Jones (hand raised) directs the aircraft's pilot, Lieutenant Mike Gudmudson, and its navigator, Captain Mike McCarroll, as the aircraft trundles forward.”

An excerpt from the article read: “Four American F-4 Phantom fighter bombers made their first operational flights from the Ohakea air base last Wednesday. The supersonic aircraft, from the United States' 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, are normally based at Kadena air base, Okinawa, in Japan. However, these four Phantoms arrived in New Zealand last weekend, a day later than scheduled, to take part in a combined American-New Zealand military exercise at Tekapo, in the South Island. The aircraft, from the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, will be at the Ohakea base until next Monday (September 18), three days longer than originally planned. Five C-130 Hercules aircraft have brought in about 100 personnel and equipment to look after the Phantoms while they operate from the Ohakea base.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.