No. 75 Squadron RAF

No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF
Active1 October 1916 – 13 June 1919
15 March 1937 – 4 April 1940
4 April 1940 – 15 October 1945
CountryNew Zealand New Zealand
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Nickname(s)New Zealand
Motto(s)Māori: Ake ake kia kaha
("For ever and ever be strong")[1]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeIn front of two mining hammers in saltire, a hei-tiki
Squadron CodesFO Oct 1938 – Sep 1939[2]
AA (Apr 1940 – Oct 1945)[3]
JN (Feb 1943 – Oct 1945, 'C' Flt only)[4]

No. 75 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force in World War I and the RAF in World War II. In 1940–1945, it was a bomber unit composed mainly of New Zealand-born personnel. In October 1945, the squadron number – along with its heraldry and honours – was relinquished by the RAF and transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, officially becoming No. 75 Squadron RNZAF. No other RAF squadron has been gifted in this way, to another Commonwealth air force.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 8. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 11–12.
  3. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 15.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 58.