Fiji's RNZAF Laucala Bay Base Close
p. 25 · Read in the full issue
The Royal New Zealand Air Force flying-boat base at Laucala Bay, near Suva, is to close down as a result of a New Zealand Government decision to buy Lockheed Hercules transports.
tTtHE Government has ordered three Lockheed CI3OE Hercules, and has also decided in principle to buy five maritime versions of the Hercules, A fact-finding team will shortly go to the US to make a final evaluation on these.
The RNZAF News, which is published at RNZAF Headquarters, Wellington, reports: . , , . .
The transport and maritime versions of the Hercules will replace other ageing and obsolete RNZAF aircraft, notably the venerable Hastings, which after many years of in-
tensive flying are now approaching the end of their useful life, and the trusty Sunderland flying-boats, which have enjoyed an unrivalled period of service dating back to 1938. With the passing of Sunderlands, the flying boat base at Laucala Bay will close and the new maritime aircraft operated from New Zealand.”
The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Star reported recently that the maritime Hercules would be operated from Whenuapai, “with possibly some operations being car ried out from forward strips in the Pacific Islands”.