WONZ 266 – Vampire Month: Jim Barclay

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Guest: Air Commodore James Barclay AFC, RNZAF (retired)

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 20th of September 2022

Released:  25th of November 2022

Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes 11 seconds

November 2022 marks 50 years since the RNZAF’s de Havilland Vampire fleet retired from service. The Air Force operated 58 Vampires within New Zealand, and at least 44 more leased Vampires in Cyprus and Singapore.

In this episode of the WONZ Show, Dave Homewood talks with former RNZAF de Havilland Vampire pilot in 1969 to 1970, before progressing to the then-new McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawks. Jim shares some detailed memories of training on and flying the Vampire, and details its handling qualities and the weapons fits, etc.

Jim also talks in detail about flying the Skyhawk, and the F-4 Phantom on a USAF exchange posting, as well as his time as Commanding Officer of No’s 14 and 75 Squadrons, the Skyhawk upgrades, the selection of the Aermacchi MB339CB, and his part in the negotiations to lease the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons.

An Addendum: Jim says, “I listened to it all – a few mistakes: it was Exercise Golden Kiwi at Gisborne in 1969, not Kea Claw. It was Fred Myers not Fred Kinvig leading the Vampire flypast. I said Fred Myers first time but Fred Kinvig later! I mixed up Skyhawk for Vampire.”

Quick Links:

Jim Barclay’s Website

New Zealand Defence Force Serials for de Havilland Vampires

The WONZ Episode with Rod Dahlberg

WONZ 263: Vampire Month – Tommy Thompson

WONZ 264: Vampire Month – Dave Greenlees

WONZ 265: Vampire Month – Mayn Hawkins

Fg Off Jim Barclay kills a mouse in the cockpit of Vampire FB5 5772 – 13 Feb 70 – RNZAF photo G3-279
A blurry screencap of Jim during the Zoom interview in September 2022.
13th of April 1970 – Vampires – Stew Boys T11 NZ5708, Jim Jennings FB5 5776, Fred Myers 65, Jim Barclay 55 – Jim Barclay photo
No. 75 Squadron Diamond Nine Flypast – Civic Ceremony Cook Bi-Centennial Gisborne – 9 Oct 69 – RNZAF photo G3-2402 Oct 69
The Cook Bi-Centenary Flypast – Gisborne 9 Oct 69 – RNZAF photo
RNZAF Canberra B12 NZ6110 Gavin Trethewey & Mike Hill, Skyhawk A-4K 6201 Murray Abel, Vampire FB5 5772 Jim Barclay.
RNZAF photo G3-3655 14 July 70
15th if December 1971 – No. 75 Squadron Flypast at RNZAF Base Woodbourne for Airman Cadets Graduation Parade – photo Peter A. Wise in Jim Barclay Collection
Flt Lt Jim Barclay – Skyhawk A-4K NZ6205 – Ohakea – Larry Pfitzenmaier photo
February 1980. Sqn Ldr Jim Barclay RNZAF – Exchange pilot with 309th TFS, USAF – Homestead AFB Florida – F-4E Phantom
February 1980. Sqn Ldr Jim Barclay RNZAF – USAF F4E Phantom II – AF66-309 – 309thTactical Fighter Squadron, Homestead AFB, Florida

Don Simms has kindly sent in these additional photos below:

Jim’s No. 2 A-4 Skyhawk Course, No. 75 Squadron, Oct –Dec 1970. Left to right: Roger Henstock QFI, Peter Waller, Jim Barclay, Graham Jackson,
Dave Bevan, Ken Gayfer QFI. 
Visit by CAS RAF & CAS RNZAF to Ohakea for  Skyhawk ride  29  Jan 1985 – Wg Cdr John Lanham OC Strike Wing, Air Chief Marshal Williamson CAS RAF, AVM Dave Crooks CAS RNZAF, Wg Cdr Jim Barclay Co 75 Sqn – photo RNZAF
Jim Barclay on the Skyhawk ladder on Exercise Vanguard in Malaysia in 1985.
No. 75 Squadron personnel in February 1973.
TRIAD 84 logo
Cope Thunder 84 patch

The music heard in this episode is Wild Flower by Joakim Karud.

2 comments to WONZ 266 – Vampire Month: Jim Barclay

Leave a Reply

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

  

  

  

«  
  »