The Start of
De Havilland Venom
I
n the late 1940s de Havilland proposed a development of their Vampire – with thinner wings and a more powerful engine. The RAF was seeking a better fighter bomber and the new design, the DH112, entered service in 1952. The RAF called it the Venom. The Venom proved to be a versatile design; as well as a fighter bomber it was also developed as a two-seat night fighter, then as a carrier-based interceptor. The RAF deployed it widely during the 1950s, including to Malaya where No. 14 Sqn RNZAF
the Jet Age
flew Venoms in action against the communist guerrillas. The type was exported to a number of air forces, including the Swiss Air Force where it remained in service until 1983. The Venom at Wings Over Wairarapa was built in Switzerland (under licence) in 1956 and it flies in from Whanganui for its display. The fighter’s paint scheme and identity is of the 14 Sqn aircraft flown in Malaya by the late Trevor Bland, who was one of the original organisers of the New Zealand War Birds. Although some 1600 Venoms were built, we believe that John Luff ’s Venom is the only airworthy and flying DH Venom left in the world. Span: 12.7m
Length: 9.7m Speed: 1030km/h
are 0800 651 444 119 Lincoln Road, Masterton www.ziggys.nz
12
THE JETS
