Use of R.N.Z.A.F. planes in U.S. film clarified

Press, 16 July 1987, Page 3

Use of R.N.Z.A.F. planes in U.S. film clarified

The office of the Minister of Defence has clarified the denial by the Minister, Mr O’Flynn, that R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft were repainted for their roles in the Walt Disney film, "The Rescue.” The issue was raised in a letter to “The Press” by Mr Peter Stocker, who decried the Government’s support for the project. “R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft are to be painted in foreign colours for participation in what must be regarded as a piece of Cold War jingoism,” wrote Mr Stocker. Mr O’Flynn’s reply was that the authority for R.N.Z.A.F. involvement was given in his absence, and that he later sought, unsucessfully, to withdraw

from the contract. He added, “It is not correct that R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft were painted in foreign colours: permission to do that was refused.” Mr O’Flynn’s private secretary, Mr Mike Wicksteed, has now said that the Minister’s reply was "not totally correct” Strictly speaking, they had not been repainted but their New Zealand markings were covered by transfers, said Mr Wicksteed. “The Rescue” is the story of a group of American children who, faced with official inaction, arrange and carry out a rescue of their fathers, captured by North Korea.

It was filmed at Whenuapai airbase, disguised as an American base in Korea, and round Queenstown. R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft used in the filming include a Hercules, disguised as a Korean plane, and some Skyhawks, disguised as American. A prominent role is played by a former R.N.Z.A.F. Bristol Freighter, now privately owned. Walt Disney Productions has paid the Crown, as distinct from the Air Force, for the use of Air Force facilities. It has, huowever, undertaken to give a World War II Corsair fighter to the Air Force Museum at Wigram as a token of its thanks.