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Story: Asian conflicts

Canberra bomber in action, Malaya, 1958

Canberra bomber in action, Malaya, 1958

The first Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) aircraft to go into action in Malaya were the Vampire fighters of 14 Squadron. While the squadron was in Malaya it was re-equipped with Venom bombers. In 1958, 75 Squadron, flying Canberra bombers (pictured here), replaced 14 Squadron in Malaya. The RNZAF carried out bombing and strafing attacks against suspected guerrilla targets, along with actions to support ground troops. 41 Squadron was also deployed in Malaya, flying Bristol Freighters to supply Commonwealth forces.

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Air Force Museum

Reference: DPR SEA 228

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How to cite this page

Ian McGibbon, Asian conflicts – Shift of focus to South-East Asia, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34534/canberra-bomber-in-action-malaya-1958 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 16 April 2012, updated 1 February 2016.

Comments

Fg Off Peter C Pennell
01 November 2015
That photo was taken by me unofficially on my private camera just before I had to operate the Canberra camera to photograph 75 Squadron's first sortie with 5 Canberras over Malaya. The Squadron photograhic section 'kindly' half-hitched my camera and developed the film !!!!This photo was splashed all over the New Zealand newspapers the next day with no acknowledgement to me !!!! Fg Off Peter C Pennell