HISTORICAL POINTS OF INTEREST
- 1941 At the end of 1941, No. 19 SQN was formed, as a split off of No. 3 SQN which had grown beyond the size of the facilities. The unit Parades at the No. 1 Port depot on Fanshaw street.
- 1946 No. 19 and No. 3 SQN merge as numbers drop after the war and Defence budgets are cut.
- 1964 Once again Numbers grow and No. 3 SQN splits again and No. 19 SQN reforms at the No. 2 Port Depot at Fox street in Parnel. Under the Command of Squadron leader Carl Miller RNZAF.
- 1970 The passing of the Defence Act in 1970 disestablishes the ATC as part of the RNZAF and temporally the ATC does not exist. However intense public outrage and lobbying by the Air Force Association, Brevet Clubs and the Returned Services Association caused the Government to reconsider and the New Zealand Cadet Forces was formed as the new Parent Body of the ATC.
All four of the Auckland region ATC units moved to Blake street in Ponsonby. To Parade in the former home of No. 3 Battalion (Auckland north) RNZ Infantry Regiment. This drill hall was built in 1904 was used to Demob the returning Boer war veterans and for the assembly of the Auckland Battalions before marching down to the Ports to embark for the Great wars of 1914 and 1939.
- 1972 Squadron Leader Miller Retires and passes command to Flight Lieutenant Don Hunt RNZAF Territorial (current Chairman of the Auckland District Council of ATCANZ).
- 1977 No. 19 SQN wins the National Davy Memorial Trophy Drill Competition.
- 1978 Pilot Officer Kevin O’Brien dies suddenly of Heart failure following an asthma attack while on a trip to the Hot pools with visiting American Civil Air Patrol Cadets (IACE exchange). Following Year his parents donate a trophy to be awarded to the Cadet who shows the most Endeavour during the year.
Equal Opportunities Act Passed, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force integrated into RNZAF and Females are able to join the ATC. First Female Officers PLTOFF’s Jocelyn McDonald and Deidra Noonan join the Unit.
- 1980 Squadron Leader Hunt Passes Command over to Flight Lieutenant John Dewar NZCF. SQNLDR Hunt takes over as the Co-ordinating Officer for the Four Units that share Blake street.
- 1982 Individual Branch Support committees are formed, formerly all four Auckland units were represented only by volunteer parents on the Building Committee of the Auckland District Council. The first elected chairman is Mr. Les Hunt.
- 1986 At the end of the Year Squadron Leader Dewar passes command to Flight Lieutenant Leon Papalii NZCF.
- 1990 Les Hunt retires as Chairman and is replaced by Alexis Stanaway.
- 1991 Golden Jubilee year for the Air Training Corps, Squadron Takes part in the Country wide Fundraising Run for Canteen (teenagers with cancer) and wins The DMT trophy again at the National competition held at Woodbourne air base.
- 1992 Squadron Leader Papalii steps down to go on the Supernumerary list due to the ill health of his father, He passes command to FLTLT Geoff Dent NZCF.
- 1993 Bryan Carter succeeds Alexis as the New Chairman of the support Committee.
- 1994 No. 19 Squadron celebrates 30 years since reforming.
- 1995 Review of Defence properties send ripples of uncertainty as to the future of the Blake Street HQ.
- 1996 Blake street is declared surplus to Defence needs and put into the disposal process.
- 1997 Ralph King-Mosen is elected chairman, The Right Honorable Helen Clark accepts the position as Patron to the unit and a parade to mark this is held at Blake street.
- 1999 Building is sold to developer. No. 19 Squadron as the last unit resident in the building organizes a final parade and lowers the ensign for the last time before the building is
demolished. At the same time in May No. 19 SQN moves to temporary accommodation at the Newton Salvation Army Hall on Ponsonby road, which had been declared surplus to the Salvation Army and was going to be sold in 2000. Negotiations start with the Three Kings United soccer club with regards to purchasing their vacant old club rooms at Nicholson park, Disraeli street, Mt. Eden.
- 2000 No. 19 SQN moves to its new HQ at Disraeli St. alterations are commenced to make the Building more useful as an HQ. The SQN has a lease with the intent to purchase upon confirmation of a new lease from the Auckland City Council and agreement on the value of the building. No. 3 SQN move in after being squeezed out of Arch Hill.
- 2002 The ATC has moved out of Disraeli street after negotiations breakdown, to Mt. Albert Grammar again to Temporary offices and classrooms while a plan is developed to utilize building offered as surplus by the Air Force at Hobsonville in a joint development with the school. Unfortunately the school is unable to come up with suitable land, but fortunately Mr. Neil Wells introduces Unitec into the deal and with the formation of the Auckland Air Cadet Trust in the middle of 2002, work was commenced in December 2002 to move the Former Officers Annex from Hobsonville to the Unitech site.
- 2003 In January the units move from Mt. Albert Grammar to Unitec, using the vet Clinic facilities while the new Head Quarters are completed. In March Kevin Shaw replaces Ralph King-Mosen as Chairman of the support committee.
- 2003 April the Units move into the new buildings The official opening takes place on April 26 2004. Dame Cath Tizard former Governor General, Mayor of Auckland and Patron of No. 3 SQN opens the Building. Later in September, The Prime Minister Helen Clark dedicates the flagpole plinth and officiates the naming of the ATC wing as the Sir Kenneth Hayr Wing. ( former 3 SQN cadet and Air vice Marshal of the RAF, Killed in an Air accident in 2001 in England.)
- 2004 No. 19 Squadron celebrates, 40 years of service.
