Position: First Officer | Country: New Zealand
An amazing pilot and wonderful guy, we are all very proud of you. Former SkyHawk and Canberra pilot out of Ohakea Base with the 75th Squadron.
I had never seen him so excited. We had dreamed of going to Antarticia together and he was like a little kid when he gleefully apologised that he couldn't wait for me - he had been offered a seat on flight 901. He lived to fly, loved working for Air New Zealand and considered the DC10 the best aircraft ever developed. A constant friend, deeply missed still.
MaryAnne (Muff) Leighton
LUCAS, Flight Lieutenant Graham Neville, (cvsa).
Q79387; Born Dunedin, 12 Jun 1940.
- Joined the RNZAF 3 Jul 1959 to 2 Jul 1971, as a Navigator, then Pilot. Officer reservist to 2 Jul 1979.
- Known to his RNZAF friends as ‘Brick’.
- Graduated as a Navigator late 1960, on RNZAF No. 31 Combined Aircrew Course. Began RNZAF EE Canberra B12 conversion course early 1961, at BOCU, Ohakea. Role familiarisation experience with 75
- Squadron EE Canberra B2’s in Singapore.
- Posted to 14 Squadron, Ohakea as Navigator. Paired with Pilot Sqn Ldr Larry Olsen, until Sep 1963.
- All Flt Lt Lucas operational flying was with RNZAF Canberra B12’s on 14 Squadron, including from Singapore during the ‘Indonesian Confrontation’, until Dec 1964.
- Began RNZAF No. 41 Pilots Course early 1965.
- Posted to 75 Squadron for pilot conversion training to DH Vampire T11 and FB5.
- Posted to Bomber Operational Conversion Unit for pilot training in Canberra B12’s mid‐1966.
- Posted to 14 Squadron late 1966, participating in all Vanguard Exercises until the Canberra phase out. Awarded the Queen’s Commendation For Valuable Service in the Air (cvsa) in 1969.
- One of three RNZAF pilots that flew the Canberra B12’s to their new home with the IAF in India, 1970. The MDD Skyhawk’s arrived in NZ in 1970, but Flt Lt Lucas did not fly the A4K.
- August 1970, served in the office of Air Staff of Defence Headquarters, under the Director of Operations. April 1971, Strike Wing Headquarters, RNZAF Base Ohakea.
- Departed the RNZAF in July 1971, to fly for Air New Zealand.
- While waiting for a position with Air New Zealand flew light twin engined business aircraft for Capital Air Services and Newmans’s Group/Helicopters NZ Ltd.
- Flt Lt Graham Neville Lucas, cvsa, remained a Reservist RNZAF Officer until 2 July 1979.
This brief history of Flt Lt Lucas, was compiled and submitted by, Sgt Glen Turner (rtd)
Secretary
75 Squadron Association of New Zealand.
Contact; glen@75squadron‐raf‐rnzaf.com