Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Three No. 3 Squadron Iroquois taking off in formation from Nelson airport. L-R: NZ3801, NZ3802, unknown.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Three No. 3 Squadron Sioux in early morning mist at Nelson airport.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Airman scraping ice from the windscreen of a N0. 3 Squadron Iroquois.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Corporal Card checking the tail rotor of a No. 3 Squadron Iroquois.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Leading Aircraftman Christophersen checking the main rotor on a No. 3 Squadron Iroquois at Nelson airport.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Aircraftman Webb, Aircraftman Nicholas and Aircraftman Wilce peeling potatoes at Nelson airport.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron pilot, Flight Lieutenant Oldfield, carrying out pre-flight checks on an Iroquois at Nelson airport.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron ground crew packing up fuel equipment beside an Iroquois in a snow-storm at the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron Sioux NZ3704 landing at Nelson airport.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron Iroquois flaying away from the landing area near the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron Wasp NZ3901 on the airfield at Nelson.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron Iroquois NZ3801 at the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Flying Officer Bailey talking on a field radio at the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Two Army pilots discussing a flight beside a Sioux. Captain MMcR Jamieson (left), Major Pearce (right).

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Corporal Blakemore carrying out a fuel test beside an Iroquois.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Sergeant Hingley refueling a No. 3 Squadron Wasp.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron pilot, Squadron Leader Buckmaster, taking some soup at the tented camp.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron pilot, Flying Officer Mills, taking some soup at the tented camp.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Two soldiers from the Army Air Support Organisation (right) speaking with two airmen (left) at the camp site.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Leading Aircraftman Burke removing a door from an Iroquois.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Soldiers from the Army Air Support Organisation at work with fuel drums in the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Leading Aircraftman R Hawke and Leading Aircraftman R Crabbe working on an Iroquois door.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Sergeant Gudgeon, from the Army Air Support Organisation, preparing a cargo net at the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] No. 3 Squadron personnel having a cup of tea and a chat at the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area. Corporal Bruce and Leading Aircraftman Burke.

Exercise Blackbird 1 at Nelson Airport and the Red Hills area. [negative register calls this "Operation Blackbird", but for consistency with following 'Blackbirds', this has been called Exercise.] Squadron Leader Robinson (left) and Major Faulkner (right) from the Army Air Support Organisation, having a meal at the forward camp in mountains in the Red Hills area.