RNZAF Contact and Airman Magazines

The RNZAF Contact magazine first appeared in March 1941. At that time it was produced for RNZAF Stations Levin, New Plymouth and Ohakea. Prior to the production of Contact, The Airman was produced for RNZAF Stations Whenuapai and Hobsonville.  It ran for twelve issues, with the last issue being November 1941. Contact became the National Magazine in August 1941.

During WWII, Contact ran for a total of 54 issues up until and including December 1945.  Most of the cover illustrations (from December 1941) were painted by Maurice Conly, the RNZAF Official Artist.   Conly joined the RNZAF in 1941 to train as a pilot but an accident left him unfit for active flying service.  He travelled to Fiji, the Solomons, Malaysia, Vietnam, Antarctica and London while serving with the RNZAF.  Details of Conly's life, and more of his artwork, can be seen in the book "Call for the artist" by Paul Harrison.  The illustrations on this web page show some, but not all, of the  Airman  and Contact covers in chronological order.

December 1940 - Vol 1 No. 1 First issue of the Airman magazine (185 mm x 248 mm) for Whenuapai and Hobsonville
January 1941 - Vol 1 No. 2
February 1941 - Vol 1 No. 3
March 1941 - Vol 1 No. 4
April 1941 - Vol 1 No. 5
May 1941 - Vol 1 No. 6
June 1941 - Vol 1 No. 7
 July 1941 - Vol 1 No. 5 Larger old format (270 mm x 215 mm). Produced for RNZAF Stations Levin - New Plymouth - Ohakea
August 1941 - Vol 1 No. 9
August 1941 - Vol 1 No. 6  First magazine produced as the RNZAF national magazine
September 1941 - Vol 1 No. 10
September - October 1941 - Vol 1 No. 7
October 1941 - Vol 1 No. 11
November 1941 - Vol 1 No. 12 The last Airman magazine produced after Contact became the national magazine.
November 1941 - Vol 1 No. 8
December 1941 - Vol 1 No. 9
January 1942 - Vol 1 No. 10
February 1942 - Vol 1 No. 11
March 1942 - Vol 1 No. 12 Old format.

July 1942
September - October 1942

December 1942
January - February 1943
March 1943
April 1943
May 1943
June 1943
July 1943
August 1943
October 1943
November 1943
December 1943
January 1944
February 1944
March 1944
April 1944
May 1944
June 1944
July 1944
September 1944
October 1944
November 1944
February 1945
March 1945
April 1945

May 1945
June 1945
July 1945
August 1945
September 1945
October 1945
November 1945
December 1945
May 1953 - Vol 1 No. 7 New Series

June 1953 - Vol 1 No. 8 New Series, Coronation Issue
August 1953 - Vol 1 No. 10 New Series

September 1953 Vol 2 No. 1 New Series - International Air-Race Supplement

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