Gordon Ragg has spent his entire adult life contributing to New Zealand aviation in diverse roles. He joined the RNZAF in 1958 as a trainee pilot. After graduating, he was posted to No 40 (long range transport) Squadron, flying Handley Page Hastings C3 and Douglas DC6 aircraft, until they were replaced by the Lockheed C130H Hercules.

Following a Flying Instructors Course and a tour on Pilot Training Squadron, Gordon was posted to Central Flying School as an A1 Category Instructor. On his return to No 40 Squadron as Training Officer he was one of the RNZAFs most experienced and capable pilots. In this role he played a major part in the introduction of the Hercules aircraft into service and bore much responsibility for setting the high operating standards achieved in the first decade of its RNZAF service, standards which still prevail today.

At the end of his second tour on C130s Gordon was selected to command No 5 Maritime Patrol Squadron operating P3B Orions. On completion of this post Gordon was awarded an Air Force Cross (AFC), the citation for which states in part:

After converting to the maritime role he guided No 5 Squadron through difficult times when the unit suffered critical shortages of trained and experienced aircrews, and when aircraft availability presented serious problems. By his personal example in the air, and by his qualities of leadership on the ground, Wing Commander Ragg ensured that in addition to the competent handling of assigned tasks, unexpected emergency situations were met, and despite often high demands imposed upon all squadron personnel, that morale was maintained at a high level. It is a testimony to the operational standards that Wing Commander Ragg had set and to the efforts that he has inspired in his crews that twice in the past three years the RNZAF has been successful in winning the international Fincastle Trophy competition for anti-submarine warfare proficiency whereas the trophy had proved elusive for the previous sixteen years’.

Gordon left the RNZAF in 1985. In civilian life he has continued his service to New Zealand having been appointed a Justice of the Peace.  From 2002 he was Chairman for 17 years of the No 5 Squadron RNZAF Association, of which he is still a committee member.

Gordon was deeply involved in the formation of the New Zealand Region of the then Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. Gordon joined the first Executive Committee and oversaw the Trophy’s and Awards portfolio and other tasks for twenty-eight years. He was elected Chairman of the Regional Committee for two terms and was one of the NZ Region’s first Liverymen. He has also been awarded a Master Air Pilots Certificate.

Service to youth in New Zealand and his interest in aviation also continued when in 2002 he was appointed by Scouts New Zealand as Director of the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School, which is held annually at Matamata. He held this position for fifteen years.  As Director he was responsible for the safe and successful conduct of the school. Included amongst those duties was his responsibility to CAA for all aspects of the operation and compliance with civil aviation rules. This school is extremely prestigious, and several Governors-General attended as Guests of Honour to present awards during Gordon’s term as Director.

It was fitting that in recognition of New Zealand’s first recognised aeroplane flight by the Walsh Brothers in 1911, Gordon acted as Chairman of the Centennial Committee that arranged a successful commemoration in 2011.  Gordon has been deeply involved in the Allied Air Forces Masonic Flight (NZ Constitution) as Patron. He is also Patron of No 3 (Auckland City) Squadron, Air Training Corp.  For a lifelong outstanding contribution to New Zealand Aviation, Gordon Ragg is awarded the Jean Batten Memorial Trophy.

1992/93  Henry (Harry) Bielby Esq

1993/94  Captain A G (Gorden) Vette

1995  not awarded

1995/96  Raymond Gilbert Mulqueen Esq

1996/97  Air Cdre Stuart Mclntyre

1998  not awarded

1998/99  Ossie James

1999/2000  Captain Stuart Julian

2000/01  John William Reid MBE

 2002  not awarded

2002/03  Captain Bryan Stephen Wyness BSc

2004  not awarded

2004/05  Ian Andrew Ritchie

2005/06  Maxwell Brooke Stevens

2007  not awarded

2007/08  William Ronald Tannock

2008/09  Sqn Ldr James Rankin

2009/10  Michael Edmund Murray

2011  not awarded

2011/12  Guyon Moncrieff Robertson

2012/13  Lewis John Jenkins

2013/14  William (Bill) Arthur Black MBE

2015  not awarded

2016  John Funnell MBE

2017 - 2018  not awarded

2019  Glyn Powell and Warren Denholm

2020  not awarded

2021  Sir Peter Jackson ONZ KNZM

2022  not awarded

2023  Wing Commander Gordon Ragg AFC RNZAF(Ret'd)