A "hippocampus" logo, consisting of a flying horse with the body of a fish, was approved by the Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott, earlier this year and added to all five navy helicopters flying with the air force's No 6 Squadron.
The squadron is based at the Whenuapai air base in Auckland but its five helicopters are used with the two Anzac frigates, Te Kaha and Te Mana, the navy's offshore patrol vessels, Otago and Wellington, the multi-role ship Canterbury and the supply ship Endeavour.
The air force said the hippocampus was designed by No 6 Squadron personnel and was symbolic of the emblem originally designed in 1943 during World War 2. During the war, the air force flew Catalina search and rescue aircraft which could land on the sea to retrieve downed air crews.
"It was believed that the flying horse with the body of a fish, represented the amphibious steed embodied by the Catalina aircraft," said the air force in its latest magazine, Air Force News.
The logo has been adopted by the squadron which consists of both navy and air force personnel.
Navy pilots trained by the air force fly and crew the Seasprites. Navy airborne tactical officers, trained by the Royal Australian Navy, manage the mission. Navy helicopter crewmen train with air force crewmen at the Ohakea air base.
