

RNZAF 85: Sergeant Joyce McGee
Served 1977-1986
Communications specialist Sergeant Joyce McGee was one of the first Air Force women to serve in an international peacekeeping operation.
06 April, 2022
She was joined by Sergeant Gail Chambers who worked in Administration. They were deployed to join the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai, Egypt in 1984. The mission was to oversee the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
In 1977 the Women’s Royal New Zealand Air Force was integrated into the Royal New Zealand Air Force but, while women were entitled to equal pay, roles were still limited. It was this environment that saw 18-year-old Joyce McGee enter the service as a typist. After a short stint she re-mustered and joined the communications trade.
“Like most communicators, we were lucky, regardless of our gender we not only did base work in the comms centres, but we were also sent away on exercises and deployments, including going to Fiji to support the cyclone efforts with No. 3 Squadron,” she said.
“I was lucky to go to RIMPAC in 1982, in Hawaii. During the exercise, I worked in a centre on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. We mainly worked with the Americans, I think there were some females there, but mostly males.”
In January 1985 Ms McGee was chosen to deploy to Sinai, working in the Operations Centre, where she maintained radio contact with allied aircraft.
“We followed all flights of allied aircraft, conducted communications with them and did regular operations checks. We worked with the French, Americans and Australians.
“We also worked with the Colombians, who guarded the runway gate. We had a script to speak in Spanish, for them to open the gates or make sure the goats or other animals were off the runway for takeoffs and landings.”
Language barriers continued for the then Corporal, and creative solutions were needed.
“At first I thought it was a joke – but I was told that when we were talking with the crew of the French aircraft and their Operations Centre, we would sometimes need to speak in a French accent so they could understand what we were saying.
“I thought, no, that can’t be right. But one day I had to call the operations room and say their aircraft was due in at 1730 and they just didn’t understand me until I said it in an accent. They said, ‘Oh, oui oui!’.”
Due to the environment and type of deployment, there was a serious side to the work of course, potential consequences of not keeping a close watch on the flight could put personnel and aircraft at risk, she said.
Admitting to some naivety, Ms McGee believed that when she and SGT Chambers arrived in the Sinai, they would be able to integrate immediately and get on with the job.
“But there were some logistical issues around where we were going to be placed in the barracks, because we were the first women to stay in them, and also how the showering would work.
“There was a little resistance for a couple of days, but soon the guys got used to us and realised that Gail and I weren’t precious, we just wanted to get on with it.”
On her return to New Zealand, she was posted to the Navigation, Air Electronics and Telecommunications Training Squadron at Wigram as an instructor. Staying there for a year, she left the Air Force in 1986 after reaching the rank of Sergeant. Eleven years later she returned to the Air Force to work as a civilian for a year in communications. In that time period, Ms McGee noticed the difference in the way women personnel were treated.
“Being in the comms squadron, most of the time we were treated the same as everyone else. But in the wider trades there was a difference in how women were treated – not only in attitude, but also practical things like dress where fit-for-purpose uniforms matched roles, such as overalls and flight suits.
“By the time I returned as a civilian it was great to see an increase of women at senior officer level.”

Helping others top priority for Auckland Air Force Medic
People
RNZAF career extends Tauranga woman’s family legacy
People
RNZAF helps Devonport woman keep flying career alive
People
NATO award for Army Officer's Afghanistan work
People

Sailor's input to United Nations Command
People

RNZAF 85: Aircraftman Kanapa Kerr
People

RNZAF 85: Pilot Officer Kiwi Walker
People

RNZAF 85: Flight Sergeant Kim Harrison
People

RNZAF 85: Warrant Officer Viti Flanagan
People

RNZAF 85: Squadron Leader John "JV" Voice
People

RNZAF 85: Wing Commander Terry Knight
People

RNZAF 85: Flight Lieutenant Jack Hall
People

RNZAF 85: Flying Officer Arthur "Joppy" Joplin
People

Defence Adviser in Fiji
People

NZDF financial head acknowledged by accounting peers
People
Deployed to Solomon Islands
People

Welcoming 2022 in South Sudan
People

Back-to-back maintainer
People

Women in Science
People

Army Officer smashes Guinness Book of World Records kettlebell challenge
People

Air Force dream becomes a reality for Taranaki woman
People

Navy offers Whangarei teen a dream opportunity
People

Newly graduated Waikato man has eyes on the sky
People

Navy STEM programme launches Upper Hutt student into medic career
People

Joining the Air Force a family affair for Northland man
People

Wellington sailor continues family naval tradition
People

Kaitaia Sailor celebrates commissioning to Naval Officer
People

Canterbury volunteer shows care for Op Protect personnel at Christmas
People

Westport sailor embraces new career as Navy Education Officer
People

Reflecting on being WOAF
People

'Incredible journey' to top Air Force leadership role
People

Zone out with axe throwing
People

Former soldier earns wings in return to military
People

Outstanding leadership by NZ Army Officer in Afghanistan recognised
People

Air Force leadership role brings challenge and opportunity
People
Dedication and innovation praised at Chief of Defence Force Awards
People
Exemplary soldier is NZDF Person of Year
People

Managed isolation stalwart named NZDF Reservist of the Year
People

Cadet of the Year an inspiration to the next generation
People

Sailor of the Year recognised in year of challenges
People

Navy Diver recognised for developing diversity
People
Pandemic management while in US posting earns top safety award
People

Allrounder wins NZDF Civilian of the Year award
People

‘Wellness' supporter named Defence Volunteer of the Year
People

Hard line against bullying earns instructor Soldier of the Year title
People

Defence HUMINT: An Airman’s Story
People

Passion for the job recognised by Airman of the Year award
People

NZDF opens up different world of legal challenges
People

RNZAF’s longest-serving woman signs off after years of progress
People

Operation Monitor: deployed to the Republic of Korea
People

Bonded to heritage
People

Reflections during Matariki
People

Navy Reserves keep Upper Hutt man's love of the sea alive
People

Bay of Plenty woman making the most of her time in the Navy
People

Flying dream achieved with late change in career flight path
People

Cook Islands sailor proud to deliver vaccine support
People

Graduate's father inspires Air Force career
People

Mother the inspiration for Air Force career choice
People

Variety with ‘the team’ attracts former Cricketer to Navy
People

New Plymouth woman swaps hospo for hootchies and hot spots
People

Swapping the Bomb Squad for an RNZAF Squadron
People

Perseverance pays off as Tauranga man achieves RNZAF dream
People

Mother’s inspiration sets Lower Hutt man on Navy medical career
People

Hercules way finder flying in the family footsteps
People

Navy offers aviation career for Palmerston North man
People

Keep it real
People

NZDF medical officer joins Australian response to Fiji Covid surge
People

Defence Force at the heart of historic Women’s Super Rugby match
People

Riverton man embraces opportunity of Army medical career
People

Ōtaki woman embracing change for RNZAF medical career
People

RNZAF Skyhawk history-maker calls time on illustrious career
People

NZ Army promotes first female General List Officer to Brigadier
People

Inspiring Mums
People

The long wait for the Red Diamond
People

Gisborne high flier aims to make a difference in new career
People

Queenstown woman tops RNZAF recruit course
People

Career change for new RNZAF recruit
People

RNZAF offers Nelsonian a second chance at aviation engineering career
People

Taupō Army Cadets eyes the sky after groundwork
People

Invercargill-born Army Band trumpeter returns to roots
People

Chasing goals and being a mum
People

Take your moko as a friend for life
People

Taupō siblings make it four Navy generations
People

Law graduate takes the helm of a navy career
People

Commendation for former Army Sniper
People
