Created from information originally supplied by the New Zealand Defence Force.
- 1916, 22 August
- Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Co. Ltd formed
- 1916, 27 October
- Flying field land purchased at Sockburn. 40 pupils enrolled by end of December.
- 1917, February 1
- Instructor Cecil M Hill killed in air crash while performing aerobatics at Riccarton Racecourse display.
- 1921, January 31
- First scheduled airmail and passenger service in NZ commenced. Christchurch-Ashburton-Timaru route. Service ceased April 1921.
- 1923, April
- Government accepts Henry Wigram’s offer of the land and buildings.
- 1923, 14 May
- Sockburn renamed Wigram Aerodrome.
- 1923, June 21
- Aerodrome facilities formally taken on by Government. A week earlier (June 14) the Government created New Zealand Permanent Air Force and New Zealand Air Force (the latter was part of the Territorial Force). NZPAF was based at Wigram, carrying out refresher training and civil flying.
- 1927 November
- First training course (not refresher course – i.e. these were new recruits).
- 1928, 11 September
- Southern Cross flown by Charles Kingsford Smith lands at Wigram after 1660-mile (2671km) flight from Sydney.
- 1932
- Henry Wigram donates additional land.
- 1934, February
- NZPAF becomes Royal New Zealand Air Force
- 1934 - 1935
- Two military hangars built. More building work carried out over next couple of years, including accommodation.
- 1935
- No. 1 Bomber Reconnaissance Flight formed (RNZAF’s first Operational Unit)
- 1937, April 1
- RNZAF established as a separate service. 55 acres of land purchased; more accommodation built.
- 1938
- New hangar built (now part of Museum building).
- 1938, August
- Lots of building in 1938-9 including Stores (still standing) and more hangars, as the RNZAF expands in preparation for war.
- 1941, 28 June
- 70 WAAFs enlisted. Many WAAFs served at Wigram. At first, they weren’t allowed to be accommodated on station.
- 1941, 11 December
- Defence works begin on station in preparation for a potential Japanese invasion.
- 16 August, 1942
- Wigram chapel holds first service.
- 1943
- Station strength is 2575.
- 1944
- 200 additional acres obtained for station, between old airfield and Middle Lincoln Road.
- 1946, 18 April
- Air Force’s first jet fighter, a Gloster Meteor, touches down after a flight from Woodbourne.
- 1949, February 26
- The first New Zealand Championship Road Race was won by Morrie Proctor of Wellington. The event changed its name to the Lady Wigram Trophy Race, with the first Lady Wigram Trophy Race taking place on Saturday 31 March 1951.
- 1953, October 15
- Air collision between 2 RNZAF Devon De Havillands results in the death of 7 servicemen.
- 1958, 7-8 May
- Barrack Block No. 5 destroyed by fire.
- 1967, 5 November
- Celebrations for 50th year of flying at Wigram held.
- 1979
- New accommodation blocks built to replace war-time barracks.
- 1987, 1 April
- Museum opens. Collection had been built up since the mid-70s.
- 1995, September
- Base has formal closure parade.
- 2009, March
- Wigram closes to commercial air traffic.
