Royal New Zealand Air Force
Appendix WARTIME OPERATIONAL SQUADRONS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
Appendix WARTIME OPERATIONAL SQUADRONS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE
no. 1 bomber reconnaissance squadron
Formed (as the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron) March 1940; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Baffins, Vincents, Vildebeestes up to 1941; Hudsons, 1941–43; Venturas, 1943–45.
Squadron Leader G. N. Roberts | May 1940–August 1941 |
Squadron Leader G. H. Fisher | August 1941–July 1942 |
Squadron Leader F. J. Lucas | July–December 1942 |
Squadron Leader C. L. Monckton | December 1942–March 1943 |
Squadron Leader E. W. Tacon | March–May 1943 |
Squadron Leader H. C. Walker | May 1943–April 1944 |
Squadron Leader K. C. King | April–July 1944 |
Wing Commander A. N. Johnstone | August 1944–January 1945 |
Wing Commander A. A. N. Breckon | February–June 1945 |
New Zealand | March 1940–October 1943 |
Guadalcanal | October–November 1943 |
August–October 1944 | |
March–May 1945 | |
New Georgia | November 1943–February 1944 |
Green Island | October 1944–January 1945 |
Emirau | May–June 1945 |
no. 2 bomber reconnaissance squadron
Formed (as No. 2 General Reconnaissance Squadron) January 1941. Reformed after the war and in October 1946 renamed 75 Squadron to commemorate the New Zealand Bomber Squadron which served with the RAF. Present role: fighter ground-attack.
Aircraft: Vildebeestes and Vincents to 1941; Hudsons, 1941–43; Venturas, 1943–46.
Squadron Leader R. J. Cohen | January 1941–May 1942 |
Squadron Leader J. J. Busch | May–December 1942 |
Squadron Leader E. A. Moen | December 1942–April 1943 |
Squadron Leader R. H. A. Hogg | April–August 1943 |
Squadron Leader A. B. Greenaway | August 1943–June 1944 |
Wing Commander W. A. Cameron | June 1944–May 1945 |
Wing Commander K. G. King | May–September 1945 |
New Zealand | January 1941–November 1943 |
Santo | November 1943–February 1944 |
Guadalcanal | February 1944 and November 1944–January 1945 |
New Georgia | February–April 1944 |
Bougainville | April–May 1944 |
Green Island | January–March 1945 |
Jacquinot Bay | June–September 1945 |
no. 3 bomber reconnaissance squadron
Formed (as No. 3 General Reconnaissance Squadron) April 1941; disbanded June 1945.
Aircraft: Baffins and Vincents, 1941–42; Hudsons, 1942–44; Venturas, 1944–45.
Squadron Leader C. L. Monckton | April 1941–April 1942 |
Squadron Leader J. W. H. Bray | May–September 1942 |
Squadron Leader G. H. Fisher | September 1942–July 1943 |
Squadron Leader J. J. Busch | July–November 1943 |
Squadron Leader A. B. Greenaway | December 1943–January 1944 |
Wing Commander I. G. Morrison | February 1944–June 1945 |
New Zealand | April 1941–September 1942 |
Santo | October–November 1942 |
October 1943–January 1944 | |
May–July 1944 | |
Guadalcanal | December 1942–October 1943 |
July–August 1944 | |
February–March 1945 | |
Bougainville | August–October 1944 |
Emirau | October–November 1944 |
Green Island | March–June 1945 |
no. 4 bomber reconnaissance squadron
Formed (as No. 4 General Reconnaissance Squadron) in Fiji, October 1940; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Vincents and converted civil aircraft to 1941; Hudsons, 1941–43; Venturas, 1943–45.
Squadron Leader G. R. White | October 1940–October 1942 |
Wing Commander B. M. Lewis | November 1942–May 1943 |
Squadron Leader E. W. Tacon | May–December 1943 |
Squadron Leader E. Brooke-Taylor | December 1943–April 1944 |
Squadron Leader N. R. Lecher | April 1944–January 1945 |
Wing Commander F. R. Dix | January–February 1945 |
Squadron Leader A. F. A. Tye | March–June 1945 |
Squadron Leader L. H. Parry | July–August 1945 |
Squadron Leader G. S. A. Stevenson | September 1945 |
Fiji | October 1940–November 1944 |
Emirau | November 1944–February 1945 |
Guadalcanal | May–June 1945 |
Emirau | June–July 1945 |
Los Negros | July–September 1945 |
no. 5 flying boat squadron
The first No. 5 Squadron was formed in Fiji in November 1941 and disbanded in November 1942.
Aircraft: Singapores.
Squadron Leader E. M. Lewis | November–December 1941 |
Flight Lieutenant W. J. Craig | December 1941–February 1942 |
Flight Lieutenant R. H. Hickson | February–March 1942 |
Squadron Leader R. J. R. H. Makgill | April–November 1942 |
A new No. 5 Squadron was formed in Fiji in July 1944. It was reformed after the war and is at present stationed in Fiji, operating in the maritime role.
Aircraft: Catalinas.
Commanding Officer: Wing Commander J. W. H. Bray.
Fiji | August–October 1944 |
Santo | October 1944–October 1945 |
no. 6 flying boat squadron
Formed in Fiji May 1943; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Catalinas.
Wing Commander G. G. Stead | May–October 1943 |
Wing Commander I. A. Scott | October 1943–August 1944 |
Wing Commander J. R. S. Agar | August 1944–June 1945 |
Wing Commander K. G. Smith | June–September 1945 |
Fiji | March–October 1943 |
Santo | October–December 1943 |
Halavo Bay | December 1943–September 1945 |
no. 7 general reconnaissance squadron
Formed February 1942; disbanded May 1943.
Aircraft: Vincents, Vildebeestes.
Squadron Leader A. J. Turner | February–December 1942 |
Squadron Leader R. A. Kirkup | December 1942–May 1943 |
Tour of Duty: New Zealand.
no. 8 general reconnaissance squadron
Formed March 1943; reformed as No. 30 Dive Bomber Squadron, May 1943.
Aircraft: Vincents, Vildebeestes.
Squadron Leader C. L. Monckton | April–September 1942 |
Squadron Leader I. G. Morrison | September 1942–April 1943 |
Flight Lieutenant M. Wilkes | April–May 1943 |
Tour of Duty: New Zealand.
no. 8 bomber reconnaissance squadron
Formed October 1944; disbanded March 1945.
Aircraft: Venturas.
Wing Commander L. H. Parry | October–November 1944 |
Wing Commander I. R. Salmond | November 1944–March 1945 |
Fiji | November–December 1944 |
Guadalcanal | January–February 1945 |
Emirau | February–March 1945 |
no. 9 bomber reconnaissance squadron
Formed (as No. 9 General Reconnaissance Squadron) in New Caledonia, July 1942; disbanded June 1945.
Aircraft: Hudsons, 1942–43; Venturas, 1943–45.
Squadron Leader D. B. Grigg | July 1942–June 1943 |
Squadron Leader J. J. Busch | June–July 1943 |
Squadron Leader A. C. Willis | July–August 1943 |
Wing Commander A. C. Allen | October 1943–May 1945 |
New Caledonia | July 1942–March 1943 |
Santo | March–October 1943 and February–May 1944 |
New Zealand | November 1943–February 1944 |
Bougainville | May–August 1944 |
Fiji | January–March 1945 |
Emirau | March–May 1945 |
no. 488 fighter squadron
Formed September 1941; disbanded on return from Java, March 1942. A new No. 488 Squadron was formed in the RAF in 1943.
Aircraft: Buffalos, Hurricanes.
page 325Squadron Leader W. J. Clouston | October 1941–January 1942 |
Squadron Leader J. M. MacKenzie | January–March 1942 |
Singapore | October 1941–February 1942 |
Java | February 1942 |
no. 14 fighter squadron
Formed April 1942. Reformed after the war and served with the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan. At present serving in Cyprus as a fighter ground-attack squadron.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1942–44; Corsairs, 1944–47.
Squadron Leader J. N. McKenzie | April 1942–February 1943 |
Squadron Leader J. B. Fitzgerald | February–June 1943 |
Squadron Leader S. G. Quill | June 1943–April 1944 |
Squadron Leader J. C. Blundell | April–June 1944 |
Squadron Leader D. W. Cocks | July 1944–February 1945 |
Squadron Leader P. R. McNab | February–June 1945 |
Squadron Leader J. R. C. Kilian | June–September 1945 |
New Zealand | April 1942–April 1943 |
Santo | April–June 1943 |
October–November 1943 | |
November–December 1944 | |
March 1945 | |
Guadalcanal | June–July 1943 |
February 1944 | |
June 1944 | |
New Georgia | November–December 1943 |
Bougainville | February–March 1944 |
June–August 1944 | |
April–May 1945 | |
Green Island | December 1944–January 1945 |
Emirau | July–October 1945 |
no. 15 fighter squadron
Formed June 1942; disbanded October 1945.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1942–44; Corsairs, 1944–45.
Squadron Leader A. Crighton | June 1942–March 1943 |
Squadron Leader M. J. Herrick | March–December 1943 |
Squadron Leader J. A. A. Gibson | December 1943–July 1944 |
Squadron Leader D. P. Winstone | August–December 1944 |
Squadron Leader M. R. Clarke | January–September 1945 |
New Zealand | June–October 1942 |
Tonga | October 1942–March 1943 |
Guadalcanal | April–June 1943 |
September–October 1943 | |
May–June 1944 | |
New Georgia | October–November 1943 |
December 1943–January 1944 | |
Santo | September–October 1944 |
January–February 1945 | |
Bougainville | June–July 1944 |
November–December 1944 | |
June–September 1945 | |
Green Island | February–April 1945 |
no. 16 fighter squadron
Formed June 1942; disbanded October 1945.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1942–44; Corsairs, 1944–45.
Squadron Leader A. N. Jones | June 1942–May 1943 |
Squadron Leader J. S. Nelson | May–September 1943 |
Squadron Leader J. H. Arkwright | October 1943–January 1944 |
Squadron Leader A. G. Sievers | January–June 1944 |
Squadron Leader M. C. P. Jones | June–September 1944 |
Squadron Leader P. S. Green | October 1944–June 1945 |
Squadron Leader J. H. Mills | July–October 1945 |
New Zealand | June 1942–June 1943 |
Santo | June–July 1943 |
November 1943–July 1944 | |
April 1945 | |
Guadalcanal | July–September 1943 |
March 1944 | |
July–August 1944 | |
November–December 1944 | |
New Georgia | November 1943–January 1944 |
Bougainville | March–May 1944 |
August–September 1944 | |
April–June 1945 | |
Green Island | December 1944–February 1945 |
Jacquinot Bay | August–October 1945 |
no. 17 fighter squadron
Formed October 1942; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1942–44; Corsairs, 1944–45.
page 327Squadron Leader J. V. A. Reid | October 1942–July 1943 |
Squadron Leader P. G. Newton | July 1943–January 1944 |
Squadron Leader D. F. St. George | April–November 1944 |
Squadron Leader B. V. Le Pine | November 1944–September 1945 |
New Zealand | October 1942–July 1943 |
Santo | July–September 1943 |
December 1943 | |
August 1944 | |
January 1945 | |
Guadalcanal | September–October 1943 |
April 1944 | |
August–September 1944 | |
New Georgia | January 1943–January 1944 |
Bougainville | January 1944 |
April–June 1944 | |
September–November 1944 | |
Green Island | January–March 1945 |
Los Negros | May–September 1945 |
no. 18 fighter squadron
Formed June 1943; disbanded October 1945.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1943–44; Corsairs, 1944–45.
Squadron Leader J. A. Oldfield | Jane 1943–March 1944 |
Squadron Leader R. H. Balfour | May–July 1944 |
Squadron Leader P. R. McNab | August–November 1944 |
Squadron Leader G. H. Corbet | November 1944–April 1945 |
Squadron Leader W. A. Hardman | May–September 1945 |
New Zealand | June–September 1943 |
Santo | September–October 1943 |
January 1944 | |
August–September 1944 | |
New Georgia | October–November 1943 |
Guadalcanal | May–June 1944 |
September–November 1944 | |
January–February 1945 | |
Bougainville | January–March 1944 |
June–July 1944 | |
February–April 1945 | |
June–October 1945 | |
Green Island | November–December 1944 |
no. 19 fighter squadron
Formed December 1943; disbanded October 1945.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1943–44; Corsairs, 1944–45.
page 328Squadron Leader H. R. Wigley | December 1943–April 1944 |
Squadron Leader M. T. Vanderpump | May–July 1944 |
Squadron Leader J. R. C. Kilian | July 1944–May 1945 |
Squadron Leader H. A. Eaton | June–October 1945 |
Guadalcanal | February–March 1944 |
June–July 1944 | |
October–November 1944 | |
Bougainville | March–April 1944 |
July–August 1944 | |
Emirau | November 1944–December 1945 |
Santo | February–March 1945 |
Los Negros | March–May 1945 |
Jacquinot Bay | June–October 1945 |
no. 20 fighter squadron
Formed January 1944; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Kittyhawks, 1944; Corsairs, 1944–45.
Squadron Leader S. R. Duncan | January–July 1944 |
Squadron Leader G. M. Robertson | July–November 1944 |
Squadron Leader L. R. Reynolds | December 1944–September 1945 |
Guadalcanal | April–May 1944 |
September–October 1944 | |
Bougainville | May–June 1944 |
January–April 1945 | |
Santo | August–September 1944 |
January 1945 | |
Green Island | October–November 1944 |
Jacquinot Bay | May–August 1945 |
no. 21 fighter squadron
Formed May 1944; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Corsairs.
Squadron Leader L. R. Bush | May 1944–February 1945 |
Squadron Leader W. J. MacLeod | March–September 1945 |
Guadalcanal | June–July 1944 |
November–December 1944 | |
Bougainville | July–September 1944 |
December 1944–February 1945 | |
Green Island | April–May 1945 |
Jacquinot Bay | May–July 1945 |
no. 22 fighter squadron
Formed June 1944; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Corsairs.
Squadron Leader B. H. Thomson | June 1944–March 1945 |
Squadron Leader J. R. Court | March–July 1945 |
Squadron Leader G. A. Delves | August–September 1945 |
Santo | August 1944 |
December 1944–January 1945 | |
Guadalcanal | August–September 1944 |
Bougainville | September–November 1944 |
April–July 1945 | |
Emirau | January–March 1945 |
no. 23 fighter squadron
Formed August 1944; disbanded October 1945.
Aircraft: Corsairs.
Squadron Leader J. J. de Willimoff | August 1944–May 1945 |
Squadron Leader D. E. Hogan | May–October 1945 |
Santo | September–October 1944 |
Los Negros | November–December 1944 |
Guadalcanal | February–March 1945 |
Emirau | March–May 1945 |
Bougainville | June–October 1945 |
no. 24 fighter squadron
Formed September 1944; disbanded October 1945.
Aircraft: Corsairs.
Squadron Leader M. T. Vanderpump | October 1944–January 1945 |
Squadron Leader A. G. S. George | February–October 1945 |
Santo | October–December 1945 |
March 1945 | |
Bougainville | December 1944–January 1945 |
July–October 1945 | |
Green Island | March–May 1945 |
no. 25 dive bomber squadron
Formed July 1943; disbanded May 1944.
Aircraft: Dauntlesses.
Commanding Officer: Squadron Leader T. J. McL. de Lange
New Zealand | July 1943–January 1944 |
Santo | January–March 1944 |
Bougainville | March–May 1944 |
no. 25 fighter squadron
Formed October 1944; disbanded September 1945.
Aircraft: Corsairs.
Commanding Officer: Squadron Leader G. M. Fitzwater
Santo | December 1944 |
Guadalcanal | December 1944–January 1945 |
Los Negros | January–February 1945 |
Emirau | May–July 1945 |
no. 26 fighter squadron
Formed March 1945; disbanded July 1945.
Aircraft: Corsairs.
Commanding Officer: Squadron Leader G. A. Delves
Guadalcanal | March–April 1945 |
Bougainville | April–June 1945 |
no. 30 dive bomber squadron
Formed September 1943; disbanded May 1944.
Aircraft: Avengers.
Squadron Leader R. G. Hartshorn | September 1943–April 1944 |
Squadron Leader H. N. James | April–May 1944 |
New Zealand | September 1943–January 1944 |
Santo | February–March 1944 |
Bougainville | March–May 1944 |
no. 31 dive bomber squadron
Formed December 1943; disbanded August 1944.
Aircraft: Avengers.
Commanding Officer: Squadron Leader M. Wilkes
New Zealand | December 1943–May 1944 |
Bougainville | May–July 1944 |
no. 40 transport squadron
Formed June 1943; disbanded 1947.
Aircraft: Hudsons, Lodestars, Dakotas.
Wing Commander J. Adams | June 1943–November 1944 |
Wing Commander R. A. Kirkup | November 1944–April 1946 |
Tour of Duty
Based at Whenuapai throughout its existence.