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Royal New Zealand Air Force

Appendix WARTIME OPERATIONAL SQUADRONS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE

page 321

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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
page 322
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
page 323
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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.

Tours of Duty
Fiji August–October 1944
Santo October 1944–October 1945

no. 6 flying boat squadron

Formed in Fiji May 1943; disbanded September 1945.

Aircraft: Catalinas.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
Squadron Leader A. J. Turner February–December 1942
Squadron Leader R. A. Kirkup December 1942–May 1943

Tour of Duty: New Zealand.

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no. 8 general reconnaissance squadron

Formed March 1943; reformed as No. 30 Dive Bomber Squadron, May 1943.

Aircraft: Vincents, Vildebeestes.

Commanding Officers
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.

Commanding Officers
Wing Commander L. H. Parry October–November 1944
Wing Commander I. R. Salmond November 1944–March 1945
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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 325
Commanding Officers
Squadron Leader W. J. Clouston October 1941–January 1942
Squadron Leader J. M. MacKenzie January–March 1942
Tour of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
page 326
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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 327
Commanding Officers
Squadron 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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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 328
Commanding Officers
Squadron 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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
Squadron Leader L. R. Bush May 1944–February 1945
Squadron Leader W. J. MacLeod March–September 1945
Tours of Duty
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
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no. 22 fighter squadron

Formed June 1944; disbanded September 1945.

Aircraft: Corsairs.

Commanding Officers
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
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
Squadron Leader J. J. de Willimoff August 1944–May 1945
Squadron Leader D. E. Hogan May–October 1945
Tours of Duty
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.

Commanding Officers
Squadron Leader M. T. Vanderpump October 1944–January 1945
Squadron Leader A. G. S. George February–October 1945
Tours of Duty
Santo October–December 1945
March 1945
Bougainville December 1944–January 1945
July–October 1945
Green Island March–May 1945
page 330

no. 25 dive bomber squadron

Formed July 1943; disbanded May 1944.

Aircraft: Dauntlesses.

Commanding Officer: Squadron Leader T. J. McL. de Lange

Tours of Duty
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

Tours of Duty
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

Tours of Duty
Guadalcanal March–April 1945
Bougainville April–June 1945

no. 30 dive bomber squadron

Formed September 1943; disbanded May 1944.

Aircraft: Avengers.

Commanding Officers
Squadron Leader R. G. Hartshorn September 1943–April 1944
Squadron Leader H. N. James April–May 1944
Tours of Duty
New Zealand September 1943–January 1944
Santo February–March 1944
Bougainville March–May 1944
page 331

no. 31 dive bomber squadron

Formed December 1943; disbanded August 1944.

Aircraft: Avengers.

Commanding Officer: Squadron Leader M. Wilkes

Tours of Duty
New Zealand December 1943–May 1944
Bougainville May–July 1944

no. 40 transport squadron

Formed June 1943; disbanded 1947.

Aircraft: Hudsons, Lodestars, Dakotas.

Commanding Officers
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.

no. 41 transport squadron

Formed August 1944.

Aircraft: Hudsons, Lodestars, Dakotas; Hastings and Freighters since 1951.

Commanding Officer
Wing Commander H. C. Walker September 1944–August 1945

Tour of Duty

Based at Whenuapai throughout its existence.

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