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

– 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

– 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.

– 324 –

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.

– 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

– 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.

– 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.

– 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

– 329 –

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

– 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

– 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.

– 332 –

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Appendix WARTIME OPERATIONAL SQUADRONS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE