no.54 unit

The numbers 54 and 55 were originally given to the two RNZAF units in Tonga. When these moved up to Guadalcanal at the end of May 1943, they were combined and known as No. 54 Unit for some time. At the end of September the men were repatriated

– 233 –

to New Zealand, having completed their tour of duty. A new No. 54 Unit was formed in New Zealand in October and went to Guadalcanal early in 1944. It had been intended to install it at Buka Hill, on Bougainville, but when it arrived at Guadalcanal its projected site was still in Japanese hands. As the unit was not required anywhere else it was split up and the men posted to other units to fill the many vacancies caused by sickness.