No. 17 Squadron RNZAF

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No. 17 Squadron RNZAF
Group of No. 17 Squadron pilots with a Kittyhawk at Torokina, Bougainville.jpg
Group of No. 17 Squadron pilots with a P-40 Kittyhawk at Torokina Airfield, Bougainville Island
ActiveOctober 1942 – September 1945
CountryFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Branch Air Force Ensign of New Zealand.svg Royal New Zealand Air Force
RoleFighter
Equipment P-40 Kittyhawk
F4U Corsair
Engagements World War II

No. 17 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand fighter squadron in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

Contents

History

The Squadron formed at Ohakea, New Zealand in October 1942 on North American Harvards and Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks; after a period of training it moved to New Georgia in January 1943, Santo in July and then Guadalcanal in September and Bougainville in January 1944, rotating between these bases and serving largely in an air-to-air role, in which it enjoyed considerable success. By mid-1944 when the squadron converted to more potent Vought Corsairs, Japanese aerial activity had all but ceased in the South West Pacific, and the unit was largely deployed in a ground attack role, despite moving to Green Island in January 1945, and Los Negros in May. [1]

The squadron was still in Los Negros when disbanded in September 1945. [1]

Commanding officers

The following officers commanded the squadron: [1]

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References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Ross, pp. 327–328

Bibliography