| No. 23 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1944–1945 |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| Branch |  Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Type | Fighter bomber |
| Size | Squadron |
| Garrison/HQ | RNZAF Station Ardmore |
| Engagements | World War II |
No. 23 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was formed in August 1944 at RNZAF Station Ardmore equipped with the F4U-1 Corsair fighter bomber.
The squadron was established at RNZAF Ardmore in August 1944. It moved to Palikulo Bay Airfield on Espiritu Santo to continue training in September. In late October 1944 it moved to Kukum Field on Guadalcanal, where it flew ground attack missions on Bougainville targeting Japanese positions until 14 November. In late November 1944, it moved to Momote Field on Los Negros Island where it flew combat air patrols in defence of the island. [1] In February 1945, the squadron moved to Guadalcanal and then to Emirau from March–May and then to Piva Airfield on Bougainville from June–October 1945. [1] : 329
No. 3 Squadron RNZAF is a unit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It currently operates NHIndustries NH90 and Agusta A109 helicopters. The squadron was initially formed as a territorial unit of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force in Christchurch in 1930. During World War II, the squadron served in the Pacific, undertaking patrol operations. In the early post war period, the squadron was converted to a Territorial formation flying fixed wing aircraft, but later converted to rotary wing aircraft, and returning to permanent status. Since then, personnel from the squadron have served in the Vietnam War, East Timor, Singapore, the Sinai, and the Solomon Islands.
No. 2 Squadron RNZAF was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It was formed in 1930 as part of the Territorial Air Force with the main headquarters at Wellington and shadow flights at New Plymouth and Wanganui. Squadron personnel conducted their annual flying at RNZAF Base Wigram. In 1937 the Territorial Squadrons were re-organised and No. 2 Squadron became the Wellington Territorial Squadron.
14 Squadron RNZAF is a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In 2015 the squadron was re-raised and equipped with 11 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. A new aerobatic display team called the Black Falcons was also formed using the new aircraft. They replaced the RNZAF display team known as the Red Checkers.
No. 15 Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force that was formed in June 1942. It served in Tonga, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Espiritu Santo, Bougainville and Green Island. The squadron was equipped with Kittyhawk and, later, F4U Corsair fighters. The squadron was disbanded in October 1945.
No. 16 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force was formed on 1 July 1942 at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, commanded by Squadron Leader A. Jones. The squadron served in Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Bougainville, Green Island and Jacquinot Bay. The squadron was equipped with Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks and later F4U Corsair fighters. Re-equipment with the P-51 Mustang was abandoned at the cessation of hostilities, and the squadron returned to New Zealand and was disbanded in October 1945.
No. 25 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was formed at Seagrove, Auckland in July 1943 with Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers and served in the Southern Pacific based at the Piva Airstrip on Bougainville, flying missions against Japanese forces on Bougainville and at Rabaul. It was disbanded in May 1944 and reformed as a fighter/ground attack squadron flying F4U Corsairs. It served in Santo, Guadalcanal, Los Negros and Emirau, before returning to New Zealand and being disbanded in September 1945. A SBD-4 Dauntless operated by 25 Squadron was for a time preserved in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum at Wigram, displayed in the condition which it was recovered after being lost with its crew while on a training mission at Espiritu Santo. One of the SBD-5 aircraft operated by 25 Squadron has been restored to flying condition in America for the "Planes of Fame" museum, in the colour scheme of an American aircraft.
No. 6 Squadron RNZAF is a maritime squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It has a history going back to World War II, when it operated flying boats, and has been disbanded and re-formed several times through changes in the country's military structure. The squadron motto, originally "Fortitudine et Diligentia", is now “Vigilance with Patience”.
No. 1 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand reconnaissance and patrol bomber squadron operating in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. After the war the squadron served in the transport and VIP role.
No. 9 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand bomber reconnaissance squadron in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.
No. 17 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand fighter squadron in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.
John Albert Axel Gibson, was a Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and a flying ace of the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of 12 enemy aircraft.
No. 26 Squadron RNZAF was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in October 1943, during World War II, from "C Flight", No. 25 Squadron at RNZAF Station Seagrove to be equipped with Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers, however was disbanded in January 1944. Reformed in March 1945 at RNZAF Station Ardmore, equipped with Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers. The squadron was based at Kukum Field on Guadalcanal and Piva Airfield on Bougainville before being disbanded in June 1945.
No. 22 Squadron RNZAF was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in August 1942, during World War II, at RNZAF Station Onerahi equipped with the Hawker Hind, co-ordinating with New Zealand Army units providing training for air liaison officers. Reformed on 19 June 1944 at RNZAF Station Ardmore, equipped with Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers. The squadron served at airfields in Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Emirau before being disbanded in September 1945.
No. 19 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed on 10 December 1941 at RNZAF Station Ohakea from members of No. 3 Squadron equipped with P-40 Kittyhawk and later with the Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers.
No. 20 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was first established at as an army co-operation unit, serving in this role between 1942 and 1943. In January 1944, the squadron was reformed as a fighter unit at equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks. It later flew F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers.
No. 18 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in June 1943 at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, the squadron was initially equipped with Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks, before converting to F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers in 1944. The squadron fought in the Pacific theatre during World War II, flying combat operations against Japanese forces until it was disbanded in late 1945.
No. 21 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in May 1944, it was equipped with F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers.
No. 24 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force was a fighter squadron. Formed in September 1944, it was equipped with Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers.
Michael James Herrick, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with having shot down at least six enemy aircraft.
No. 62 Squadron RNZAF was a radar squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. The squadron was formed at Guadalcanal in August 1943 and comprised all the RNZAF radar units sent overseas. The Squadron was disbanded in October 1944.