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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 13, 2011 3:54:56 GMT 12
Hi guys,
My Great Uncle Peter George Moore was in the 14 Squadron in the Pacific.In his log book he written his daily missions most of it Patrols, bombing, staffing and some other missions.
Would anyone know if they ever would of been in aerial Dogfights?, as Im sure the Japanese would of had some sort of defence besides anti aircraft guns.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Aug 13, 2011 8:02:28 GMT 12
It depends where and when he was in the Pacific, but if he had engaged a Zero I'm sure he would have noted it in his logbook as that would have been a pretty significant event for a fighter pilot! The RNZAF Museum at Wigram has all the detailed combat history and reports - if you want more info about a specific date or mission then contact them.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 13, 2011 15:12:01 GMT 12
Luther, only the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk pilots who flew with No. 14 Squadron saw aerial combat with Japanese fighters. By the time the squadron had re-equipped with Corsairs the Japanese had pulled their forces back as the US forces moved further up the Pacific island chain.
The RNZAF Corsair pilots did observe the occasional glimpse of Japanese aircraft but none ever managed to engage and dogfight with them. they did help destroy a few on the ground when they were dive bombing though.
I don't believe that your uncle flew the P-40 in the Pacific did he? Only in training?
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Post by Luther Moore on Aug 13, 2011 15:33:01 GMT 12
Skyhawkdon,You're right, If he was it would of been written down. I just thought it was a bit strange that the Jap's didn't have and fighter defence.
Dave, Peter only flew P-40's in training going by the logbook, then moved on to fly the F4U's in the Pacific. You're right about them destroying a lot of planes on the ground, it is well documented in the logbook.
This is my favourite Dec 30th 1944 Rabual patrol flew with Pat Crump pin pointed the bivy that I spotted on the 26th saw numerous huts,trucks,and japs running for their lives.
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Post by andycook on Dec 21, 2011 11:52:27 GMT 12
I served with Pete at Bougie as a very young pilot. Have seen the write up on my very new iPad and have some old photos and newspaper cuttings amongst my junk.. Of course i still have my logbook, with the note on Pete's death on 31 May 1945 "Pete Moore killed, aircraft hit sea at Buka and exploded." I am 87 and live at 56 racecourse Road Glengarry Invercargill Phone O3 2175997. As I have some difficulty with hearing (war injury) and very slow on a typewriter too please be patient with me. My email address is Andy.daph.cook@gmail.com. My son, visiting from Wellington, is helping with this posting. All new jargon to me. By the way Pete took off from Piva II strip not Torakina. Everything above is as I recall. We flew P-40s only in the number 16 FOTU at Ohakea. Black Monday is still a dark memory with 5 from 14 and 3 from 16 lost returning to Green Island from Rabaul and being hit by a nasty electrical storm that inactivated our altimeters, etc. Regards, Andy Cook.
Sent from my iPad
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 21, 2011 12:12:18 GMT 12
I served with Pete at Bougie as a very young pilot. Have seen the write up on my very new iPad and have some old photos and newspaper cuttings amongst my junk.. Of course i still have my logbook, with the note on Pete's death on 31 May 1945 "Pete Moore killed, aircraft hit sea at Buka and exploded." I am 87 and live at 56 racecourse Road Glengarry Invercargill Phone O3 2175997. As I have some difficulty with hearing (war injury) and very slow on a typewriter too please be patient with me. My email address is Andy.daph.cook@gmail.com. My son, visiting from Wellington, is helping with this posting. All new jargon to me. By the way Pete took off from Piva II strip not Torakina. Everything above is as I recall. We flew P-40s only in the number 16 FOTU at Ohakea. Black Monday is still a dark memory with 5 from 14 and 3 from 16 lost returning to Green Island from Rabaul and being hit by a nasty electrical storm that inactivated our altimeters, etc. Regards, Andy Cook. It's always great to hear from a veteran Andy. We would love to see your photos, and hear your memories.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2011 13:24:17 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Andy, it's very nice to have you here. Were you actually airborne on Black Monday?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2011 13:26:45 GMT 12
Andy, where you have written 16 OTU, that would be either No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit or No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit wouldn't it? Was 16 the Course number perhaps?
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Post by andycook on Dec 21, 2011 16:52:00 GMT 12
Yes, in NZ5407 bombing Taboi Stores. Was 4th in line behind Frank Keefe when he got shot down and bailed out into Simpson Harbour.
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Post by andycook on Dec 21, 2011 16:53:01 GMT 12
Yes, course number.
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Post by chinapilot on Dec 21, 2011 17:43:02 GMT 12
Suggestion here...fantastic to hear from Andy Cook who will have much to tell us about operations from Bougainville so maybe a dedicated thread that he can add to as memory permits?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2011 18:36:35 GMT 12
Thanks for the replies Andy. Wow, it's great to have another veteran here and it's great to 'meet' someone else who was flying on that fateful day. I have interviewed Leyton Stephenson of Blenheim and Bryan Cox of Tauranga about their involvement that day, and of course read Bryan's books.
It would be great if you could please impart any more detailed memories from your RNZAF days, we all love reading the stories form those who were there.
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Post by Luther Moore on Dec 21, 2011 19:06:20 GMT 12
Andy, Thanks for getting in contact with me it's most welcomed. I have sent you an email.
Dave, Bryan has been puzzled by Peter's involvement on that day of the Green Island tragedy. He said there is no record of Peter being involved but from the book and Peters logbook there is proof he was.
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Post by andycook on Dec 21, 2011 19:30:07 GMT 12
Luther - I don't recall Pete being in 14 on that day and i think probably joined us for 14's second tour that reformed 21 Feb 1945 at Ardmore and arrived Bougy on 2 April.
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Post by andycook on Dec 21, 2011 20:03:30 GMT 12
Luther, thanks for email. Great reading, especially the log book page. Eric Green was a good friend and I talked to John Claydon in ChCh April last year. He lived opposite St Georges hosp and was thinking of retiring to an apartment there. My first Corsair solo was 22 Aug 44 in Ardmore. So Pete must have been one tour before me in 14Sq. given he appears to have been overseas flying ops on 20-30 Aug 44. Just found in log on 22 Dec 44 for a Rabaul patrol "Pete Moore had hydraulic leak so we returned to base and I dropped my belly tank to land." But later that day says "Fired at hut on Duke of Yorks. Pete strafed one jap on beach and killed him." So he obviously was obviously with me on my first tour before Black Monday. But no further mention of Pete until his death.
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Post by Luther Moore on Dec 21, 2011 20:14:18 GMT 12
Andy,Yes I have the same thing in the logbook as what your saying. Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Post by Luther Moore on Dec 21, 2011 20:15:54 GMT 12
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Post by andycook on Dec 21, 2011 21:27:28 GMT 12
Just found a photo of 14Sq in Oct 44 at Ardmore before 1st tour. Yes - Pete, Eric, John and myself in the back row. Will get son to scan and email. Sorry - I might struggle with these messages when he goes back to Wgtn on Boxing Day. Will try. Andy.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 21, 2011 21:36:17 GMT 12
Great stuff Andy. If you do find yourself stuggling when your son goes, feel free to email me for any tips or advice on how to do it, I'm happy to help. it becomes easier with a bit of practice.
Email dave_daasnz@hotmail.com
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Post by Luther Moore on Dec 21, 2011 22:25:08 GMT 12
(RNZAF Official) [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/zz xsaw.png/] [/URL] Uploaded with ImageShack.usBack Row: (Left to Right) Alex R. Horn (he wrote the excellent book Wings Over The Pacific and this photo is in it). A. Cook Ian Thorburn Albert N. Saward L. Jeffs J. Claydon Peter G. Moore Middle Row: (Left to Right) S. Sparrow D.A. Corbett R. Offen Ian Munro R. Soar John McArthur R.R. Mitchell John Maheti Wilson Frank C. Keefe Front Row: (Left to Right) N.C. Sutherland R. Barnett W. Blundell Bruce S. Hay S/Ldr D.W. Cocks P.S. Tennent H.P. Crump L. Strawbridge D. Walther
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