RNZAF New Britain?

[Luther Moore]

Does anyone know if or what Squadron was flying missions to New Britain, Papua New Guinea around March 1945?

[Dave Homewood]

Do you mean fighter squadrons or bomber reconnaissance squadrons? Or both?

The New Zealand Fighter Wing operated four squadrons in the forward area at that time. And there would have been at least two BR squadrons operating too then. I can try to look out details if you want.

[Dave Homewood]

By the way the main target there were the airfields and defences around the Japanese base at Rabaul. The RNZAF made daily attacks on Rabaul and other Japanese positions with its Corsairs and Venturas through 1945, weather permitting, flying from bases at Piva, Green Island and Torokina, etc. Three and possibly even four Corsair squadrons of the fighter Wing would attack New Britain targets in a single day.

[Luther Moore]

Thanks Dave.Sorry I should of said Corsairs.

I'm looking more at fighter cover for the Aussies in New Britain.I am researching a family friends Uncle who was in the Australian Army and was killed on the 10th of March 1945.I was wondering if maybe Peter would of maybe flown cover for him.Slim chance but something worth checking out.I'm still working on what the 19th Battalion (Australian Army) was doing and where they were on that day he was killed.

One thing I find odd is in the war diary it is mentioned that the 19th were straffed and bombed by a Japanese Zero that was later shot down and crashed in the water.Didn't know they were still around by that time of the war?

[Dave Homewood]

There were certainly still Zero's and other types around Rabaul right up till the end of the war, the RNZAF captured several aircraft at Rabaul which they flew down to Boaugainville after the war ended. The Japanese were hard pressed to fly them in defence of their positions though due to the daily bombing of runways and shortages of fuel and parts, but occasionally they were able to put one up.

What does your Uncle's logbook say for that date?

[Luther Moore]

Whenuapai Santo? It looks like Ardmore before that for a while.

What I will have to do is trace the movements of the 19th Bt and see if it matches the logbook anywhere.I know it sounds stupid but it would be crazy if the two stories met somewhere along the line.There are a few mentions in the book about fighter cover for the Aussies and also a few reports by them on how much damage Peters bombs did.

[davidd]

The Zero that was shot down was flown by CPO Masajiro Kawato (hope I have spelling of his name corerct - I have some letters from him somewhere, and his signed autobiography!) He was shot down by an Australian Navy ML (112 foot Fairmile Type B), although Kawato in his memoirs decribes it as a destoyer. This incident is also mentioned in an official history (RAAF I think.)
David D
David D

[Luther Moore]

Correct!