1SU Guadacanal 1944

[pjw4118]

An album from Pauline Thomson yielded a good few photos. They haven't yet been enhanced from the 620 sized prints. Any extra details would be appreciated. Here's the first few.



















This photo was labelled Wreck of F/L Donaldsons Kite Fighter 2 Guadacanal

[davidd]

Some new to me, most of the RNZAF aircraft I have seen before. All the RNZAF aircraft are fighters at Fighter 2 (Kukum, largely located in a coconut plantation), with most of the American aircraft apparently at Henderson (Bomber 1) with forest trees scattered around the edge. Particularly like the one of the TBFs at Henderson, in the early colour scheme, complete with simple "white star on blue disc" identification markings. The fourth photo seems to be a rather rare (in this theatre) Army A-24 Banshee dive bomber, complete with D/F loop housing under rear fuselage. The photo above this (of Henderson) also demonstrates that, despite the alternative name of Bomber 1, you can often find fighters also in residence, namely all those F4Us (at least 23 of them) and an amphibious Catalina at rear, as well as a Lib (extreme right, behind F4Us). Dating of these would not be easy, although the NZ aircraft at Kukukum would be earl-ish in 1944. The Corsair wreck in last photo would seem to NZ5244, after its 27th May 1944 accident following take off from Kukum, subsequent engine failure and crash into the Kukum wharf and into sea. Flight Sergeant Frederick Arthur Donaldson (aged 23) of 18 Squadron was killed. The "aircraft graveyard" photo is one of my favourites of this type, and shows what could be found on most wartime strips - a valuable resource to be mined for those vital parts not available through "usual channels of supply".
David D

[pjw4118]

Thanks for the comments David . Hopefully the next set will include a few new ones. One problem is clarity, copying old 620 prints , the definition isn't there , although I use a special copy lens, the old box cameras weren't expected to produce A4 enlargements .

[davidd]

Not complaining about the quality of some of these prints, as long as we gain SOMETHING from them! I know you will be doing your best. Another comment I would like to put out there is that there seemed to be certain individuals who took a lot of snaps up in the islands (or anywhere else for that matter) during the war years and then seemed to run off many prints (usually contact ones) and distribute them about to all who were interested, whether gratis or for a nominal fee I know not. Previously I had assumed that the 1 SU prints I had copied in the late 1960s from the collection of a Mr Trustrum (who served with 1 SU at the time), was the original photographer, but now I have my doubts, although it is quite conceivable that I am responsible for supplying copies of MY copies to other people and your prints are some of these. I also had copied some prints taken in Singapore during the 488 Squadron days (from the late Peter Gifford, one of the pilots), and presumed these had been taken by him, but no! I have seen further copies of these prints from other people also formerly with 488, so at least in this instance I know that there must have been quite a few of each distributed about, almost certainly in Singapore.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

From what I gather talking with veterans David, each unit's photographer usually had a nice little sideline business going, selling prints of photos they'd taken, so we see the same photos come up in multiple collections. And they'd also be open to taking photos of things specifically for people for a fee, knowing the average airman didn't have their own camera.

However some units turned a blind eye to the camera ban. No. 21 (Fighter) Squadron had a photography club and they had their own dark room set up, with many people in the squadron having cameras, taking and developing photos and doing swapsies so they all had large collections of superb photos.

[pjw4118]

It is strange David/Dave , we would have seen thousands of photos over the years but the ones new to you still stand out, mind you my brain now has a new folder Maybe ? So if in doubt I am posting them.
Interesting about the unit photographers home industry , I don't think I have seen much of this in the UK squadrons . Certainly official photos would be copied in numbers but I haven't come across many duplicates of private photos in vets own albums.


Hopefully the batch on 1 TTS Hobsonville will have a few new shots.

[pjw4118]

Here are a few more from Pauline Thomsons album

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This photo is captioned Old Number 13

The rest of the album is mainly US types. I am happy to post if they are of particular interest

[Dave Homewood]

Any idea what the writing is on that Corsair?

[davidd]

Wow, another great bunch! Looks like the "other half" of that Henderson Field panorama, with a fine selection of types including a Beech "staggerwing" (cannot recall the Navy designation off hand), a J2F Duck, two each of SBD (or A-24?) and TBF, single examples of the C-47/R4D and F4F, another B-24 plus what appears to be swarms of additional F4Us in background.
One of my favourite NZ F4U shots is the three aircraft in loose formation with the sun behind just shining over the hill top - very tasteful.
David D

[Ian Warren]

Quite amazing seeing the life and times and the layout of the airfield, even the old savage pits. spear parts department.

[pjw4118]

Dave I think that its a P40. Enlarging it just pixilates but it looks like stenciling for sure.

[pjw4118]

A few more this time from Les Crago who seems a hard case



Les Crago at Bell Block



















The domestics in the camp (Los Negros) seem pretty homely. Is that a still behind the cook?

[Dave Homewood]

In this photo...



The chap is using the famous Cactus Stove. Not many people know this icon of Guadalcanal, built from old tins to make a stove fire that was fed by a drip feed of diesel or other liquid fuel, was invented by LAC Fred Morriss RNZAF, who was from Cambridge. He was a member of the ground staff of No. 3 (GR) Squadron RNZAF on their first tour of the Pacific, arriving up there in 1942. The stove design was used and improved on by the RNZAF for the rest of the war, mainly to boil water to wash clothes, and to boil the tea.

[ross]

Hello,

I can't view these photos, are you able to repost as my grandfather was in Guadacanal at this time. Searched this site but can't find may photos from no 3 squadron from September 1942- May 1943. Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Ross

[pjw4118]

Sorry but the photobucket creature stole the images .

[pjw4118]

Sorry but the photobucket creature stole the images .

[isc]

I can see PBs point if these photo were being used for commercial reasons, but to ruin this and hundreds of other forums!!! isc

[camtech]

Jan 19, 2018 12:49:57 GMT 12 ross said:

Hello,

I can't view these photos, are you able to repost as my grandfather was in Guadacanal at this time. Searched this site but can't find may photos from no 3 squadron from September 1942- May 1943. Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Ross

Try the photobucket fix as described elsewhere on the forum.

rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/25520/big-problems-linking-photobucket-forum