Hi Dave
Apologies for taking a little longer family sickness got in the way!!
Some info here
RNZAF personal in South East Asia
circa 1941- 1942
In November 1941 around 400 RNZAF personal were stationed with the RAF in the Far East Air Force, comprising pilots of fighter squadrons 67, 243,488. Other aircrew were were dispersed among bomber and flying boat squadrons.
Other personal were engaged in duties, as aerodrome construction/medical/signals/equipment/
admin/radar/balloons/engineers/armourers/chaplains.
December 7-8 Japanese begin invasion of Malaya, two RAF squadrons 36/100 comprised
of Vickers Vildebeeste aircraft (trained in torpedo/bombing) with 25 RNZAF pilots on roster
were the only strike force available to oppose them (no info on initial confrontations)
January 26 1942 a Japanese landing force was sighted by a Hudson off Endau (eighty miles
north of Singapore) -a strike force of nine Hudsons ( 1/8 GR Sqns) RAAF with twenty two
Vildebeestes/three Albacores of 36/100 RAF squadrons escorted by nineteen Buffaloes/sixteen Hurricanes in two waves (conditions cloudy).
36 Squadron arrived second wave (conditions turning clear) intercepted by Japanese fighters
(says Zeros, but most likely Oscars) before reaching target, eleven Vildebeests were shot down
with three Albacores, Two RNZAF pilots, Sergeants TS Tanner (Brn 1918 Wellington/Engineer)
AMH Flemming (Brn 1916 Wellington/Farmer) KIA.
Pilot Officer RC Barclay (Brn 1916 Dunedin/Salesman) shot down into sea. Barclay awarded DFC for gallantry (despite aircraft being shot up/gunner dead/pressed home attack on convoy flying through intense AA barrage) Barclay and observer made it ashore and found their way back to base.
Losses in attack
RAF- 11 Vildebeestes/3 Albacores/2 Hurricanes/1 Buffalo
Japanese- 1 cruiser/2 destroyers sunk -2 transports set ablaze- 12 Zeros (Oscars)
After this operation both 36/100 Squadrons amalgamated and withdrawn to Java
Between February 1942- March 07/1942 the remaining Vildebeeste were involved
in attacks against Japanese targets with the aircraft slowly being whittled down
in strength until just two were left. These started out for Burma but crashed, crews
either KIA or captured.
6 RNZAF personal fell into Japanese hands as prisoners, the rest of the remains of
36/100 squadrons made it to Australia before Java surrendered
Photos of Buffalos taken from Vildebeeste
No 62 (Bomber) Squadron (made up of Hudson/Blenheim aircraft)
December 1941 18 Hudson's dispatched from Britain to reinforce 62 Squadron,
this flight was commanded by Sqn Ldr LGW lilly with 6 RNZAF personal amongst crews,
arriving early January 1942.
February 4 1942 an attack by Hudson flew to Kluang (Malaya) to bomb
Japanese fighter base. All bombs dropped target well covered.
On egress Japanese fighters (who managed to get airborne) attacked. One Hudson piloted by
New Zealander Sergent D Hunter (brn Wellington 1917) fell behind and failed to return.
February 13 1942 (Friday) 5 aircraft sent to attack Japanese invasion fleet approaching
Sumatra lead by F/O EJ Henry (brn Rangiora May 1917) -no casualties
February14 mixed force of RAAF Hudsons and 62 sqn Blenheim's flew again to attack invasion
fleet 4 62 sqn aircraft failed to return (no note on who casualties were).
Fighter operations (Buffalo's and Hurricanes)
No.s 67/243 Squadrons formed at Singapore April 1941 brought up to establishment by
inclusion of RNZAF pilots straight from RNZAF Flying Schools. 243 Sqn sent to Burma
shortly after.
No 488 Squadron formed at Rongatai September 1941 known as a RNZAF infiltration
squadron, formed as complete unit (155 Officers/airmen) and New Zealand's first RNZAF
fighter squadron.
CO of 488 Sqn was Sqn Ldr WG Clouston DFC RAF (formerly 19 squadron RAF and Battle of
Britain ace/one of the few) (brn Auckland Jan 1916-captured at fall of Singapore)
Flight commanders Flt Lt JN MacKenzie DFC (RAF)
Flt Lt JR Hutcheson DFC (brn Wellington Mar 1912-Salesman)
488 sqn received some 20 odd clapped out Buffalo's from 67 sqn who left nothing
but aircraft (by sounds of it) no spares etc typical Kiwi ingenuity showed with F/O
CW Franks (brn Leithfield Nth Canterbury Jul 1912-Civil Servant) squadron equipment officer
got everything sorted and the squadron was operational from an aircraft point of view.
War breaks out December 8 1941
Due to the fact that 488 sqn was not ready pilot wise, 243 sqn bore the brunt of fighting initially
on December 8, P/O RS Shields (brn Napier Sep 1918, farmhand, KIA Jan 1942) strafed
Japanese barges on Kelatan River, and had one of first aerial engagements of that theater.
Whilst attacking a Japanese bomber his guns stopped, so broke of action.
Part of 243 squadron was detached to Kota Bharu (Malaya) as part of that detachment
Sergent CB Wareham DFM (brn Kaikoura/last abode Wtgn-farmer) was involved in
Photo Reconnaissance flights. These guys were gutsy, as their Buffalo's carried no
amour or guns, they were intercepted by Japanese fighters on numerous occasions the pilots, relied solely on evasive action to get through.
The first 243 squadron “kill' was by Sergent BS Wapiti DFM (brn New Plymouth Jan 1922,
refrigeration serviceman; KIA Oct 1943)
By Christmas 1941 488 squadron was deemed fully operational, so Fl Lt MacKenzie
and Sergent WJN MacIntosh (brn Jun 1915; Wyndham Southland, last abode Invercargill
driver; POW Mar 1942) were dispatched to locate and protect HMS's Prince of Wales and
Repulse currently under attack by the Japanese some 170 miles away but by the time they
arrived all they could do was provide air cover for the destroyer with survivors on board.
