New Zealand Douglas Dauntless squadrons

[Dave Homewood]

When the RNZAF placed an order for the Douglas Dauntless to create divebomber squadrons with they initially planned to create four squadrons with the type.

It's well known that only one of these only got to fly in combat, but two others at least formed as units around the Dauntless it seems. One was No. 26 Squadron which flew the type for a few weeks before converting instead to the Corsair, and I have discovered last week that No. 20 Squadron also initially formed on the Dauntless. Afetr a very brief period they became the first unit to equip with the Corsair. Zac and I met a pilot who flew the Dauntless with No. 20 Squadron.

Did the fourth intended squadron for the Dauntless also form and actually fly the type before the order came through to forget the divebomber idea?

[Dave Homewood]

For the sake of interest, No. 20 Squadron had Dauntless NZ5021 on strength in January 1944

[kiwithrottlejockey]

There's an excellent booklet about the RNZAF Douglas Dauntless bombers available from Capital Books in Wellington.

It is No.5 in a series of booklets called Allied Wings and is titled, “The Dauntless in RNZAF service” by Cliff F.L. Jenks.

I purchased a copy about three months ago and it is lavishly illustrated with numerous photographs and colour diagrams of the various colour schemes worn by RNZAF Dauntless bombers including the individual markings (nose art and beneath the cockpit art) of many of the pilots.

The booklet is published in France and is fairly expensive (about $50), but it is certainly packed with info throughout its 40 pages.

I imagine Tim Skinner will have a stock of copies of the book at his Capital Books stand at Warbirds over Wanaka.

Amongst the other titles in the series is a booklet covering No.485 (NZ) Squadron RAF.

[Dave Homewood]

Does the book reveal the fourth squadron that was to form with the Dauntless?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

The book states that the original plan was to equip four squadrons with the Dauntless. They were to be No.25, No.26, No.27 and No.28 squadrons, but that only No.25 Squadron used the type operationally.

[Dave Homewood]

A No. 20 Squadron pilot told me in person they were to get the type and he has one in his logbook, but they changed their minds. Of course there never was a No. 27 and 28 Squadron, but No. 26 Squadron did fly the type from Seagrove for a few weeks.