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Post by dewobz on Jun 25, 2015 17:56:53 GMT 12
Yes sir, I love that digital artwork!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2019 10:19:11 GMT 12
I talked with Bryan Cox the other day about Corsair squadron call signs, and though he cannot recall any other squadron's radio call signs, he said that when his squadron, No. 16 Squadron, was operating alongside other Corsairs squadrons as a Wing in attacks (and often two or three, and sometimes even four of the RNZAF's Corsair squadrons would make an attack together) he said No. 16 Squadron was known as Onyx Squadron. So while flying by themselves radio calls would be for example "Red 3" or "Blue 2" to alert a particular person in a particular section that the call was for them. but as each squadron had a Red, Blue, Green and Yelow section (four aircraft each) the squadron callsign would be used and so it would be "Onyx Red 3" etc. I would love to know what the call signs were for the other units. So far we know: No. 16 Squadron - Onyx Squadron No. 22 Squadron = Katipo Squadron No. 23 Squadron = Ghost Squadron I have just discovered that, in their P-40 era at least, No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron was known as Abbey Squadron. So the known list of squadron call signs now is: No. 16 Squadron - Onyx Squadron No. 19 Squadron - Abbey Squadron No. 22 Squadron = Katipo Squadron No. 23 Squadron = Ghost Squadron |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 21, 2019 19:19:16 GMT 12
Here are two more photos of No. 22 (Fighter) Squadron Katipo emblems, with a lighter background than the ones Mike posted.  No. 22 Squadron RNZAF pilots admiring the Katipo spider emblem on a Chance Vought Corsair, Bougainville, 1945. PR6949, ©RNZAF Official. The Squadron was nicknamed the ‘Katipo Squadron’, after the rare New Zealand native Katipo spider, a less venomous cousin of the American Black Widow and Australian Red Back spiders. With a Squadron motto of “Patu o Kia Mate” (“Strike to Kill”), a suitably fearsome creature as a symbol was definitely in order. These pictures were published in the New Zealand press in July 1945 to promote the important work of the Squadron in support of Australian troops during the fierce ground fighting on Bougainville.  Katipo spider artwork on the side of a 22 Squadron Chance Vought Corsair on Bougainville, 1945. PR6950, ©RNZAF Official. Via The FB page of the NZ Air Force Museum www.facebook.com/AirForceMuseumofNewZealand/ |
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Post by Brenton on Jul 21, 2019 23:31:26 GMT 12
With the exception of the P40 era 19 sqn it seems to me that these call signs emerged just as the war was ending. Where those the sqn's operating at Bougainville at war's end ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 21, 2019 23:37:45 GMT 12
I suspect the call signs were in place earlier but they have not been recorded, and there's just no-one around to ask now.
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Post by Brenton on Jul 22, 2019 0:05:12 GMT 12
Well it doesn't prove anything really one way or another but my dad Allan Emett has no recollection of any call signs like those. I would think if little stickers or the like had been applied to their aircraft he most likely would have. Anyhow, that was with 26 sqn which finished their tour on the 10th June 45. The Porton plantation fighting started on the 9th of June. Perhaps with the increased need to have more sqn's involved in a strike they felt they needed extra call signs ?
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jul 22, 2019 0:42:17 GMT 12
I have found combat records that advise that 25 Sqn was using the call sign "Stone" in April - May 1944
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Post by aircraftclocks on Jul 22, 2019 1:33:51 GMT 12
Later in May it changed to "Mine"
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Post by Antonio on Jan 3, 2022 11:58:56 GMT 12
Here are two more photos of No. 22 (Fighter) Squadron Katipo emblems, with a lighter background than the ones Mike posted. No. 22 Squadron RNZAF pilots admiring the Katipo spider emblem on a Chance Vought Corsair, Bougainville, 1945. PR6949, ©RNZAF Official. The Squadron was nicknamed the ‘Katipo Squadron’, after the rare New Zealand native Katipo spider, a less venomous cousin of the American Black Widow and Australian Red Back spiders. With a Squadron motto of “Patu o Kia Mate” (“Strike to Kill”), a suitably fearsome creature as a symbol was definitely in order. These pictures were published in the New Zealand press in July 1945 to promote the important work of the Squadron in support of Australian troops during the fierce ground fighting on Bougainville. Katipo spider artwork on the side of a 22 Squadron Chance Vought Corsair on Bougainville, 1945. PR6950, ©RNZAF Official. Via The FB page of the NZ Air Force Museum www.facebook.com/AirForceMuseumofNewZealand/Just thought I'd bump this thread.  Because it deserves it... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 27, 2022 21:21:48 GMT 12
I talked with Bryan Cox the other day about Corsair squadron call signs, and though he cannot recall any other squadron's radio call signs, he said that when his squadron, No. 16 Squadron, was operating alongside other Corsairs squadrons as a Wing in attacks (and often two or three, and sometimes even four of the RNZAF's Corsair squadrons would make an attack together) he said No. 16 Squadron was known as Onyx Squadron. So while flying by themselves radio calls would be for example "Red 3" or "Blue 2" to alert a particular person in a particular section that the call was for them. but as each squadron had a Red, Blue, Green and Yellow section (four aircraft each) the squadron callsign would be used and so it would be "Onyx Red 3" etc. I would love to know what the call signs were for the other units. So far we know: No. 16 Squadron - Onyx Squadron No. 22 Squadron = Katipo Squadron No. 23 Squadron = Ghost Squadron To add to this list, in the interview I did some years ago with the late Dave Cohu, he mentioned his Corsair squadron, which was No. 17 Squadron RNZAF, as being Oxide Squadron. So it seems that is another call sign for the list. |
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