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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 14, 2012 22:24:10 GMT 12
When I spoke with fighter pilot Noel Hanna last year he told me about how he was posted to No. 26 (F) Squadron at Ardmore, which he said he trained with for a few weeks and then the RNZAF (someone high up at least) decided that they had 13 fighter squadrons in existence and it was an unlucky number, so they disbanded and reformed immediately as No. 22 Squadron (who'd just finished a tour and disbanded). He reckoned that as far as he was aware No. 26 Squadron didn't serve in the Pacific.
however just reading something in the May 1991 edition of NZ Wings it states that burnt out Corsair NZ5343 at Piva was the aircraft of F/Lt L.E. Bradley of No. 26 Squadron.
so, did No. 26 (F) Squadron actually do a tour or two in the Pacific?
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Post by angelsonefive on Feb 15, 2012 8:58:18 GMT 12
According to Wikipedia No.26 Squadron was re-formed at Ardmore in March '45 and served at Guadalcanal and Bougainville before disbanding in June '45.
O/C was S/L G.A.Delves.
If someone has a bio. of S/L Delves it might be helpful.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 15, 2012 9:13:08 GMT 12
Actually RNZAF: A Short History by Geoff Bentley backs that up, the squadron did serve at Guadalcanal and Bougainville in 1945.
So I guess the fear of 13 squadrons must have just been 13 at one given time.
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 15, 2012 10:46:05 GMT 12
According to Wikipedia No.26 Squadron was re-formed at Ardmore in March '45 and served at Guadalcanal and Bougainville before disbanding in June '45. O/C was S/L G.A.Delves. If someone has a bio. of S/L Delves it might be helpful. From Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999: DELVES, Squadron Leader Gordon Andrew, mid. NZ40757 & 133582; Born Wanganui, 30 Aug 1918; RNZAF 12 Mar 1940 to 22 Oct 1945, Res. to 9 Jul 1964; Pilot. Citation Mention in Despatches (7 Jun 1944): [16 Sqn RNZAF (Kittyhawk)] For meritorious service - Flight Lieutenant Delves has completed 172 operational flying hours and has taken part in 53 missions against the enemy. As a flight commander he has consistently displayed courage, devotion to duty, and leadership. Although he has not succeeded in destroying any enemy aircraft himself, his unselfish example as a leader has directly contributed to the successes of other pilots in his flight. Completed two tours with 16 Sqn and a third as CO 26 Sqn RNZAF (Corsair) Mar-Jul 1945. CO 22 Sqn RNZAF (Corsair) Aug-Sep 1945. Died Auckland, 12 Aug 1987. Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 15, 2012 12:45:09 GMT 12
Actually i have looked again at Noel Hanna's photos and they are dated. No. 26 Squadron group photo of pilots states 6/7/45-30/7/45.
Then the No. 22 Squadron group shot says 8/8/45 - 1/9/45.
So it looks like No. 26 Squadron served overseas, disbanded after the tour, then reformed in July 1945 only to be disbanded again, then reformed with the same men as No. 22 Squadron. So probably a bit late to worry about the supersticion of 13 squadrons. it seems to me to be more like a way of cutting down the squadrons as the war ended or something like that.
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 15:10:03 GMT 12
I've been building a model and looking on various sites for information of the P40n NZ 3246(any info welcome), one of the planes my father flew during wartime training.I found this site by chance and as there doesn't seem to be much about sqn26 thought this may be of interest. Dad (still alive and well) first flew at Emirau with 19sqn and then at Guadalcanal with 26sqn.He tells me he found the 2nd trip with 26sqn a lot more exciting.More flying! Hopefully his memory is correct, as it was along time ago now, but he has one story about S/L Delves who he had high regard for("a really nice guy")He didn't see it first hand as he wasn't flying on that occasion but I guess word soon got around. Apparently Delves, fully loaded with a daisy-cutter bomb,was leading the sqn off on another strike.But just as the plane was airborne and the LG retracting,the engine completely cut out. He had no option but to put it straight back down again.The following planes managed to fly over him,but he found himself screaming down the metal strip in a shower of sparks astride the bomb! Those present at the side of the runway where soon running for cover.When the plane finally came to a halt Delves was seen to make his exit from the cockpit in record time and dash for the jungle. [/img] Attachments:
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2012 15:46:24 GMT 12
Welcome Brenton, great story (which happened more than once I can tell you regarding aircraft cutting on take off and skidding along on the bombs, some lucky guys survived that nightmare). I love that picture you posted, can you tell more please? Is it a squadron greeting card? Or the cover of something more?
Can you ask your father please if he recalls what the squadron call signs were for No's 19 and 26 Squadrons? ie when they flew with other squadrons what was their squadron call sign on the radio?
No. 16 Squadron was "Onyx" Squadron, No. 22 Squadron was "Katipo" Squadron and No. 23 Squadron was "Ghost" Squadron.
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 26, 2012 16:15:47 GMT 12
I've been building a model and looking on various sites for information of the P40n NZ 3246(any info welcome), one of the planes my father flew during wartime training.I found this site by chance and as there doesn't seem to be much about sqn26 thought this may be of interest. Dad (still alive and well) first flew at Emirau with 19sqn and then at Guadalcanal with 26sqn.He tells me he found the 2nd trip with 26sqn a lot more exciting.More flying! Hopefully his memory is correct, as it was along time ago now, but he has one story about S/L Delves who he had high regard for("a really nice guy")He didn't see it first hand as he wasn't flying on that occasion but I guess word soon got around. Apparently Delves, fully loaded with a daisy-cutter bomb,was leading the sqn off on another strike.But just as the plane was airborne and the LG retracting,the engine completely cut out. He had no option but to put it straight back down again.The following planes managed to fly over him,but he found himself screaming down the metal strip in a shower of sparks astride the bomb! Those present at the side of the runway where soon running for cover.When the plane finally came to a halt Delves was seen to make his exit from the cockpit in record time and dash for the jungle. [/img] [/quote] This was 26 Sqn Corsair NZ5331 on 11 May 45 at 1110 hours at Piva North, Bougainville. "Take off [on operational patrol] - Engine failure. After becoming airborne, engine cut and vibrated badly. Pilot opened throttle but engine failed to pick up and emergency landing was made straight ahead. . . . Engine failure, due to a defective tappet roller in No. 6 cylinder. The engine had been overhauled by American activities and Mod. N.Z.A.P. 100/C14 was not fitted. This mod. consists of fitting a modified type of roller and pin to these engines to counteract this tendency to trouble." [RNZAF accident card summary] Errol
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 17:34:17 GMT 12
Sorry he can't recall anything about call signs ("I don't think we ever had one" ) The photo is the sqn logo/emblem.This photo is a photo of a small (4.5" by 4") photo so not good focus.This is 12sqn at Guadalcanal.Their emblem is clearly seen in the original on the door to the left.Delves is 3rd from left front row.My dad (Allan Emett) is back row in the middle. [/img] Attachments:
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2012 19:41:25 GMT 12
Thanks for asking. They only used the call signs when flying with other squadrons as each squadron had the same section names (Red Section, Blue Section, etc) and if a formation leader called for "Red 2" he might get two answers as each squadron would have a red two, so they used distinctive words to seperate them from the others, so a called would be for example "Katipo Red 2".
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 20:57:01 GMT 12
The relevant pages from log book :1 [/img] Attachments:
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 20:58:25 GMT 12
2 [/img] Attachments:
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 20:59:23 GMT 12
3 [/img] Attachments:
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 21:00:32 GMT 12
4 [/img] Attachments:
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2012 21:39:33 GMT 12
Great stuff Brenton, thanks for those photos of his logbook.
Is there any chance we can get another shot of the No. 26 Squadron emblem with sharper focus please? I'd really like to use that in the upcoming relaunched New Zealand Fighter Pilots Association Journal if possible please.
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Post by brenton on Apr 26, 2012 23:30:07 GMT 12
Well I tried. [/img] [/img] Attachments:
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2012 23:49:59 GMT 12
Thanks!
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Post by brenton on Apr 27, 2012 0:07:49 GMT 12
Dads just told me that this was F/Lt L.E. Bradley's plane. [/img] Attachments:
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Post by McFly on Apr 27, 2012 12:24:39 GMT 12
Negative Number: PR6949 Caption: 22 Squadron pilots admiring the Katipo spider emblem on a Chance Vought Corsair. Bougainville. Further Information: Neg 7/837 Year of Image: 1945 Image Date Information: 13 June 1945. Format: Negative-5x4-B&W Negative Number: PR6310 Caption: Group of 26 Squadron personnel. Bougainville. Further Information: Year of Image: 1945 Image Date Information: Circa June 1945. Format: Negative-5x4-B&W Negative Number: PR6430 Caption: Group. 15 Squadron, 22 Squadron and 26 Squadron pilots attend a briefing prior to an air strike. Piva, Bougainville Further Information: See Contact, August 1945, pages 55 - 57. Neg 6/499 Year of Image: 1945 Image Date Information: 6 June 1945. Format: Negative-5x4-B&W (Photos Air Force Museum)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 27, 2012 12:48:46 GMT 12
Super photos Marty, thanks!!
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