RNZAF P-40 Codes Matched to Serials

[Dave Homewood]

During WWII a lot of the operational Curtiss P-40's were given two-digit codes that were painted in large letters on their nose, which did not necessarily have any connection to their serial number. Also squadrons and OTU's at home gave individual aircraft a letter code. Some of the serials/codes matches remain a mystery to me. So I made a list for easy reference, but I am certain there are probably a few dozen more that I have not yet listed. Can you match code numbers/letters to the serial numbers of any not listed below please? (Has anyone else done this before? I've not seen such a list)


Serial-----Code
NZ3007 - HQ-A No. 14 Squadron, 'Magnolia Mufflewort'
NZ3008 - HQ-B No. 14 Squadron, 'Umslopogaas'
NZ3009 - HQ-C No. 14 Squadron
NZ3009 - FE-F No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3010 - FE-D No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3012 - FE-G No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3018 - JZ-J No. 15 Squadron
NZ3019 - JZ-O No. 15 Squadron RNZAF
NZ3022 - XO-D No. 16 Squadron
NZ3024 - XO-F No. 16 Squadron
NZ3027 - FE-V No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3029 - XO-M No. 16 Squadron
NZ3031 - XO-R No. 16 Squadron
NZ3032 - JZ-P No. 15 Squadron
NZ3034 - JZ-W No. 15 Squadron RNZAF
NZ3036 - HQ-Q No. 14 Squadron
NZ3037 - JZ-P No. 15 Squadron
NZ3038 - XO-A No. 16 Squadron
NZ3039 - JZ-A No. 15 Squadron
NZ3040 - JZ-I No. 15 (Fighter Squadron
NZ3040 - FE-A No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit (AHSNZ has it as FE-B)
NZ3042 - XO-D No. 16 Squadron
NZ3043 - HQ-F No. 14 Squadron
NZ3043 - FE-B No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3044 - XO-P No. 16 Squadron
NZ3045 - 5 at Santo with No. 18 Squadron Oct 1943
NZ3048 - 13 at Santo, flown there by No. 14 Squadron
NZ3048 - FE-D1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3049 - 3
NZ3050 - 4 
NZ3050 - HQ No. 14 Squadron
NZ3052 - 19 at Santo with No. 14 Squadron Nov 1943
NZ3052 - OD-12 at No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3053 - 27
NZ3056 - 7
NZ3057 - 5 at Santo with No. 14 Squadron Nov 1943
NZ3058 - 21 at Santo with No. 18 Squadron Oct 1943
NZ3058 - 34(?) at Ardmore with No. 4 OTU (partially obscured in photo)
NZ3059 - 9 at Santo with No. 14 Squadron Nov 1943
NZ3059 - 23
NZ3060 - 9
NZ3061 - 61
NZ3061 - FE-A No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3064 – 20 at Santo with No. 14 Squadron Nov 1943
NZ3065 - 15 at Santo with No. 18 Squadron Oct 1943
NZ3065 - 29
NZ3066 - 14/A
NZ3067 - FE-H No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3068 - 15
NZ3069 - 16
NZ3070 - 17
NZ3071 - 18
NZ3071 - OD-16 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3072 - 19 'WAIRARAPA WILDCAT'
NZ3072 - OD-17 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3073 - FE-G1/073
NZ3075 - 24
NZ3076 - 30
NZ3078 - 20
NZ3079 - 31
NZ3081 - 40
NZ3081 - OD-18 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3082 - 30
NZ3082 - 47
NZ3082 - OD-19 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3083 - 41
NZ3083 - OD-20 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3084 - 42
NZ3085 - 43
NZ3086 - 44
NZ3087 - 45
NZ3087 - OD-22 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3087 - FE-E1 
NZ3088 - 46
NZ3091 - 25 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3092 - 2 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3093 - 3 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo, and with No. 14 Squadron Nov 1943
NZ3093 - HQ-D Gunnery Training School
NZ3094 - 4 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3094 - HQ-C Gunnery Training School
NZ3095 - 5 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3096 - 6 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3096 - OD-23 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3097 - 7 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3098 - 9 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3098 - 8 at Santo with No. 18 Squadron Oct 1943 (maybe incorrect?)
NZ3099 - 10 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3100 - 11 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3101 - 13 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3102 - 15 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3102 - HQ-E Gunnery Training School
NZ3103 - 16 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3104 - 20 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3105 - 21 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3106 - 22 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3107 - 24 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3108 - 1 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3108 - 18 (unsure, this is the code on the Alpine Fighter Collection aircraft in that scheme)
NZ3109 - 32
NZ3110 - 38
NZ3111 - 33
NZ3112 - 34
NZ3113 - 35
NZ3114 - 36
NZ3115 - 39
NZ3116 - 37/M
NZ3118 - 18  at Santo with No. 14 Squadron Nov 1943
NZ3118 - OD-27 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3119 - FE-P No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3120 - J No. 4 Servicing Unit -
NZ3121 - K No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3122 - A No. 4 Servicing Unit 
NZ3123 - H No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3123 - O No. 4 Servicing Unit while flown by No. 14 Squadron in Nov-Dec 43
NZ3124 - B No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3124 - Q No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3124 - 6 No. 1 Servicing Unit, Guadalcanal
NZ3124 - FE-C No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3125 - FE-X No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3125 - OD-26 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3126 - C No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3127 - V No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3128 - D No. 4 Servicing Unit 
NZ3128 - JZ-B No. 15 and/or 17 Squadron
NZ3129 - E No. 4 Servicing Unit 
NZ3130 - O No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3130 - L No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3131 - C No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3133 - U No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3134 - 40 upon arrival at Guadalcanal from NZ in Sept 43
NZ3134 - L No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3135 - I No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3136 - M No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3136 - OD-28 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3137 - N No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3138 - F No. 4 Servicing Unit 
NZ3139 - X No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3140 - P No. 4 Servicing Unit 
NZ3142 - W No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3142 - C Fighter Gunnery School
NZ3142 - FE-H1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3143 - OD-30 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3144 - S
NZ3145 - T 'Taieri'
NZ3146 - OD-31 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3147 - 2 No. 1 Servicing Unit, Guadalcanal
NZ3147 - FE-B1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3148 - G No. 4 Servicing Unit, 'Gloria Lyons'
NZ3149 - 80
NZ3150 - 54
NZ3150 - FE-J No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3151 - 55
NZ3152 - 61
NZ3153 - F
NZ3154 - 49
NZ3155 - 50
NZ3156 - 56
NZ3157 - 51
NZ3157 - FE-U1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3158 - 52
NZ3158 - 55 (?)
NZ3159 - 53
NZ3159 - OD-33 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3159 - OD-47 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3160 - FE-U1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3162 - 62
NZ3164 - OD-34 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3165 - 60
NZ3166 - 53
NZ3167 - G No. 4 Servicing Unit, 'Gloria Lyons' (2)
NZ3168 - 15
NZ3168 - 88  at Torokina
NZ3169 - 59
NZ3170 - 57 at Torokina
NZ3171 - JZ-D No. 15 or 17 Squadron
NZ3171 - 18
NZ3171 - 3 No. 1 Servicing Unit, Guadalcanal I think
NZ3171 - FE-A No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3172 - 58
NZ3173 - 66
NZ3174 - Q
NZ3175 - 65
NZ3176 - 64
NZ3177 - A No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3178 - E No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3179 - J No. 4 Servicing Unit, Torokina
NZ3180 - OD-18(?) No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3181 - FE-R No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3182 - 88
NZ3182 - OD-35 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3184 - 75
NZ3185 - FE-T No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3186 - 81
NZ3186 - G
NZ3187 - R
NZ3188 - B
NZ3189 - 72
NZ3190 - 67
NZ3193 - 82
NZ3193 - FE-H No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3193 - FE-U No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3194 - 74
NZ3194 - H 
NZ3194 - OD-23 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3194 - OD-37 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3196 - 76
NZ3199 - 69
NZ3200 - 70
NZ3201 - 71
NZ3202 - 77 - at Torokina (2SU)
NZ3202 - D - also at Torokina (4SU)
NZ3202 - FE-A1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3203 - 78
NZ3203 - OD-38 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3204 - 89
NZ3206 - 83
NZ3207 - H No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3208 - I
NZ3208 - 84
NZ3208 - OD-19 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3208 - FE-K1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3209 - OD-39 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3213 - N at Torokina
NZ3214 - 86 at Torokina
NZ3214 - OD-40 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3215 - C No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3215 - N
NZ3216 - OD-48 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3217 - OD-21 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3218 - 84
NZ3219 - FE-P No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3220 - G No. 4 Servicing Unit, 'Gloria Lyons' (3)
NZ3220 - FE-D No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3224 - N (at Torokina)
NZ3225 - C (at Torokina)
NZ3225 - FE-S No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3226 - L
NZ3226 - O
NZ3227 - 87
NZ3228 - 84 at Torokina
NZ3230 - D
NZ3230 - S
NZ3231 - O
NZ3232 - Q at Torokina
NZ3234 - OD-42 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3235 - FE-N No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3236 - OD-41 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3237 - E 'ESMA LEE'
NZ3237 - FE-E1 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3237 - FE-Y No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3242 - M No. 4 Servicing Unit
NZ3245 - 245
NZ3246 - FE-V/148 No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3251 - O
NZ3253 - T29 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit (the T is in white, 29 in black)
NZ3256 - B
NZ3256 - FE-S
NZ3257 - FE-B No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3259 - FE-H No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3260 - OD-45 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3261 - OD-32 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3263 - OD-24 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3264 - OD-18  No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3264 - OD-43/264  No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3266 - OD-44 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3267 - O with No. 19 Squadron at Ardmore
NZ3267 - 45 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit at Ardmore
NZ3270 - OD-46 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3271 - 23 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga, Fiji and Santo
NZ3274 - V with No 15 (F) Squadron at Ardmore
NZ3276 - OD-19 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3276 - HQ-O (?) Fighter Gunnery School
NZ3278 - 275 (should this be NZ3275?)
NZ3278 - OD-22 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3278 - HQ-E Fighter Gunnery School
NZ3279 - FE-B No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3280 - OD-29 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3282 - 282
NZ3282 - FE-U No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3284 - FE-A No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3285 - OD-22 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3287 - FE-Z No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3288 - FE-G No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3288 - FE-W No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3292 - FE-U No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit
NZ3292 - OD-24 No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit

Tongan P-40's
25100 - 12
25103 - 8

Unknown Serials
NZ3??? - 1
NZ3??? - 2
NZ3??? - 4
NZ3??? - 8 (maybe solved above, not sure)
NZ3??? - 10
NZ3??? - 11
NZ3??? - 13
NZ3??? - 22
NZ3??? - 25
NZ3??? - 26
NZ3??? - 28
NZ3??? - 47
NZ3??? - 57
NZ3??? - 63
NZ3??? - 68
NZ3??? - 77
NZ3??? - 92

42-45958 - 0 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga
ET424 - 12 with No. 15 (Fighter) Squadron in Tonga, Fiji
ET427 - 8 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga
ET461 - 14 with No 15 (F) Squadron at Tonga

[Brenton]

Great work Dave.
NZ3125 is of particular interest to me. Is it OK to discuss it on this thread or would you rather keep it just to numbers and or code letters?

[Dave Homewood]

Perhaps a new thread would be best, but looking forward to reading the story.

[harvard1041]

NZ 3044 - XO-P of 16 Sqn.

www.dropbox.com/s/eiehye7upx1kcic/MUS090044.JPG?dl=0

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks John, added in now.

[tbf25o4]

Dave,
great work there, the matching of P-40 serials to codes has always been of interest to me

[Brenton]

Interesting to note that in my fathers (Allan Emett) log, flying as part of OTU2, he records flying NZ3181,NZ3236 and NZ3270. So some of these planes swapped around.

[Deleted]

NZ3108, the P-40K represented for several years by 42-9733 at Wanaka, wore the nose number 18 according to the paintjob worn by the modern version.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Zac. I wonder about NZ3071 and NZ3171 both having 18 as the code, and wonder if one of them is an error. It seems rather coincidental.

[davidd]

NZ3050, listed simply as "HQ" and is said to be with Fighter Gunnery School. This is incorrect, that photo was one of several taken at Norfolk Island in March/April 1943, and is in fact No. 14 Squadron en route to the "war front".
David D

[davidd]

P-40E NZ3022 was XO-D of 16 Sqdn, although some have interpreted this aircraft as 3011 - however this mistake was caused by the sun angle in the one good photograph taken of this aircraft, and there is no doubt that 3022 is the correct number. NZ3028 of same unit was XO-L, and 3042 was the second XO-D. Incidentally 3042 never flew with 14 Sqdn, as listed. 14 Sqdn only operated 3007, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 25, 26, 33, 36, 41, 43. There were only 44 of the original P-40s (ignoring the ones in Tonga with 15 Sqdn), so these had to be allotted to the three original squadrons (488/14, 15 and 16), plus a small OTU at Ohakea which required the original six (3001 - 06, plus 3011, 16 and 17). Thus the original issues were about 12 to each squadron; aircraft numbers were made up to 18 by allotting six Harvard IIs to each squadron. 15 Sqdn operated 3014, 15, 18, 19, 23, 27, 30, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40; and 16 Sqdn got NZ3020, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38, 42, 44 (and later received 3008 and 13 from 17 Sqdn).

Most surviving P-40Es of 14 Sqdn were passed on to 17 Sqdn in late March 1943, after 14 Squadron was re-equipped with the new P-40Ks; the latter were initially marked only with the "HQ" unit code, no individual letters seem to have been applied at this time. With 17 Squadron, the P-40Es would have had their original code letters erased and replaced by new ones assigned by their new operators.

Pretty well all the surviving original P-40Es of 15 Sqdn were passed on to the newly forming No. 17 Squadron in October 1942 at Seagrove (personnel of 15 Sqdn were transported to Tonga where they took over 21 P-40Es and two early P-40Ks from a USAAF squadron there). These aircraft would have retained the original code letters of 15 Sqdn.

All surviving P-40Es of 16 Sqdn (Woodbourne/Fairhall) were passed on to the reforming No. 18 Sqdn (at same location) in June 1943, releasing 16 Sqdn personnel for service overseas.

The frustrating thing is that the P-40Es of 15 and 16 Sqdns retained their original three-letter codes when passed on to the subsequent squadrons, so it can be a fraught exercise, when looking at photographs of these aircraft with prominent code letters, to guess which of the two possible squadrons was actually operating the aircraft at the time. That is unless the photographer concerned was thoughtful enough at the time to note the date (which is highly unlikely), although from about October 1942 the roundel styles (and fin-flashes) of these aircraft were upgraded to the "C1" types, which might be of some help in trying to more accurately date them.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Apr 13, 2018 18:31:21 GMT 12 davidd said:

NZ3050, listed simply as "HQ" and is said to be with Fighter Gunnery School. This is incorrect, that photo was one of several taken at Norfolk Island in March/April 1943, and is in fact No. 14 Squadron en route to the "war front".
David D

That is interesting, I did not know any went up to the Pacific wearing codes. I am making amendments to the list.

No. 16 Squadron did not received NZ3042 in its initial batch of P-40's when it formed at Ohakea on 1st of July 1942. It must have been allocated a lot later because i am up to May 1943 in the ORB and it has not yet featured.

NZ3022 and NZ3031 were both destroyed in crashes, and on the 30th of March 1943 NZ3008 and NZ3013 were taken over by No. 16 Squadron who picked them up from No. 17 Squadron at Seagrove, to replace the lost pair of aircraft.

[davidd]

Dave,
Some of the P-40Ms ferried up to E/Santo and G/Canal in mid 1943 were marked with large single letter codes on the rear fuselage - there is an excellent (US Navy I think) photograph of one of these after it had ditched near a beach; this aircraft was also marked with the usual type of radiator cowl code number, in black. I do not know whether these aircraft were marked in NZ or in the Pacific Islands - however I think only a proportion of them were ever painted with these large code letters, which seemed to have been extant in the period August/Sept 1943 at Guadalcanal. There are some excellent photographs of RNZAF P-40Ms being ferried north (presume from an escorting Hudson) in July 1943 that show that this group at least had no cowl codes and certainly no large letter codes on rear fuselage. The lack of cowl codes is no surprise as these would not be applied until allotted by the receiving servicing unit at Espiritu Santo or Guadalcanal, or further north.

I have never found any references to these large letter codes in correspondence, but there is no doubt that they existed. In fact I don't think I have read anything about number or letter codes on RNZAF P-40s at all in correspondence, except for reference to particular aircraft such as the P-40N allotted to Wing Commander T O (Trevor) Freeman, RAF, who, as commanding officer of the NZ Fighter Wing from October 1943, was allotted an aircraft of 4 SU which happened to wear the cowling code "F". It was by now a tradition in the RAF that a wing commander (who had been appointed to lead an actual wing of up to three squadrons on actual operations) should fly an aircraft marked distinctively as he was NOT a member as such of any of the squadrons making up the wing, and the usual method of signifying this was to paint on his actual initials in place of the usual three-letter squadron codes. The RNZAF adopted a rather low-key alternative, in that only the initial of his family name was employed, in the same manner as all the other aircraft of 4 SU, but by virtue of him leading the whole formation, his significance was obvious, and all pilots in the formation, whether their individual aircraft wore number or letter codes, would have known the leader's letter (if they were close enough to read it!) This actual reference was located in the ORB of 4 SU, under date period 27th to 30th October 1943, thus: ""Wing Commander T O Freeman, DSO, DFC and Bar, selected an aircraft from No. 4 SU as his own with the cowling letter 'F'."

(New paragraph) The appointment of an officer to actually lead a Fighter Wing would have required an experienced pilot holding the rank of Wing Commander, and the full name of his appointment would be "Wing Commander (Flying)". With most British Commonwealth air forces during WW2, a Fighter Wing would comprise at least three squadrons, but the RNZAF was rather restricted in this respect, and could only field a two-squadron Wing from October 1943 to about mid 1944, at (sucessively) Ondonga (New Georgia), Torokina, and Piva Bomber (latter two on Bougainville). There were 3 Corsair squadrons at Torokina for a while in latter part of 1944, but the transfer of one or two squadrons to more advanced airfields reduced Torokina to two squadrons again before the year was out, and it was not until about April 1945 that three Corsair squadrons were again based on the same airfield (had transferred to Piva Bomber in October 1944). However, by this time the aircraft were generally used as bombers and strafers, so did not function as fighter squadrons normally would (although this could be adopted if operationally necessary), and from April 1945 four Corsair squadrons were operating from the same strip, which they did till end of the war. There were also two Corsair squadrons flying from Jacquinot Bay (New Britain) and two more from Los Negros (Admiralty Islands) by end of war; however the Los Negros-based aircraft were NOT engaged on bombing as their primary purpose was to protect the major naval anchorage of Seadler Harbour. The lack of any real enemy aircraft in the theatre meant that the requirement for a Wing Commander (Flying) was redundant, but the ssquadron pilots still had to face Japanese flak on operations. The fielding of eight Corsair squadrons in the "forward area" (that is, operational) was quite an achievement, but was only possible by having fairly short operational tours, and carrying out most of the operational training in New Zealand by mid-1945. This meant that ALL squadrons overseas were at the forward airfields and there was no real need for additional training such as area familiarisation and bombing practise at Espiritu and Guadalcanal, as previously. Also by now, a fairly large and experienced pool of fighter pilots (some 324 of them!) now existed, thanks to the slow but steady build up of the fighter force.

The Fighter Gunnery School indeed used P-40s, but these were painted with "JZ" codes (the old code group originally allocated to 15, then 17 Squadrons), but these were P-40Ns for the most part. Photos of these are hard to find; they were based at Gisborne from May 1944, then at Ardmore from July. This school was later (about Nov 1944) re-equipped with F4Us, some of which also carried JZ codes (again very hard to find photos of).

The Gunnery Training School (GTS) was located at Ohakea and was an offshoot of No. 1 Bomber OTU (from February 1944). Although its main equipment was a small family of about six - eight Hudsons, which were able to carry about half a dozen trainee air gunners at a time, and an instructor, they also maintained a small fleet (about six) of P-40Es. In fact all of these P-40s were originally taken over from the Americans in Tonga by 15 Squadron in October 1942, and with the GTS these were also marked with the "HQ" codes of the school, painted on in yellow. These P-40s were flown by staff pilots and were used as "attackers" to provide real targets for the trainee gunners in the Hudsons, who had to learn to manipulate the turrets instinctively, and to be able to quickly locate attackers and track them with their gun-sights. Photographs of these P-40s are pretty rare too, but a few do exist. Some of these actual aircraft ended up at Woodbourne and Rukuhia after the end of the war, and were occasionally photographed there.
David D

[davidd]

Dave,

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks David, that clears up a few things for sure.

[davidd]

Dave,
The P-40E's of 15 Squadron I have already listed, but there are some corrections required on your list. We only know six of the twelve code allocations, as follows:
NZ3018 JZ-J
NZ3019 JZ-O
NZ3034 JZ-W
NZ3037 JZ-P (this was never JZ-I so far as I know).
NZ3039 JZ-A
NZ3040 JZ-I

Also NZ3038 never served with 15 Sqdn, so never carried the code JZ-I.

To go back to 16 Sqdn, the story of NZ3042 is obscure, although it suffered a minor accident at Hobsonville just after assembly on 30/6/42 under the hands of the test pilot, F/L Jury, but unless it required a part that was unobtainable from overseas for months, its absence from all operating units is puzzling to say the least. However it was definitely at Woodbourne and being flown by October 1942, and I have loggings of it there in Jan, March, April, May and June 1943, and with 18 Sqdn in July and August. 16 Squadron was slightly short-changed in that it only received 11 P-40Es in the first instance, and this strength was maintained till November 1942, going down to ten after loss of NZ3022 on Armistice Day, and finally attaining the magical twelve in March 1943 with the arrival of 3008 and 11, when the arrival of the P-40Ks allowed some redistribution among units and fairness being implemented. Needless to say, only the newest aircraft available were ferried to the forward areas.

Like the other three original fighter squadrons, 15 Sqdn was allocated six Harvards, which were also given code letters, such as NZ981 JZ-S.

14 Sqdn codes, with twelve aircraft on strength by about Aug/Sept 1942, as listed in previous post. So far I seem to have just five codes for these aircraft, most of which you already have. However NZ3009 was almost certainly HQ-C, and I doubt that HQ-A is correct for 3013, although this was definitely on strength of this unit. NZ3035 was not a 14 Sqdn aircraft, and HQ-Q was NZ3036, so this would seem to be explained by a misreading of the aircraft's serial number from a photograph. However I also have just noticed that NZ3006 (not in my previous list) was on the strength of 488/14 Sqdn briefly in May and early June 1942, before an accident at Masterton on 19/6/42 caused enough damage to have it sent away for repair, and it was never returned to the squadron. Like the other three original squadrons, it took some time to get all the first 44 P-40Es assembled at Hobsonville and Harewood and distributed to user units, and not until September before 14 Sqdn was up to a strength of 12 P-40s and six Harvards (in fact the six Harvards were all delivered by the date of formation). P-40 strength sank to 11 with loss of 3033 on 15/11/42, to ten with loss of 3025 on 22/12/42, and finally to nine by March 1943, on eve of the arrival of a flood of P-40Ks.

Please remember to correct the user units of NZ3094 and 3102 (HQ codes) from Fighter Gunnery School to Gunnery Training School.

This is a big job!

David D

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks David, whilst some of the errors are down to other people's research that I have used to compile this list, there are definitely some typing errors on my part when I spent many hours late one night compiling the list, so it is great to have you and others go through and find all those mistakes. Thank you very much!! Keep them coming if you see them. Eventually this list will become an excellent resource for us all to use I hope.

I think I have made all the corrections now, I hope I have not missed any.

[Dave Homewood]

Apr 14, 2018 10:35:09 GMT 12 davidd said:

This actual reference was located in the ORB of 4 SU, under date period 27th to 30th October 1943, thus: ""Wing Commander T O Freeman, DSO, DFC and Bar, selected an aircraft from No. 4 SU as his own with the cowling letter 'F'."

Where is No. 4 Servicing Unit's Operations Record Book held please? And is there similar ORB's held for the other Servicing Units? I have searched the Archives New Zealand site and only found a small handful of S.U. records that are all irrelevant for what I am looking for. But I'd love to see that No. 4 SU ORB, and also No. 2 SU's one if it exists.

[davidd]

Dave,
You still have 3013 as HQ-A with 14 Sqdn, which I think is very unlikely considering they still had the original HQ-A (3007) functioning throughout this period. However I cannot offer a more likely candidate from the selection available!
Dave D

[davidd]

Dave,
The Servicing Unit histories are mostly available at Archives NZ in Wellington, although most tend to be fairly skimpy. However the 2 SU and 4 SU ORB's seem to have been typed up by the same person, and both have what appears to be a fairly comprehensive list of all members of each unit as they departed NZ, including full initials and trade. They also have quite a few subsequent postings in and out, and amazingly they also have quite a bit of information on their aircraft, although they never mention any code letters or numbers apart from that one mention of Freeman's choice. However there are NO unit histories for 11 SU and 13 SU, nor for 3 or 5 SUs during their time in New Zealand. However there is an ORB for the little-known 26 SU at Ardmore. The NZ-based SUs (3, 5, 11, 14, 26, 31) generally disappeared into Maintenance Wings after a big reorganisation in about July 1944, and became known as Servicing Squadrons. Unfortunately neither Maintenance Wings nor Servicing Squadrons were required to maintain unit histories, so they didn't! However you will notice that many of the aircraft at Ardmore and Ohakea, involved in accidents, do have details of their parent unit and there you can find mentions of 1 SS, 3 SS, etc.
David D