Supply of aircraft to New Zealand 1939-1943

[phasselgren]

Adding to my previous thread (RNZAF Orders of battle during WW2). The following files on nla.gov.au/nla.obj-727835064/findingaid?digitised=y includes information about the attempts to secure deliveries of combat aircraft to RNZAF.

Substitution of Beauforts for present order of Wellingtons for New Zealand, 1939 (File 3019. AJCP Reel No: 6821)

New Zealand home defence war measures and requirements, 1939 - 1942 (File 3184. AJCP Reel No: 6823)

New Zealand home defence war measures and requirements, 1942 (File 3185. AJCP Reel No: 6823)

Supply of aircraft to New Zealand, 1942 (File 675. AJCP Reel No: 6791)

Defence of New Zealand, 1942 - 1943 (File 975. AJCP Reel No: 6791)


Much of these files are telegrams with more or less the same content but I found some information which is new to me including the following:
Bristol Beaufort was discussed as a substitute for both the Wellingtons and later some of the Hudsons.
It was impossible to deliver Bristol Beaufighters of the Coastal Command version in the beginning of 1942 but RAF had a small surplus of night fighters. It seemed to be possible to send 18 Beaufighters after removal of night fighter equipment and at some point there was a promise to send 6 Beaufighters.

Peter

[davidd]

Yes Peter, the Beaufort/Wellington "problem" was rather hilarious, another case of the left hand seemingly having no idea what the right hand was up to. However the Beauforts supposed to be delivered in lieu of the NZ Wellingtons (because of pre-war Air Ministry policy on what aircraft types were suited best to undertake various roles around the old Empire), were not the same as those mentioned in the later plan to divert DAP (Australian-built) Beauforts to RNZAF as defence against possible Japanese invasion convoys. I think Australia was rather keen to hang onto every Beaufort they possessed, as the Japanese threat was VERY close to them, not so close to NZ.
David D