30 Squadron RNZAF

Motto

KAI TAKITAKI

History

Formed, September 1943
Disbanded, May 1944

COs
S/L, R. G. Hartshorn. RNZAF, September 1943 to April 1944
DFC, MID,
April 1944 to May 1944

BASES

Darton Field, Gisborne, NZ September 1943 to January 1944
Luganville Field, Espiritu Santo. New Hebrides, February 1944 to March 1944
Piva U Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands. 24 March 1944 to 22 May 1944
NZ May 1944

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Image Source

Harvards September 1943 to January 1944

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

Vincents September 1943 to January 1944

Image Source

Avenger September 1943 to May 1944

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Nose Art

ROLES

Dive Bomber September 1943 to May 1944

The Squadron was formed at Darton Field, Gisborne, and was trained as a torpedo-bombing Squadron. The supply of Grumman Avengers was slow, so the Squadron used the aged Vickers Vincents and versatile North American Harvards, until the supply of Avengers was achieved.

They were moved to Luganville Field, Espiritu Santo in February 1944, but by the time they arrived the torpedo bomber was no longer required, so the Squadron retrained in dive and skip bombing.

No 25 and 30 [DB] Squadrons both moved to Piva U Field, Bougainville in March 1944, during the Japanese offensive against the US bridgehead at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville.

Both Squadrons began operations on the same day as they arrived, and No 30 [DN] Squadron flew 12 sorties on the first day, against targets a few minutes flying time away.

For the next two weeks the Squadrons operated every day, dive-bombing and strafing Japanese targets during the day, and patrols over the defensive perimeter at night.

On 26th March 1944, the Squadron contributed 7 aircraft to an attack on Kavieng, to prevent Japanese aircraft based there interfering with the Allied attack on Emirau Island.

Once the immediate crisis on Bougainville was over, the two NZ [DB] Squadrons focused on Rabaul, sending 6 to 12 aircraft on every day flying in the area was possible. The Japanese airfields at Vunakanau and Tobera were their most frequent target.

In late May 1944, the Squadron was returned to NZ and on the 22nd May it was disbanded

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner