No 23 Squadron RNZAF

HISTORY

Formed, August 1944
Disbanded, October 1945

COs

S/L, J . J. De Willimoff. RNZAF, August 1944 to May 1945
MBE, DFC,

S/L, D. E. Hogan. RNZAF, May 1945 to October 1945
DFC,

BASES

Ardmore, Auckland, NZ, August 1944 to September 1944
Palikulo Bay, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, September 1944 to October 1944
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, October 1944
Piva Y Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, October 1944 to 16 November 1944
Momote Island, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, 16 November 1944 to January 1945
NZ January 1945 to February 1945
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, February 1945 to March 1945
North & South Island, Emirau Islands, St Mathis Group, March 1945 to May 1945
Piva Y, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, June 1945 to October 1945

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Image Source

Corsairs August 1944 to October 1945

ROLES

Fighter / Ground Attack August 1944 to October 1945

The Squadron was formed at Ardmore, Auckland in August 1944, and in September 1944 it was moved to Palikulo Bay, Espiritu Santo, where it continued training.

In October the Squadron was moved to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, for a short period before being moved again within the same month, to Piva Y, Bougainville.

While there the Squadron flew supporting missions assisting the Australian Army’s offensive against the Japanese, flying bombing and strafing missions as required.

During the Summer of 1944 the US had agreed that the RNZAF should take over the operations in the Bismark Islands and Western Samoa. The most westerly base would be Momote on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands.

The Ground crew arrived in September, but work progressed slowly and there was doubt whether the change of control would happen.

On 9th November 1944, a small formation of Japanese aircraft bombed the airfield and the Commander of the Air Forces in North Solomons requested the RNZAF to send a Squadron immediately.

The US finally handed over control in early November 1944, and No 23 [F] Squadron was the first RNZAF unit to operate from the airfield, Arriving on 16th November,

The Squadron had to spend the next 6 days getting the ground facilities ready and they became operational from 22nd November 1944.

They were responsible for the Air Defense of Los Negros, involving dusk and dawn patrols, intercepting unknown aircraft that showed up on radar, most of these were friendly, but the occasional one turned away, and were probably Japanese.

They were relieved in January 1945 by No 25 [F] Squadron, while they returned to NZ for their rest and recuperation.

In February 1945 the Squadron was sent to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, and in March 1945 they replaced No 22 Squadron on North & South Fields, Emirau Island, to the North-West of New Ireland.

The main role while here was maintaining a day light patrol over the Japanese base at Kavieng, and carrying out the occasional bombing raid.

They were replaced by No 23 [F] Squadron in May 1945, when they were moved to Piva Y Field, Bougainville, as part of a mass relief to the 4 NZ Squadrons based on the Island. They replaced No 16 [F] Squadron.

The Squadrons continued the dusk and dawn patrols, and ground attack missions to help the Australian Army’s offensive against the remaining Japanese on Bougainville.

Between them, the 4 Squadrons averaged over 60 sorties per day, with a peak of over 100.

The Squadron was still on Bougainville when the Japanese surrendered.

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner