No 24 Squadron RNZAF

HISTORY

Formed September 1944
Disbanded October 1945

COs

S/L, M. T. Vanderpump. RNZAF, September 1944 to January 1945
DFC DFC[US]

S/L, A. G. S. St George. RNZAF, February 1945 to October 1945

BASES

Ardmore, Auckland, NZ, September 1944 to October 1944
Palikulo Bay, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, October 1944 to December 1944
Piva Y Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, December 1944 to January 1945
NZ January 1945 to March 1945
Palikulo Bay, Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides, March 1945
Nissan Island, Green Islands, Solomon Islands, March 1945 to May 1945
NZ May 1945 to July 1945
Piva Y Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, July 1945 to October 1945

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Image Source

Corsairs September 1944 to October 1945

ROLES

Fighter / Ground Attack September 1944 to October 1945

The Squadron was formed at Ardmore, Auckland in September 1944, equipped with Chance Vought Corsairs.

They were moved to Palikulo Bay in October 1944, to provide a fighter cover while continuing to train.

In December 1944, they were moved to Piva Y Field, Bougainville Island, to replace No 15 Squadron, The Japanese still controlled most of the Island, with the Allies mainly confined to their landing area around Empress Augusta Bay on the West coast.

For a few days, until it was joined by No 21 [F] Squadron, this was the only RNZAF Squadron on Bougainville. The two Squadrons were involved in the early stages of the Australian Army’s offensive on Bougainville.

In January 1945, the Squadron returned to NZ for their period of rest and recuperation.

In March 1945, after a short ‘work up’ at Palikulo Bay. Espiritu Santos, the Squadron relieved No 17 [F] Squadron on Nissan Island, Green Islands, carrying out the duties of dusk and dawn patrols, escort for ‘Dumbo’ Catalina’s on their air-sea rescue missions, maintaining a standing patrol over Rabaul as well as having a section ready to scramble in case of a Japanese raid.

In May 1945, it was the Squadrons turn to enjoy rest and recuperation in NZ.

In July 1945, they returned o the Frey being moved to Piva Y Field, Bougainville, as part of a mass relief to the four fighter Squadrons based there. Beside dusk and dawn patrols the Squadron was used for ground attack on tactical targets close to the Australian lines, attacking troop concentrations behind enemy lines and targets around the main Japanese bases.

The Squadrons averaged over 60 sorties per day, with a peak of over 100.

No 24 Squadron was the last NZ Squadron to remain in the forward area after the end of the war, remaining on Bougainville until October 1945 when it was returned to NZ and disbanded.

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner