RNZAF No. 16 Fighter Squadron In South Pacific, WWII

This story commemorates the air and ground crew of RNZAF No. 16 Fighter Squadron who served in the Pacific War arena from June 1942 - October 1945.     

1. Piecing together information 

Official War Histories:

Official war histories of NZ's involvement in the Second World War provide operational insights about the No. 16 Squadron, such as can be found in Royal New Zealand Air Force written by J.M.S. Ross (1955) and The Pacific written by O.A. Gillespie, (1952).  Also see bibliographic list of all the Official War Histories for WWII.

AIR Force Museum of New Zealand: 

The national Air Force Museum for the RNZAF and NZ military aviation is located on the old Wigram Air Force Base on the outskirts of Christchurch. The Research and Development section holds the photographic archives for the RNZAF, documents and literature on the history of the service and Allied Air Forces. You can view historical displays and explore restored aircraft.  

In Feb 2020, the Museum announced, "For the first time ever, the public can browse digitised parts of our photograph collection, online. Around  5,000 images are currently available, which represents an estimated 0.5%  of the total collection. More images are being uploaded online every  day to our Fotoware database."                                                                            See: https://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/photographs/  

The RNZAF Official negative collection and photographs donated to the Museum have also been made accessible on DigitalNZ. You can also listen to a behind-the-scenes RNZ interview (25:43 mins) with Matthew O'Sullivan, the official 'keeper of photographs' at the Air Force Museum, held on 24 October 2023.

AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM'S ONLINE CENOTAPH:

The Auckland War Memorial Museum's Online Cenotaph has records of those who served New Zealand on active service from the 19th century onwards.  A keyword search for '16 squadron' will retrieve several names listed on the Online Cenotaph. You can also search the database for the names or service number of individuals to find out their biographical and service details, or carry out a keyword search to see whether a record has been created. If you cannot locate a record for a person who should be recorded, you can fill out the Museum's form. You can also contribute information to an existing record. The information on the Cenotaph has been compiled from official military records, photographs, ephemera, publications including newspapers, and information provided by family members.    

2. Pacific War: The beginnings of 16 Squadron 

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, New Zealand, Britain and the United States declared war on Japan a day later. NZ joined the American campaign in the Solomon Islands during 1942 - firstly, the Navy; then the Air Force and  the 3rd Division of the Army. To help bolster its quota for the air defence, NZ developed a recruitment campaign; formed new squadrons, including No. 16 Squadron; and reorganised its flight training schools. 

3. RNZAF No. 16 SQuadron: JunE 1942 - October 1945

The No. 16 Fighter Squadron served in the Pacific war arena from June 1942 until it was disbanded in October 1945.  It went through three evolutionary stages. Firstly, after the Squadron was formed, the crew undertook a period of training in NZ.  Then the Squadron served overseas, initially to provide cover support for American bombers; then it graduated to carrying out its own bombing missions.

StaGe 1: Training NO. 16 SQUADRON (June 1842-June 1943)

> Ohakea Flight Training School: June 1942 - Aug 1942

No. 16 Squadron was formed at Ohakea in June 1942 where it commenced training commanded by Squadron Leader A. Jones.  

> Fairhall Flight training school: Aug 1942 - June 1943

In August 1942, the Squadron relocated to Fairhall which was a satellite grass airfield to Woodbourne near Blenheim (See RNZAF Marlborough region map). This shift was to free up Ohakea for operational squadrons and the expected stationing of American forces. Also, by being based at Fairhall, the Squadron could provide fighter cover for shipping in the Wellington area whilst it completed its training. (Source: No. 16 Fighter Squadron (RNZAF): Second World War).  The aircrew stayed at the adjacent Delta base which had a range of amenities:  huts, tents, lecture blocks, movie theatre and other buildings (see Marlborough Express article Display tells of camp history, 26 April 2012). 

> FIGHTER PLANES: Kittyhawk and Corsair

The Squadron was equipped with Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks (1942-44) and later with F4U Corsair fighters (1944-45).  See Youtube video "No 16 Squadron RNZAF, Kittyhawk, 1942, New Zealand".  Also see the video "New Zealand National Film Unit presents Weekly Review. N.Z. squadrons strike from Bougainville"  which includes the British Pathé film of No 16 Squadron flying Kittyhawk IVs at Torokina. Bryan Cox has also compiled two PowerPoint displays: "Corsairs at Ardmore and the Solomons 1944-1946" and  "The mighty corsair".

> Air and Ground crew

A  Squadron comprises a number of aircrew, ground crew and support personnel necessary to perform tasks at the base and when deployed.  The records of those serving in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) after 1920 are held at the NZDF Personnel Archives at the Trentham Military Camp, Wellington. An individual's History Sheet (see example) records brief personal details; next-of-kin information; date of enlistment, embarkation and discharge; dates and length of service spent at home and overseas; postings to military units; promotions, medal entitlements, decorations; and particulars of marriage and children’s details are also often recorded.  You can also access the Auckland War Memorial Museum's Online Cenotaph for individual photos and records.  

No. 16 Squadron Leader:

• June 1942–May 1943:     A. N. Jones                                                                                                                                                                  
• May–Sept 1943:               J. S. Nelson                                                                                                                                                                   
• Oct 1943–Jan 1944:        J. H. Arkwright                                                                                                                                                             
• Jan–June 1944:               A. G. Sievers                                                                                                                                                               
• June–Sept 1944:             M. C. P. Jones                                                                                                                                                          
• Oct 1944–June 1945:      P. S. Green                                                                                                                                                           
• July–Oct 1945 :               J. H. Mills 

FIGHTER PILOTS:  

The photos of the following pilots are available on DigitalNZ.  In addition, a  keyword search for '16 squadron' will retrieve several names listed on the Auckland War Memorial Museum's Online Cenotaph. 

GROUND CREW:

When describing this photograph of a Corsair being overhauled by ground crew on Green Island, the Australian War Memorial added: "The service units were responsible for the maintenance and repair of all New Zealand aircraft in the area. The tropical climate made for particularly gruelling working conditions, exacerbated by long tours of duty – the limited availability of air transport to New Zealand, and the large numbers of ground crew stationed in the Solomons, meant it was impossible to rotate them out of the forward area as often as aircrew."    

> ToURS of Duty: LOCATION & DATES

• New Zealand:      June 1942 – June 1943                                                                                                                                                      
• Espiritu Santo:     June–July 1943;    November 1943 – July 1944;   April 1945      
• Guadalcanal:       July –September 1943;   March 1944;  July – August 1944;    November – December 1944                                        
• New Georgia:      November 1943 – January 1944                                                                                                                                          
• Bougainville:        March – May 1944;   August – September 1944;  April – June 1945                                                                              
• Green Island:       December 1944 – February 1945                                                                                                                                    
• Jacquinot Bay:    August – October 1945 

NZ fighter squadrons usually spent six weeks in Espirito Santo before they were sent forward to the combat zone. They were relieved after six weeks in the combat zone and returned to New Zealand for rest and reorganisation.  

Stage 2: American Bomber support role (June - Oct 1943) 

> JUNE - JULY 1943: ESPIRITU SANTO, New Hebrides (VANUATU) 

A fortnight after taking final leave in June 1943, No. 16 squadron was flown to Espiritu Santo by transport planes and began operations there under the control of the American Interceptor Command. It flew on anti-submarine patrols and interception missions, investigating unidentified aircraft in the area, and also carried out operational training. (See excerpts from NZETC:  Royal New Zealand Airforce.)     

> JULY - SEPT 1943: GUADALCANAL (Solomon ISLANDS)

On 17 July 1943, ten pilots from the No. 16 Squadron were flown to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands by transport plane and began operations the next day with  No. 14 Squadron. The No. 14 Squadron had been involved in some intense fighting in early July after the American invasion of New Georgia. The rest of the No. 16 Squadron joined them on 25 July, commanded by Squadron Leader J. S. Nelson, to relieve No. 14 Squadron and enter the fight for New Georgia (Operation Toenails).  They remained on Guadalcanal for two months escorting and providing cover for American bombers and attacking enemy shipping, particularly barges around the islands.

JAPANESE CONTACT:

The Squadron's first major clash with the Japanese came on 1 July when eight aircraft were escorting a force of American SBDs and TBFs to Munda. A large Japanese force was detected after the American raid and No. 16 Squadron was ordered to intercept. The flight lost its formation as it attempted to gain height through a thin layer of cloud and was attacked by around thirty Zeros. Two aircraft were shot down and one of the pilots baled out and was later picked up from the sea by an American PT boat.    

In August the Squadron's main role was to provide cover for bombing strikes on various targets and carry out routine patrols to search for enemy shipping. It also escorted B24s on photographic reconnaissance over a number of Japanese positions. In addition, it carried out searches for enemy barges moving supplies from southern Bougainville to the remnants of the Japanese force on New Georgia, and to the garrisons on Kolombangara, Vella Lavella, and Rekata Bay.  

On 25 August,  Flight Lieutenant Spurdle and Flight Sergeant Pirie set fire to a Japanese landing barge on the beach at Bambatana Mission on Choiseul Island. Then, heading down the coast, they strafed two camouflaged boats and a moored boat that had been used by the Japanese for evacuating troops from New Georgia. The following day five aircraft led by Flight Lieutenant Day strafed a small steamship and a 30-foot launch off Ganongga Island, setting fire to both vessels. 

RNZAF PILOTS AWARDED AMERICAN DFC:

On 3 September eight aircraft acted as bottom cover to a force of B24s returning an attack on Kahili on Bougainville.  On the way home two pilots, Flight Lieutenant Vanderpump and Flight Sergeant Miller, dropped back to cover a B24 which had been damaged and which was being attacked by eight to ten Zeros. They were successful in driving off the enemy aircraft and escorted the bomber safely back to its base. Both pilots were awarded the American DFC, the first time this was awarded to RNZAF personnel.  

> Sept - Oct 1943: NZ Furlough & FLYING HOURS RECORD

After spending two months in Guadalcanal, No. 16 Squadron was relieved from the combat zone by No. 17 Squadron between 11 and 15 September. It returned to New Zealand for rest and reorganisation. As stated by Gillespie,  "The periodical rotation of active squadrons made for greater efficiency and reduced sickness" (The Pacific, p.251 ).  During its tour it had flown a total of 2100 hours, including 1260 operational hours for August, which was a record.  (Source: J.M.S. Ross: Royal New Zealand Air Force, p.195.) 

Stage 3: FIGHTER-BOMBER MISSIONS (Nov 1943 - Oct 1945)

> Nov 1943 - JAn 1944: New Georgia (Solomon Islands) 

In late November 1943, No. 16 under Squadron Leader Arkwright replaced No.18 Squadron in the RNZAF Fighter Wing, based at Ondonga on the west coast of New Georgia.  

FIRST FIGHTER-BOMBER MISSION: 11 DEC 1943:

On 11 December the RNZAF carried out its first fighter-bomber mission. This only involved three aircraft from the RNZAF Wing, each with two 100lb bombs and was an attack on a Japanese position at Kieta on Bougainville. A second fighter-bomber mission on 14 December resulted in the destruction of a bridge in the south-west of Bougainville.  

ATTACK ON RABAUL (PAPUA NEW GUINEA): 17 Dec 1943:

On 17 December 1943 the Allies carried out their first large raid on Rabaul from Bougainville. Most of the aircraft involved were based on New Georgia, and staged through the new airfield at Torokina, Cape Augusta Bay. The RNZAF Fighter Wing provided twenty-four aircraft of the eighty that took part in this first attack. The New Zealanders claimed five Japanese fighters but lost two pilots, including the Wing Commander, T. O. Freeman. The Fighter Wing returned to Rabaul on 24 December when twelve Japanese aircraft were claimed for the loss of five pilots.  

Christmas in the Pacific 1943: 

Christmas was spent in the Solomons with provisions supplied by the Patriotic Fund Board and entertainment provided by the Kiwi Concert Party. As stated by the Board Commissioner Major C. W, O. Brain, "...the per capita grant made from the patriotic funds to supply extras for the Christmas dinner, together with the .cost of patriotic gift parcels, the provision of Christmas cards, and amenities would represent a total expenditure of probably £20,000." 

> March 1944: Guadalcanal (SOLOMON ISLANDS) 

Camp amenities:

Kiwi ingenuity was in evidence!  An article in the Ellesmere Guardian entitled "Soldier's life in the tropics" (12 January 1943) commented, "Officers and men alike— there are no batmen here —are making the best of tent life by building "bush furniture" out of packing cases and odd scraps of timber, wooden flooring and walls, trellis fences and shingle paths".  

Recreational pursuits:

As described in the Ellesmere Guardian article "Soldier's life in the tropics" (12 January 1943),  popular leisure pursuits for NZ troops: included growing vegetables with packets of seed from NZ: "Quickly-growing vegetables like beans and peas, which will bring freshness to meals now almost completely prepared from tinned and preserved rations, taxing the cooks' ingenuity, are in highest favour. There are more ambitious experiments, too, in the form of tomato and onion plants raised from seed in boxes of fine soil…”   Recreation huts  were also established "where officers and men may read, write letters .and play indoor games in the evening. Occasionally they see motion pictures at a neighbouring American station or stage their own "campfire concerts," ...

Medical facilities:

Combat MISSIONS:

Aircraft maintenance:

> March - May 1944: Bourgainville (Papua New Guinea)

 In March-May 1944 the Squadron formed part of the RNZAF Fighter Wing on Bougainville and carried out a series of attacks on Japanese targets on Bougainville and around Rabaul.  Moving to Bougainville saved the pilots up to three hours flying on each operation as they no longer had to do the return trip to the Ondonga airstrip at New Georgia. Instead of leaving their base at dawn and returning late in the afternoon, they were now able to take off about eleven in the morning and be home again by 3 pm. Apart from the saving in flying time, the hazard of bad weather between Torokina and Ondonga was now eliminated.     

On the morning of 14 April 1944, twelve aircraft of No. 16 Squadron flew on a mission to join No. 19 in an attack on an ammunition dump south of Rataval, near Rabaul.  They reached Rabaul an hour after No. 19, by which time the weather had cleared over Rataval, and dropped all their bombs in the target area. In the afternoon twelve aircraft took off again and bombed and strafed Japanese-occupied huts on the north-east coast of Bougainville. They demolished two of the huts by bombing and set another on fire by strafing. The Squadron's flying time for the day was fifty hours. (See NZETC: Royal New Zealand Air Force)  

> July-August 1944: Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) 

> August-September 1944: Bougainville (Papua New   Guinea) 

In August and September 1944 the Squadron was based on Bougainville where it provided part of the air defence of Empress Augusta Bay and flew fighter-bomber sweeps across the Japanese occupied part of the island as well as out towards Rabaul. British Pathé has a video (called N.Z. Air Strikes) which shows 16 & 17 Squadron Kittyhawk IVs at Torokina and 25 Squadron Dauntlesses and 30 Squadron Avengers at Piva, all in action over Bougainville in early 1944.  

> Nov-Dec 1944: Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) 

> DEC 1944 - FEB 1945: GREEN ISLAND (NEW GUINEA) 

On 21 December 1944 No. 16 Squadron joined No. 14 Squadron on Green Island, between Bougainville and New Ireland. The two Squadrons had several tasks - to provide a standing patrol over Rabaul, to escort 'Dumbo' air-sea rescue aircraft, to fly dawn and dusk patrols over the local area, to maintain four aircraft ready to scramble to intercept any Japanese raids and to fly offensive sweeps across the Japanese occupied areas of New Britain and New Ireland. The Squadrons shared this role until January 1945, when No. 14's tour in the Tropics ended. No. 16 Squadron remained on Green Island until it was relieved by No. 15 Squadron in February 1945 and returned to New Zealand. 

Black MondAy, 15 Jan 1945 - 8 pilots Lost:

Attack on Toboi & Attempted rescue of downed pilot:

On Monday, 15 January 1945, Nos. 14 and 16 Squadrons flying from Green Island and No. 24 from Bougainville carried out a strike at midday on Toboi Wharf in Simpson Harbor at Rabaul. Of the 36 corsairs involved, one was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The pilot Flight Lieutenant  Keefe of No. 14 Squadron had to bail out into the harbour and he swam towards the harbour entrance. Aircraft from the squadrons provided air cover for six hours and dropped two bamboo rafts assembled on Green Island but Keefe was unable to reach the rafts. The corsairs were then forced to return to base when their fuel ran low.  After the war, it was reported by Japanese troops captured at Rabaul that Keefe had managed to swim ashore with a wounded arm after spending nine hours in the water. He was taken prisoner and died of blood poisoning on 30 Jan 1945, according to his Cenotaph record.  

Seven MISSING AIRCRAFT & PILOTS:

After their attempted rescue of Keefe, the corsairs returned to base keeping in close formation as darkness had fallen. They flew into a tropical storm with lightning strikes and heavy rain.  Five aircraft crashed into the sea, a sixth crashed on Green Island and a seventh disappeared. None of the missing aircraft or their crews were found. The lost pilots were: Flight Lieutenant T.R.F. Johnson, Flight Officer G. Randell, and Flight Sergeant R.W. Albrecht from No. 16 Squadron; and Flight Lieutenant L. B.S. Hay, Flight Officer A.N. Saward, Flight Sergeant I.J. Munro, and Flight Sergeant J.S. McArthur from No. 14 Squadron.    

For more detailed accounts of Black Monday, see: Evening Post article "War in the Pacific" (19 Jan 1944); Warefare History Network's "Kiwis over the Pacific" and Ross, J. M. S., Royal New Zealand Air Force (1955,  pp. 301-304). Also see the personal recount by Bryan Cox in his PowerPoint display "Green Island revisited 2011". 

> February - MArch 1945: FURLOUGH IN NZ

After being on Green Island since 21 Dec 1944,  No. 16 Squadron was relieved by No.15 Squadron in February 1945. Like other NZ military units, it returned to New Zealand for a period of furlough.  See photo taken of No.16 Squadron at Ardmore during March 1945.

> APRIL 1945: ESPIRITU SANTO, NEW HEBRIDES (VANUATU)  

> April-June 1945: Bougainville (Papua New Guinea)

In April 1945 the squadron was one of four RNZAF squadrons that moved to Bougainville, when the number of fighter squadrons was doubled from two to four. See photo taken of No. 16 Squadron at the Piva airstrip with Squadron Leader Paul Green. The squadrons arrived just as the chain of command on Bougainville was improved. Before April all requests for air support went from the 2nd Australian Corps to the Commander, Air, North Solomons, who then issued orders to the RNZAF. From April a direct link was established between the Australians and the RNZAF.

All four squadrons had to provide dawn and dusk patrols to guard against any possible Japanese air attacks. They were also used for ground attack missions, attacking tactical targets close to the Australian lines, troop concentrations behind the lines and targets around the main Japanese bases. In April the four squadrons flew an average of 50-60 sorties per day. Three incidents of pilots taking off on bombing strikes and experiencing mechanical problems are recounted by Bryan Cox in a PowerPoint display : "The last survivor: RNZAF Corsair NZ5394".  For additional photographs about the Squadron on Bourgainville - aerial operations, camp life, recreational activities and concert party performances by Bob Hope and Jack Benny - see PowerPoint photos by Bryan Cox, "Bourgainville & Jacquinot Bay". 

In June 1945 No. 16 Squadron was relieved by No. 23 Squadron as part of a wider move in which all four fighter squadrons were replaced.   

> Aug-Oct 1945: Jacquinot Bay, New Britain (Papua New   Guinea) 

In mid-August 1945 No. 16 Squadron relieved No. 20 Squadron at Jacquinot Bay on New Britain. The Squadron was used to fly security patrols over the Gazelle Peninsula (including Rabaul).  For additional photos, see slides 55 - 103  in Bryan Cox's PowerPoint, "Bourgainville & Jacquinot Bay".  

> JAPAN SURRENDERS: 15 AUGUST 1945

The surrender of Japan was announced on 15 August and formally signed on 2 September 1945.  Also see photos and an account by Bryan Cox, one of the No. 16 Fighter pilots: https://www.corsairsandkittyhawks.com/japanese-surrender-at-rabaul  As part of the Allied Forces' celebration, a Victory Cup Race meeting was held on 23 August at Jacquinot Bay. Wooden horses were raced on the airstrip with movement determined by the throw of dice. 

STAGE 4:  No. 16 Squadron disbanded (October 1945)

According to Bryan Cox, "Being nearest to Rabaul, No 16 Squadron was the last squadron to return to New Zealand, and we departed on 30/10/1945 in a formation of 16 Corsairs, with our first stop 580 miles to the south of Guadalcanal. Before we were even airborne, the bulldozers were at work."  (see photo). They flew southwards to Henderson Field where they stayed two nights; then arrived at Rukuhia on 5 November 1945.  See Bryan Cox's Slide 103 and Slide 104.

U.S. Commander George C. Kenny, in a letter to the New Zealand Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall L. M. Isitt, expressed appreciation of the part played by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific war: "It is with deep gratitude for your magnificent co-operation that I send my last message as commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Pacific… For nearly four years we faced some of the toughest going any of. our nations ever experienced:… Looking back, we can see that the Japanese capitulation was largely brought about by the sustained Allied air offensive ….Each of you has fought courageously and unselfishly to restore peace among nations and freedom and justice to men everywhere.”  

4. Commemorating No. 16 Squadron crew

ROLL OF HONOUR: 

NZ newspapers printed a Roll of Honour with the names of air personnel who were casualties - killed in action, missing  and. presumed dead, or died of injuries. 

5. Further information

• Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photographic Collection. (You can search their photographic database)
• Auckland War Memorial Museum's Online Cenotaph has records of those who served NZ  since the 19th Century.
• Bryan Cox's website with powerpoint photos: https://www.corsairsandkittyhawks.com/
• Cox, Bryan (1987). Too young to die: The story of a New Zealand fighter pilot in the Pacific War  (Century Hutchinson) 
• Cox, Bryan (b.1997). Pacific Scrapbook 1963-1947: a pictorial history of a young New Zealand Corsair pilot in the Pacific and Japan and of Allied co-operation in the Pacific War (Auckland: McGraw Hill)
• Cox, Bryan (2004).  "Cats have only nine lives: memorable moments in the air, 1943-1993" (Tauranga: B.Cox)
• Gillespie, O.A. (1952). The Pacific (Wellington: Historical Publications Branch)  Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 
• 'New Zealanders in the Pacific War', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-the-pacific, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 31-Aug-2020 
• Rickard, J. (14 June 2013). No. 16 Fighter Squadron (RNZAF): Second World War 
• Ross, J.M.S. (1955). Royal New Zealand Air Force (Wellington: Historical Publications Branch) Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 
• Wings over New Zealand Forum meetings which include Youtube presentations by Bryan Cox (14 June 2013): Part 1,  Part 2, & Part 3.
• Wings over New Zealand Show aviation podcast. Episode 8: Bryan Cox   

Also see the following  New Zealand National Film Unit's documentaries about the RNZAF in the Pacific during 1943, which are held by Archives New Zealand: 

 (This DNZ story was first created in January 2019, and updated in November 2023)