No. 23 Squadron RNZAF

No. 23 Squadron was a Squadron (aviation), squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was formed in August 1944 at Ardmore Airport (New Zealand), RNZAF Station Ardmore equipped with the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair, F4U-1 Corsair fighter bomber.

History

The squadron was established at RNZAF Ardmore in August 1944. It moved to Palikulo Bay Airfield on Espiritu Santo to continue training in September. In late October 1944 it moved to Kukum Field on Guadalcanal, where it flew ground attack missions on Bougainville Island, Bougainville targeting Japanese positions until 14 November. In late November 1944, it moved to Momote Airport, Momote Field on Los Negros Island where it flew combat air patrols in defence of the island. In February 1945, the squadron moved to Guadalcanal and then to Emirau Airport, Emirau from March–May and then to Piva Airfield on Bougainville from June–October 1945.

Commanding officers

*Squadron Leader J. J. de Willimoff: August 1944 – May 1945
*Squadron Leader D. E. Hogan: May–October 1945

References

Further reading

*Owen, R.E.
Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45
', Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand, 1955

{{List of RNZAF Squadrons

Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons, 23
Military units and formations established in 1944
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
Squadrons of the RNZAF in World War II