Work began on this day by the Public Works Department to construct an RNZAF station at Bell Block aerodrome, near New Plymouth. The construction was completed and the station handed over to the RNZAF in just weeks, the station opened in mid-October

The first aircraft landing was made by a Miles Whitney Straight ZK-AFH on the newly built RNZAF Station Ohakea's runway.

No 1 Elementary Flying Training School was formed at RNZAF Station Taieri, Dunedin

The RNZAF commandeered the aircraft of Cook Strait Airways, after the airline made its last flight on this day

The first Air Gunners course began at RNZAF Station Ohakea, the trainees drawn from men who had recently finished their initial entry training on the same station.

The New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron was formed officially at the new RNZAF Station Whenuapai. It's Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader Geoffrey Roberts, who also became the new station's first Station Commander at the same time. Over the next few weeks the remnants of the three Territorial Squadrons were merged at Hobsonville to form the new NZGR Squadron. See 1st of March 1940.

The New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron became operational from Whenuapai. The NZGR Sqn moved from Hobsonville where they'd formed over to Whenuapai on this day. The station was still under construction and the three ex-Territorial General Reconnaissance squadrons had been physically merged into one large unit at RNZAF Station Hobsonville in February. On this day, the 1st of March 1940, Sqn Ldr Roberts and his Adjutant F/O J.H. Grace reported to to Whenuapai to form the squadron's HQ, and their aircraft had moved onto the new station.

The New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron's main function is to cover and protect shipping in the Auckland harbour area. All 20 Blackburn Baffins that remained in RNZAF service had been sent to RNZAF Base Hobsonville to equip the squadron. This was now the only operational squadron in New Zealand at that time. By late 1940 the Baffins were removed to storage and Vickers Vincents with much better range had replaced them in the NZGR Sqn

New Zealanders in the RAF are included in the ten bomber squadrons of the Advanced Air Striking Force transferred to France on this day, with the intention of bombing industrial targets on the Ruhr should Germany bomb Britain

The station strength of personnel at RNZAF Station Whenuapai was 220. (27 officers and 193 airmen)

The first of a batch of 146 Airspeed Oxfords that had been ordered in May 1939 began to arrive. 140 of these had been purchased by the British Government under the Empire Air Training Scheme so the RNZAF could equip the new No 1, No 2 and No 3 Flying Training Schools (each with 42 Oxfords on strength)

The New Zealand Flight, which had been flying the RNZAF Vickers Wellingtons in Britain since the 1st of June 1939 was officially formed into No 75 (NZ) Squadron RAF.

The RMS Niagara was sunk by German-laid mines near Auckland. It had left the Port of Auckland carrying among its cargo a huge load of gold bullion. The NZGR Sqn was scrambled. Pilot Officer Maurie Pirie and AC1 Alf Lawry took off in Baffin NZ161 to search for the culprit raider that had put the mines out. The range of the Baffins was insufficient for a proper sea search, and the German raider was never sighted. The New Zealand Government began to regret that they had willingly handed over its 30 ordered Vickers Wellington bombers to the RAF on the 26th of August 1939

DH80A Puss Moth ZK-ACX was impressed into RNZAF service as NZ593

Aircraft of the RNZAF are ordered into the air to patrol the approaches of Auckland, North Cape, Western Cook Strait, Stewart Island and Hokitika, staying seaward by 70 miles, following the sinking of the merchant ship SS Turakina three days earlier in the Tasman Sea by the German raider Orion. The raider was not spotted by the RNZAF

Following the unsuccessful search for the German raider Orion the previous day, the RNZAF concentrates its search on the eastern approaches to Cook Strait. Again the ship is not spotted

No 3 Elementary Flying Training School is formed at RNZAF Station Harewood, Christchurch (now Christchurch International Airport) with De Havilland Tiger Moths The first course held by the new school was No 4B

No 3 Service Flying Training School formed at Ohakea, flying Airspeed Oxfords and Hawker Hind biplane fighter-trainers. This was the first time the Hind had seen service with the RNZAF

No. 1 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron was formed, replacing the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron. Two new GR squadrons were also formed, No. 2 (GR) at Nelson and No. 3 (GR) at Harewood in Christchurch.

The British Government replied to the second request for bombers made on the 4th of December. This time they decided that because the Battle of Libya was won, they could now release "some Hudsons for action against raiders."

New Zealand requested a supply of 36 Lockheed Hudsons "as soon as possible", with a further 24 "plus wastage" for 1942

The New Zealand Woman's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) was officially formed .

'B' Flight of No. 1 (GR) Squadron moved from Whenuapai up to the newly formed RNZAF Station Waipapakauri to cover the northern approaches of the North Island. they flew Vincents and Vildebeests.

No 485 (NZ) Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Station Driffield, Yorkshire, flying Supermarine Spitfires

No 3 (GR) Sqn is formed at RNZAF Station Harewood, flying Blackburn Baffin biplanes. These aircraft have been in storage since their withdrawal from service with the New Zealand General Reconaissance Squadron. The prime objective of the squadron is to patrol and protect shipping in Lyttleton Harbour

A shipment of six Lockheed Hudson modern reconnaissance bombers arrive at RNZAF Station Hobsonville, Auckland, for assembly. These are the first of an eventual total of 96 to be taken on charge with the RNZAF

A detached flight from No 3 (GR) Sqn is established at RNZAF Station Taeiri, Dunedin (now Dunedin Airport) to cover shipping in Otago Harbour

The first flight of a Lockheed Hudson was made in New Zealand when NZ2003 was test flown. The first six Hudsons had arrived in Auckland onboard the ships Limerick and Waiotapu in late April-early May, and were undergoing assembly and test flying at RNZAF Station Hobsonville

Lockheed Hudson NZ2033 became the first of type attached to a squadron, when it was handed over to No 1 (GR) Squadron at RNZAF Station Whenuapai. It was the first of many to join the squadron, and others over the next few months.

Two No. 1 (GR) Squadron Vildebeests were scrambled to conduct a three hour search and intercept mission for the Japanese vessel Yamagiku Maru, which was en route from Kobe, Japan to Auckland. This search was deemed necessary because of the Japanese occupation that day if Indo-China. The vessel was not found and it was concluded that it was recalled to Japan.

By this month, No's. 1, 2, 3 and 4 (General Reconnaissance) Squadrons are all now fully equipped with the new Lockheed Hudson bombers, and their Vickers Vincents, Vildebeests and other aircraft begin to move onto help create new squadrons.

Squadron Leader Geoffrey Roberts relinquished command of No. 1 (GR) Squadron to become Officer Commanding the Detached Flight in Fiji. He was replaced as CO at No. 1 Sqn. by on of the flight commanders, Acting Squadron Leader G.H. Fisher of Auckland.

No 489 (NZ) Squadron was formed at RAF Leuchars, Scotland, flying Handley Page Hampden bombers

The New Zealand Air Training Corps was formed officially

Six Vickers Vincents are sent to Fiji to join ‘Unit 20', which with the additional aircraft is now renamed No 4 (GR) Squadron

During mid-September 1941, pilots Squadron Leader Eric M. Lewis, Squadron Leader Donald W. Baird, Flight Lieutenant Robert H.M. Hickson and Flying Officer J.W. Winefield arrived at Seletar in Singapore. They were there to undergo conversion training with No. 205 Squadron, RAF, onto the Short Singapore four-engined biplane flying boats. With them were eight airmen of the RNZAF, and more were to arrive for training later in the month. The pilots had already converted at RNZAF Station Hobsonville to the Supermarine Walrus, and were now stepping up to convert to the Singapore in preparation for the long ferry flight of four Singapores to Fiji. With 205 Sqn retiring its fleet of Singapores, having replaced them with the Consolidated Catalina, four examples were being transferred to the RNZAF for Pacific patrols from Fiji.

Squadron Leader Donald Baird assumed control of the RNZAF flying boat personnel at RAF Seletar in Singapore, where conversion training was being undertaken onto the Short Singapore flying boat.

Short Singapores K6912, K6916, K6917 and K6918 (which were all built between May and July 1936) were officially transferred from the books of No. 205 Squadron, RAF, to the ownership of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Short Singapore K6916 flown by Flying Officer Winefield and crew lifted off from RAF Seletar to begin the ferry flight to Fiji. The route taken was via Batavia (Java), Surabaya (also in Java), Bima (Sumbawa), Koepang (Timor), Darwin (Australia), Groote Eylandt (NT, Australia), Thursday Island (NT, Australia), Port Moresby (New Guinea), Samarai (New Guinea), Gizo (Solomon Islands), Tulagi (Solomon Islands)' Vanikoa (Santa Crux Island) and Lautoke (Fiji) before touching down in the harbour at Suva, Fiji.

Shortly afterwards K6917 took off flown by Flight Lieutenant Hickson and crew, taking the same route.

No. 1 (GR) Squadron's Waipapakauri Detachment set a new record on this day when their 'B' Flight mascot, a large white dog with spots named Percy, became the first dog to do a loop in an aircraft in Northland. Percy, also known as 'Old Currant Bun' was a regular flyer in the squadron's aircraft, and on this day when he looped he was flying with Pilot Officer R.F. Hoyle. He even signed his paw-print on the Form AF20 alongside details of his 'Familiarization Flight'

The water landing area at the partly constructed RNZAF flying boat station at Lauthala Bay near Suva, Fiji, was used for the first time when the Pan American airways Clipper "Pacific" touched down, inaugurating Fiji's first international air mail flight. As the facilities at Lauthala Bay were not yet operational, temporary moorings hat been set up for flying boats at nearby Prices Landing, Suva

The second Short Singapore, K6917, arrived in Fiji from Singapore for the RNZAF. The two aircraft and their crews formed on that day into No 5 (GR) Squadron, RNZAF. The two flying boats were soon to go into service in an anti- submarine role on the look out for German raiders and other suspect craft, though this was not to start for a few weeks after arrival until they had been fitted with guns and given a thorough maintenance check following the ferry flight. During these checks K6916 was given the squadron codes OT-B and K6917 became OT-C.

The squadron was under the command of Squadron Leader Eric M. Lewis, and at this time had three other pilots - Flight Lieutenant Robert Hickson, Flight Lieutenant Bill Craig and Flying Officer J.W. Winefield. Also with the new squadron was Pilot Officer T.E.M. Hull, and RAF Technical Officer, and 24 airmen.

All the remaining Blackburn Baffins in service are reduced to scrap at RNZAF Station Rongotai during this month

On this day (New Zealand Time) Japan enters the war abruptly with surprise simultaneous attacks on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and several other British and Commonwealth strongholds throughout the Pacific. New Zealand declares war with Japan, and is suddenly under a much more direct threat of attack or invasion.

The RNZAF at this point has grown substantially and now has a strength thus:

Personnel

Approximately 17,000 RNZAF Personnel (1582 Officers, 15,062 men and 1269 women)

- 10, 577 of these personnel were stationed within New Zealand

- 1128 were in Canada attached to the RCAF under the EATS

- 3615 were attached to the Royal Air Force

- 593 were serving in the Pacific (mainly in Fiji)

Aircraft

The RNZAF had 641 aircraft on strength on the 8th of Dec 1941

These included:

- 36 Lockheed Hudsons

- 48 Vickers Vincents

- 26 Vickers Vildebeests

- 2 Short Singapore III Flying Boats

- 46 Hawker Hinds in training and Army Co-operation roles

- 30 Fairey Gordons in training roles

- 62 North American Harvard II trainers

- 143 Airspeed Oxford I and II trainers

- 221 De Havilland DH82A trainers

There were still only five operational squadrons in the RNZAF, three in New Zealand and two in Fiji

The two RNZAF Short Singapores that were still at Seletar awaiting their ferry flight to Fiji made uneventful operational patrols in search of Japanese forces

Five Hudsons were sent to Fiji to reinforce No 4 (GR) Sqn. Only four arrived however, the fifth being forced to turn back to NZ

Upon setting out for No. 5 Squadron's first operational mission from Fiji, on a trip scheduled to take K6916/OT-B to Nandi and scout out possible proposed radar sites, a creeping elevator trim meant the aircraft could not become airborne, and it ran aground on a mud bank. The hull was severely damaged, and despite attempts to repair the aircraft, it was too much for local resources to accomplish, and the plane was later written off the books in July 1942.

90 airmen arrived in Fiji to join the new No. 5 (GR) Squadron, RNZAF, greatly boosting the personnel level of the squadron. At this time they now only had one operational flying boat in Fiji.

No. 1 (GR) Squadron suffered its first fatality when Flying Officer E.F. (Rowdy) Holdaway crashed Hudson NZ2020 near Muriwai, Auckland. Also killed were the two crew members, Sgt G.E. Eathorne, and Sgt E. Eldershaw

No 5 (GR) Squadron made its first operational patrol when K6912/OT-A flew an anti-submarine patrol, under the command of Flt Lt MacGregor, Plt Off Scott and four crew, Such patrols continued from this time almost daily, and from the 30th of January standing patrols began on set routes around the Fijian Islands and their approaches

The newly-promoted Squadron Leader Bill Craig became Commanding Officer of No. 5 (GR) Squadron

FAFAI (Forces Available For Anti-Invasion) Squadrons are organised within all RNZAF Flying Training Schools in New Zealand, utilising existing aircraft and staff. This meant that emergency squadrons were formed from the instructors at the flying schools, who in the event of invasion would be called on to fly in combat against invading forces in their school's aircraft (Tiger Moths, Harvards, Oxfords and other types fitted with bomb racks and guns). Thankfully this desperate scheme was never needed to be used

Squadron Leader Robert Hickson became Commanding Officer of No. 5 (GR) Squadron

Six Hudson bombers from No 2 (GR) Sqn are flown to Fiji from Nelson due to a perceived threat of Japanese attack on the island nation

On this day the RNZAF had the following numbers of aircraft on strength:

In New Zealand
Operational - Four General Squadrons and an Army Co-operative Squadron
No 1 (GR) Squadron with 12 Lockheed Hudsons at RNZAF Station Whenuapai
No 2 (GR) Squadron with 11 Lockheed Hudsons and six Airspeed Oxfords at RNZAF Nelson
No 3 (GR) Squadron with 15 Vickers Vincents at RNZAF Station Harewood
No 6 (AC) Squadron with 21 Hawker Hinds at RNZAF Station Palmerston North
No 7 (GR) Squadron with 18 Vickers Vincents at RNZAF Station Waipapakauri
(most of the bomber squadrons also operated various numbers of Oxfords)
Training - spread throughout the various training schools there were a total of:
81 Airspeed Oxfords
54 North American Harvards
108 De Havilland Tiger Moths
16 Vickers Vincents
15 Fairey Gordons

In Fiji
Operational - Two General Reconnaissance Squadrons
No 4 (GR) Squadron flying 9 Lockheed Hudsons at Nandi, Fiji
No 5 (GR) Sqn with 3 Short Singapores and 6 Vickers Vincents in Fiji

No 8 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron forms at RNZAF Station Gisborne, flying Vickers Vincents. Their task is to patrol the east coast and eastern approaches to New Zealand

No 14 (Fighter) Squadron was formed at RNZAF Station Masterton, from the remnants of the battle-depleted 488 (NZ) Squadron, RAF who had been defeated in Singapore and Malaya. No 14 Sqn were equipped with P40E Kittyhawk fighters and Harvard trainers

No. 5 (GR) Squadron was redesignated No. 5 (Army Co-operation) Squadron when the three Short Singapore flying boats operating from Prices Landing, Fiji, were joined by nine land-based Vickers Vincents formerly of No. 4 (GR) Squadron. Four Vincents were based in Tonga and five at Nausori, Fiji, where they carried our both army co-operation work and general reconnaissance inshore maritime patrols. The squadron's headquarters moved to Nausori

DH80A Puss Moth ZK-ABG was impressed into RNZAF service as NZ594

No 16 (Fighter) Squadron was formed at RNZAF Station Woodbourne, flying P40E Kittyhawks

Short Singapore K6912/OT-A of No. 5 (AC) Squadron, based at Prices Landing, in Fiji, made an attack on a rapidly submerging submarine whilst escorting the Thomas Jefferson out of Suva. A single 250lb (113kg) bomb was dropped on the submarine, and as it was seen to go down vertically it was claimed as damaged. The pilot was Flt Lt MacGregor

No.4 (GR) Squadron Hudson NZ2028 disappeared whilst on a flight from Fiji to Tonga. One of the passengers was General O.H. Mead, former commander of all forces in Fiji and Tonga. A No. 5 (AC) Squadron Short Singapore flying boat was dispatched to search for survivors but despite of an intensive search, no trace was found of the Hudson and its crew

No 20 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron was formed at RNZF Station Onerahi, just south of Whangarei with Hawker Hind aircraft, under the command of acting Wing Commander J.G. Fraser RAF. This squadron's duties was to work with army units in their training.

No. 5 (AC) Squadron's flying boats moved into their new permanent home at RNZAF Station Lauthala Bay, which had been completed. Previously they had temporarily been moored at nearby Prices Landing, Suva

No. 5 (AC) Squadron based in Fiji was formally disbanded. Three Vickers Vincents and two crews were transferred to No. 4 (GR) Squadron, also in Fiji, and the remaining flyable aircraft and personnel were returned to New Zealand

The planned No. 6 (FB) Squadron's arrival in Fiji with its Consolidated Catalinas was delayed, so the two beached Short Singapores were re-deployed in the Singapore Flying-Boat Flight formed at Lauthala Bay under Sqn Ldr MacGregor.

The Singapore Flying-Boat Flight began operational flights. Over the next six weeks 22 individual patrols were flown by the Flight's two Singapores, the final flight being the 16th of April 1943. Mechanical problems and a shortage of spare parts forced their withdrawal from use again thereafter

28th of March 1943

No 490 (NZ) Squadron, RAF was formed at Jui, West Africa, flying Consolidated Catalina flying boats

The Singapore Flying-Boat Flight made its last operational patrol in Short Singapore K6912 from Lauthala Bay, Fiji. Following the last flight, the two Singapore remaining aircraft were filled with concrete, towed out into Lauthala Bay and scuttled. They had been forced to retire due to a lack of spare parts and poor maintenance. Ironically a week after the two last operational Singapores in the world were scuttled, a boat docked in Fiji from Britain filled with much-needed spare parts for the type

No 15 Squadron began the RNZAF's first ever P40 Kittyhawk operational mission, flying from their base at Guadalcanal

No 6 (Maritime) Squadron was formed, flying Consolidated Catalina flying boats. Crews from the Singapore Flying-Boat Flight were transferred to the new squadron

No 40 (Transport) Squadron was formed at RNZAF Station Whenuapai, flying C47 Dakotas

No 30 (Dive Bomber) Squadron formed at RNZAF Station Gisborne, flying Grumman TBF-1C Avenger torpedo/dive bombers

No 18 (Fighter) Squadron was formed at RNZAF Station Ohakea, flying P40E Kittyhawks

No 25 (Dive Bomber) Squadron was formed at Seagrove, Karaka, south of Auckland. The squadron was to use a new type for the RNZAF, Douglas Dauntless dive bombers.

Statistics or this month show that the RNZAF had 39,908 personnel of all types

Nine further Avro Ansons arrived in three batches over these months. They joined the existing 14 examples, which were now based at RNZAF Station Bell Block, New Plymouth. With their addition to the existing school, the School of General Reconaissance expanded to be renamed the School of Navigation and Reconaissance

No. 10 Bomber Maintenance Unit, or No. 10 BMU, (later renamed No. 10 Servicing Unit, or No. 10 SU) was formed at RNZAF Station Whenuapai from the ground staff of No. 1 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron

No. 10 Bomber Maintenance Unit, or No. 10 BMU, (later renamed No. 10 Servicing Unit, or No. 10 SU) moved from RNZAF Station Whenuapai up to Guadalcanal

Here is an official press release from an old newspaper the New Zealand Herald

40 ZEROS OUTFOUGHT

FOUR NEW ZEALANDERS

FIVE ENEMY PLANES DOWN

DAMAGE TO SIX OTHERS
(RNZAF Official News Service)
New Georgia, Nov 22

A highly successful action, in which four New Zealander Warhawks encountered some 40 Japanese Zero fighters, shot down five, damaged at last six and chased the remainder off, all without loss, was fought over Bougainville this morning. It brought that particular squadron's total to 14 confirmed victories and the fighter wing's bag to 62.

Led by Flight-Lieutenant R.H. Balfour, of Waimate, the section was patrolling the island from Empress Augusta Bay at 24,000ft. When about five miles east of Mount Bagana the New Zealanders saw between 35 and 40 Zeroes approaching some 2000ft below. Flight-Lieutenant Balfour maneuvered his team behind the enemy and, with his team behind them, they dived steeply at well over 300 miles an hour.

The leader came up behind the Zeros which comprised a main group and several scattered sub-sections. Two were directly ahead of him and he opened fire at 80 yards. A short burst caused on of the Japanese planes to explode in a sheet of flame, though which the New Zealanders flew as they continued the attack. Two of our pilots attacked the second Zero simultaneously at close range. It began to smoke and went down burning.

Air Filled With Aircraft

The Warhawks closed on the main enemy formation and for ten minutes there was a battle-royal. The air was filled with aircraft diving, climbing, skidding and spinning, with the roar of hard-worked engines and with red flecks of tracer bullets. Keeping their speed high, taking violent evasive action where necessary and working in pairs, the new Zealanders came through this part of the action unscathed and the Japanese took heavy punishment.

Flight-Lieutenant Balfour attacked Zero after Zero. The first two emitted black smoke and then disappeared in the melee. The next was hit heavily in the engine, cockpit and wing. It rolled on its back and spun down.

Time For Humour
Detailed results were impossible to observe in the heat of the action, although there was a time for a second's humour. The Warhawk's control base, many miles away, called Balfour by radio and asked, "have you made contact?" The reply was brief to the point, and caused amusement to all who heard it.

Gradually the battling aircraft lost height, and the fight drifted over toward Cape Torokina. There a solitary Zero was found below the Warhawks and, after several attacks, it was destroyed.

A determined head on attack against Flight-Lieutenant Balfour was made by one Japanese. The enemy was above and ahead. He dived fast firing as he approached. The bullets tore into the New Zealander's motor cowling and he broke downward just in time to avoid collision.

Pilot's Three Attacks
Another New Zealander, flying No 2 to the leader, made three attacks in quick succession upon one of the few of the newer- type Zeros - clipped wing planes in blue instead of the usual brownish-green, but proved just as vulnerable to attack, which was well pressed home. Closing to 50 yards, the New Zealander got a good burst into the enemy's wing root, fuselage and engine. An explosion occurred in the engine and a large piece of metal flew off. Smoke and flame followed.

An Unusual Incident
An unusual incident occurred when a Warhawk pilot attacked a Zero at 10,000ft. He attacked from behind, opened fire at 200 yds. and closed to 50 yds., watching his tracers hit the wing and the fuselage, starting a fire. The Japanese pilot got half-way out of the cockpit, and waved his arms up and down, giving the impression that he was trying to extinguish the fire. A sheet of flame then swept back form the engine, and the aircraft crashed in the jungle.

After sharing a Zero with Flight-Lieutenant Balfour, Flying-Officer C.D.A. Highet, of Wellington, attacked several others before getting his second one confirmed. Although almost out of ammunition, the New Zealanders sighted several Zeros high above and began to climb to attack. The Zeros, instead of facing the threat, turned towards Buka and made off at high speed.

(Source: New Zealand Herald, 9th of December 1943)

RNZAF patrol aircraft reported spotting a Japanese submarine situated 100 miles north of North Cape

RNZAF patrol aircraft spot the Japanese submarine a second time, this time east of Northland

No. 10 Bomber Maintenance Unit, or No. 10 BMU, (later renamed No. 10 Servicing Unit, or No. 10 SU) set up a detachment at Munda

No 31 (Dive Bomber) Squadron formed at RNZAF Station Gisborne, flying Grumman TBF-1C Avenger torpedo/dive bombers

A and B Flights of No. 25 Servicing Unit, previously stationed at RNZAF Seagrove, embarked on the USS Octans for the Pacific where they would continue to service the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers of No. 25 Squadron

No 20 (Fighter) Squadron formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore, flying P40E kittyhawks

No 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore

T he Fighter Gunnery School was formed at RNZAF Station Gisborne

No 21 (Fighter) Squadron was formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore, flying Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers

The first RNZAF operation with Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsairs began when No 20 (F) Squadron began operational missions from Bougainville

The RNZAF's last ever operational mission with P40 Kittyhawks was flown by No 17 Squadron from Bougainville

D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe began. Taking part were thousands of New Zealanders in the air, including:
No 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF
No 485 (NZ) Sqn RAF
No 486 (NZ) Sqn RAF
No 488 (NZ) Sqn RAF
No 489 (NZ) Sqn RAF

No 22 (Fighter) Squadron formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore, flying Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers

No 5 (F.B.) Squadron was reformed in Fiji, flying Consolidated Catalina flying boats

No 23 (Fighter) Squadron formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore, flying Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers

22nd of September 1944

No 24 (Fighter) Squadron was formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore, flying P40E Kittyhawks and Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers

No 25 (Fighter) Squadron reformed at RNZAF Station ?, flying Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers. This squadron had previously operated as No 25 (Dive bomber) Squadron, flying Douglas Dauntless dive bombers

From this date, all daily inspections of Ventura bombers by No. 10 Servicing Unit were carried out at Munda, New Georgia. Only periodical inspections would be carried out at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal from this date.

No 26 (Fighter) Squadron formed at RNZAF Station Ardmore, flying Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers