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| RNZAF No. 21 Squadron Former Assignments No. 18 Squadron |
Pilot Pilot Officer William H. Wilson, 43903 (MIA / KIA) Wellington, NZ Crashed September 14, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Constructors Number 4867. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A bureau number 56444. Disassembled and loaded aboard USS Breton (CVE-23) as cargo. On March 6, 1944 departed the United States as part of defense aid to New Zealand and unloaded in Espiritu Santo. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5236. On March 25, 1944 reassembled in Espiritu Santo and BOC Unit 60 then flown to Guadalcanal. On May 17, 1944 assigned to No. 18 Squadron coded "H' and "Q". During September 1944, assigned to No. 21 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On September 14, 1944 took off from Piva South Airfield (Piva Uncle) on Bougainville piloted by Pilot Officer William H. Wilson on a bombing mission over the Wide Bay area of New Britain. Over the target at 200', likely hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea near Henry Reid Bay into Wide Bay at 8:25am. Officially, written off on Bougainville. Memorials Wilson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery at the Bourail Memorial on panel 5. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 56444 "56444 (MSN 4867) to New Zealand as NZ5236" ADF Serials - NZ Serials Corsair NZ5236 CWGC - William Hoare Wilson Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 6, 2024 |
 F4U  MIA 1 Missing |
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