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| RNZAF 15 Squadron |
Pilot Flight Sergeant Floyd John Cousins, 4215181 (rescued) Auckland, NZ Crashed July 14, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Constructors Number 4998. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1D Corsair bureau number 49751. Disassembled and loaded aboard USS Rudyard Bay as cargo. On March 6, 1944 departed the United States as part of defense aid to New Zealand. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5266. On May 1, 1944 assembled by Unit 60 on Espiritu Santo. On May 20, 1944 assigned to 15 Squadron on Guadalcanal. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On July 14, 1944 took off from Bougainville piloted by Flight Sergeant Floyd J. Cousins on a strike mission. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire that caused an engine fire and crashed into the sea. Cousins survived unhurt and deployed his life raft. Rescue Afterwards, PBY Catalina piloted by Lt(jg) S. L. Graham, Jr. from U.S. Navy (USN) VP-101 based at Green Island (Nissan) from roughly Lat 5° 10' S Long 154° 38' E off Buka Island. Afterwards, Cousins returned to duty. Memorials On December 3, 1944 Cousins went Missing In Action (MIA) piloting F4U Corsair NZ5464. He is memorialized at the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery at the Bourail Memorial on panel 6. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 49751 "49751 (MSN 4998) to New Zealand as NZ5266" NARA "VP-101 War Diary July 1944" page 4 (Page 4) "July 14 - F/Sgt F. J. Cousins, RNZAF, picked up from a raft at 05° 10' S / 154° 38' E. Lieutenant (jg) S. L. Graham, Jr. AV(N) USNR, patrol plane commander of rescue plane." ADF Serials / NZ Serials NZ5266 CWGC - Floyd John Cousins Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 2, 2022 |
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