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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| RNZAF No. 16 Squadron Former Assignments No. 14 Squadron No. 22 Squadron  RNZAF 1944 |
Pilot Flight Lieutenant Thomas R. F. Johnson, 401276 (MIA / KIA) Auckland, NZ MIA January 15, 1945 at 7:24pm Aircraft History Built by Vought. Constructors Number 5316. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A Corsair bureau number 50069. Disassembled and loaded as cargo aboard USS Breton (CVE-23) as defense aid to New Zealand. On April 19, 1944 departed the United States bound for the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5283. On May 5, 1944 reassembled by Unit 60 on Espiritu Santo. On August 8, 1944 assigned to No. 14 Squadron. Next, on September 10, 1944 assigned to No. 22 Squadron. Finally, on December 21, 1944 assigned to No. 16 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 15, 1945 took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island) piloted by Flight Lieutenant Thomas R. F. Johnson as one of thirty-six Corsairs from No. 14 Squadron, No. 16 Squadron and No. 24 Squadron on a fighter sweep over Rabaul. Returning, the formation encountered a bad weather front. This Corsair was one of four that entered a bad weather front and lost altitude. At 7:24pm crashed into the sea an exploded on impact killing the pilot. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, this aircraft was written off at Green Island Airfield (Nissan). A total of eight RNZAF Corsairs were lost and the day became known as "A Black Day for the Kiwis". Memorials Johnson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery (Bourail War Cemetery) on the Bourail Memorial on panel 3. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 50069 "50069 (MSN 5316) to New Zealand as NZ5283" ADF Serials - NZ Serials NZ5283 CWGC - Thomas Randall French Johnson FindAGrave - Thomas Randall French Johnson (photo, Bourail memorial) 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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