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| RNZAF No. 14 Squadron Former Assignments No. 23 Squadron No. 20 Squadron |
Pilot Flying Officer Albert N. Saward, 4213297 (MIA / KIA) Auckland, NZ MIA January 15, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Constructors Number 6073. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1D Corsair bureau number 57539. Disassembled and loaded as cargo aboard USS Grand Mesa. On July 24, 1944 departed the United States across the Pacific to Espiritu Santo. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5423 with code 12. On August 11, 1944 assembled by Unit 60 on Espiritu Santo. On October 9, 1944 assigned to No. 23 Squadron. On October 26, 1944 assigned to No. 20 Squadron. During January 1945 assigned to No. 14 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 15, 1945 took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island) piloted by F/O Albert N. Saward 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 bad weather. While flying at low altitude through a tropical storm, F4U Corsair NZ5408 suffered a midair collision with this plane causing both to crash into the sea. Soon afterwards Corsair NZ5412 also crashed, possibly due to hitting debris from the aircraft collision. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). This aircraft was officially written off at Nissan Airfield (Green Island). A total of eight RNZAF Corsairs were lost and the day became known as "A Black Day for the Kiwis". Memorials Saward 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 at panel 4. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1D Corsair 57539 "57539 (MSN 6362) to New Zealand as NZ5423" ADF Serials - NZ Serials Corsair NZ5412 CWGC - Albert Norman Saward 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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