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| RNZAF No. 17 Squadron Former Assignments 1 AD |
Pilot F/Sgt Norman Nicholson Vickers (POW, died July 22, 1944, BR) Hawkes Bay, NZ Crashed September 23, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructor number 27487. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40M-10-CU Warhawk serial number 43-5799. Disassembled and shipped overseas to New Zealand as part of defense aid. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as P-40M Kittyhawk serial number NZ3111. Reassembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) on May 21, 1943 at Hobsonville Airfield. Assigned to No. 17 Squadron coded "33". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On September 23, 1943 at 7:10am took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by F/Sgt Norman N. Vickers as one of eight Kittyhawks on a mission to escort twelve TBF Avengers striking anti-aircraft positions at Jakohina on southern Bougainville. This plane was part of the 1st section led by F/Lt A. W. Buchanan, with wingman F/O D. L. Jones, element leader F/O A. B. Sladen and this plane as the element wingman. The Kittyhawks rendezvous with the Avengers at 10,000' over Munda. Meanwhile, twenty-four B-24 Liberators, sixty SBD Dauntless dive bombers were scheduled to attack Kahili Airfield (Buin) escorted by P-38s and F4Us. Over the target, the Avengers dove to make bombing runs while the Kittyhawks remained at 10,000'. Intercepted by A6M Zeros, a dog fight began and this P-40 was shot down. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, this aircraft was written off on November 1, 1943. Fate of the Pilot Vickers managed to bail out and landed safely. Captured by the Japanese he became a Prisoner of War (POW) and was transported to Rabaul. During captivity, he was interrogated an tortured, reportedly with ropes tied with ropes with fish hooks to cut his skin when he moved. On March 2, 1944 due to the heavy bombing of Rabaul, moved with other Allied Prisoner of War (POW) to Tunnel Hill POW Camp. On July 24, 1944 Vickers died in captivity from malnutrition and dysentery and was buried nearby. Recovery of Remains Postwar, Vickers remains were exhumed and transported to New Caledonia for burial. Memorials Vickers was officially declared dead July 22, 1943. After the recovery of his remains, he was buried at Bourail War Cemetery at grave 8.17. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40M-10-CU Warhawk 43-5799 "5799 (MSN 27487) to New Zealand as NZ3111. Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BoC at Hobsonville on 21 May 1943. Coded "33". To No.17 Squadron. Shot down by enemy aircraft near Kahili Sep 23, 1943. Pilot POW, died in captivity Jul 24, 1944. Aircraft struck off at Guadalcanal on 01 November 1943." ADF Serials Kittyhawk NZ3111 CWGC - Norman Nicholson Vickers Auckland Air to Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) pages 133 (August 10, 1943), 141 (August 15, 1943), 155-160 (September 23, 1943), 403 (index NZ3111) (Page 155) "As the bombs exploded along the coast, a Dauntless aircraft [sic this plane?] was observed to crash into the sea about one and one half miles from the shore opposite the target area." (Page 156) "He noticed what appeared to be a P-40 (on account of its white spinner), going down on its back south-west of the Shortland Islands, its pilot parachuting down and landing in the sea near his aircraft and close to shore (footnote 87 this was possibly NZ3111 flown by FSgt Vickers)." Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 30, 2024 |
 P-40  POW 1 Prisoner Died |
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