No. 14 Squadron
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

Background
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 14 Squadron operated the P-40 Kittyhawk in the South Pacific (SoPAC) during World War II.

Wartime History
On June 10, 1943 moves to Fighter 2 (Kukum Field) on Guadalcanal.

On June 12, 1943 lost is P-40M Kittyhawk NZ3069 pilot Flying Officer Kenneth P. C. Morpeth (MIA) in air combat intercepting a Japanese air raid.

On December 17, 1943 twelve P-40N Kittyhawks took off Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia plus twelve P-40N Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron landed at Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel then took off again on a fighter sweep over Rabaul. Meanwhile, No. 14 Squadron was delayed at Torokina Airfield while two P-39 Airacobras made an emergency landing and took off later. Due to a miscommunication, another twelve P-40N Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron did not wait for the rest of the formation and the RNZAF fighters proceeded to the target in two separate groups. This was the RNZAF first major air operation in the South Pacific (SoPAC).

During February 1944 moves to Torokina Airfield on western Bougainville.

On June 30, 1944 the squadron patrols along the coast of East New Britain from Cape Gazelle to Cape Archway. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5207 pilot SqLd John C. Blundell (MIA).

During December 1944 moves to Nissan Airfield (Green Island) on Nissan Island (Green Island).

On December 24, 1944 the squadron conducts a ground attack mission against targets in the Rabaul area. Lost is F4U Corsair NZ5429 pilot FSgt Ian M. Thorburn (MIA) flew into the ground and crashed near Vunapope.

On January 15, 1945 thirty-six Corsairs from No. 14 Squadron, No. 16 Squadron and No. 24 Squadron took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island) on a fighter sweep over Rabaul. Returning, the formation encountered a bad weather front. Lost are F4U Corsair NZ5408 pilot Flight Lieutenant Bruce S. Hay (MIA) and F4U Corsair NZ5423 in a midair collison and shortly afterwards F4U Corsair NZ5412 pilot Flying Officer Albert N. Saward (MIA). A total of eight RNZAF Corsairs were lost and the day became known as "A Black Day for the Kiwis". Lost from No. 14 Squadron was

Commanding Officer (C.O.)
Squadron Leader J. H. Arkwright

References
Royal New Zealand Air Force Official History
Air to Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) by Chris Rudge

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