No. 17 Squadron
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

Background
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 17 Squadron operated the P-40 Kittyhawk in the South Pacific (SoPAC) during World War II.

Wartime History
On September 13, 1943 lost is P-40M Kittyhawk NZ3066 pilot F/Sgt Donald A. Williams suffered an engine failure and force landed atop a coral reef off Munda Airfield on New Georgia.

On September 23, 1943 eight Kittyhawks escort TBF Avengers on a bombing mission against anti-aircraft guns at Jakohina on southern Bougainville. Interecpted by A6M Zeros, shot down is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3111 pilot F/Sgt Norman N. Vickers (POW, died July 22, 1944).

On December 24, 1943 twelve Kittyhawks from the Squadron took off Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia and flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel, then took off again for a fighter sweep over Rabaul. They were divided into three sections of four planes as part of a larger formation of forty-eight Allied fighters. Over the target, No. 16 Squadron was the first to spot two groups of roughly twenty A6M Zeros climbing from the left and soon afterwards dove to intercept. A total of seven Kittyhawks were lost (5 pilots failed to return and two were injured) including P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3134 pilot F/Lt Alister Whyte Buchanan (MIA), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3135 pilot F/Sgt Donald Alfred Williams (survived), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3140 pilot F/Sgt Peter S. Worsp (MIA), P-40N Kitttyhawk NZ3174 pilot Sgt Robert Anthony Covic (MIA)

Despite the high loss of planes and pilots the mission is described in the RNZAF official history as "the most successful day in the history of the RNZAF".

During January 1945 the squadron moves to Nissan Airfield Airfield (Green Island).

On January 9, 1944 eight Kittyhawks flying close escort for TBF Avengers and SBD Dauntless dive bombers attacking Tobera Airfield south of Rabaul. Lost is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3121 pilot Flying Officer Arthur B. Sladen (MIA).

On May 7, 1944 lost is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3188 pilot F/O Stanley Broadbent roll over and crash while flying at tree-top level during a strafing run on the Oamai River on Bougainville.

On June 1, 1944 lost is P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3215 pilot W/O Bruce A. McHardie while conducting a strafing run near Cape Saint George on the southeastern tip of New Ireland hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea.

On January 30, 1945 lost is Corsair NZ5415 pilot Flying Officer Owen W. Davies on a mission against Rabaul. Over the target, this aircraft failed to pull out of a dive while strafing a convoy of trucks and at 10:45am crashed near the the crater of Vulcan Volcano.

During March 1945 the squadron moves to Jacquinot Bay Airfield.

References
Royal New Zealand Air Force Official History
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida Chapter 17 A Black Day for the Kiwis pages 69-72
Air to Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) by Chris Rudge

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?