No 21 Squadron RNZAF

HISTORY

Formed, August 1943
Disbanded, 1943
Re-formed, May 1944
Disbanded, September 1945

COs

S/L, C. R. Busch. RNZAF, May 1944 to February 1945

S/L, W. J. MacLeod, RNZAF, March 1945 to September 1945

BASES

Milson Airfield, Palmerston North, NZ,

Ardmore, Auckland, May 1944 to June 1944
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, June 1944 to July 1944
Torokina Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, July 1944 to September 1944
Whenuapai, Auckland, NZ, 20 September 1944 to November 1944
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, November 1944 to December 1944
Piva Y Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, December 1944 to February 1945
NZ February 1945 to April 1945
Nissan Island Green Islands, Solomon Islands, April 1945 to May 1945
Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, Bismark Archipelago, May 1945 to 2 Jul 1945
NZ 2 Jul 1945 to September 1945
AIRCRAFT TYPES

Image Source

Hawker Hinds July 1942

Image Source

Corsairs May 1944 to September 1945

ROLES

Army Co-operation

Fighter / Ground Attack May 1944 to September 1945

CODE

Hawker Hinds UY
Corsairs NH

S/L C R Busch was “ One Of The Few”

The Squadron was originally formed at Milson Airfield, Palmerston North, as an Army Co-operation Squadron, but, the role was no longer required, so the Squadron was disbanded on

The Squadron was re-formed at Ardmore, Auckland, in May 1944, equipped with the Vought Corsair, and commenced training.

In June 1944, the Squadron was moved to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, where they flew dusk and dawn patrols, and intercept any unknown aircraft.

In July the Squadron moved to Torokina Field, Bougainville, where it began operations against the Japanese, these comprised a mix of air defence duties around Empress Augusta Bay, and offensive fighter-bomber raids over Japanese held parts of Bougainville and towards Rabaul.

On the 20th September, the Squadron returned to Whenuapai, Auckland, for their rest and recuperation.

In November 1944, the returned to Henderson Field Guadalcanal, and in December 1944, they joined No 24 [F] Squadron on Piva Y Field, Bougainville, operating in support of the Australian Army’s offensive mission on the Island.

These included a mix of defensive patrols and offensive bombing and strafing attacks close to the Australian line as well as raids on the main Japanese Bases.

In February 1945, they were relieved by No 18 [F] Squadron, and returned to NZ for a further spell of rest and recuperation.

In April 1945, they replaced No 15 [F] Squadron on Nissan Island, Green Islands, between Bougainville and Rabaul, where they continued the dusk and dawn patrols, escorting “Dumbo” Catalina’s on their Air-Sea rescue missions, as well as fighter-bomber sweeps over nearby Japanese held territory.

These missions ceased in mid-May when all fighter-bomber missions from Nissan Island were halted in preparation for the move to Jacquinot Bay on New Britain.

While 21 Squadron was the first NZ Squadron to be in readiness, on 18th May, at Jacquinot Bay they were very hampered by the lack of any Servicing Units, who were unable to arrive until 29th May.

When the SU did arrive it was tasked with operation No 20 [F] Squadron, so No 21[F] Squadron only took part in a few patrols over Rabaul.

On the 2nd July 1945, the Squadron was relieved by No 19 [F] Squadron and they returned to NZ for rest and recuperation.

The Squadron was disbanded in September 1945

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner