No 1 Squadron RNZAF
MOTTO
WITH VIGILANCE WE SERVE
HISTORY
Formed, March 1940
Disbanded, September 1945
Reformed, August 1972
Disbanded, 7 December 1984
C. O. s
S/L, ROBERTS. G. N. RNZAF, May 1940 to August 1941
CBE, AFC, Legion of Merit US,
To General Manager TEAL[Tasman Empire Airways Limited] 1946 to 1958
S/L, FISHER. G. H. RNZAF, August 1941 to July 1942
S/L, LUCAS. F. J. RNZAF, July 1942 to December 1942
DFC & Bar
[Popeye Ex 75 [NZ] Squadron]
S/L, MONCKTON. C. L. RNZAF, December 1942 to March 1943
S/L, TACON. E. W. RAF, March 1943 to May 1943
DSO, MVO, DFC & Bar, AFC,
S/L, WALKER. H. C. RNZAF, May 1943 to April 1944
MVO, AFC, MID, Legion Of Merit [U S]
S/L, KING. K. G. RNZAF, April 1944 to July 1944
S/L, JOHNSTONE. A. N. RNZAF, July 1944 to February 1945
S/L, BRECKON. A. A. N. RNZAF, February 1945 to June 1945
Re-Activied
S/L, ADAMSON P.R, August 1972 to December 1973
S/L, JENKS. C.F.L. December 1973 to April 1976
S/L OLDFIELD G.A. April 1976 to August 1976
S/L HOLDAWAY. R.S. August 1976 to February 1977
S/L, OLDFIELD G.A. February 1977 to July 1977
S/L ROBERTS. I.J. July 1977 to September 1977
S/L SKILLING. K.A. September 1977 to February 1978
S/L HOLDAWAY. R.S. February 1978 to January 1980
S/L WELLS. K.J. DFC, January 1980 to January 1982
S/L COLLINS. I.W. January 1982 to July 1984
S/L CROFSKEY. K.L. July 1984 to 7 December 1984
BASES
Whenuapai, Auckland, March 1940 to October 1943
Henderson Field, and Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 23 October 1943 to November 1943
Munda Field, New Georgia Solomon Islands, November 1943 to 17 February 1944
Whenuapai, Auckland 17 February 1944 to August 1944
Henderson Field and Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands August 1944 to October 1944
Nissan Island, Green Islands, Solomon Islands 29 October 1944 to 5 January 1945
Whenuapai, Auckland, January 1945 to March 1945
Henderson Field and Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, March 1945 to May 1945
North & South Field, Emirau, St Mathis Group, May 1945 to September 1945
Whenuapai, Auckland, September 1945
Whenuapai, Auckland August 1972 to 7 December 1984
AIRCRAFT TYPES
Blackburn Baffin March 1940 to December 1941
Vildebeestes, March 1940 to December 1941
Vincent, March 1940 to December 1941
Hudson, December 1941 to August 1943
Ventura, August 1943 to September 1945
Bristol Freighter August 1972 to 1977
[Ex Ohakea Museum]
Hawker Siddeley Andover 1977 1984
CODE LETTERS
Vincents at Whenuapai, S J
ROLES
General Reconnaissance, March 1940 to December 1941
Bomber Reconnaissance, December 1941 to September 1945
Medium Range Transport, August 1977 to December 1984
AWARDS
DFC 2
F/O D F Ayson
W/O W N Williams
DFM 1
F/S G E Hannah
EFFORTS
Hours Flown
Sorties
Destroyed 3
Probable 2
Damaged 2
Bombs Ton
ROLE OF HONOUR
F/O Aldridge S P 20 Aug 1944
The Squadron was formed from the Territorial Squadrons in March 1940, to form a “General Renaissance Squadron”, with the main role of hunting German Raiders, in particular the “Orion”, which appeared in NZ waters twice in 1940.
German Raider Orion
Due to the aged aircraft the Squadron, indeed the entire RNZAF, had they lacked the range and equipment to catch the raider.
Prior the entry of Japan into the war, the Squadron had been operating Vickers Vildebeests and Vincents in the Reconnaissance role,
Being aged, single engined, and lacking range, they were the best available.
In December 1941, some Lockheed Hudsons began to appear, and by 20 February 1942 the Squadron had 8 Hudsons on the front line and 4 more in reserve, replacing the aged aircraft that were reused elsewhere.
In Summer [January/February] 1942, Rear Admiral McCain US Commander Air, South Pacific, requested NZ provide 6 Vickers Vincents to provide an anti-submarine patrol over the waters surrounding New Caledonia.
The RNZAF sent Hudsons because they were more suitable for operations over water, No 4 Squadron sent 2, and No 1 and 2 Squadrons sent some, these combined detachments formed No 9 Squadron.
For most of 1943 No 1 Squadron remained at Whenuapai, flying defensive patrols, and training aircrew.
On 23 October 1943, the Squadron relieved No 3 Squadron on Guadalcanal, and inherited four daily search patrols, until early November when two of the patrols were canceled, all flown from Guadalcanal, this continued until 6 February 1944.
In November all of the other mission of the Squadron were flown from Munda Field on New Georgia, the base remained on Guadalcanal and Munda was used as a staging post for the operations that included, Special [message drop], search, regular bombing and strafing missions on Bougainville Ireland and New Ireland,
The Squadron returned to NZ on 17 February 1944 having been replaced by No 2 Squadron, they were based at Whenuapai for rest and recuperation.
In August 1944, the Squadron replaced No 3 Squadron, and included “Survivor Patrols”, flying behind strike missions heading to and returning from the main Japanese base at Rabaul, as well as the usual dusk and dawn patrols, anti-submarine sweeps,
By this time the Squadron had re-equipped with Lockheed Ventura’s which managed to survive a lot of attacks by the Japanese fighters.
A further return to NZ was made in October 1944 when the Squadron was replaced by No 2 Squadron.
On the 29 October 1944, the Squadron moved to Nissan Island, part of the Green Islands, between Bougainville and Rabaul, and it took over a month to become operational from its new base, the first mission was on 21 November 1944.
They replaced a daily weather and shipping count missions over Rabaul that a US Navy Mitchell Bomber Squadron had been flying. A single aircraft left Nissan Is at 6 am, performed a meteorological survey over the area between Green Island and Rabaul, also looking for possible targets for air strikes.
Early in December they added Night Heckles, a series of nuisance raids over Rabaul. During this period the Squadron focused mainly upon the bombing missions, even though the other, air sea search and rescue, shipping escorts, supply drops, and photographic mission were also flown.
They returned to Whenuapai for Rest and Recuperation on 5 January 1945.
In March 1945, the replaced No 3 Squadron on Guadalcanal, flying dusk and dawn patrols, shipping escorts without any contact with the enemy.
In May 1945, the replaced No 9 Squadron on Emirau, flying searches for Japanese shipping North of Emirau, Patrols around the coast of New Ireland, and taking part in attacks on suitable targets.
In June 1945, they were replaced by No 4 Squadron, returning to NZ, where it was disbanded in September 1945.
The Squadron was reformed at Whenuapai in 1972 o provide a medium range transport Squadron, flying Bristol B 170 Freighters.
In 1977 these were replaced by 6 Andover C1 Aircraft.
On 17 February 1984, on a parade held at Whenuapai, the Squadron was presented with its Standard, the Reviewing Officer was Sir Geoffrey Roberts CBE, AFC, LM[US], the original Commander at the Squadrons formation in 1940.
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner