MOTTO
HISTORY
Formed, February 1942
Disbanded, May 1943
COs
S/L, A. J. Turner. February 1942 to December 1942
S/L, R. A. Kirkup. December 1942 to May 1943
BASES
Waipapakauri, Kaitaia, Northland February 1942 to May 1943
Whenuapai, Auckland, May 1943
AIRCRAFT TYPES
Vincents February 1942 to May 1943
Vildebeests February 1942 to May 1943
ROLES
General Reconnaissance February1942 to May1943
CODE
Waipapakauri Vincent UW
Vildebeestes
The Squadron was formed at Waipapakauri in reaction to the outbreak of war with Japan,
It was initially a detached flight from No 1 [GR] Squadron and Whenuapai, Auckland, but it rapidly increased its strength to 18 obsolescent Vickers Vincents and Vilderbeests, tasked with patrolling the Northern approaches to NZ.12 on duty, 6 on servicing/repair]
It was planned to re-equip the Squadron with Lockheed Ventura’a but as the immediate threat of invasion and surface raiders had passed, the Squadron was disbanded at Whenuapai in May 1943
While at Waipapakauri, on 12 February 1942, NZ 125, a Vickers Vildebeest ex RAF No K8081, crashed while attempting to take off, it stalled about 20 feet above the ground, crashed and burned.
AC 1 David Sutton killed, Sgt J Worden and AC 2 K Curtis both injured.
For info on Waipapakauri click here
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner