No 4 Squadron RNZAF

MOTTO

ALWAYS ATTACK

HISTORY

Formed, October 1940
Disbanded, September 1945

COs

S/L, White. G. R. RNZAF, October 1940 to October 1942

W/C, Lewis. E. M. RNZAF, November 1942 to May 1943
OBE

S/L, Tacon. E. W. RAF, May 1943 to December 1943
DSO, MVO, DFC + Bar, AFC,

S/L, Brooke – Taylor. E. December 1943 to April 1944

S/L, Lecher. N.R. RNZAF, April 1944 to January 1945

W/C, Dix. F.R. RNZAF, January 1945 to February 1945
OBE

S/L, Tye. A.F.H. RNZAF, March 1945 to June 1945
DFC

S/L, Parry. L.H. RNZAF, June 1945 to August 1945
AFC

S/L, Stevenson. G.S.A. RNZAF, September 1945
DFC

BASES

Lautoka, Nadi, Suva, Nausori, on Viti Levu, Fiji October 1940 to November 1944
North & South Field, Emirau, St Mathis Group, 17 November 1944 to February 1945
N Z February 1945 to May 1945
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal Solomon Islands. May 1945 to 22 June 1945
North & South Field, Emirau, St Mathis Group, June 1945 to July 1945
Momote Field, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, July 1945 to September 1945

AIRCRAFT TYPES

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

DH 60 Moth Minor August 1940 to July 1943

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

Rapides October 1940 to July 1943

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Dragons August 1940 to July 1943

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Vildebeestes August 1941 to July 1943

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

Vincents August 1941 to July 1943

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Singapore 3 November 1942 to May 1943

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Hudson December 1942 to July 1943

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Ventura July 1943 to September 1945

ROLES

General Reconnaissance October 1940 to 1942
Bomber Reconnaissance 1942 to September 1945

CODE

1940 to 1945 YZ
KJ

EFFORTS

Hours Flown
Sorties
Submarines Sunk 1 25 May 1943

ROLE OF HONOUR

W/C, F. R. Dix.

F/O Tane Parata 27 June 1943 Hudson NZ 2025, ran out of fuel
Sgt, Albert Moss, 27 June 1943
W/O, Egbert Willis 27 June 1943
F/S, George Bilson, 27 June 1943
Sgt, Michael Horgan, 17 June 1943
F/L Wilbur Lange, 20 August 1944 Hudson NZ 2044 and NZ 2066 missing without trace between Fiji and NZ
P/O, Kenneth Alexander Ross, 20 August 1944
F/O, Sydney Philip Aldridge 20 August 1944
F/O, Jack Andrew Olsen 20 August 1944
P/O, Kenneth Brian Marshall 20 August 1944
F/O, David Oliphant Stewart, 20 August 1944
Sgt, Arthur Bryant, 20 August 1944
F/O, Norman Kitchener Baird. 20 August 1944 66
Sgt, Robert Bruce Gillespie 20 August 1944 66
W/O, Arthur Francis Dunstan 20 August 1944 66
Sgt, Thomas Harrtley Ward, 20 August 1944 66
F/O, John Thompson Waugh 20 August 1944 66
Sgt T B Carey, 20 August 1944 66
P/O. I.R. Johnson 20 August 1944 66

For further information on this flight refer to

Due to activity by German Raiders in the Southern Pacific, the Squadron was formed in Fiji in October 1940, and equipped with converted civilian aircraft, they were originally based at Nadi, until a US Force arrived and it was agreed that the RNZAF would move to the Nausori/Suva/Laucala Bay side of Viti Levu, and patrol the approaches to Suva Harbour.

With the Japanese entry to the war, early in February 1942 a detachment of 6 Lockheed Hudsons was made from No 2 Squadron in NZ,

Arriving on 11 February, they were attached to No 4 Squadron.

Coast Watchers further North had reported a force, including 3 aircraft carriers, to be approaching

On the 13 February aircrew were briefed for a Japanese task force which was reported as approaching. It was estimated that they would arrive on the 13th of Dawn of the 14th February.

An Allied force, including the Aircraft Carriers Lexington and Saratoga were also heading for Fiji, but it was doubtful they would arrive in time to intercept the Japanese force.

The Hudsons were briefed to bomb from 9,000 feet, while the US Fortresses would bomb from 16,000 feet, and the crews were told that unless the Allied force could arrive in time, there was little chance of them returning, as the sky would be full of Japanese fighters.

The Fortresses took off at dawn on the 14th on patrol, as there had been no sighting, the Hudsons took off at 10 am and carried out a search in the Ellice Islands area.

Fortunately, no enemy was sighted,

With the arrival of the Allied force 4 of the Hudsons returned to NZ, leaving 2 to remain in Fiji and join No 4 Squadron.

While preparations for the attack on Guadalcanal were in progress, and some months before NZ had a definite role in the Pacific Campaign, Rear Admiral McCain, Commander Air, South Pacific, requested the NZ Government send 6 Vincents from Fiji to New Caledonia.

It was decided that single engined aged Vincents would not be suitable for long range patrolling over shark infested waters where enemy action could be expected, so a detachment of 2 Hudsons from No 4 Squadron in Fiji, and 2 each from No 1 and 2 Squadrons in NZ were sent instead.

Initially, this was called a detachment from No 4 Squadron, but it was soon renamed No 9 Squadron.

The Squadron remained at Fiji acting as a training Squadron for the replacement aircrews needed in the other Squadrons in the Solomon Islands.

The Squadron was re-equipped in 1944 with Lockheed Ventura’s and moved to North & South Fields, Emirau in November 1944.

In February 1945, the Squadron was moved to NZ for a rest and recuperation period until being moved to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, in May 1945.

The Squadron was again moved to North & South Fields, Emirau for June and July 1945, before being moved to Momote, Los Negros where it remained for the rest of the war, disbanding in September 1945, at Momote.

While on duty the Squadron, in May 1944. Three US liberty ships were torpedoed, the William Williams, Hearst, and Vanderbilt.

Image Source

Hudsons of the Squadron found the survivors of the Hurst and dropped supplies to them, as well as maintaining an anti-submarine patrol over the crippled William Williams, as she was towed 120 miles North to Suva.

While escorting an US Convoy on 25 May 1944, a submarine was sighted and 4 depth charges were dropped, am oil slick appeared and after the war it was established that the Japanese lost a submarine in the area on that date.

While escorting the US Saugatuck on 7 September 1944, another submarine was depth charged and damaged. Five other attacks were made by the Squadron with result.