No. 25 Squadron RNZAF

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

No. 25 Squadron in the Royal New Zealand Air Force was formed in July 1943 with Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers and served in the Southern Pacific based at the Piva Airstrip on Bougainville, flying missions against Japanese forces on Bougainville and at Rabaul. It was disbanded in May 1944 and reformed as a fighter/ground attack squadron flying F4U Corsairs. It served in Santo, Guadalcanal, Los Negros and Emirau, before returning to New Zealand and being disbanded in September 1945. A Dauntless operated by 25 Squadron is preserved in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum at Wigram, displayed in the condition which it was recovered after being lost with its crew while on a training mission over Espiritu Santo. Two other former 25 squadron Dauntless survive in private ownership. One of these has been restored to flying in America, in the colour scheme of an American aircraft.