No. 17 Squadron RNZAF

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No. 17 squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand fighter squadron in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

[edit] History

The Squadron formed at Ohakea, New Zealand in October 1942 on North American Harvards and Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks; after a period of training it moved to New Georgia in January 1943, Santo in July and then Guadalcanal in September and Bougainville in January 1944, rotating between these bases and serving largely in an air to air role, in which it enjoyed considerable success. By mid 1944 when the squadron converted to more potent Vought Corsairs, Japanese aerial activity had all but ceased in the South West Pacific, and the unit was largely deployed in a ground attack role, despite moving to Green Island in January 1945, and Los Negros in May.

The squadron was still in Los Negros when disbanded in September 1945.

[edit] Commanding Officers

• Squadron Leader J. V. A. Reid October 1942–July 1943
• Squadron Leader P. G. Newton July 1943–January 1944
• Squadron Leader D. F. St. George April–November 1944
• Squadron Leader B. V. Le Pine November 1944–September 1945