No. 30 Squadron RNZAF

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No. 30 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand light bomber squadron which saw service against the Japanese in the Pacific Theatre during the the last two years of the Second World War.

[edit] History

30 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was formed from pilots of No. 8 Squadron RNZAF at Gisborne, New Zealand during World War II. The squadron initially flew Vickers Vincents and the very similar Vickers Vildebeest, then North American Harvards and finally Grumman TBF Avengers. It moved from home defence to Espiritu Santo in February 1944 then in March 1944 transferred to Piva in Bougainville. The squadron used its Avengers primarily as bombers and night nuisance raiders against Japanese positions in the Buka area of Bougainville and on New Britain and New Ireland.

The Squadron flew 1,432 hours on operations dropping 330 tons of bombs and firing 83,000 rounds of ammunition. Six 30 Squadron aircrew were lost on operations, the last of which was flown on 22 May.

[edit] Surviving Aircraft

A 30 Squadron Avenger is preserved by the Gisborne Aviation Protection Society.