Military history of New Zealand during World War II
The presence of German raiders led to the formation of New Zealand based air-combat units — initially using re-armed types like the Vildebeest, and hurriedly converting impressed airliners (such as the DH86) to carry bombs. Lockheed Hudsons were obtained early in 1941 to take over this role. 5 Squadron with Vickers Vincents and Short Singapores was sent to Fiji to protect that island.
In December 1941 Japan attacked and rapidly conquered much of the area to the north of New Zealand. New Zealand had perforce to look to her own defence as well as help the "mother country". The RNZAF comouflaged and armed trainers in New Zealand — such as the North American Harvard, Hawker Hind and even the de Havilland Tiger Moth. Hudsons moved forward, while 5 Squadron in Fiji, commenced operations against the Japanese despite its obsolete equipment.
The Imperial Japanese Navy demonstrated the vulnerability of New Zealand when submarine-launched Japanese float-planes overflew Wellington and Auckland (where a Tiger Moth gave chase ineffectually[citation needed]) in March and May, 1942. As few combat-capable aircraft were available at home, and Britain was unable to help, so New Zealand turned to the United States and signed a lend-lease agreement. Gradually at first, America was able to supply New Zealand with aircraft for use in the Pacific Theatre.
The early lend-lease aircraft, obsolescent models, had difficulty holding their own against the skilled and well-equipped Japanese pilots, but as soon as pilots had mastered the lend-lease aircraft, they went into action.
From mid-1943 at Guadalcanal, starting with No 15 and No 14 squadrons, several Kittyhawk units fought with distinction. Several RNZAF pilots became aces against the Japanese, including Geoff Fisken, the Commonwealth's leading ace in the Pacific war. Other squadrons flew the elderly but effective Douglas Dauntless and later the big, modern Grumman Avenger torpedo-bomber.
The RNZAF took on a major part of the maritime reconnaissance task too, with Catalina (and later Sunderland) flying-boats and Hudson bombers.
The role of the RNZAF changed as the allies moved off the defensive. The Americans, prominent amongst the Allied nations in the Pacific, planned to bypass major Japanese strongholds, but instead to capture a handful of island bases to provide a supply-chain for an eventual attack on Japan itself. The Allied advance started from the South Pacific. The RNZAF became part of the force tasked with securing the line of advance by incapacitating the bypassed Japanese strongholds.
As the war progressed, more powerful modern aircraft replaced the older types: Kittyhawks gave way to Corsairs and Hudsons to Venturas. At its peak in the Pacific, the RNZAF had 13 squadrons of Corsair fighters, six of Venturas, two each of Catalinas and Avengers, two of C-47 Dakotas, one using Dauntless dive bombers, mixed transport and communications squadrons, a flight of Short Sunderlands and nearly 1,000 training machines. By 1945 the RNZAF had over 41,000 personnel, including just over 10,000 aircrew who served with the RAF in Europe and Africa.
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Bibliography
- Ian McGibbon The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. (Auckland: Oxford University Press, 2000) ISBN 0195583760
- John Crawford (editor) Kia Kaha: New Zealand in the Second World War (Oxford University Press, Auckland, 2000) ISBN 0 19555 8438 4
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See also
- List of New Zealand divisions in World War II
- Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters
- Coastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand Navy
- Coastal fortifications of New Zealand
- Military history of New Zealand
- Participants in World War II
- World War II casualties
- Equipment losses in World War II
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References
- ^ The Empire and the Second World War Radio 4, episode 88
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External links
- NZhistory.net.nz - War and society
- Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War
- WW2 day by day
- New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum
- New Zealand Victoria Cross winners
- New Zealand in the Second World War
- NZ Women's Army Corps
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