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No. 23 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was formed in August 1944 at RNZAF Station Ardmore equipped with the F4U-1 Corsair fighter bomber.

No. 23 Squadron
Active	1944–1945
Country	New Zealand
Branch	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Type	Fighter bomber
Size	Squadron
Garrison/HQ	RNZAF Station Ardmore
Engagements	World War II Pacific theatre

History

The squadron was established at RNZAF Ardmore in August 1944. It moved to Palikulo Bay Airfield on Espiritu Santo to continue training in September. In late October 1944 it moved to Kukum Field on Guadalcanal, where it flew ground attack missions on Bougainville targeting Japanese positions until 14 November. In late November 1944, it moved to Momote Field on Los Negros Island where it flew combat air patrols in defence of the island.[1] In February 1945, the squadron moved to Guadalcanal and then to Emirau from March–May and then to Piva Airfield on Bougainville from June–October 1945.[1]^: 329

Commanding officers

• Squadron Leader J. J. de Willimoff: August 1944 – May 1945
• Squadron Leader D. E. Hogan: May–October 1945[1]^: 329

References

Further reading

• Owen, R.E. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45, Government Printer, Wellington, New Zealand, 1955

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