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  F4U-1D Corsair Serial Number NZ5459 Code 459
RNZAF
14 Squadron

Former Assignments
15 Squadron

Pilot  P/O Peter George Moore, 4212771 (MIA / KIA) Auckland
Crashed  May 31, 1945 at 11:30am

Aircraft History
Built by Vought. Constructors Number 5661. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1D Corsair bureau number 50414. Disassembled and loaded as cargo aboard USS Winnebago Bay. On July 19, 1944 departed the United States as part of defense aid to New Zealand.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5459 with fuselage code 459. On September 2, 1944 reassembled by Unit 60 on Espiritu Santo. On November 9, 1944 assigned to 15 Squadron. During May 1945, assigned to 14 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On May 31, 1945 took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville piloted by P/O Peter George Moore armed with a bomb on a mission over Bonis. After releasing its bomb over the Bonis Peninsula, this aircraft entered a diving turn and crashed into the sea and exploded on impact. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Moore was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery at the Bourail Memorial on panel 5.

Relatives
Luther Moore (great-nephew of Moore)

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1D Corsair 50414
"50414 (MSN 5661) to New Zealand as NZ5459"
ADF Serials - NZ Serials Corsair NZ5459
CWGC - Peter George Moore

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Last Updated
March 3, 2021

Tech Info
F4U

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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