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| RNZAF No. 17 Squadron   RNZAF 1943 |
Pilot Flying Officer Arthur Bruce Sladen, 415639 (MIA / KIA) Motueka, Nelson, New Zealand Crashed January 9, 1944 Pilot History When lost, Flying Officer Arthur B. Sladen was age 23 and had 728 hours of flying time and was on his second tour of duty in the South Pacific. Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 28445. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N-1-CU Warhawk serial number 42-104683. Disassembled and shipped overseas to New Zealand as part of defense aid. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as P-40N Kittyhawk serial number NZ3121. On June 25, 1943 reassembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot and BOC at Hobsonville Airfield. Assigned to No. 17 Squadron. Coded "K". The fuselage had a narrow white stripe and a white tail. Mission History On January 9, 1944 took off from Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia piloted by Flying Officer Arthur B. Sladen and landed at Torokina Airfield to refuel, then took off as one of eight RNZAF P-40s serving as close escort for TBF Avengers and SBD Dauntless dive bombers attacking Tobera Airfield south of Rabaul. Also escorting were eight F4U Corsairs as high cover, eight F4U Corsairs as medium cover and eight F6F Hellcats as low cover. Over the target, intercepted by Japanese fighters. This P-40 was shot down and crashed into the seas near Cape Gazelle. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, this P-40 was written off on January 31, 1944. Memorials Sladen was officially declared missing the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the Bourail Memorial, panel 4. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40N-1-CU Warhawk 42-104683 "104683 to New Zealand as NZ3121. Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BoC at Hobsonville on 25 June 1943. Coded "K". To No.17 Squadron. Crashed into sea near Cape Gazelle on 9 January 1944. The aircraft was shot down by an enemy fighter during an escort sortie." ADF Serials Kittyhawk NZ3121 CWGC - Arthur Bruce Sladen Air-To-Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) pages 258 (photo), 260 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 24, 2022 |
 P-40  MIA 1 Missing  Photo Archive |
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