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  P-40N-5-CU Kittyhawk Serial Number NZ3153 Nose F
RNZAF
NZ Fighter Wing

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RAF May 1942
Pilot  Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman, NZ1026 C.O. NZ Fighter Wing (MIA / KIA) Dunedin, Otago, NZ
MIA  December 17, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 28611. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N-5-CU Warhawk serial number 42-104849. Disassembled and shipped overseas to New Zealand as part of defense aid.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as P-40N Kittyhawk IV serial number NZ3153. Reassembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot (1 AD) at Hobsonville Airfield on July 27, 1943. Next, assigned to No. 4 Servicing Unit (No. 4 SU) then to New Zealand Fighter Wing (NZ Fighter Wing). Assigned to pilot Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman. As a Wing Commander, Freeman was assigned his own aircraft and the nose cowling marked with letter "F" for his surname.

Mission History
On December 17, 1943 at 5:30am took off from Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia piloted by Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman leading the 1st section as one of 12 Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron plus 12 Kittyhawks from No. 14 Squadron the flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel.

At 9:00am the twelve Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron took off on a fighter sweep and departed bound for Rabaul. Meanwhile, the Kittyhawks from No. 14 Squadron were delayed while two P-39 Airacobras made an emergency landing and took off later. Due to a miscommunication, the twelve P-40N Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron did not wait for the rest of the formation and the RNZAF fighters proceeded to the target in two separate groups. This was the RNZAF first major air operation in the South Pacific (SoPAC).

The formation of 77 Allied fighters included the 24 Kittyhawks and were joined by twenty-two U.S. Navy F6F Hellcats and thirty-one U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsairs. This was the RNZAF first major air operation in the South Pacific (SoPAC). Inbound to the target, two Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron aborted the mission due to to mechanical problems, leaving 75 fighters that proceeded to the target. They intended to lure Japanese fighters into air combat and shoot down as many as possible ahead of a bombing mission planned for the next day.

At 10:30am the formation reached Kabanga Bay on New Britain and began a circuit around the Rabaul area then turned over Cape Liguan and Tavui Point (Tawui) when they observed dust from Vunakanau Airfield and Lakunai Airfield indicating Japanese planes had taken off to intercept. As the Allied fighters made a second circuit over the area they experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire over Tobera Airfield. Between Vunakanau Airfield and Tavui Point (Tawui) they spotted four Zekes over Saint Georges Channel (St. Georges Channel) that turned inside the formation then turned and attacked from the rear.

During the air combat, Freeman was credited with shooting down one Zero. This plane was last seen loosing altitude but under control over southwest New Ireland, but not seen again by other pilots as the air combat was still underway. This Kittyhawk was bing chased by as many as four enemy Zeros. Reportedly, he crashed near Hunter Point, but no trace of him or his aircraft was ever found. When this plane failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). On January 31, 1944 officially written off books.

A total of three P-40s were lost and two pilots missing: this aircraft plus P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3175 pilot Flight Lieutenant J. O. McFarlane (MIA). A total of nine Japanese planes were claimed shot down by the Allies including five by RNZAF Kittyhawks and four by U.S. Navy planes.

Memorials
Freeman was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Bourail War Cemetery on the Bourail Memorial, panel 3.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40N-5-CU Warhawk 42-104849
"104849 (MSN 28611) to New Zealand as NZ3153. Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BoC at Hobsonville on 27 July 1943. Coded "F". To RNZAF Fighter Wing, Solomon Islands. Crashed near Hunter Point on 17 December 1943. The aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters during a fighter sweep to Rabaul."
ADF Serials Kittyhawk NZ3153
CWGC - Trevor Owen Freeman
Auckland Memorial Online Cenotaph - Trevor Owen Freeman (photo)
Air To Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) pages 209-213 (December 17, 1943), 404 (index NZ3153)
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 507-509 (December 17, 1943), 584 (index Freeman)

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Last Updated
March 20, 2024

Tech Info
P-40

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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