No. 16 Squadron
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

Background
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 16 Squadron operated the P-40 Kittyhawk in the South Pacific (SoPAC) during World War II.

Wartime History
On May 1, 1943 lost is P-40E Kittyhawk NZ3031 pilot Sgt Thomas V. Marchant crashed on a training flight.

On July 25, 1943 the squadron moves to Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal.

On July 30, 1943 sixteen Kittyhawks escorted B-24D Liberators on a bombing mission against Kahilli Airfield on southern Bougainville. The escort also included P-38 Lightnings, and 40+ U.S. Navy (USN) F4U Corsairs. Departing the area, A6M Zeros attacked when the formation. The RNZAF made no claims and had two planes slightly damaged.

Next, the squadron moves to Ondonga Airfield on western New Georgia.

On December 17, 1943 twelve Kittyhawks from the Squadron took off Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia led by Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman C.O. NZ Fighter Wing and flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel, then took off again for a fighter sweep over Rabaul as part of a formation of seventy-seven fighters including twelve Kittyhawks from No. 14 Squadron. This was the RNZAF first major air operation. They were joined by twenty-two U.S. Navy (USN) F6F Hellcats and thirty-one U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) F4U Corsairs, totaling seventy-seven fighters. Inbound to the target, two P-40s aborted the mission due to to mechanical problems, leaving seventy-five fighters. Over Rabaul, the squadron engaged in air combat with Zeros and encountered anti-aircraft fire. Lost are P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3153 pilot Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman (MIA) and P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3175 pilot Flight Lieutenant John O. McFarland (MIA).

On December 19, 1943 shortly after take off, P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3155 pilot W/O Colin A. McDonald (MIA) suffered an engine failure at approximately 300' and crashed into the ocean.

On December 24, 1943 twelve Kittyhawks from the Squadron took off Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia and flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel, then took off again for a fighter sweep over Rabaul. They were divided into three sections of four planes as part of a larger formation of forty-eight Allied fighters. Over the target, No. 16 Squadron was the first to spot two groups of roughly twenty A6M Zeros climbing from the left and soon afterwards dove to intercept. A total of seven Kittyhawks were lost (5 pilots failed to return and two were injured) including P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3162 pilot Flying Officer Montague E. Dark (MIA), P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3196 pilot Flying Officer Denis B. Page (MIA) and P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3199 pilot Flying Officer Keith W. Stearns (survived). Despite the high loss of planes and pilots the mission is described in the RNZAF official history as "the most successful day in the history of the RNZAF".

During December 1944, the squadron moves to Nissan Airfield (Green Island).

On January 15, 1945 thirty-six Corsairs from No. 16 Squadron, No. 14 Squadron and No. 24 Squadron took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island) on mission over Rabaul. Returning from the mission lost due to bad weather was F4U Corsair NZ5283 pilot Flight Lieutenant Thomas Randall French Johnson (MIA), F4U Corsair NZ5287 pilot Flight Sergeant Ronald W. Albrecht (MIA) and F4U Corsair NZ5294 pilot Flying Officer Greville Randell (KIA). A total of eight RNZAF planes were lost and the day became known as "A Black Day for the Kiwis".

During February 1945 the squadron moves to Jacquinot Bay Airfield.

On June 13, 1945 on a test flight, Corsair NZ5394 pilot Flight Lieutenant Graham C. Howie experienced an engine failure shortly after take off from Piva South Airfield (Piva Uncle) and made a wheels up crash landing in the jungle killing the pilot.

On September 20, 1945 lost is Corsair NZ5418 pilot Flight Sergeant Alec W. Teschner on a patrol over Rabaul.

On October 14, 1945 the last two flyable Japanese aircraft B5N2 Kate 302 and E13A Jake 4326 are flown from Rabaul to Jacquinot Bay Airfield to surrender. The pair were escorted by four RNZAF Corsairs from No. 16 Squadron led by Bryan B. Cox.

References
Royal New Zealand Air Force Official History
S/L Arkwright, No. 16 Squadron combat report December 24, 1943
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida Chapter 17 A Black Day for the Kiwis pages 69-72
Air to Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) by Chris Rudge

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