No. 20 Squadron RNZAF

No. 20 Squadron
Active	1944–1945
Country	New Zealand
Branch	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Type	Fighter bomber
Size	One Squadron
Garrison/HQ	RNZAF Base Ohakea
Engagements	World War II Pacific theatre

No. 20 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in January 1944 at RNZAF Station Ohakea, it was originally equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks. It later flew F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers.

History

20 Squadron was deployed to Kukum Field on Guadalcanal from April-May 1944 and then to Piva Airfield on Bougainville from May-June 1944. The Squadron deployed to Palikulo Bay Airfield on Espiritu Santo from August-September 1944 and then returned to Guadalcanal from September-October 1944.^[1] 20 Squadron deployed to Green Island on 26 October 1944 assuming responsibility for local patrols and Dumbo escort from two USAAF F4U squadrons.^[2] The squadron returned to Santo in January 1945, then deployed to Bougainville until April 1945 and Jacquinot Bay from May–August 1945.^[1]

Commanding officers

• Squadron Leader S. R. Duncan January–July 1944;
• Squadron Leader G. M. Robertson July–November 1944;
• Squadron Leader L. R. Reynolds December 1944–September 1945.^[1]

Notes

1. Ross, 1955, p. 328
2. Ross, 1955, p. 269

References

• Ross, John (1993) [1955]. Royal New Zealand Air Force. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. Nashville: Battery Press. ISBN 0898391873.