No 6 Squadron RNZAF

MOTTO

VIGILANCE WITH PATIENCE

HISTORY

Formed, September 1942
Disbanded, November 1942
Reformed, 25 May 1943
Disbanded, September 1945
Reformed, May 1952
Disbanded, September 1957
Reformed, 31 October 2005

COs

W/C, G. G. Stead. RAF, 25 May 1943 to October 1943
DFC.

W/C, I. A. Scott. RNZAF, October 1943 to August 1944
OBE

W/C, J. R. S. Agar. RNZAF, August 1944 to June 1945

W/C, K. G. Smith. RNZAF, June 1945 to September 1945

S/L, R, L, Scott, RNZAF, May 1952 to September 1952

F/L, D. B. Clarke. RNZAF September 1952 to February 1954

S/L, R. K. Walker. RNZAF, February 1954 to June 1954

S/L, J. B. Wilson. RNZAF, June 1954 to May 1955

S/L, D. T. Sheehan. RNZAF May 1955 to January 1956

S/L, J. B. Spencer. RNZAF, January 1956 to October 1957

BASES

Milson Airfield, Palmerston North September 1942
Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji March 1943 to October 1943
Seond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides October 1943 to December 1943
Halavo Bay, Florida Islands, Solomon Islands December 1943 to September 1945

Hobsonville, Auckland May 1952 to August 1957
Whenuapai, Auckland 31 October 2005

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Hawker Hinds September 1942

[Ex Ohakea Museum]

Short Singapore 3 May 1943

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Catalina May 1943 to September 1945

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Catalina May 1952 to 1953

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Sunderland 1953 to July 1957

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Auster Float Planes May 1952 to July 1957

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Kaman Seasprite SH-2G Helicopter 31 October 2005

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ROLES

Army Co-operation September 1942 to November 1942
Maritime Reconnaissance May 1943 to July 1957
Air Sea Rescue May 1943 to July 1957
Territorial May 1952 to July 1957

CODE
Hinds XX
Catalina XX
Sunderland XX

ROLE OF HONOUR
S/L, R. B. L. McGregor. AFC, 5 June 1943

The Squadron formed originally as an Army Co-operation Squadron, flying Hind’s, when the Squadron was disbanded in November 1942 the aircraft and men were split into No 21 and 22 [AC] Squadrons at Milson and Ohakea

The first Catalina was flown from San Diego, on the South West coast of USA, subsequently, the remainder were ferried by NZ crews that were posted to the Pacific Ferry Flight for that purpose

The Singapore flight had been known unofficially as No 6 Squadron since the disbandment of No 5 Squadron, this was made official on the 25th May 1943, the original establishment was 24 Catalina’s.

S/L McGregor and several other crews had been attached to the USS Curtis in Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, to learn US Navy methods and operation of the Catalinas.

With the arrival of some Catalina Aircraft, some of the personnel from No 5 [M] Squadron/Singapore flight were assigned to convert onto these new aircraft and become No 6 Squadron.

Before the Squadron was formed, S/L McGreggor was tasked to find the survivors of the Vanderbilt,

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that had been torpedoed on 2 May 1943. eight men were found on a raft in the very rough sea, and after waiting for 3 hours for the arrival of rescue ships they finally landed and picked up these men, performed their first air-sea rescue with a Catalina,

The aircraft managed to take off and return to Laucala Bay, with some damage.

As soon as sufficient aircraft were available, the Squadron carried out an intensive crew training routine, enabling them to be operational in early August.

In August 1943, a detachment of 6 aircraft and a small servicing crew were sent to the US Navy Base at Nukualofa, Tonga, assuming responsibility for the protection of shipping in the Tongan waters.

The US troopship San Juan

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was torpedoed on 11 November 1943, the following rescue operations that included efforts by No 4 [GR] Squadron, extended over two days.

Most of the time the sea was too rough for the Catalina to land but they dropped smoke flares to guide the rescue boats to the area which covered over 20 miles of sea.

1,180 men were rescued.

The remainder of the Squadron was moved to Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo. The move was made with the ground crews being flown over in the Squadrons aircraft, with one C47 load of equipment.

On arrival at Segond Channel, they came under the control of USS Wright,

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a seaplane tender, and carried out their first operation 3 days later.

The detachment at Tonga rejoined the Squadron in November 1943, with the servicing party inside the Aircraft.

The Squadron was moved to Halavo Bay, Florida Island, near Guadalcanal in mid-December 1943.

The US Tender USS Wright arrived, with the ground crew, on 26 December, operations continued the following day.

The Squadron was disbanded at Florida Island in September 1945

S/L, J. B. Wilson. was known as “ Fingers Jack” after waving out a Catalina Pilot window and losing the fingers of his left hand.

2 August 1957; Authorization of the disbandment of the four Territorial [F/GA] [Fighter/Ground Attack] Squadrons (Nos. 1 to 4) and No. 6 M Territorial Squadron, all “to be disbanded w.e.f. [with effect from] 1 August 1957.”

(“The White Paper ‘Review of Defence Policy’ states that to be effective the operational element of the Air Force must be equipped, organized and trained in peacetime for immediate action in war.

This concept requires a change from the pattern of a peacetime nucleus upon which to expand in war, to that of a force in being composed mainly of regulars.

Territorial Air Force squadrons cannot be fitted into this new pattern” (etc., 1¼ pages notes) (Ref. AI 34/1957, cancels AI 42/1955; as amended by AI 45/1957; cancelled by AI 19/1958).

3 September 1957, the final flight by a 6 Squadron crew (Captain F/O McGrath), in Sunderland NZ4120, Lauthala Bay (Fiji) to Hobsonville. This flight mentioned in 5 Squadron unit history, with no further comment!

Needless to say, 6 Squadron and the MOCU [Marine Operational Conversion Unit]at Hobsonville both used the same aircraft, which were effectively "pooled".

With the disbandment of 6 Squadron, the MOCU became the sole operating unit, although it changed its name to Maritime Reconnaissance & Support Unit (MR&SU) as from 1st April 1962.

Prior to the Squadrons reformation, the previous helicopters used on the RNZN ships had been maintained by No 3 Squadron.

The Squadron was reformed on 21 October 2005, to take over the Helicopters operated by the RNZ Navy, they are used on HMNZS Te Mana, and Te Kaha, both ANZAC class frigates, and the offshore patrol ships HMNZS Otago, and Wellington, as well as the multi role HMNZS Canterbury.

They have aircrew from both the Navy and the Air Force, but are maintained by No 6 Squadron.

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner