No 8 Squadron RNZAF

8 SQUADRON RNZAF

MOTTO

KIMIHIA KA PATU

SEEK OUT AND DESTROY

HISTORY

Formed, April 1942
Disbanded, May 1943
Reformed, October 1944
Disbanded, March 1945

COs

S/L, C. L. Monckton. RNZAF, April 1942 to September 1942

S/L, I. G. Morrison. RNZAF. September 1942 to April 1943
OBE

F/L, M. Wilkes. RNZAF, April 1943 to May 1943
MID

W/C, L. H. Parry. RNZAF, October 1944 to November 1944
AFC

W/C, I. R. Salmon. November 1944 to April 1945

BASES

Whenuapai, Auckland, April 1942 to September 1942
Darton Field, Gisborne September 1942 to May 1943

Darton Field, Gisborne, NZ. October 1944 to November 1944
Nausori, Suva, Fiji, November 1944 to December 1944
Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands January 1945 to February 1945
North & South Field, Emirau, St Mathis Group February 1945 to March 1945

AIRCRAFT TYPES

Image Source

Vincents February 1942 to May 1943

Image Source

Vildebeesres February 1942 to May 1943

Image Source

Ventura October 1944 to March 1945

ROLES

General Reconnaissance February 1942 to May 1943

Bomber Reconnaissance October 1944 to March 1945

CODpost-warne Vincent PA
Vilderbeestes

The Squadron’s Motto was taken over by No 3 TAF post war.

The Squadron was formed in response to Japans entry to the war, equipped with obsolescent Vickers Vildebeest and Vincent aircraft, they were stationed at Darton Field, Gisborne, tasked with patrolling the Eastern coastline of the North Island areas not already covered.

As the risk of invasion reduced they were re-tasked as a dive bomber Squadron in preparation for being moved to the Pacific Front in May 1943.

The Squadron was disbanded in May 1943 and re-numbered No 30 [DB] Squadron and re-equipped with Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers.

The Squadron was re-formed in October 1944, equipped with Lockheed Ventura aircraft, and tasked with the Bomber reconnaissance role, it moved to Nausori, Suva, Fiji in November 1944 and was moved again in January 1945 to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands,

The Squadron took part in the operations to isolate Kavieng, New Ireland.

The Squadron was moved to North & South Fields, Emirau, in February 1945, to relieve No 4 Squadron.

As operations in the South Pacific wound down, the Squadron was relieved by No 9 Squadron and disbanded in March 1945, at North & South Fields

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner

Lockheed Ventura, NZ 4550, swerved off the runway while landing at Nausori, Suva, in a strong cross wind.

The aircraft ran off the runway and crashed, the depth charges exploded and killed the entire crew.

F/S, Walter Young, P/O Jack Dungey, F/S Ronald McAuliffe, Sgt Leonard Rowick, and Sgt Norman Heal.