'Kiwi' Avengers

摘要

When the Liberty Ship SS William Keith docked in Auckland in September 1943, its cargo transformed the strike capacity of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. On board were half a dozen TBF-1 Avengers, the first of 48 to serve the RNZAF as land-based dive-bombers. The first one ready for action, NZ2505, was issued to 30 Squadron at Gisborne on the east coast, replacing obsolescent Vickers Vincent biplanes and Harvard trainers. As more Avengers became available, 31 Squadron was formed at Gisborne on December 7, under Sqn Ldr M Wilkes. The following month, 30 Squadron, commanded by Sqn Ldr R G Hartshorne, moved to Turde Strip, Espiritu Santo, in the New Hebrides, to continue working up.