A new book in my library. (13 Viewers)
- Thread starter Wayne Little
- Start date
Donivanp
Colonel
And for today's selection
MiTasol
Major
Does it mention that the New Zealand army and air force were also there in significant numbers or is it another that ignores that?
Greg Boeser
1st Lieutenant
We only care about the
divas, not the extras.
divas, not the extras.
Donivanp
Colonel
I'm guessing I don't read that fast, I am in the middle of 1942 right now, well to be more specific page 428 of 1072. But I'll try and find out. That being said if you read the cover it does say The American!
Donivanp
Colonel
It does discuss the ANZAC forces in New Guinea. But no, I've never heard anything that mentions anyone involved in Guadalcanal save for US and Japanese safe for coat watchers. Maybe you should write a book that covers the other allies involved. That said I do recall Naval forces from ANZAC and Dutch Navy. ABDBACOM. That is mentioned.
MiTasol
Major
Dad was in Guadalcanal and took several photos of RNZAF Hudsons and a RNZAF P-40 while there. I posted some of them in Picture of the Day - Miscellaneous and Picture of the day.
He was totally contemptuous of Guadalcanal Diary when I got a copy but otherwise said very little about the war.
Donivanp
Colonel
Very few who went through it said anything about it. I can easily see that RNZAF and RAAF aircraft operations were run out of Henderson field, as well as the rest of the SW Pacific Command. That being said, combat troops I've never heard of any but US Marines and later Army.
MiTasol
Major
From dads comments I have always believed the NZ army were there as well but I may be mistaken. He never mentioned the RAAF but maybe that is because he did not get to ride in an RAAF aircraft - just USAAF and RNZAF.
Donivanp
Colonel
Well sounds like some research would be in as I've read several books on the SWP war, Guadalcanal was part of the PACCOM Nimitz, not SWPCOM (McAuthor) command. To my knowledge Aussie and NZ forces were primarily SWPCOM. Up the Solomon's and New Guinea. Just saying.
MiTasol
Major
Donivanp
Colonel
Unfortunately "...according to Google" is something of a derogatory phrase round these parts. No critique of you, but Google cannot be taken even as a reliable secondary source, let alone an authoritative primary one.
MiTasol
Major
Thank you for clearing that up - even though you used google.
Ahh. Thank you for TRYING to clear that up. The Australian government ANZAC portal linked in your reply also totally ignores the NZ participation in Guadalcanal.
I looked up the Auckland War Memorial and was surprised at the lack of information there.
The ONLY first page hit to the search RNZAF, Guadalcanal was https://www.google.com/url?client=i...0qz_G8xHpXUYJucgOr5m&fexp=121877338,121877336
I then went to https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/ and found nothing but photos for Guadalcanal. The RNZAF also had Avengers and C-47's at the canal.
See FotoWeb
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What follows is not meant to be exhaustive, just a flavour of New Zealand participation in thecwar in the South Pacific.
Troops from the 3rd New Zealand Division were moved to Guadalcanal in Aug 1943 and participated in later invasions further up the Solomon Island chain in late 1943 / early 1944. Those were:-
Vella Lavella - Sept / Oct 1943
Treasury Islands - Oct / Nov 1943
Green Islands (between Bougainville and New Ireland) - Feb 1944
After that the division was withdrawn to Australia and disbanded to provide additional personnel for 2nd NZ Division in Italy.
en.wikipedia.org
The largest regular RNZN warships were a pair of Leander class cruisers. Achilles (of River Plate fame) spent 1942 escorting convoys to / from the USA in the South Pacific. In Jan 1943 she joined a USN TF escorting a convoy up to Guadalcanal after which she bombarded Munda. During that operation she suffered heavy bomb damage to X turret and had to return to Britain for repairs lasting until June 1944.
Leander spent much of 1942 and early 1943 escorting convoys to / from the USA and around the South Pacific / lower Solomons / New Caledonia area. In July 1943 she joined USN TF36.1 and participated in the Battle of Kolombangara during which she was torpedoed and put out of the war, with repairs at Boston USA lasting until May 1945.
Perhaps of greater note were the activities of the RNZN minesweepers Kiwi & Moa around the Solomons. They sank the IJN sub I-1 off Guadalcanal in Jan 1943 with Moa being lost to air attack of Tulagi in April.
As for the RNZAF most of its activities in 1942 were in the rear areas of the South Pacific. A handful of Hudsons arrived on Guadalcanal in Nov 1942. 15 squadron with P-40s arrived on Guadalcanal in April 1943, initially rotating with 14 squadron in Espirito Santo. Bomber squadrons began to arrive later in the year. From then until the end of the war in Aug 1945 the RNZAF maintained an operational presence in the Solomons / New Britain area. Timetable of events here.
airandspace.si.edu
Troops from the 3rd New Zealand Division were moved to Guadalcanal in Aug 1943 and participated in later invasions further up the Solomon Island chain in late 1943 / early 1944. Those were:-
Vella Lavella - Sept / Oct 1943
Treasury Islands - Oct / Nov 1943
Green Islands (between Bougainville and New Ireland) - Feb 1944
After that the division was withdrawn to Australia and disbanded to provide additional personnel for 2nd NZ Division in Italy.
3rd Division (New Zealand) - Wikipedia
The largest regular RNZN warships were a pair of Leander class cruisers. Achilles (of River Plate fame) spent 1942 escorting convoys to / from the USA in the South Pacific. In Jan 1943 she joined a USN TF escorting a convoy up to Guadalcanal after which she bombarded Munda. During that operation she suffered heavy bomb damage to X turret and had to return to Britain for repairs lasting until June 1944.
Leander spent much of 1942 and early 1943 escorting convoys to / from the USA and around the South Pacific / lower Solomons / New Caledonia area. In July 1943 she joined USN TF36.1 and participated in the Battle of Kolombangara during which she was torpedoed and put out of the war, with repairs at Boston USA lasting until May 1945.
Perhaps of greater note were the activities of the RNZN minesweepers Kiwi & Moa around the Solomons. They sank the IJN sub I-1 off Guadalcanal in Jan 1943 with Moa being lost to air attack of Tulagi in April.
As for the RNZAF most of its activities in 1942 were in the rear areas of the South Pacific. A handful of Hudsons arrived on Guadalcanal in Nov 1942. 15 squadron with P-40s arrived on Guadalcanal in April 1943, initially rotating with 14 squadron in Espirito Santo. Bomber squadrons began to arrive later in the year. From then until the end of the war in Aug 1945 the RNZAF maintained an operational presence in the Solomons / New Britain area. Timetable of events here.
The Cactus Air Force’s Forgotten Spine: The Royal New Zealand Air Force at Guadalcanal
Often overlooked in the histories of the battle is the Cactus Air Forces’ forgotten spine, the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) that fought a desperate battle over the skies of the Solomon Islands.
Donivanp
Colonel
That's the reason they're forgotten. The histories of Guadalcanal are written about the battles for Guadalcanal. Those that used the island afterwords though holding an important place in the history of the pacific war, would not be remembered in the combat for the island. There is absolutely no doubt about the involvement of NZ and Aussie troops in the holding and retaking of the Solomon Islands. Nor the further use of those said islands. If anything the sacrifices of the sailors resting on the bottom of Iron Sound bay were the Canberra rest as well as many other ships. ANZAC troops have never been faulted for not being in the thick of it. He'll most would argue that pound for pound there some of the most ferocious fighters around.
