Following my research into RNZAF Station Seagrove and its usage by the US Marine Corps squadron MAG-14 (which flew Douglas Dauntless’s during their time there) I found in Harry Bioletti’s book ‘The Yanks Are Coming’ that several other US squadrons were based for a time in New Zealand.
First starting with MAG-14, Keith and Nona Morris’s book ‘Franklin Remembers’ records that unit being based at Seagrove from May – July 1943. However Harry Bioletti stated the squadron arrived in NZ on the 16th of April and left on the 25th of August 1943. So does anyone know where else the unit was based during that time before and after Seagrove?
And where did the following squadrons get based during their time in NZ? Plus, what did they fly? And other details?
– MAG-12 (in NZ 10th Sept – 2nd Nov 1943)
– Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (based in Auckland 21 May – 17 Sep 43)
– Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 141 (Auckland, 20 may – 17 Sep 43)
– Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 234 (Auckland, 29 Aug – 2 Nov 1943)
Were any other US squadrons based here? I’m almost certain there was a USAAF P-39 squadron in NZ for a time. they served in Fiji then converted to P-38’s at guadalcanal. A book was written about their experiences and included their time in NZ, but I don’t recall which squadron it was. The book had sketches by an artist and included the Civic theatre, Queen St, Auckland.
For more on RNZAF Station Seagrove, see my page here
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF%20Stations%20Auckland%20area.htm
By: Dave Homewood - 10th April 2007 at 07:59
Sorry for the delay, I have been away for several days at Omaka Airshow. Thanks very much to both of you for this information. I have not had time yet to really absorb it, but it’s much appreciated.
By: R Leonard - 5th April 2007 at 17:31
Thanks for the assist. I get so used to looking at these designations I just forget to translate them into english.
Rich
By: Bager1968 - 5th April 2007 at 07:52
MAW = Marine Air Wing (composed of 2 or more MAGs)
HedRon = Headquarters Squadron (the administrative section of the MAG)
ServRon = Service Squadron (the above-squadron-level maintenance/repair & support sections of the MAG)
[the last two are called H&MS {Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron} in the 1960s-present USMC]
By: R Leonard - 4th April 2007 at 12:25
Bearing in mind that USN/USMC aircraft location reports from WW2 s were generally lagging a week to 10 days behind the actual location, so if the report for 21 September says, for example, that MAG-12 is enroute to Auckland, then it could very well be that MAG-12 was actually at Auckland by then. So, that being said, the Aircraft Location Report for 21 September 1943 indicates:
MAG-12 Enroute Auckland
HedRon-12 Enroute Auckland
ServRon-12 Enroute Auckland
VMSB-234 had 18 SBD-3 and 9 SBD-4 at Auckland
HedRon-2 2d MAW with 1 JRB at Auckland
MAG-14 at Auckland
ServRon-14 at Auckland
Report for 28 September indicates
MAG-12 at Guadalcanal
HedRon-12 at Guadalcanal
ServRon-12 at Guadalcanal
HedRon-2 2d MAW with 1 JRB at Auckland
VMSB-234 had 17 SBD-3 at Auckland and 9 SBD-4 at Espiritu Santo
MAG-14 at Munda
ServRon-14 at Munda
Report for 5 October reads
MAG-12 at Auckland
HedRon-12 at Auckland
ServRon-12 at Auckland
HedRon-2 2d MAW with 1 JRB at Tutuila
VMSB-234 had 17 SBD-3 and 9 SBD-4 at Auckland
MAG-14 at Munda
HedRon-14 at Munda
ServRon-14 at Munda
And so on. You can ferret out where most squadrons were when, or at least within a week or so of their actual location. Some of the reports for the first half of 1942 leave a lot to be desired, especially for anyone really clued in to what was actually happening, but I suspect that the outright errors and mis-reporting stem from early war security hysteria. Then, there is a period from 8 August 1944 to 17 October 1944 when the report format changes to a geographic based locator rather then a by-unit locator. Makes things a little difficult for tracking units, but easy for geo-oriented searches. As a quick check, though, of the geo-based format, I looked at 8 August, 12 September, and 17 October 44 as samples and saw nothing for anywhere in NZ.
Anyway, the reports, excepting the vagaries as noted and the occasional missing pages are available on line at
http://www.history.navy.mil/a-record/ww-ii/loc-ac/loc-ac.htm
if you are interested. You’ll need acrobat reader.
Regards,
Rich
By: Bager1968 - 2nd April 2007 at 05:54
As I served in the USMC air wing from 6/1981-6/1989, I am fairly well informed for the modern era… but my knowledge of the WW2 era is quite a bit more spotty.
Looking around on the web a bit, I found this book… which may help you in your reasearch… although at $125 US, it is a bit steep (add postage)[$25 US in Digital format]:
U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War; 1939-1945: by Gordon L. Rottman: 608 pages
http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Corps-World-Order-Battle/dp/0313319065
This one is a bit cheaper ($50 US new, cheaper used):
History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (Great War Stories): by Robert Sherrod: 500 pages
http://www.amazon.com/History-Marine-Corps-Aviation-Stories/dp/0933852584
By: Dave Homewood - 1st April 2007 at 04:24
Thanks Bager. I know absolutely nothing about how the US Marine Corps works, it’s all rather confusing.
Have you any idea where I might find such info? I’ve already posted this message on the American forum, WIX, and gotten no answer. I thought everyone there was an expert on USMC stuff, seems not.
By: Bager1968 - 1st April 2007 at 01:32
Just a note… MAG does NOT indicate a squadron, but rather a Marine Air Group… which is composed of several squadrons.
Therefore, you need to find out which squadrons were assigned to MAG-14 and MAG-12 at the time in question… as well as whether any were actually based elsewhere even though they were assigned to one of the MAGs.
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March 31, 2007 at 4:57 am