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The Grumman TBF-1 Avenger
The first six Avengers to enter RNZAF service were built as TBF-1 models, but were classified by the US Navy asTBF-1C models. However the RNZAF considered them sufficiently different enough form the TBF-1C that these six were not used on operations in the Pacific. NZ2501 Constructor's Number 5211 Bu24328. Shipped to New Zealand on the ship "William Keith". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville Brought on charge on the 21st September 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Delivered to No. 30 Squadron at RNZAF Station Gisborne in October 1943. Sold from Rukuhia by Government Sales Board tender number 1705 dated 2nd ofMarch 1948 to Mr J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. NZ2502 Constructor's Number 5215 Bu24332. Shipped to New Zealand on the ship "William Keith". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville Brought on charge on the 21st September 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Delivered to No. 30 Squadron at RNZAF Station Gisborne in October 1943. Sold from Rukuhia by Government Sales Board tender number 1705 dated 2nd ofMarch 1948 to Mr J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. NZ2503 Constructor's Number 5218 Bu24335. Shipped to New Zealand on the ship "William Keith". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville Brought on charge on the 21st September 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Delivered to No. 30 Squadron at RNZAF Station Gisborne in October 1943. Placed in long term storage after war. Reactivated in March 1949 and allocated to the Research and Development Flight for topdressing trials. Transferred from Masterton to Whenuapai on the 23rd of May 1949 at the end of the trials. Transferred to No.42 Squadron, Ohakea on the 17th of November 1949 for drogue towing. Crashed in Waitemata Harbour near Hobsonville on the 15th of March 1956 after engine failure. The wreck was recovered but was later broken up and was written off the books at Hobsonville on the 17th of August 1956. NZ2504 Constructor's Number 5219 Bu24336. Shipped to New Zealand on the ship "William Keith". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville Brought on charge on the 21st September 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Delivered to No. 30 Squadron at RNZAF Station Gisborne on the 12th of October 1943. Transferred to No. 31 Squadron. Placed in long term storage after war. Removed from long term storage in June 1948 and flew again on the 28th of July of that year with the General Purpose Flight, Ohakea for use in topdressing trials. Transferred from Masterton to Whenuapai on the 23rd of May 1949 at end of trials. To No.42 Squadron, Ohakea on the 17th of November 1949 for drogue towing. This aircraft's final flight with the RNZAF was made from Ohakea to Hamilton on the 30th of June 1959. It was converted to an instructional airframe, serial INST182, on the 10th of July 1959 for use as gate guardian at RNZAF Base Te Rapa. It remained painted as NZ2504 and never wore the INST serial. It was recovered for RNZAF Museum in 1978 and now displayed as NZ2521 of No. 31 Squadron, which was lost in combat in World War Two. NZ2505 Constructor's Number 5220 Bu24337 Shipped to New Zealand on the ship "William Keith". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville Brought on charge on the 21st September 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Delivered to No. 30 Squadron at RNZAF Station Gisborne prior to the 9th of October 1943. Transferred to No.31 Squadron. To No.42 Squadron. One of the last 3 Avengers on strength with the RNZAF. Sold by GSB tender number SR228/59 dated 23 September 1959 to Bennett Aviation, Te Kuiti. To children's playground at Opunake Beach by 1970. Removed from the park in 1972 for restoration by a group of private individuals. Later to the RNZAF Museum, who loaned it to the Gisborne Aviation and Preservation Society in 1999 for restoration and display in Gisborne. NZ2506 Constructor's Number 5222 Bu24339. Built as TBF-1, classed as TBF-1C by USN, but were sufficiently different for RNZAF not to use them on operations. Arrived in New Zealand on "William Keith". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville and BOC 21 September 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Delivered to No.30 Squadron, Gosborne on 20 October 1943. Placed in long term storage after war. Removed from storage in April 1949 and allocated to the Research and Development Flight for topdressing trials. Crashed on takeoff from Hood Aerodrome, Masterton on 03 May 1949, the first sortie of the trial. Written off books at Ohakea on 17 October 1949
Grumman TBF-1C Avenger
NZ2507 Constructor's Number 5342 Bu24459 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Hit by flak over Vunakanau at 1035 hours on 26 April 1944. The aircraft entered a spin and crashed onto the end of the runway. Flying Officer Ronald Gardner, Pilot Officer Christopher Nicholls and Pilot Officer Harold Sheather killed. Written off books at Bougainville. NZ2508 Constructor's Number 5343 Bu24460 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. NZ2509 Constructor's Number 5344 Bu24461 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne and named "GRUMPY". Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2510 Constructor's Number Bu24462 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Coded "J". Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. badly damaged by enemy gunfire during an operation on 26 March 1944 and made an emergency landing at Green Island where it remained until repaired. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2511 Constructor's Number 5346 Bu24463 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Badly damaged by enemy gufire during an operation on 25 April 1944 and made an emergency landing at Green Island where it remained until repaired. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2512 Constructor's Number 5347 Bu24464 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. To No.31 Squadron. Crashed near Tobera Airfield on 01 July 1944. The aircraft was hit by flak during a bombing run and spun into the ground. Flight Sergeant Rex Mathieson and Flight Sergeant Albert Walker killed, but Flight Sergeant M. Aitcheson was able to parachute to safety and was rescued 4 days later. Written off books at Bougainville. NZ2513 Constructor's Number 5348 Bu24465 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Fitted with tank in bomb bay for spraying diesel oil on Japanese vegetable gardens. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944. NZ2514 Constructor's Number 5349 Bu24466 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2515 Constructor's Number 5350 Bu24467 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Crashed at Bougainville on 22 February 1944. The aircraft developed an uncontrollable swing to port on landing and ended up in a ditch. Flight Lieutenant Max Stubbs and crew were unhurt but the aircraft was written off and broken up for parts. NZ2516 Constructor's Number 5352 Bu24469 Arrived in New Zealand on "Dalfonn". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 25 October 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Crashed at Gisborne on 21 December 1943. The aircraft suffered an engine failure on final approach to land and landed in a swamp. Half an hour after the accident a fire broke out and the aircraft was destroyed. Written off books at Gisborne. NZ2517 Constructor's Number 5497 Bu47731 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne and named "SOPHISTICATED LADY." Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2518 Constructor's Number 5499 Bu47733 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No. 30 Squadron, Gisborne and named "PLONKY." Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. To No.31 Squadron. Hit by flak near Rapopo Airfield, New Britain at about 1045 hours on 05 June 1944. The aircraft caught fire and dived into the ground, the remains not being discovered until some years later. Flight Lieutenant Charles Prior, Flying Officer Sydney Clayton and Warrant Officer Theo Scarlett killed. Written off books at Bougainville. NZ2519 Constructor's Number 5502 Bu47736 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Sold from Rukuhia by GSB tender number 1705 dated 02 March 1948 to J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. NZ2520 Constructor's Number 5506 Bu47740 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 28 October 1944. NZ2521 Constructor's Number 5574 Bu47808 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. To No.31 Squadron. Crashed near Rabaul after being hit by flak during a bombing run at about 1100 hours on 31 May 1944. Sergeant William Trolove, Flight Sergeant Malcolm Harsant and Flight Sergeant Frank Brown killed. Written off books at Bougainville NZ2522 Constructor's Number 5616 Bu47850 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. To No.31 Squadron. Fitted with tank in bomb bay for spraying diesel oil on Japanese gardens. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2523 Constructor's Number 5621 Bu47855 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. NZ2524 Constructor's Number 5623 Bu47857 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. NZ2525 Constructor's Number 5624 Bu47858 Arrived in New Zealand on "Schenectedy". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 15 December 1943 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Departed from Gisborne on ferry flight to Espiritu Santos on 24 January 1944. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944. NZ2530 Constructor's Number 5490 Bu47724 Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron by 26 April 1944. To No.31 Squadron. Presumed to have been hit by flak during a bombing run at Vunakanau at 0950 hours on 28 May 1944. The aircraft crashed shortly after completing it's bomb run. Flight Lieutenant Melvin Greenslade, Lieutenant John Morrison and Flight Sergeant William McCloud killed. Written off books at Bougainville. NZ2540 Constructor's Number 5783 Bu48017 Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron by 26 April 1944. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. Allocated to No.30 Squadron by 26 April 1944 NZ2541 Constructor's Number 5787 Bu48021 Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Ferried from Gisborne to Espiritu Santos and held in reserve pool until 23 March 1944. Hit by flak during bombing raid at Lakunai on 10 May 1944. The aircraft lost height and then nosed over and dived into the sea about half a mile off the coast. Flying Officer Alan Bailey, Flight Sergeant Louis Schlesinger and Warrant Officer Reginald Curtiss killed. Written off books at Bougainville. Allocated to No.30 Squadron by 26 April 1944 NZ2542 Constructor's Number 5789 Bu48023 Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. To No.30 Squadron, Gisborne. Ferried from Gisborne to Espiritu Santos and held in reserve pool until 10 April 1944. Sold from Rukuhia by GSB tender number 1705 dated 02 March 1948 to J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. Allocated to No.30 Squadron by 26 April 1944 HARVARDS NZ997 Previously AJ884. From British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on "Hauraki" in December 1941 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 05 January 1942. To No. 30 Squadron. Crashed after takeoff at Gisborne during a night training flight 4 August 1943. The aircraft entered a left turn at about 100 feet and then lost height, crashing into trees amd losing both wings. Written off Gisborne 08 September 1943 as reduced to spares. NZ1019 Previously EX327. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "USA TV No. 389" in November 1942 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 01 December 1942. Twenty first Mk IIA to be converted to Mk 2A* between August 1954 and May 1957. Crashed at Wigram after ground looping and wiping off undercarriage 17 February 1959. Airframe written off books Wigram 21 April 1959. Engine retained as serviceable. NZ1045 Previously EX748. From RAF/FAA lend-lease allocations. Shipped to New Zealand on "James Hogg" in June 1943 and assembled at Hobsonville. BOC 19 June 1943. To 30 Squadron Gisborne. Crashed and burned during training flight 11 November 1943. The aircraft hit trees on a farm near Gisborne while low flying, lost a wing and crashed through a house before catching fire. Flying Officer Roland Browne killed and Flying Officer D. Nilsson badly burned but survived. Written off books at Gisborne 24 November 1943 as reduced to spares.
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