Brian Oliver's Operational Flying with No 2 Squadron, RNZAF

Operational flying in an RNZAF bomber in the Pacific theatre of war was somewhat different from that of bomber flying in Europe. In Europe there were usually set specific targets for each operational mission, such as a particular war weapons factory in a specific city. However in the Pacific war where the battleground mostly consisted of ocean, the major work of the RNZAF Hudsons and Venturas was in anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols. Other forms of work for these Pacific crews involved transporting of troops, escorting fighters and dive-bombers to a target (as the bombers had better navigational equipment), training missions and sometimes the more traditional bombing raid on a set land target.

The following extract from his log books details Brian Oliver's operational flying career, which shows the diverse range of flights he made while in the Pacific region with No 2 (BR) Squadron. This is a complete record of that period; including all flights he made from the ferry flight from New Zealand up to “Buttons” - the code name for the New Hebrides runway from which they operated – till the flight in which he returned to New Zealand.

 

Date Aircraft Mission/Target Crew Position Comments


14 Nov 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Ohakea to Whenuapai

Brian Oliver
Crew
F/O Collie

Captain


Ferry Flight
15 Nov 1943
Ventura NZ4535
Whenuapai to Norfolk Island “Hedgehog”
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/S Wallace
Captain


Ferry Flight

16 Nov 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Norfolk Island to Tontuta , New Caledonia

Brian Oliver
WYVC Crew
F/S Wallace
Captain


Ferry Flight

16 Nov 1943

Ventura NZ453

Tontuta to Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides (Buttons)

Brian Oliver
“Blondie”

Crew,
F/S Wallace
Captain



Ferry Flight

20 Nov 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Round The Island

Brian Oliver
Captain
Check ASD and Radio Range

21 Nov 1943

Hudson NZ2087

Anti-Sub Patrol, Convoy

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

.
27 Nov 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Buttons to Nausori , Fiji
(“entice”)

Brian Oliver
Crew
American Colonel
Brg. Gentry
Captain

Passenger
Passenger
transporting passengers to Fiji

28 Nov 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Nausori to Buttons
(Bomber 1)

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

return trip

10 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Anti-Sub Patrol

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

Recalled, of a sub
11 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Anti-Sub Patrol on MV (disabled)

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

.

13 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4535

Anti-Sub Patrol on Convoy
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

.

17 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4529

Night Flying, Local
Brian Oliver
P/O Keys
F/Sgt Turner
Captain


.

19 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4519
Anti-Sub Patrol (15 Ships)
Brian Oliver
Crew
S/Ldr Greenaway
Captain


.

22 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4523
Fighter escort to Cactus
(Solomon Islands)

Brian Oliver
Crew
F/O Melrose

Captain


.

23 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4523
Travel return to Buttons
Brian Oliver
Crew
Five bodies
Captain


.

24 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4527
Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

Returned, engine failure on take off

24 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4527
Anti-Sub Patrol on Convoy
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

No Convoy!

29 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4537
Submarine recognition
and Bombing
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain


30 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4537
Anti-Sub Patrol on Convoy
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain

No Convoy!

30 Dec 1943

Ventura NZ4525
Hunter Killer
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

(evening take-off)

1 Jan 1944

Ventura NZ4531

Hunter Killer

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

(0230 take off)

2 Jan 1944

Ventura NZ4519
Hunter Killer
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

5 Jan 1944

Ventura NZ4535
To Pekoa Field
(Bomber II Dogwood)
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

9 Jan 1944

Ventura NZ4535
Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
10 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4535

Hunter Killer

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain Hall
Captain
.


12 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4523
Hunter Killer
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/O Dean
Captain
.


Landed on Bomber III (Lugan) - was a broken a/c on II
12 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4523
Return to Bomber II
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/O Dean
Captain
.


15 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4525
Anti-Sub Patrol

Brian Oliver
Crew

Captain
.
19 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4523
Search for PV1 NZ4520
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
22 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4527
Search and Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

Torpedoed AO

26 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Anti-Sub Patrol

Brian Oliver
Crew

Captain
.

Returned after engine failure

27 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Aircraft Test
Brian Oliver
F/Sgt Turner
Cpl Sorrenson
Captain
.

Flight Mech?

Engine failure again

29 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Aircraft Test
Brian Oliver
Cpl Sorrenson
Captain
Flight Mech?

31 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Travel to Cactus
Brian Oliver
Crew
S/Ldr Makgill
Plus two
Captain
.



31 Jan 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Travel from Cactus
Brian Oliver
Crew
+ 3 bodies
Captain
.


7 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Bomber II to Bomber I
Brian Oliver
P/O Keys
Captain
.
12 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4525
Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
15 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4523
Search for missing SBD
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
16 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

(Recalled weather), engine trouble

17 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4525
To Vila ( EFATE , WYVL Tower,
Bauer Field)
Brian Oliver
Crew
plus five
Captain
.


11 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4535
Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
returned with engine trouble
Note, this date is as in log book
though seemingly out of order
18 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4525
Anti-Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
22 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4525
Move to Cactus
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/O Balland
F/O Aitcheson
Captain
.



22 Feb 1944
Dakota NZ3501
Move to Munda, New Georgia
(“Bloodhound”)
Flt Lt Sharp
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.


23 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4512
X-Ray Patrol No 1
(“Woodlarks”) New Guinea
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
24 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4515
X-Ray Patrol No 2 (New Britain)
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
25 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4511
X-Ray Patrol No 1
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/O Dean
Captain
.


26 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4507
X-Ray Patrol No 3 (New Ireland – Bougainville)

Brian Oliver
Crew

Captain
.
28 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4501
X-Ray Patrol No 1
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
100+ holes in a/c
29 Feb 1944
Ventura NZ4506
Strike Job – Munda to Piva
Uncle, Bougainville, then
bombed Radar Station at
Adler Bay , New Britain .
Return to Empress Augusta Bay
(Tourakina Strip). Tourakina to
Munda
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
1 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4504
To Stirling , Treasury Island and return
Brian Oliver
F/O Keys
F/O Monks
F/Sgt Turner
F/Sgt Mason
Captain
.




2 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4501
To Piva and strike on Adler Bay
Radar. Lead in 12 SBD Crew
Dauntless dive-bombers, 6 TBF
Avengers and 12 F4U Corsair
fighter-bombers

Brian Oliver
Crew

Captain
.
3 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4501
Strike and barge hunt. C. Gazelle
to Adler Bay and return to Munda
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.

 

4 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4514
To Cactus
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
7 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4514
To Munda
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
9 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4507
Sub Search, East Coast of
Bougainville
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
13 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4515
Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Sqn Ldr Cameron
Captain
.


17 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4541
Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
18 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4510
Sub Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
20 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4518
Aircraft Test
Brian Oliver
P/O Keys
Captain
.
21 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4501
Tourist Patrol to Green Island
(Square Peg) – through George
Channel to TingwonIsland, round
Mathies Is. To Green Is and so to base
Brian Oliver
Crew
Sqn Ldr Cameron
Captain
.


1,400 Nautical mile round trip
23 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4507
To Cactus
Brian Oliver
P/O Keys
F/Sgt Turner
Captain
.


26 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4513
To Munda
Brian Oliver
P/O Keys
F/Sgt Turner
Captain
.


27 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4527
West Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
28 Mar 1944

Ventura NZ4521

Sub Search

Brian Oliver
Crew

Captain
.
31 Mar 1944
Ventura NZ4515
Channel Patrol and special sub
search: C. Lambert – Kalili – Duke
of York Island - Rabaul – Land
Piva – Base
Brian Oliver
Crew
Sqn Ldr Cameron
Captain
.


1200 nautical miles
2 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4501
East Patrol - dropped package to
native Crew village at Choisel
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
3 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4507
East Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
5 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4514
Channel Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
6 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ45??
To Cactus
W/C Greenaway
Brian Oliver
F/O Turner
Sgt Johnston &
Others
Captain
.




10 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4512
To Munda
Brian Oliver
F/Sgt Turner
W/O Wilson
Sgt Johnston
Crew + 3
Captain
.




11 Apr 1944

Ventura NZ4521
Channel Patrol, land at
Torokina & pick up 3 bodies
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
12 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4501
Able Search – bombed jetty and
buildings Crew
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
13 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4503
Channel Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
A close up of Rabaul being bombed
16 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4512
Sub Search
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
17 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4512
East Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
18 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4521
Mine Search
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
20 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4505
Sub Search
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
21 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4515
To Cactus
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
24 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4515
To Munda
Brian Oliver
F/Sgt Turner
Crew + five others
Captain
.


26 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4504
To Piva
Brian Oliver
F/O Melrose
Crew +
3 others
Captain
.



27 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4506
Sub Search
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
28 Apr 1944
Ventura NZ4501

Channel Patrol

Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
1 May 1944
Ventura NZ4516
Able Search, bombed village
and gardens
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
3 May 1944
Ventura NZ4513
Sub Search, Scramble
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
4 May 1944
Ventura NZ4507
Channel Patrol
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
5 May 1944
Ventura NZ4513
Bomb wireless station and
strafe Chabar area
Brian Oliver
Crew
1 Aussie
1 American
1 Native

Captain
.




8 May 1944
Ventura NZ4510
Shipping count at Simpson
Harbour & Rabaul area &
survivor sweep for SBD & TBF
Brian Oliver
Crew
Captain
.
Shot at rather much for comfort
9 May 1944
Ventura NZ4521
New Ireland – Tingwon Is -
Mussau. Search
Brian Oliver
Crew
S/Ldr Cameron
Captain
.


20 May 1944
Ventura NZ4541
Piva to Guadalcanal
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/Lt Dean
Captain
.
Ferry trip home to New Zealand
21 May 1944
Ventura NZ4541
Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santos
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/Lt Dean
Captain
.
Ferry trip home to New Zealand
22 May 1944
Ventura NZ4541
Santo to Norfolk Island
Brian Oliver
Crew
F/Lt Dean
Captain
.


Ferry trip home to New Zealand
(suffered generator fire off Norfolk Is.)
22 May 1944
Ventura NZ4541

Norfolk Island to Whenuapai

Brian Oliver
Crew
F/Lt Dean

Captain


Ferry trip home to New Zealand
(suffered hydraulic failure at Whenuapai)

 

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