| Serial |
c/n |
Type |
U.S.N. |
Aircraft history |
| NZ2501 |
5211 |
TBF-1 |
Bu24328 |
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, Gisborne during October 1943.
Sold from Rukuhia by GSB tender number 1705 dated 02 March 1948 to J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. |
| NZ2502 |
5215 |
TBF-1 |
Bu24332 |
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, Gisborne on 09 October 1943.
Sold from Rukuhia by GSB tender number 1705 dated 02 March 1948 to J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. |
| NZ2503 |
5218 |
TBF-1 |
Bu24335 |
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, Gisborne during October 1943.
Placed in long term storage after war.
Removed from storage in March 1949 and allocated to the Research and Development Flight for topdressing trials.
Positioned from Masterton to Whenuapai on 23 May 1949 at end of trials.
To No.42 Squadron, Ohakea on 17 November 1949 for drogue towing.
Crashed in Waitemata Harbour near Hobsonville on 15 March 1956 after engine failure.
The aircraft was recovered but was later broken up and was written off the books at Hobsonville on 17 August 1956.
|
| NZ2504 |
5219 |
TBF-1 |
Bu24336 |
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, Gisborne on 12 October 1943.
To No.31 Squadron.
Placed in long term storage 9 April 1944 at No Aircraft Depot, Rukuhia
Allotted to No1 OTU, at Ohakea for radar trials and familiarisation.
Returned to No 1 Aircraft Depot 7 September 1944 for conversion to target tug configuration.
Allotted to Target Towing Flight at Ardmore 21 October 1944.
At war's end, placed into Long Term Storage at Ohakea 6 September 1945, with flight time of 460 airframe hours.
Reactivated 15 June 1948, allocated to General Purpose Flight at Ohakea, then prepared for top dressing trials, using obsolete Avenger long range tanks as hoppers.
Following trials, GP Flight retitled Research and Development Flight, part of No 41 Squadron, at Whenuapai, and again reconfigured for target towing.
Allotted to General Purpose Flight of No 42 Squadron, at Ohakea, where it acquired the distinctive yellow and black stripes.
Positioned from Masterton to Whenuapai on 23 May 1949 at end of trials.
To No.42 Squadron, Ohakea on 17 November 1949 for drogue towing.
Final flight with RNZAF was made from Ohakea to Hamilton on 30 June 1959.
Final flight hours 1494.15 hours.
Converted to instructional airframe INST182 on 10 July 1959 for use as gate guardian at RNZAF Base, Te Rapa.
Remained painted as NZ2504 and never wore the INST serial.
Recovered for RNZAF Museum in 1978, towed to Devonport Naval Base, loaded on HMNZS Waikato, shipped to Lyttleton, towed to Wigram November 1978.
Aircraft extensively worked on to restore aircraft to taxy status, with folding wings.
December 1981 suffered engine failure, which could not be repaired.
The aircraft was restored to original 1943 colour scheme, but as NZ2521, complete with turret.
January 2017 saw the aircraft reserialled as NZ2504.
 
|
| NZ2505 |
5220 |
TBF-1 |
Bu24337 |
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, Gisborne prior to 09 October 1943, being their first Avenger.
To No.31 Squadron.
Converted for target towing.
Served with Central Fighter Establishment and No 41 Squadron.
To No.42 Squadron.
One of the last 3 Avengers on strength with the RNZAF.
Declared surplus on SR228/59
Sold by GSB tender number 7327 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.
To Paraparaumu airfield, then to Gracefield (owner John Regan), then to Silverstream.
Later to the RNZAF Museum who were originally going to trade it to the Australian Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Loaned to the Gisborne Aviation and Preservation Society in 1999 for restoration and display in Gisborne.
Formally gifted to Gisborne Aviation and Preservation Society by the Air Force Museum in June 2013.
Displayed at the museum in Gisborne until 2014.
Moved to Classic Flyers Museum, Tauranga in August 2014, for restoration, which was carried out by Classic Flyers volunteers, to display/taxy status, and completed November 2016.
Following a period on loan, returned to Gisborne in October 2018.
Presently displayed at the museum in Gisborne.
|
| NZ2506 |
5222 |
TBF-1 |
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. |
| NZ2507 |
5342 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5343 |
TBF-1C |
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.
Aircraft reconditioned and transferred to Royal Navy 31 July 1945.
Reserialled VL405. |
| NZ2509 |
5344 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5345 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5346 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5347 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5348 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5349 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5350 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5352 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5497 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5499 |
TBF-1C |
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.
Some wreckage from the original NZ2518 was brought home to New Zealand for preservation.
Bu.91110 ZK-TBM now flies in the colours of NZ2518.
The Story of NZ2581 "Plonky"
|
| NZ2519 |
5502 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5506 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5574 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5616 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5621 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5623 |
TBF-1C |
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 |
5624 |
TBF-1C |
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. |
| NZ2526 |
5496 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47730 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Sold from Rukuhia by GSB tender number 1705 dated 02 March 1948 to J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. |
| NZ2527 |
5625 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47859 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
To Nausori in 1944 for use by the Communications Flight.
Returned to NZ early January 1945 on board "Sunnyside Park".
To Rukuhia for storage 23 Jan 1945.
To No.42 Squadron, Ohakea for target towing.
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 Barr Brothers, Ardmore and entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-CBO in 1959.
It was intended to convert the aircraft to a topdresser but in the end the conversion did not go ahead and the aircraft was towed by road from Ardmore to Rotorua on 26 October 1964.
It was then installed in a children's playground in Kuirau Park still painted as NZ2527.
Recovered to MOTAT and spent some years on display outside the Confederate Air Force Headquarters at Dairy Flat Airfield.
Stored at MOTAT awaiting restoration to static display.
Moved to Meola Road site for restoration.
Restoration completed and aircraft moved to display hall February 2015.
|
| NZ2528 |
5579 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47813 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944. |
| NZ2529 |
5498 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47732 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944. |
| NZ2530 |
5490 |
TBF-1C |
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. |
| NZ2531 |
5495 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47729 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow". Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville. Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. |
| NZ2532 |
5617 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47851 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. |
| NZ2533 |
5492 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47726 |
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.31 Squadron, Gisborne.
Crashed at Ohakea on 07 December 1944 after an engine failure on a test flight.
Written off books at Ohakea on 15 January 1945. |
| NZ2534 |
5493 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47727 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. |
| NZ2535 |
5580 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47814 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. |
| NZ2536 |
5619 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47853 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Royal Arrow".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 04 January 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Sold from Rukuhia by GSB tender number 1705 dated 02 March 1948 to J. Larsen and scrapped at Rukuhia. |
| NZ2537 |
5622 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47856 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944. |
| NZ2538 |
5627 |
TBF-1C |
Bu47861 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 21 October 1944.
Aircraft reconditioned and transferred to Royal Navy 31 July 1945.
Reserialled VL507. |
| NZ2539 |
5782 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48016 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
To Nausori in 1944 for use by the Communications Flight, returning to New Zealand in early January 1945, on board "Sunnyside Park".
To Rukuhia for storage 23 January 1945
One of the last 3 Avengers on strength with the RNZAF.
Declared surplus on SR228/59.
Sold by GSB tender number 7327 dated 23 September 1959 to Bennett Aviation, Te Kuiti.
To children's playground at Havelock North on 24 August 1965.
Recovered and stored with Ken Jacobs in Auckland.
Aircraft recovered from open air storage and moved to Classic Flyers Museum, Tauranga, in July 2017, on loan and for restoration.
Restoration completed to engine running/taxy status by November 2020.
Displayed with "Plonky" (Fred Ladd's aircraft) on starboard cowling and "We never miss" on port cowling. |
| NZ2540 |
5783 |
TBF-1C |
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. |
| NZ2541 |
5787 |
TBF-1C |
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. |
| NZ2542 |
5789 |
TBF-1C |
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. |
| NZ2543 |
5790 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48024 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944. |
| NZ2544 |
5786 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48020 |
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.31 Squadron.
Damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire during an operation on 28 May 1944 and written off at Bougainville as a result of the damage sustained. |
| NZ2545 |
5821 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48055 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944.
Aircraft reconditioned and transferred to Royal Navy 31 Jul 1945.
Reserialled as VL508. |
| NZ2546 |
5826 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48060 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Returned to US Navy at Espiritu Santo on 30 October 1944.
Aircraft reconditioned and transferred to Royal Navy 31 Jul 1945.
Reserialled as VL508. |
| NZ2547 |
5843 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48077 |
Arrived in New Zealand on "Peter White".
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC 12 February 1944 with Unit 36, Hobsonville.
Issued to British Fleet Air Arm at Hobsonville on 07 September 1945. |
| NZ2548 |
5847 |
TBF-1C |
Bu48081 |
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.31 Squadron, Gisborne.
Landed in sea after engine failure during night operational training flight on 15 March 1944.
Crew (Pilot - Flt Sgt J H Pope, Navigator - Sgt E J Newton, WOP/AG - Sgt W G A McCloud) escaped unijured via rubber dinghy and paddled ashore.
Written off at Gisborne. |
