No. 1 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 reconnaissance and patrol bomber squadron operating in the Pacific Theatre

Pacific War

The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

; post war the squadron served in the transport and VIP role.

History

Formed (as the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron) in March 1940 with Blackburn Baffin

Blackburn Baffin

-See also:-External links:* * http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/black_baffin.php...

s, Vickers Vincents, and Vickers Vildebeest

Vickers Vildebeest

The Vickers Vildebeest and the similar Vickers Vincent were two very large two- to three-seat single-engined British biplanes designed and built by Vickers and used as a light bomber, torpedo bomber and in the army cooperation roles...

; the first commanding officer, Squadron Leader G. N. Roberts arriving in May. Due to the threat of German surface raiders against New Zealand shipping, these were replaced with Lockheed Hudson

Lockheed Hudson

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...

s during 1941. After the outbreak of hostilities against Japan, the squadron was initially retained in New Zealand, but during 1943 re-equipped with Lockheed Ventura

Lockheed Ventura

The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...

s, and joined the other Hudson and Ventura squadrons of the RNZAF in the South Pacific

Oceania

Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...

 islands.

The squadron was based in Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...

 during October and November before moving forward to New Georgia

New Georgia

New Georgia is the largest island of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands.-Geography:This island is located in the New Georgia Group, an archipelago including most of the other larger islands in the province...

 in November 1943. In August 1944 the squadron returned to Guadalcanal, before serving at Green Island in October of that year until again returning to Guadalcanal in March 1945. From May to June the squadron was based at Emirau. The squadron was disbanded, following VJ Day, in September 1945.

It was reformed in 1972 to provide a medium-range transport

Cargo aircraft

A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo...

 squadron within New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

, at Whenuapai

Whenuapai

Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...

 and equipped with six of the RNZAF's Bristol 170 Freighter Mk 31

Bristol Freighter

The Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner, although its best known use is as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances.-Design and development:The...

s. In 1977, 1 Squadron re-equipped with six Andover C.1s. the Squadron was again disbanded in 1984 and its Andovers taken over by No.42 Squadron.

Wartime Commanding Officers

• Squadron Leader G. N. Roberts May 1940–August 1941
• Squadron Leader G. H. Fisher August 1941–July 1942
• Squadron Leader F. J. Lucas July–December 1942
• Squadron Leader C. L. Monckton December 1942–March 1943
• Squadron Leader E. W. Tacon March–May 1943
• Squadron Leader H. C. Walker May 1943–April 1944
• Squadron Leader K. C. King April–July 1944
• Wing Commander A. N. Johnstone August 1944–January 1945
• Wing Commander A. A. N. Breckon February–June 1945