No. 18 Squadron RNZAF

No. 18 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in June 1943 at RNZAF Base Woodbourne equipped with Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks in 1943–44 and F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers in 1944–45.

History
18 Squadron was based in New Zealand from June–September 1943 when it deployed to Palikulo Bay Airfield on Espiritu Santo. The Squadron moved to Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia in October 1943 and returned to Santo in January 1944. The squadron deployed to Piva Airfield on Bougainville from January–March 1944 and then moved to Kukum Field on Guadalcanal from May–June 1944, returning to Bouganville from June–July 1944. The Squadron returned to Santo from August–September 1944, moved to Guadalcanal from September–November. 18 Squadron deployed from Guadalcanal to Green Island on 22 November 1944 assuming responsibility for local patrols and Dumbo escort from No. 20 Squadron RNZAF. The Squadron returned to Guadalcanal from January–February 1945, deployed to Bougainville from February–April 1945 and from June–October 1945.

Commanding officers

 * Squadron Leader J. A. Oldfield June 1943 – March 1944
 * Squadron Leader R. H. Balfour May–July 1944
 * Squadron Leader P. R. McNab August–November 1944
 * Squadron Leader G. H. Corbet November 1944 – April 1945
 * Squadron Leader W. A. Hardman May–September 1945