| No. 19 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 No. 19 Squadron personnel in front of a Corsair, during their second tour of duty in August 1944 at Torokina, Bougainville. Written on the bomb in foreground: "blunt end" (left) "15/8/44, 19 FIGHTER SQDN (centre) and "sharp end" (right) | |
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| Branch | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Type | Fighter bomber |
| Engagements | Pacific theatre,World War II |
No. 19 Squadron was asquadron of theRoyal New Zealand Air Force. Formed on 10 December 1941 atRNZAF Station Ohakea from members ofNo. 3 Squadron equipped withP-40 Kittyhawk and later with the Chance-VoughtF4U-1 Corsairfighter bombers.
The squadron was formed in November 1943 equipped with the P-40 Kittyhawk, and was deployed toGuadalcanal from February 1944.[1] In March that year, it relievedNo. 18 Squadron onBougainville, flying patrol and ground attack missions against Japanese forces.[2] It was regularly rotated between Guadalcanal and operations from Bougainville until November when it moved toEmirau Island in theBismarck Archipelago, where it provided day fighter defence until January 1945.[3]
The squadron's forward operational base continued to move forward as Allied forces advanced, with the squadron moving toLos Negros Island in theAdmiralty Islands in March 1945 andJacquinot Bay inNew Britain in July, from where it flew missions against the Japanese bases atRabaul.[4] It disbanded in October 1945.[1]
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