FIGHTER ’DROME
ARDMORE TO CLOSE
AN ACTIVE EXISTENCE
WAR FUNCTION RECALLED (P.A.) AUCKLAND. March 21. The R.N.Z.A.F. station at Ardmore, which was built during the war originally for the United Slates forces but which has always been occupied by fighter units of the R.N.Z.A.F., is expectcd to close in the near future with the transfer to Ohakea of the central lighter establishment. The station is to be put on a care and maintenance basis and the wartime need having passed, Auckland will be left without a nearby lighter base.
In recent months Ardmore has, in addition to being the base of the central fighter establishment and accommodating No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron during its assembly and training prior to departure for Japan, . housed the Meteor jet-plane during its Auckland visit and has acted as guest station to a group of aircraft and their crews from the British carrier Indefatigable. With tlie departure of No. 14 Squadron, however, and the early transfer of the jet-plane to a succession of southern stations it has been considered desirable to close the station. Main N.Z. Fighter Base
This decision will still leave near Auckland the major stations at Whenuapai and Hobsonville and also the Mechanics Bay installation. Built m 1943, Ardmore lias had a short but extremely active existence, with tlie large number of lighter squadrons engaged in tiie Pacific war on a rotational basis, each returning to New Zealand for leave and sometimes for additional training after comparatively short operational tours, the station served a vital purpose as tlie main fighter base in New Zealand. Squadrons reassembled there in rapid succession for tlie greater part of 1944 and 1495 until the end of the war. In addition, the station housed the fighter leaders’ school and lighter gunnery school and many pilots first flew Corsair aircraft from Ardmore while converting from Kittyhawks.
Tlie station strength at its maximum was 1400 of all ranks. The present strength is under 250.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21977, 22 March 1946, Page 4
Word Count
324FIGHTER ’DROME Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21977, 22 March 1946, Page 4
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