RAAF Pacific Kills? - Aircraft of World War II

lindsay · 06-16-2009, 06:12 AM

Hi, I'm new to this forum

I am wanting to know how many kills in the WWII Pacific did the RAAF score?

Watanbe · 06-17-2009, 02:30 AM

I'm also keen on knowing more about this and the RAAF's performance in the Pacific, I'll admit its not something I know a vast amount about.

From what I've read it seems to be
-low level bombing runs
-anti-shipping
-ground support

Wildcat · 06-17-2009, 03:24 AM

I have never come across a document which states victory claims for the RAAF. If one does exist, I would love to see it. One thing to remember though, the RAAF won't come anywhere close to what the USAAF achieved. This is because from mid 43 onwards, the RAAF fighter force rarely came into contact with the IJNAF and IJAAF - not in great numbers anyway. US units in the solomons could take the fight to the Japanese at Rabaul, whilst USAAF fighters, particularly the longer range P-38's, could ravage the Japanese forces in the Wewak area. RAAF P-40's had the range for neither of these and subsequently saw more action in the role of fighter bombers.
If anyone has access to RAAF victory claims please post them here!

Watanbe · 06-17-2009, 03:32 AM

I also haven't seen them anywhere. I heard a quick search online and couldn't find anything. I can't think there would of been to many kills.

All I know is that a Wirraway somehow managed to famously shoot down a Zero.

lindsay · 06-17-2009, 05:26 AM

I just brought a book called "Air to Air", claims by the RNZAF, which claimed a total of 106 Japanese kills in the Pacific war. But being from Australia, i am interested in all the victory claims by the RAAF. I think with the RAAF Spitfires up in Darwin, and the RAAF P-40's in New Guinea, as well as the Beaufighters, etc, etc, Should be well over the hundred kills mark!? Like to know exact details though!!

Soundbreaker Welch? · 06-17-2009, 05:41 AM

Aussie's rule!

Yerger · 06-17-2009, 08:12 AM

"Aces High" (3 vols) covers all the Commonwealth aces for making a compilation. The 1st covers aces, 2nd 2 to 4 kills, 3rd a photo album. Anal detailed and accurate (the way I like books to be).

109ROAMING · 06-17-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindsay

I just brought a book called "Air to Air", claims by the RNZAF, which claimed a total of 106 Japanese kills in the Pacific war. But being from Australia, i am interested in all the victory claims by the RAAF. I think with the RAAF Spitfires up in Darwin, and the RAAF P-40's in New Guinea, as well as the Beaufighters, etc, etc, Should be well over the hundred kills mark!? Like to know exact details though!!

Sounds about right -we had a kill to loss ratio of about 5:1 with our P-40's

Our sexy Corsairs came to late to get any air to air kills

Its a dam good book .I've managed to pick up a copy -nice buy ,Enjoy!

Would also be interested in RAAF numbers

Marshall_Stack · 06-17-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindsay

I just brought a book called "Air to Air", claims by the RNZAF, which claimed a total of 106 Japanese kills in the Pacific war. But being from Australia, i am interested in all the victory claims by the RAAF. I think with the RAAF Spitfires up in Darwin, and the RAAF P-40's in New Guinea, as well as the Beaufighters, etc, etc, Should be well over the hundred kills mark!? Like to know exact details though!!

Not to be nit picky, but I thought that the total for the RNZAF was 99. I had read that when they were about to score number 100, a U.S. PT boat shot down the Japanese aircraft before the RNZAF fighter could shoot it down.

Either way it is still an accomplishment for such a small force with outdated aircraft to achieve.

BTW, awhile back I had heard that New Zealand was disbanding its military. Is that true?

Wildcat · 06-17-2009, 03:53 PM

I believe Marshall is right, AFAIK the RNZAF are credited with 99 kills in the pacific. To get an accurate kill tally for the RAAF you would probably have to spend the time collecting the data from the books Yerger mentioned and go through all the ORB's dealing with RAAF PTO squadrons. Then of course you would have to match these claims against actual Japanese losses, a big task indeed! I've started one such list of claims, be is nowhere near complete...

vikingBerserker · 06-17-2009, 10:23 PM

I have to agree with you, I've looked and looked and the nearest I can get is the total of all RAAF Aces with 10 or more kills which was around 298.

06-16-2009, 06:12 AM	#1
lindsay Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bendigo Posts: 3	RAAF Pacific Kills? Hi, I'm new to this forum I am wanting to know how many kills in the WWII Pacific did the RAAF score?

06-17-2009, 02:30 AM	#2
Watanbe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 522	I'm also keen on knowing more about this and the RAAF's performance in the Pacific, I'll admit its not something I know a vast amount about. From what I've read it seems to be -low level bombing runs -anti-shipping -ground support __________________

06-17-2009, 03:24 AM	#3
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,763	I have never come across a document which states victory claims for the RAAF. If one does exist, I would love to see it. One thing to remember though, the RAAF won't come anywhere close to what the USAAF achieved. This is because from mid 43 onwards, the RAAF fighter force rarely came into contact with the IJNAF and IJAAF - not in great numbers anyway. US units in the solomons could take the fight to the Japanese at Rabaul, whilst USAAF fighters, particularly the longer range P-38's, could ravage the Japanese forces in the Wewak area. RAAF P-40's had the range for neither of these and subsequently saw more action in the role of fighter bombers. If anyone has access to RAAF victory claims please post them here! __________________

06-17-2009, 03:32 AM	#4
Watanbe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 522	I also haven't seen them anywhere. I heard a quick search online and couldn't find anything. I can't think there would of been to many kills. All I know is that a Wirraway somehow managed to famously shoot down a Zero. __________________

06-17-2009, 05:41 AM	#6
Soundbreaker Welch? Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,896	Aussie's rule! __________________ "His motor's conked out!" "What's the differance, they're all Nazis!" "Luke, shut up!" "Fear the hook!" "Oh.....I wanna fly." "You mean the kind that go under water and fly up the stairs?" "What you doing? Oh Nooooo!"

06-17-2009, 05:26 AM	#5
lindsay Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bendigo Posts: 3	I just brought a book called "Air to Air", claims by the RNZAF, which claimed a total of 106 Japanese kills in the Pacific war. But being from Australia, i am interested in all the victory claims by the RAAF. I think with the RAAF Spitfires up in Darwin, and the RAAF P-40's in New Guinea, as well as the Beaufighters, etc, etc, Should be well over the hundred kills mark!? Like to know exact details though!!

06-17-2009, 08:12 AM	#7
Yerger Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 89	"Aces High" (3 vols) covers all the Commonwealth aces for making a compilation. The 1st covers aces, 2nd 2 to 4 kills, 3rd a photo album. Anal detailed and accurate (the way I like books to be).

06-17-2009, 03:53 PM	#10
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,763	I believe Marshall is right, AFAIK the RNZAF are credited with 99 kills in the pacific. To get an accurate kill tally for the RAAF you would probably have to spend the time collecting the data from the books Yerger mentioned and go through all the ORB's dealing with RAAF PTO squadrons. Then of course you would have to match these claims against actual Japanese losses, a big task indeed! I've started one such list of claims, be is nowhere near complete... __________________

06-17-2009, 10:23 PM	#11
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 6,174	I have to agree with you, I've looked and looked and the nearest I can get is the total of all RAAF Aces with 10 or more kills which was around 298. __________________ Take arrows in your forehead, but never in your back. - Samurai maxim

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