PHOTOS FROM THE ARMITAGE COLLECTION.

On his first tour, John worked mostly on the P-40K's and Ms' of 15 Fighter Squadron as the following series of photos shows.

Battle damage on one of 15 Squadrons' P-40K's.  Note the position of the ID stripes, and the dark coloured spinner.

A further photo of the same aircraft.  Note the ID stripes, and the position of the RNZAF Blue/White/Blue roundel

Engine change on a P- 40, 'Kiwi' style - probably on Espiritu Santo or Tonga, as the aircraft appear to be P- 40E's.

 One of 15 Squadrons' P- 40M's on Guadalcanal.  Note the 5 Crosses and 1 Japanese flag on the cowl.  This aircraft was the usual mount of Squadron Leader M. J. Herrick DFC.  It also has the dark spinner.

Proof positive - an RNZAF photo of Squadron Leader Herrick in the cockpit

On his second tour, John would have been with one of the servicing units, and appeared to have worked on the later P-40N's, Hudsons, and C-47's.

Posed in front of a P-40N on Guadalcanal.  Note what appears to be a chalked on number on the cowl.

Refuelling a P-40N.  Note the roughly applied bars and ID stripes, and chalked on number on the cowl.

Johns' tentmates .  Left to right - ?, Keith Bishop, ?, John 'Jack' Armitage.

Engine servicing being carried out on an RNZAF Hudson III on Guadalcanal, 1944

Servicing C-47 NZ3503.  The caption with the nose art reads - ANYTHING   ANYTIME   ANYWHERE

Apparently one of the local Volcanoes erupting - one of the occupational hazards on Guadalcanal!

Time for a 'cuppa'.  Service crews take a tea break.

Laying the ever present crushed coral dust.  One use for waste engine oil.

Still some time for a bit of fun

  Caption on the bomb reads 'HOMES THE CAPER' so I suspect these were taken at the end of their tour.

Servicing crew posing with a Hudson III, Guadalcanal 1944.