Under the command of Squadron Leader T.J. McLean de Lange, the Squadron carried out training missions around the Auckland and Waikato areas, but found the clapped out aircraft to be a major servicing nightmare, with a 40% serviceability rate being the norm!

The aircraft were firstly operated in their Marine Corps markings of Blue-Grey Upper surfaces with Light Grey Undersurfaces. Insignia was the early U.S. White Star in a Blue circle in six positions. Most of these aircraft were marked with a white number on the fuselage behind the star, some quite crudely painted, with the number repeated on both sides of the nose cowling in a smaller size. 
 
 

By August, these aircraft began to receive temporary RNZAF serial numbers (NZ205-NZ222) but by late November, early December, had been allocated full RNZAF serials (NZ5001-NZ5018).   A further nine aircraft were borrowed and received RNZAF serials - NZ5019 - NZ5027.
 
On September 13, 1943, one aircraft ( NZ211) was lost in a fatal accident. It stalled while low flying near Waiuku, just south of Seagrove, and crashed with the loss of P/O William McJannet and Sgt. Douglas Cairns.