Espiritu Santo
On 30 January 1944 squadron personnel were flown by Lodestar and C-47 aircraft of 40 Squadron to Espiritu Santo for further training with American units. A further supply of eighteen SBD-4 aircraft were awaiting them, but these were almost as decrepit as the machines they had left behind in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the squadron was able to complete training in gunnery, dive-bombing and formation flying. It was during this training period that NZ5037 went missing with both crew members while on a practice Beam Approach. Despite extensive searches no trace of the 'plane or its crew was found. NZ5037 remained lost in the jungle until 1987 when it was located and returned to New Zealand by 3 Squadron.
The squadron finally received eighteen new SBD-5 aircraft in February 1944. The intention was to deploy the squadron immediately at Piva airstrip on the island of Bougainville, but due to the tenuous state of the Allied beach-head on the island, deployment was delayed until the risk of shelling on the Piva airstrip had reduced.
Read more about this topic: No. 25 Squadron RNZAF