P-40 Warhawk pilots from the Royal New Zealand Air Forces No 18 Squadron, wait in their flying gear to be transported to their planes.
Torokina airfield, Bougainville, Feb 1943
These pilots are kitted out with RAF-type pilot parachutes, RAF K-type dinghy's and Back Pad kits, which contained various life saving equipment.
All that gear would've weighed around 20 kgs, and that's not including their sidearms, ammo pouches, canteens, knifes, first aid kits and Mae West life jackets.
During the first months of the RNZAFs time in the Pacific, Kiwi P-40 pilots complained of rashes and blisters to their buttocks and genitals after spending hours sitting on the hard dinghy packs.
This, as well as eye strain from poor protective gear, lack of food and water while flying, absence of entertainment on the ground and primitive living conditions, lead to a drop in morale amongst the pilots.
These issues were outlined in a report written on July 17th, 1943 by the new CO of No 14 squadron, F/Lt H Wigley.
As a result, a slab of rubber was introduced to the K-type Dinghy packs which improved comfort, and flight goggles with green lenses in them were issued to the pilots, which helped with the eye strain.
And chewing gum and drinks were provided before each mission. But even so, living conditions remained rather basic in the Islands.
RNZAF P-40s were credited with the destruction of 100 Japanese planes (most of them Zeros) with the loss of only 20 P-40s to enemy action
