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Description
NZ3072 was delivered by ship to Auckland New Zealand and assembled at Hobsonville in March 1943. It suffered minor damage in New Caledonia on the ferry flight north to the Pacific war zone and was repaired by the local U.S.Army Air Service Command unit.
Before handing the aircraft back to the New Zealanders, they painted their unit emblem of a black tomcat on the cowlings. NZ3072 was then allocated to Flying officer Geoff Fisken as his aircraft. It was decided to leave the cat marking on and, as many in the Squadron came from the Wairarapa province of New Zealand, a white ‘Wairarapa Wildcat’ name was added. Six Japanese flags denoting Fisken’s victory in the defence of Malaya were added and he accumulated a further five victories with No.14 Squadron during their first tour.
