No. 454 Squadron RAAF

No. 454 Squadron RAAF
Members of No. 454 Squadron RAAF celebrate Anzac Day in Cesenatico, Italy
Active23 May 1941 – 11 July 1941
2 April 1942 – 20 August 1945
CountryAustralia Australia
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Australian Air Force
RoleBomber Squadron
Part ofNo. 201 Group RAF, Middle East Command
Desert Air Force
Battle honours
  • South-East Europe, 1942–1945
  • Mediterranean, 1940–1943
  • Italy, 1943–1945
  • Gustav Line
  • Gothic Line
Aircraft flown
BomberBristol Blenheim
Martin Baltimore

No. 454 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) that served during World War II. The squadron was raised in Australia under the Empire Air Training Scheme in mid-1941, but was disbanded shortly afterwards. It was re-formed later in 1941 from mainly British personnel and subsequently took part in the fighting in the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre before being disbanded in August 1945.

History

Formation

Raised under the Article XV provisions of the Empire Air Training Scheme, No. 454 Squadron came into existence at Williamtown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941.[1] Upon formation, the squadron was intended for service in Europe with the Royal Air Force, but it disbanded shortly afterwards on 11 July, and its personnel posted to various other squadrons including Nos. 456, 457 and 458 Squadrons.[2]

Middle East

On 2 April 1942, No. 454 Squadron was re-raised at Blackpool in the United Kingdom in a reconnaissance/light-bomber role, from RAF personnel. Two months later, the squadron was transferred to Egypt, where the ground crews were sent to RAF Aqir to service aircraft from other squadrons; they moved to the Suez shortly after this. In late September, the squadron received aircrew and concentrated at Aqir again.[2] It proceeded to Iraq where it was equipped with Bristol Blenheims.[2] During this time the squadron was based at Qaiyara, and was employed in a training role, providing Blenheim refresher training for crews from other RAF squadrons.[1] In October, Wing Commander Ian Campbell took command.[3][4]

Early in 1943, the squadron moved to Gianaclis, near Alexandria, where it was re-equipped with Martin Baltimores.[1] In February, it became part of RAF Middle East Command's 201 Group, based at LG.91 RAF El Amiriya in Egypt, and was re-roled as a maritime patrol squadron.[3] Operating in the Mediterranean Theatre for a period of almost a year and a half, No. 454 Squadron attacked targets in Greece and Crete, concentrating on anti-submarine patrols and striking merchant shipping, operating from a number of different locations including Amiriya, LG.143/Gambut III, RAF St Jean and Berka III.[3]

While many of its personnel during this period came from countries other than Australia,[1] from April 1944 onwards, the squadron's commanding officers were RAAF personnel, beginning with Wing Commander M. J. "Mike" Moore.

Italy

From July 1944, the squadron was committed to the Italian campaign, moving to Pescara, where it was assigned to the Desert Air Force.[3] During this time, it was re-roled as a day bomber squadron, supporting the British Eighth Army.[5] The squadron moved between a number of different airfields as the fighting advanced, and even attacked targets in Yugoslavia. According to the Australian War Memorial, 454 Squadron "earned a reputation for efficiency, despite Italy's climatic extremes", utilising techniques such as radar-controlled bombing.[3] In November, Wing Commander A. D. "Pete" Henderson RAAF succeeded Moore as CO.

In early 1945, 454 Squadron converted to the night intruder role, attacking German forces as they withdrew north.[6] The squadron's last sorties were flown on 1 May 1945, the day before the German forces in Italy surrendered. Following the conclusion of hostilities, No. 454 Squadron was disbanded on 14 August 1945, while it was at Villaorba.[5] During the war the squadron suffered 60 Australian fatalities. Its final commanding officer was Wing Commander John Rees DFC, DFC(US), RAAF.[3][4]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from[7][8][9]
From To Aircraft Version
November 1942 January 1943 Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV[10]
February 1943 September 1943 Martin Baltimore Mk.III
June 1943 December 1944 Martin Baltimore Mk.IV
October 1943 August 1945 Martin Baltimore Mk.V
March 1945 May 1945 Fairchild Argus F24[11]
May 1945 May 1945 Supermarine Spitfire PR.IVT[12]
May 1945 August 1945 Taylorcraft Auster Mk.III[13]

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from[14][4]
From To Name
16 October 1942 4 October 1943 Wing Commander Ian Lindsay Campbell, RAAF
4 October 1943 1 April 1944 Wing Commander John Arthur Gordon Coates, CBE, DFC, MID, RAF
1 April 1944 25 November 1944 Wing Commander Milton 'Mike' Jeffery Moore, DFC, RAAF
25 November 1944 19 May 1945 Wing Commander Andrew Dill 'Pete' Henderson, OBE, MID, RAAF
19 May 1945 14 August 1945 Wing Commander John Gordon Rees, DFC, DFC(US), RAAF

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Eather 1995, p. 110.
  2. ^ a b c Barnes 2000, p. 272.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "454 Squadron RAAF". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
  4. ^ a b c Barnes 2000, p. 274.
  5. ^ a b Barnes 2000, p. 273.
  6. ^ Eather 1995, p. 111.
  7. ^ Moyes 1976, p. 252.
  8. ^ Halley 1988, p. 476.
  9. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 94.
  10. ^ "RAAF Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & V". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  11. ^ "RAAF Fairchild F24 Argus". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  12. ^ "RAAF Supermarine Spitfire". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  13. ^ "RAAF Taylorcraft Auster Mk.III". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  14. ^ "454 Squadron: Our History". Retrieved 27 October 2013.

References

  • Barnes, Norman (2000). The RAAF and the Flying Squadrons. St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-130-2.
  • Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001) [1988]. RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (2nd ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.

Further reading

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