21 squadron raaf history book

As with molkentins previous ww1 aviation history books, this work leaves the reader with a great admiration for michaels prodigious ability to research primary sources, turn up interesting insights and integrate everything into a compelling narrative. Squadron histories page 3 welcome to regimental books. Raaf unit history sheets form a50 number 3 squadron. Barnes, norman, the raaf and the flying squadronsst leonards, n. The author served on the otway, so has a good insight. Book the official history of australia in the war of 19141918 vol 1 the story of anzac the first phase. Two letter writing cases, engraved with name and raaf serial number.

Its inaugural commanding officer, squadron leader neville hemsworth late of no. Raaf unit history sheets form a50 operations record book forms a50 and a51 number 3 squadron sep 43 jul 46 contents range 1943 1946 series number a9186 control symbol 9 access status open barcode 39854. On my recommendation flight lieutenant kinninmont raaf, ex 21 squadron, took over 453 from me. In 1944 the squadron reformed as a heavy bomber squadron with b24 liberator bombers and deployed to provide bombing sorties in the south pacific theatre. While he was still alive, i was intrigued with the various stories that he told me about his exploits during his time with 460 squadron raaf. Strike and strike again 455 squadron raaf ww2 book. Micro film no 463 oafh office of raaf air force history. Raaf unit history sheets form a50 operations record book.

This australian squadron in the years covered by this book had numerous missions over denmark, holland and norwegian fiords. Originally formed on 20 april 1936 at laverton in victoria, as a reserve unit of the citizen air force, 21 squadron flew wartime patrols escorting troopships across the great australian bight enroute to europe. In the vanguard against japan the good life preparations for war d day for the raaf at khota bharu east coast withdrawal no. Nos 21 and 453 squadrons operations records books for 19 nov 1941. Raaf personnel and ops history research tips 3 squadron. From its base in britain at holmeonspalding moor in yorkshire, the squadron commenced operations over german occupied europe on the 20 th of october, 1941. Australian, british and newzealand squadrons the java. The australian flying corps in the great war 19141918 book. Bookmark with delicious delicious bookmark with facebook. It is located at raaf base amberley, queensland, and controlled by no. The anzac squadron history of raaf 461 squadron flying. From the collection of 4th19th prince of waless light horse regiment unit history room simpson barracks macleod victoria description plaque, badge of 21 squadron raaf mounted on red painted shield shape wooden backing. Book the official history of australia in the war of 19141918 volume iv the aif in france 1917.

The squadron was now the largest operational unit in the raaf, with a strength of 299 officers and men, forty mustangs, three cac wirraways, two douglas c47 dakotas and two austers. Three pages summarizing the history of the squadron, its commanders, its operational losses in aircraft and men, its major awards, and its organizational assignments mostly passed around bases of 10 and 11 groups. Van velzenthe extraordinary adventures of a group of airmen who escaped the japanese and became the raafs celebrated 18 squadron march 1942. Wing commander andrew dill pete henderson, 217 raaf. Most other titles focus on this aspect of the units history. At the outbreak of the second world war 11 squadron moved to port moresby, having been formed as a general reconnaissance squadron at richmond in new south wales on 21 september 1939. Home buffalo raaf 21 453 the guns would not fire raaf 21 453 squadrons. Consolidated liberator location august 1940february 1941. Raaf unit history sheets form a50 operations record book forms a50 and a51 number 21 squadron. It then took part in the defence of northern australia, before going onto the offensive and carrying out a mix of reconnaissance missions and attack missions across the dutch east indies. Forming at netheravon on 23 july 1915, no 21 moved across to france with its re7s in january 1916. Formed in the mid1930s as a unit of the parttime citizen air force caf, it was mobilised for service during world war ii, when it saw action against the japanese as a fighter unit in the malayan campaign, a dive bomber unit in the new guinea campaign, and a heavy bomber unit in the borneo campaign. History raaf 18 squadron ww2 book bomber boys by m.

On my return to singapore a reorganisation of both 21 squadron and 453 squadron took place. Formed at raaf station williamtown, near newcastle, new south wales, on 7 february 1941, a week before no. He was appointed director in 1999, the first civilian director of the raaf museum. One of the pictures above in the middle is the a16 21 under the wing but didnt have the squadron codes visible. We have the largest online range of raaf squadron unit history books that describe the operation history of many raaf squadrons during wartime and peacetime. Often containing more detail than was transferred to the squadron operations record book. Rogers commanding officer no 21 squadron were among the vip guests. Formed in november 1942 as an article xv squadron in britain, the squadron was notionally an australian squadron under the command of the royal air force, and consisted of a mixture of personnel from various commonwealth nations. Simpson and duffy ww1 australian hero gallipoli childrens book not only a hero. Regimental books australian military history, brisbane, qld. It operates the majority of the adfs fixed wing aircraft, although both the australian army and royal australian navy also operate aircraft in various roles.

Established in 1916, it was one of four combat squadrons of the australian flying corps during world war i, and operated on the western front in france before being disbanded in 1919. It initially operated in the army role, which involved bombing and long range reconnaissance, but in august the demand for fighter squadrons saw 21 reequipping with be12s for this role. The royal australian air force was formed in 1921 and since then has been involved in all major conflicts involving australians. It directly continues the traditions of the australian flying corps afc, formed on 22 october 1912. Regimental books is an australian military history business specialising in.

Battle order 204 story pilot with 625 squadron bomber command life and times of australian ww2 lancaster pilot david mattingley dfc who was from launceston tasmania. It operates boeing c17 globemaster iii heavy airlifters from raaf base amberley, queensland. Desert scorpions a history of 459 squadron raaf 1942 45 quantity. Tips for researching raaf personnel and operational records.

Harper, commander of 453 squadron raaf and later of the combined 21 453 squadron. Raaf unit history sheets form a50 operations record book forms a50 and a51 number 3 squadron jul 25 aug 43 contents range 1925 1943 series number a9186 control symbol 8 access status open barcode 1158595. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the national. History raaf 18 squadron ww2 book bomber boys dutch. Battle order 204 story australian raaf pilot 625 squadron. An entry of 1999 454 and 459 squadron s bulletin reads the tale of the ice making machine by sgt j wiggins m. The royal australian air force raaf, formed in march 1921, is the aerial warfare branch of the australian defence force adf. After reequipping with wirraways, the unit moved to singapore island in august 1940. The following information was provided by air commodore mark lax, it is from his new book alamein to the alps a history of the 454 squadron which is available for download from this site. He has been a volunteer at the australian war memorial for 21 years doing research into aircraft. The author commenced flying with the raaf in july 1935 as a trainee at point cook. Contact the war book shop for detailed information on titles of interest. Chadwick record of service scrapbook of photos and notes eric clark.

Amongst other achievements, the squadron was the first raaf unit to use a roundel featuring a red kangaroo in a blue circle, on some parts of its aircraft. My fatherinlaw, jan john goulevitch, dfc, was a pilot with 460 squadron and flew one mission in g for george. His wife christobel wrote the book from his advice. List of the missions and flights with the aircraft serials that were involved. Story raaf pilot short sunderland catalina flying boats. Buy raaf military books battle of britain bomber command. This online collection also includes some operations record books for dominion and allied air force squadrons under british command. Squadron leader allshorn, co of 21 squadron, was replaced by flight lieutenant williams raaf, who became squadron leader commanding that unit. In 1942, no 23 squadron was relocated to amberley and equipped with vultee vengeance and bell p39 airacobra aircraft and dispatched to new guinea area for bombing support duties. Formed in the mid1930s as a unit of the parttime citizen air force caf, it was mobilised for service during world war ii, when it saw action against the japanese as a fighter unit in the malayan campaign. Mr david gardner, oam david gardner was appointed curator of the raaf museum in 1986. From the collection of 4th19th prince of waless light horse regiment unit history room simpson barracks macleod victoria description plaque, badge of 21 squadron raaf mounted on red painted shield shape wooden backing size 165 x 143 x 25 mm object registration 0625 keywords plaque, 21 squadron.

It explores the history of the royal australian air force between 19411945. A 1992 history of our ran submarine fleet from wwi onwards. The royal australian air force 1929 1991 and a volume of official war history covering raaf involvement in vietnam 196275. During february and march 1942, the raaf formed four transport units.

Established at raaf station williamtown, new south wales, in february 1941, it was the first australian article xv squadron formed under the empire air training scheme. Two male soldiers next to each other with one writing in a book and the other. Flying corps in the great war 19141918 book launch air force association. To foster camaraderie amongst serving and former members of the raaf and persons with an interest in no 2 squadron. Werner, herbert, iron coffins, pan books ltd, london, 1972. The squadron was formed at raaf station pearce, western australia, in march 1942 and saw action in the south west pacific theatre of world war ii, operating curtis p40. Preserving and recording the bomber command history from. It was equipped with vickers wellington medium bombers and was part of 1 group bomber command. Raafs greatest casualties were with the bomber command raids. Following the retention of 10 sqn and its sunderland aircraft in the uk in late 1939, 11 sqn promptly proceeded to port moresby with two ex. The fantastic book on 462 squadron by mark lax and leon kanemaguire.

Wwii mission squadron, royal australian air force, was formed at williamtown, nsw on the 10 th july, 1941. He has written and published eight books on raaf fatalities in the eight raaf. Personal items werribee, airfield, victoria, raaf, ww2. The number of reports tapered off markedly in the latter years of the war, as the skies were swept of axis aircraft. An illustrated life of simpson, the man with the donkey a is for anzac primary school gallipoli book brief history of the third reich by m. Battle order 204 story pilot with 625 squadron bomber command. Months later, newton was awarded a posthumous victoria cross, being one of only two awarded to members of the raaf and earning no. History of 455 squadron raaf 194445 history book 455 squadron raaf nicknamed the viking boys flew the famous bristol beaufighter attacking german shipping over northern europe. Home royal australian air force squadron histories.

The squadron s small flight of seagull and empire flying boats immediately began patrolling the thursday island, tulagi, new zealand, and bougainville. The squadron originated as a maritime patrol unit during world war ii. Beaufighters over new guinea no 30 squadron raaf, 19421943, available through royal australian air force pdf format available the battle of the bismarck sea 2008, a book by lex mcaulay a battle where 30 squadron beaufighters were heavily involved. An australian military dispatch rider and a dutch air force transport pilot embark on a. It got a lot of photos and various information such as the serial numbers and squadron codes of the hudsons in malaya. This military book is the history of raaf 461 squadron, royal australian air force, which was formed in britain on anzac day 1942 and which spent the next three years opposing admiral doenitzs uboats in the battle of the atlantic. Autobiography of sir richard kingsland world war ii raaf pilot who flew short sunderland for 10 squadron and catalina flying boats with 11 squadron.

Desert scorpions a history of 459 squadron raaf 1942 45. Short clip of overall foliage green beaufighter mk 21 of no. After the war, the squadron continued to fly until 1960, when the caf ceased flying operations. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. Only 3% of australians who served to ww2 went as part. Australian military books relating to raaf royal australian air force operations during world war two. It relocated to kota bharu, near the malayathailand border early december 1941. Victorian collections website books air craft manuals b24 air craft manuals other aircraft general. Iia 459 raaf squadron as most of you know, 459 sqdn had a holiday resort at bardia bay across the road from the beach. Airtoair of three b24 liberators of 23 squadron raaf over darwin. Wwii mission royal australian air force, was formed at williamtown, nsw on the 10 th july, 1941. I have compiled a short combat history of all australian, british and newzealand squadrons that fought during the malayan and nei campaign. The squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during world war ii, the korean war, the indonesiamalaysia konfrontasi, the vietnam war, and the wars in afghanistan and iraq.