Group, the 7 th squadron 49 th fighter group and the 46 th air base group. Geoffrey bentleys rnzaf a short history shows a photo of the crews from the four no. Fortunately, there is a very useful history of the 8th prs in a book titled the. On the same day, 4 april 1940, the new zealand flight was redesignated no. We were extremely priviledged to be asked to attend and record this unique event. During the afternoon flying officer barry cox and flight lieutenant john piper. The first complete squadron of the australian flying corps, the squadron was formed at point cook in january 1916. By the end of the month, wing headquarters staff numbered 121, including twenty officers. The squadron became operational in september 1944, and undertook ground attack missions against japanese targets in the. Jul 26, 2016 brilliantly researched and sympathetically told, 44 days is more than just a fitting tribute to brave but overlooked heroes. Fighter squadron doctor 75 squadron, raaf, new guinea, 1942.
Seek and strike 75 squadron raaf, 1942 2002 welcome to. One of the men in that photo is former rnzaf navigator peter pennell, who has kindly forwarded. It subsequently became a naval fleet cooperation squadron, but was later redesignated as no. In march and april 1942, raaf 75 squadron bravely defended port moresby for. No 4 squadron is a unit of the royal australian air force raaf, which forms part of the australian defence force adf, who specialise in coordinating air support. Nz squadron association has the right and prerogative to provide the definitive history of the squadron. The title of the book, 44 days, refers to the time that the pilots of raaf 75 squadron were alone providing air defence for port moresby new guinea. W wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. In 1921, the royal australian air force raaf was established as a separate branch of the military, and on 1 january 1922, the squadron was reformed on paper.
As the tide of the war in the southwest pacific turned from one mostly fought over the ocean to a landbased operation, the original squadron was joined by additional beaufort. The other, 5 squadron, had been serving in malaysia since 1964, as part of the far east strategic reserve at butterworth. Ww2 book song of the beauforts bomber no 100 squadron raaf. The new zealand 75 squadron association was first created at a reunion of returned 75 squadron serviceman in wellington, new zealand in 1950. I also have various other papers kindly passed on to me by other researchers. Although often referred to, then and since, as an rnzaf unit, 75 squadron was equipped and controlled by the raf until vj day. I must give thanks to peter hasselgren and lee richards for all their help with 75 squadron documentation, and steve kelly for a copy of his fathers flying log book. Throughout the book, the part played by the dedicated groundcrew is included, and there are many anecdotes from the 60 years of 75 squadron s life and times. This book tells the story, largely unknown or forgotten today, of this. Following the recall of the battle weary remnants of no 75 squadron to. Spitfire famous commonwealth squadrons of ww2 grant, jim, listemann, phil h. 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.
After arriving in egypt in early april the squadron was packed off to england for training when it was noted that there was a serve shortage of experienced. To all personnel that have served on 75 squadron rnzaf, the 75 squadron association has been an integral part of ensuring the history of this famous unit is preserved for all time. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the south west pacific theatre of world war ii, operating p40 kittyhawks, it was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the following year and operated jet aircraft throughout the cold war. Thanks john for the 152 sqn link, the 617 was allready in my list. Air power studies centre raaf base fairbairn act 2600 australia telephone.
Other units followed, including the usaafs 27 th bomb. History 75 squadron raaf march april 1942 kittyhawk. Equipped with canberra pr mk 7s, it moved to bruggen in june 1957 and remained there until disbanding on 28 september 1969. The 3 squadron website holds a wide variety of history articles, anecdotes and photos. Brilliantly researched and sympathetically told, 44 days is more than just a fitting tribute to brave but overlooked heroes. 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. The royal australian air force was formed in 1921 and since then has been involved in all major conflicts involving australians. The squadron was formed under the australian flying corps in 1916 and saw action in the sinai and palestine campaigns during world war i. The story of the authors experience with 75 squadron, raaf during world war 2. Squadron leader john jackson was killed in action whilst leading a small group of australian fighter pilots of no 75 squadron defending port moresby against a massive japanese air threat in a 44 day period in early 1942. 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. No 75 new zealand squadron formed as a home defence unit at goldington on 1 october 1916, it was tasked with the defence of the bedfordshire area.
Conditions at milne bay were extremely difficult as the. And the subject of this video is 75 squadron royal australian air force join me on facebook, for more social. It was formed under the command of lieutenant colonel e h reynolds. They would return to new guinea in august 1942 where they and 76 f sqn would defend a forward position codenamed falls creek, then located. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the south west pacific theatre of world war ii, operating p40 kittyhawks. As with revells earlier book on 56 squadron, firsthand accounts, many from personal acquaintances of the authors, abound in no 60 sqn rfcraf. Apr 24, 2015 over the last week i have been working, and this video is my contribution to anzac day. On 21 march the squadrons first four kittyhawk aircraft landed at the seven mile strip, port moresby. In 1962 the squadron was reformed and was based at fairbairn air base, outside canberra. The australian war memorial displays the complete set of 3 squadron afc war diaries from the first world war. Although members of the squadron are required to pass the same selection and training as the australian armys commandos, the squadron is not formally part of the australian. This was the first commonwealth squadron to be so created in the second world war. The majority of ground personnel and some flying personnel to be drawn from no.
March 1942 were dire times for australia, with bombs falling on darwin, these brave and barely trained pilots fought a desperate battle at australias frontline. The squadron was the first squadron to drop bombs in ww2 on 4 sep 1939, in antishipping sorties at brunsbuttel. In 1991 to commemorate the squadrons 75th anniversary. A28 was painted in this special scheme which can be seen on the aircraft today. Most of my information comes straight from the operational record books orbs for 75 nz squadron.
Includes the names of the pilots and ground staff, who were. A new chapter in the squadrons history began in may 1945, when it returned to the colerne, where it reequipped with the meteor f mk 3 and together with no 616 and no 504 squadrons formed the rafs first jet fighter wing. The squadron was formed in 1917 as a training unit of the australian flying corps in britain, readying pilots for service on the western front. It had flown more sorties and suffered more casualties than any other in the european theatre. Led by squadron leader peter jeffrey, it moved to weir strip near townsville in midapril to continue training. Raaf units included 2 air ambulance unit and 34 squadron. So do color profiles, with 28 covering a variety of aircraft, including four s. It entered service with the royal australian air force at a time when japanese invasion seemed imminent a later variant of the beaufort was of course the beaufighter.
In september 1942 the wellingtons were replaced by the lancaster bomber and ix b squadron moved to waddington. On saturday 8th april 2017, the 75th anniversary of the formation of 18 nei squadron, raaf was commemorated at hangar 52, classic jets fighter museum, parafield airport, sa. Raaf personnel and ops history research tips 3 squadron. It was formed in june 1943, flying curtiss p40 kittyhawks and, initially, bell p39 airacobras from bases in queensland and new guinea. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. None in stock at banner books but available from alexander fax books, canberra. No 2 sqn based at amberley in queensland began replacing their lincoln heavy bombers with the new australian built canberra mk20s in december of 1953, by the end of 1954 they were a fully operational squadron. Daily telegraphin march and april 1942, raaf 75 squadron bravely defended port moresby for 44 days when australia truly stood alone against the japanese. The raaf airfield construction squadrons 19421974 david wilson. In writing this book on the life and service of wilbur wackett, i owe a great debt of. Over the last week i have been working, and this video is my contribution to anzac day.
The event on saturday 8th april 2017, the 75th anniversary of the formation of 18 nei squadron, raaf was commemorated at hangar 52, classic jets fighter museum, parafield airport, sa. On 4 april 1940, the new zealand squadron was renamed no. This group of raw young recruits scrambled ceaselessly in their kittyhawk fighters to an extraordinary and heroic battle, the story of which has been left largely untold. The drome became a raaf base on 3rd july 1941 and on 22nd december that year the first missions against the japanese from australian soil were flown by b17 flying fortresses of the 19 th bomb group usaaf when they bombed the japanese in the philippines. Richmond nsw dec 20 the total strength of 38 sqn 14 officers 87. Simpson and duffy ww1 australian hero gallipoli childrens book not only a hero. No 4 squadron, royal australian air force boot camp. The squadron was created when, in a unique gesture, the squadron number, colours and battle honours were transferred to the rnzaf in 1946. This squadron was formed in march 1942 at townsville, and went to new guinea within two weeks, so desperate was the war situation at the time. It is located at raaf base amberley, queensland, and controlled by no.
The british national archives make us a nice christmas present. And the subject of this video is 75 squadron royal australian. Australias famous no 75 squadron had returned to milne bay in january 1943. From march 1939 until april 1940, the squadron acted as a training squadron, before becoming part of no. It operates boeing c17 globemaster iii heavy airlifters from raaf base amberley, queensland. This group of raw young recruits scrambled ceaselessly in their kittyhawk fighters to an. This site is for those that served on the four 75 squadrons, their families and supporters. During november 1999, three p47s and two p38s were dug up at finchafen. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the following year and operated jet aircraft throughout the cold war. The groups motto is preserving yesterdays history for tomorrow, but has no museum location, website or any facility open to the public. In april 1943 the squadron moved to bardney and took part in bomber commands strategic offensive against german targets. Finschafen recoveries in 1998, with an export permit granted to 75 squadron by the png museum for wartime scrap in the finchafen area. Initially equipped with be2cs, it soon received be12s and from january 1917 be2es. Several of our dedicated veterans have been researching the aircraft, the stationsbases and the people from 1916 until 2001, and in many areas the.
As with molkentins previous ww1 aviation history books, this work leaves the. Together up there history of 549 raf raaf squadron in northern australia during wwii by v. It was formed from the rafs world war ii bomber squadron, no. The book is hardcover, with dustjacket, 190x270mm, 222 pages, 4 appendices, 65 photos, 4 maps, and includes 8 full colour side views of aircraft by artist juanita franzi. In celebration of the 70 th anniversary of the establishment of 75 squadron, a28 was painted in this special scheme which can be seen on the aircraft today. On 21 march the squadron s first four kittyhawk aircraft landed at the seven mile strip, port moresby. This book tells the story, largely unknown or forgotten today, of this extraordinary air campaign which literally saved australia. Richmond nsw nov 07 the first aircraft delivered to 38 sqn was a164 a hudson. Raf and raaf orbs available on the web new version. The raaf airfield construction squadrons 19421974 david. In celebration of the 70 th anniversary of the establishment of 75 squadron. As way of background information for the site i have thought about and have begun trying to list the aircraft, with the crews that flew in them either to dispatch from the squadron or. In march and april 1942, raaf 75 squadron bravely defended port moresby for 44 days when australia truly stood alone against the japanese. His books include the critically acclaimed accounts of australian airmen in world war ii, 44 days, heroes of the skies, fly, flak and barney greatrex.
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