Eastern Area Command (RAAF)
Eastern Area Command | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–53 |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Role | Air defence Aerial reconnaissance Protection of adjacent sea lanes |
Garrison/HQ | Sydney (1942–49) Glenbrook (1949–53) |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | William Anderson (1942–43) Alan Charlesworth (1943–44, 1946) Leon Lachal (1945, 1946–47) Frank Lukis (1945–46) Frank Bladin (1947–48) John McCauley (1949–53) |
Eastern Area Command was one of several geographically based commands raised by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II. It was formed in May 1942, and controlled units located in New South Wales and southern Queensland. Headquartered in Sydney, Eastern Area Command's responsibilities included air defence, aerial reconnaissance and protection of the sea lanes within its boundaries. Its flying units operated fighters, reconnaissance bombers, and dive bombers, and concentrated on convoy escort, maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. The size of the area was such that the RAAF twice considered splitting it, but nothing came of this.
The area command continued to function after the war, its headquarters transferring from Sydney to
History
World War II
Prior to World War II, the
Central Area was disbanded in August 1941, and its responsibilities were divided between Southern Area, Northern Area, and the newly formed
Headquartered in the
Of geographical necessity, the RAAF's two northerly area commands were mainly responsible for bombing and air defence, while the other commands focussed on
Japanese submarine activity off the east coast peaked during April and May 1943, leading to a further expansion of the RAAF's convoy escort and patrol efforts.[16] As part of the measures undertaken to increase air coverage during this period, transit flights were ordered to overfly shipping lanes whenever possible.[17] At the end of April, Eastern Area headquarters staff numbered 630, including 105 officers.[18] Bristol Beauforts of No. 32 Squadron were credited with damaging a Japanese submarine on 19 June, but neither the RAAF nor the Royal Australian Navy was able to destroy any enemy submarines in coastal waters during 1943.[19] The efforts of the two services within the region Eastern Area covered were hampered by poor liaison and command arrangements, as well as the RAAF placing a relatively low priority on protecting merchant shipping.[20]
Anderson handed over command of Eastern Area to Air Commodore John Summers in July 1943.
Air Commodore Alan Charlesworth was appointed AOC Eastern Area in December 1943.[21] Japanese submarine activity had decreased in the months prior to Charlesworth taking command, and he was concerned that Allied ships were becoming complacent. He observed "a general slackening off in procedure; ships are seldom where they should be, and a minority of merchant ships identify themselves to aircraft". The RAAF's patrols had also settled into a predictable pattern that an observant submarine captain could easily avoid.[26][27] Charlesworth relinquished command in September 1944 to take over North-Western Area.[28][29] In December, aircraft from Eastern Area took part in the search for the German submarine U-862, but could not prevent it sinking the Liberty ship Robert J. Walker on Christmas; a Beaufort of No. 15 Squadron, based at Camden, located the wreck. No. 32 Squadron lost a Beaufort with its crew shortly after takeoff from Lowood during the search for U-862, which was called off in January 1945.[30][31] That month, Air Commodore Leon Lachal became AOC Eastern Area, and held command for the duration of the Pacific War.[28]
Post-war activity and reorganisation
On 2 September 1945, following the end of the Pacific War, South West Pacific Area was dissolved and the Air Board again assumed full control of all its operational elements.[32] According to the official history of the post-war Air Force, the AOC Eastern Area was considered "Australia's senior operational airman" and delegated by the Chief of the Air Staff with day-to-day responsibility for the nation's air defence.[33] Most of the RAAF's bases and aircraft employed in operations were situated within Eastern Area's sphere of control in New South Wales and southern Queensland.[34] Air Commodore Frank Lukis succeeded Lachal as AOC in December 1945. By the end of the month, headquarters staff numbered 1,122, including 104 officers.[35] No. 82 (Bomber) Wing came under the control of Eastern Area Command in April 1946, when it moved to RAAF Station Amberley, Queensland; initially operating B-24 Liberators, the wing re-equipped with Avro Lincolns soon after.[36][37] By this time Eastern Area headquarters occupied seven mansions in Point Piper, Sydney; it subsequently relocated to Bradfield Park.[38][39] Lukis retired from the Air Force in May, and Charlesworth took over command.[40][41]
In July–August 1946, Eastern Area Command oversaw the establishment of No. 86 (Transport) Wing, operating C-47 Dakotas, at RAAF Station Schofields, New South Wales, displacing No. 78 (Fighter) Wing, which moved to RAAF Station Williamtown, and began operating P-51 Mustangs.[42] The following month, Air Vice Marshal Jones proposed reducing the five mainland area commands (North-Western, North-Eastern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Areas) to three: Northern Area, covering Queensland and the Northern Territory; Eastern Area, covering New South Wales; and Southern Area, covering Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. The proposal was part of a much larger plan to restructure the post-war RAAF; the Federal government rejected the plan and the wartime area command boundaries largely remained in place.[43][44] Lachal succeeded Charlesworth as AOC Eastern Area in October, and held command until his retirement from the Air Force in July 1947.[45][46]
Lachal's successor as AOC Eastern Area, Air Vice Marshal
The Federal government retired Air Marshal Jones in 1952 and replaced him with Air Marshal
Aftermath
The functional commands established in 1953–54 were revised in 1959. Home Command was renamed
Orders of battle
April 1943
As at April 1943, Eastern Area controlled the following flying squadrons:[13]
- Kingaroy, Queensland
- No. 23 Squadron, equipped with Wirraways, based at Lowood, Queensland
- Bankstown, New South Wales
- No. 32 Squadron, equipped with Lockheed Hudsons, based at Camden, New South Wales
- No. 71 Squadron, equipped with Avro Ansons, based at Lowood
- Nowra, New South Wales
- No. 83 Squadron, equipped with Wirraways, based at Strathpine, Queensland
May 1944
As at May 1944, Eastern Area controlled the following flying squadrons:[64]
- No. 11 Squadron, equipped with Consolidated PBY Catalinas, based at Rathmines, New South Wales
- Vultee Vengeances, based at Camden, New South Wales
- No. 32 Squadron, equipped with Bristol Beauforts, based at Lowood
- Vought Kingfishers, based at St. George's Basin, New South Wales
Notes
- ^ a b Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 111–112
- ^ a b "Organising for War: The RAAF Air Campaigns in the Pacific" (PDF). Pathfinder. No. 121. Air Power Development Centre. October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ a b Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 91–92
- ^ Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 112
- ^ Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 311
- ^ a b Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One, pp. xxi, 134–135
- ^ Eastern Area Headquarters, Operations Record Book, p. 1
- ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume Two, p. 212
- ^ Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 585–588
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 4–6
- ^ a b Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 144–145
- ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 221–222
- ^ a b Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 141
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 140
- ^ Wilson, The Eagle and the Albatross, pp. 73–74
- ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 237
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 148
- ^ Eastern Area Headquarters, Operations Record Book, p. 319
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 152–153
- ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 241
- ^ a b Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One, p. 303
- ^ "Summers, John Hamilton". World War 2 Nominal Roll. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ Dennis et al, The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History, p. 412
- ^ "Lancaster bomber made illegal pass under Sydney Harbour Bridge". Air Power Development Centre. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One, pp. 214–217, 227–228
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 349
- ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 258
- ^ a b Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One, p. 304
- ^ "New Air Member for Personnel". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 September 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, pp. 269–272
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 350–351
- ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One, p. 262
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 344
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 72–73
- ^ Eastern Area Headquarters, Operations Record Book, pp. 1101, 1105
- ^ Bennett, Highest Traditions, pp. 250–251
- ^ "Order of Battle – Air Force – Headquarters". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ^ "RAAF units for Bradfield". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 May 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "RAAF to leave Point Piper". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 June 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "Lukis, Francis William Fellowes". World War 2 Nominal Roll. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ "All Air Force cottages seized". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 June 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters (1943–59). Operations Record Book. RAAF Unit History sheets. National Archives of Australia. pp. 106–108. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Helson, The Private Air Marshal, pp. 321–325
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 68, 462
- The Newcastle Herald. 25 October 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ "Lachal, Leon Victor". World War 2 Nominal Roll. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ a b c Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 69–71
- ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 246–247
- ^ "RAAF wing takes over a new important job". The Examiner. Launceston, Tasmania: National Library of Australia. 20 April 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 202–203
- ^ "DHA Vampire". RAAF Museum. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "Re-equipping bomber wing". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 20 May 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Sir Donald Hardman's Reorganisation of the RAAF" (PDF). Pathfinder. No. 106. Air Power Development Centre. March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 73–76, 462–463
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 76–77
- ^ Dennis et al, The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History, pp. 150–151
- ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 307
- ^ "Program 6: Support Command" (PDF). Defence Annual Report 1997–98. Department of Defence. 1998. p. 224. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Horner, Making the Australian Defence Force, pp. 278–279
- ^ "Air Force Training Group". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Air Command". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ Gogler, We Never Disappoint, p. 105
References
- Ashworth, Norman (2000). How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One – Narrative (PDF). Canberra: RAAF Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-26550-X.
- Ashworth, Norman (2000). How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume Two – Documents (PDF). Canberra: RAAF Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-26551-8.
- Bennett, John (1995). Highest Traditions: The History of No. 2 Squadron, RAAF (PDF). Canberra: ISBN 0-644-35230-2.
- Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
- Eastern Area Headquarters (1942–45). Operations Record Book. RAAF Unit History Sheets. Canberra: National Archives of Australia.
- Gillison, Douglas (1962). Australia in the War of 1939–1945: Series Three (Air) Volume I – Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942. Canberra: OCLC 2000369.
- Gogler, Kevin (2012). We Never Disappoint: A History of 7 Squadron RAAF 1940–1945 (PDF). Canberra: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 978-1-920800-68-0.
- Helson, Peter (2010). The Private Air Marshal (PDF). Canberra: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 978-1-920800-50-5.
- ISBN 978-0-19-554117-5.
- OCLC 246580191.
- Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971 (PDF). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42803-1.
- Stephens, Alan (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-555541-4.
- Stevens, David (2005). A Critical Vulnerability: The Impact of the Submarine Threat on Australia's Maritime Defence 1915–1954 (PDF). Canberra: Sea Power Centre – Australia. ISBN 0-642-29625-1.
- Wilson, David (2003). The Eagle and the Albatross: Australian Aerial Maritime Operations 1921–1971 (PhD thesis). Sydney: University of New South Wales.