No. 42 Squadron RAAF
No. 42 Squadron RAAF | ||
---|---|---|
Active | 1944–1945 | |
Country | Australia | |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force | |
Role | Mine laying; maritime patrol | |
Engagements | World War II | |
Insignia | ||
Squadron code | RK Patrol PBY Catalina | |
No. 42 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) mine laying and maritime patrol squadron of World War II formed in June 1944. It conducted patrol and mine-laying operations over the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) from August 1944 until the war ended a year later. It also conducted operations in the waters off southern China in early 1945. Following the Japanese surrender, the squadron performed transport and reconnaissance flights until it was disbanded in November 1945.
History
No. 42 Squadron was formed at Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory on 1 June 1944.[2] In early July, the squadron's 50 personnel moved to Melville Bay aboard USS John Owen, arriving there on the 11th of the month. During July, No. 42 Squadron was expanded to a strength of 300 personnel, and it received its PBY Catalina flying boats and further personnel in August. The unit conducted its first operation on 27 August when three Catalinas flew patrols searching for shipping.[2]
During 1944 RAAF Catalinas based in northern Australia conducted a highly successful minelaying campaign against Japanese shipping in the NEI, which formed part of the North Western Area Campaign. In order to expand this campaign, Air Vice Marshal William Bostock, the commander of RAAF Command, ordered the Catalina-equipped No. 20, No. 42 and No. 43 Squadrons be assigned solely to minelaying under the command of No. 76 Wing.[3]
No. 42 Squadron commenced minelaying operations in September 1944, laying mines off
In January and February 1945, No. 42 Squadron and the other units of No. 76 Wing focused on laying mines off Surabaya and the Laoet Straits.[4][6] One of the squadron's Catalinas was forced to make an emergency sea landing on 14 January after being damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft fire, but its crew was rescued by an aircraft from No. 43 Squadron.[4] From March to May detachments of No. 42 Squadron aircraft laid mines off the coast of southern China and Formossa as part of a No. 76 Wing offensive in this area; these operations were conducted from Jinamoc Seaplane Base in Leyte Gulf with the aircraft refueling at Lingayen Gulf in Luzon while en route to their targets.[4][7] During June No. 42 Squadron aircraft flying from Jinamoc Island via a refueling base which had been established at Brunei Bay laid mines off Sumatra while some of its other Catalinas mined Surabaya.[8] Following this, the squadron's aircraft were mainly used to conduct harassment raids on Japanese air bases in south-west Celebes, though they also attacked shipping in the Flores Sea and Banda Sea.[8]
No. 42 Squadron assisted in the repatriation of Australian
Notes
- ^ "RAAF Squadron Codes". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ a b c RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 77
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 365
- ^ a b c d e f RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 78
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 366
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 369
- ^ Odgers (1968), pp. 370–372
- ^ a b c d RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 79
- ^ Eather (1995), p. 79
References
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
- OCLC 246580191.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Volume 4 Maritime and Transport Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42796-5.
External links
- No. 42 Squadron. "Operations Record Book – Forms A50 and A51 Number 42 Squadron Jun 44 – Oct 45". Record Search. National Archives of Australia.
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