No. 455 Squadron RAAF
No. 455 Squadron RAAF | ||
---|---|---|
Battle honours[4] English Channel and North Sea, 1939–1945 | Baltic, 1939–1945 Fortress Europe, 1940–1944 France and Germany, 1944–1945 Ruhr, 1940–1945 Berlin, 1940–1945 German Ports, 1940–1945 Normandy, 1944 Arctic, 1940–1945 Russia, 1941–1945 | |
Insignia | ||
Squadron badge heraldry | In front of two battle axes in saltire a winged helmet[1][2][3] | |
Squadron codes | UB (Jun 1941 – Aug 1943, Jul 1944 – May 1945)[5][6] 2 (Aug 1943 – Jul 1944)[7] | |
Aircraft flown | ||
Attack | Bristol Beaufighter | |
Bomber | Handley Page Hampden |
No. 455 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) torpedo bomber squadron during World War II and became famous as part of the "ANZAC Strike Wing" that was formed from Australian and New Zealand squadrons. Raised in early 1941, mainly from Australian personnel, the squadron served over Europe during the war, operating from various bases in the United Kingdom; it also briefly sent a detachment to the Soviet Union in 1942. Operating Handley Page Hampdens and Bristol Beaufighters, the squadron mainly undertook anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations during the war. It was disbanded in May 1945 following the cessation of hostilities against Germany.
History
No. 455 Squadron was formed on 23 May 1941 as an
The squadron received Hampden bombers and the bulk of the Australian personnel arrived on 1 September 1941, having departed Australia on 15 June. Initially assigned to No. 5 Group RAF, Bomber Command in a bomber role,[4] its first operation took place while the squadron was still forming, when a single Hampden attacked Frankfurt at night on 29 August.[8] In doing so, according to the Australian War Memorial, the squadron had the distinction of becoming the "first Australian squadron to bomb Germany".[4] Following this, the squadron increased its operational tempo, undertaking several mine laying operations off the coast of occupied France, as well attacking industrial targets in Germany.[8]
In February 1942, the squadron took part in an unsuccessful attack on the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, before being re-roled as a torpedo-bomber squadron and transferred to RAF Coastal Command on 26 April 1942.[4]
In
No. 455 Squadron continued to be employed in largely uneventful anti-shipping and anti-submarine patrols during this time. On 28 January 1943 seven aircraft from Nos. 455 and
In October 1944, the squadron moved to
Aircraft operated
No. 455 Squadron RAAF operated the following aircraft:[3][10][11]
From | To | Aircraft | Version |
---|---|---|---|
July 1941 | April 1942 | Handley Page Hampden | B.Mk.I |
April 1942 | December 1943 | Handley Page Hampden | TB.Mk.I |
December 1943 | May 1945 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.X |
Squadron bases
No. 455 Squadron RAAF operated from the following bases and airfields:[3][10][11]
From | To | Base | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
23 May 1941 | 15 June 1941 | Williamtown, New South Wales | Australian formation |
15 June 1941 | 1 September 1941 | en route to the UK | |
6 June 1941 | 8 February 1942 | RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire | UK formation |
8 February 1942 | 28 April 1942 | RAF Wigsley, Nottinghamshire | |
28 April 1942 | 14 April 1944 | RAF Leuchars, Fife, Scotland | Dets. at , Caithness, Scotland |
14 April 1944 | 20 October 1944 | RAF Langham, Norfolk | Dets. at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex and RAF Manston, Kent |
20 October 1944 | 25 May 1945 | RAF Dallachy, Moray, Scotland |
Commanding officers
No. 455 Squadron was commanded by the following officers:[4][11]
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
23 May 1941 | Squadron Leader J.H.W. Lawson (acting)
| |
1 July 1941 | Wing Commander D.J. French
| |
1 July 1941 | 12 December 1941 | Wing Commander J.E.C.G.F Gyll-Murray |
12 December 1941 | 6 February 1943 | Wing Commander G.M. Lindeman |
6 February 1943 | 29 November 1943 | Wing Commander R. Holmes |
29 November 1943 | 23 October 1944 | Wing Commander J.N. Davenport, DSO, DFC & Bar |
23 October 1944 | 25 May 1945 | Wing Commander C.G. Milson, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar |
References
Notes
- ^ a b Moyes 1976, p. 252.
- ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 213.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 477.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "No. 455 Squadron RAAF". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 100.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 109.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 128.
- ^ a b c d Eather 1995, p. 111.
- ^ a b c d Eather 1995, p. 112.
- ^ a b Moyes 1976, p. 253.
- ^ a b c Rawlings 1982, p. 214.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Gordon, Ian (1995). Strike and Strike Again: 455 Squadron RAAF. Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory: Banner Books. ISBN 1-875593-09-8.
- 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). RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976) [1964]. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Raebel, Geoffrey W. (1997). The RAAF in Russia: 455 Squadron, 1942. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 0-9586693-5-X.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.