No. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron RAAF | ||
---|---|---|
Trainer CAC Wirraway (1942) | Ryan ST (1942) |
No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter squadron of World War II. Equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters, it was formed in England during June 1941 under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The squadron was transferred to Australia in June 1942 and saw combat in the South West Pacific Area before being disbanded in November 1945.
The squadron saw combat against both Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan during the war. From March to May 1942 it was based in southern England and flew missions over German-occupied France during which it shot down at least five Luftwaffe aircraft. After being deployed to Australia, No. 457 Squadron was based near Darwin as part of No. 1 Wing RAAF and intercepted several Japanese raids on Allied bases in northern Australia between March and November 1943. The squadron remained at Darwin and saw almost no combat during 1944, but moved to Morotai and later Labuan in 1945 from where it attacked Japanese positions in the Netherlands East Indies and Borneo as part of Allied offensives in these areas.
History
Britain
No. 457 Squadron was formed at
In March 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Redhill, Surrey where it assumed No. 452 Squadron's front line duties as part of No. 11 Group RAF. These included shipping protection patrols, escorting bombers, conducting fighter sweeps over northern France and contributing to the air defence of southern England.[9] Fighter Command had received authorisation to launch a full-scale offensive campaign against German air units shortly before No. 457 Squadron arrived at Redhill, and it became part of this effort.[11] The squadron first saw action on 26 March when Brothers shot down a Bf 109 during a multi-squadron fighter sweep over France, though one of its Spitfires was lost in this action. By the end of its first week of operations No. 457 Squadron had shot down three German aircraft and inflicted damage on several others and it went on to conduct 32 operations over German territory by 26 April.[9] These operations often encountered fierce opposition, and German Fw 190 fighters proved superior to the Spitfire Mark Vs that No. 457 Squadron was equipped with. The squadron scored its last victory over Europe on 29 April, though fighter sweeps over France continued until almost the end of May.[8]
On 28 May 1942 British Prime Minister
Darwin
The Stirling Castle arrived at Melbourne on 13 August. After being given 14 days leave the squadron's personnel reassembled at Richmond, New South Wales on 6 September.[13] On 7 October it became part of No. 1 Wing RAAF along with No. 54 and No. 452 Squadrons.[14] Most of the Spitfires intended for the wing had been diverted to the Middle East during the voyage to Australia, however, and the squadron initially only had CAC Wirraway and Ryan ST aircraft for training purposes.[8][13] No. 457 Squadron was fully equipped with Spitfires by November and moved to Camden on the 7th of the month where it continued an intensive training program. In December the squadron was informed that it would be deployed to Darwin in the Northern Territory to counter the Japanese air raids against the town. The squadron's advance party departed on 31 December, and the main body followed by sea on 12 January 1943. No. 457 Squadron commenced air operations from Batchelor Airfield on 20 January and moved to Livingstone Airfield on the last day of the month.[13]
No. 457 Squadron first saw combat against the Japanese in March 1943. Although the squadron was scrambled a number of times in February, it did not claim its first "kill" until 7 March when two Spitfires shot down a
On 2 May No. 1 Wing responded to a major Japanese raid on Darwin. In the resulting air battle No. 457 Squadron shot down one fighter and claimed another two "probables", but lost two Spitfires.[8] Overall, the RAAF suffered 14 Spitfires destroyed or damaged while claiming only six "kills", and the operation was not considered a success.[16] Seven days later No. 457 Squadron deployed a detachment of six Spitfires to Milingimbi Island after the island's airfield was attacked. This detachment intercepted Japanese raids on 10 and 28 May, shooting down two Zeros and two Bettys for the loss of three Spitfires.[17] The squadron also continued to take part in operations over the Darwin region, seeing combat on a number of occasions. During the last major battle near the town on 6 July No. 457 Squadron shot down a Zero and damaged five Bettys, but lost three Spitfires.[18]
Japanese air activity over northern Australia dropped away after 6 July, and No. 457 Squadron saw little further combat. As a result, the squadron's personnel suffered greatly from boredom.[18] No. 457 Squadron scored its next "kills" on 17 August, when its aircraft shot down three of the four Dinahs sent over Darwin that day; the fourth was destroyed by No. 1 Wing's acting commander, Wing Commander Clive Caldwell.[19] The squadron shot down another two Dinahs on 20 August.[18] On 7 September No. 1 Wing intercepted a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft escorted by 20 fighters. In the ensuing battle No. 457 Squadron shot down four Zeros without loss.[20] On 4 November No. 457 Squadron deployed six Spitfires to Drysdale River Mission Airfield, and two days later they intercepted and damaged a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron maintained a detachment at Drysdale River Mission until December, when No. 54 Squadron assumed this duty.[21] During the early hours of 12 November three No. 457 Squadron Spitfires were part of a force which intercepted a raid on Darwin. No. 457 Squadron pilot Flying Officer John Smithson made the only interception and destroyed two Betty bombers.[22]
The attack on 12 November was the final Japanese raid on the Darwin area.
Morotai and Labuan
On 1 July 1944 No. 452 and No. 457 Squadrons were transferred to the newly formed
No. 457 Squadron's movement to Morotai was delayed until early 1945. The squadron's ground crew departed Darwin by sea on 18 January and arrived on the island on 1 February.[25] The Spitfires departed Sattler on 6 February and arrived at Morotai two days later. No. 457 Squadron flew its first operations from Morotai on 10 February.[30] The squadron's main roles in this period were to conduct ground attack missions against Japanese camps and shipping as well as escorting other aircraft engaged in attacking these targets. This involved a heavy workload, and the squadron flew over 293 operational sorties between February and the end of April. From May No. 457 Squadron's Spitfires began using dive bombing tactics as well as strafing targets with their guns.[31]
No. 457 Squadron participated in the
Following the Japanese surrender No. 457 Squadron initially remained at Labuan. During this period it flew security patrols as well as training exercises and air tests. The squadron's serviceable aircraft left Labuan on 9 October for Oakey, Queensland and arrived there on the last day of the month. No. 457 Squadron was officially disbanded at Labuan on 7 November 1945.[32] Following the war the squadron was awarded the battle honours "Fortress Europe, 1940–1944", "Pacific, 1941–1945", "Darwin, 1941–1944", "Morotai", "Borneo, 1945" and "Defence of Britain, 1940–1945".[35]
Aircraft operated
No. 457 Squadron operated the following aircraft:[13][36][37][38]
From | To | Aircraft | Version |
---|---|---|---|
June 1941 | September 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.I |
September 1941 | February 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IIa |
December 1941 | May 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
September 1942 | November 1942 | CAC Wirraway | |
September 1942 | November 1942 | Ryan ST | |
September 1942 | July 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vc |
July 1944 | October 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.VIII |
Squadron bases
No. 457 Squadron operated from the following bases and airfields:[36][37][38]
From | To | Base | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
16 June 1941 | 7 August 1941 | RAF Baginton, Warwickshire | |
7 August 1941 | 3 October 1941 | RAF Jurby, Isle of Man | |
3 October 1941 | 23 March 1942 | RAF Andreas, Isle of Man | |
23 March 1942 | 31 May 1942 | RAF Redhill, Surrey | |
31 May 1942 | 18 June 1942 | RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey , Lincolnshire |
|
18 June 1942 | 13 August 1942 | en route to Australia | |
13 August 1942 | 6 September 1942 | Victoria |
|
6 September 1942 | 7 November 1942 | RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales | |
7 November 1942 | 18 January 1943 | Camden Airfield , New South Wales |
|
18 January 1943 | 31 January 1943 | Batchelor Airfield, Northern Territory | |
31 January 1943 | 10 January 1944 | Livingstone Airfield, Northern Territory | Dets. at Drysdale River Mision, Western Australia and Millingimbi, Northern Territory |
10 January 1944 | 19 January 1944 | Sattler Airfield, Northern Territory | |
19 January 1944 | 11 March 1944 | Livingstone Airfield, Northern Territory | |
11 March 1944 | 25 March 1944 | RAAF Station Guildford, Western Australia | |
25 March 1944 | 10 May 1944 | Livingstone Airfield, Northern Territory | |
10 May 1944 | 24 May 1944 | en route to Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia | |
24 May 1944 | 6 February 1945 | Sattler, Northern Territory | Dets. at RAAF Learmonth , Western Australiaand Drysdale River Mission, Western Australia |
8 February 1945 | 5 June 1945 | Netherlands East Indies |
|
5 June 1945 | 7 November 1945 | Labuan, Malaysia |
Commanding officers
No. 457 Squadron was commanded by the following officers:[35][36]
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
20 June 1941 | May 1942 | Squadron Leader P.M Brothers
|
4 June 1942 | 2 February 1944 | Squadron Leader K.E. James |
2 February 1944 | 27 November 1944 | Squadron Leader T.H. Trimble |
27 November 1944 | 31 August 1945 | Squadron Leader B.D. Watson |
31 August 1945 | 7 November 1945 | Flight Lieutenant D.H. Maclean
|
Notes
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 23.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 65.
- ^ a b Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 133.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 143.
- ^ Eather 1995, p. 113.
- ^ Herington 1954, pp. 129–130.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 138.
- ^ a b c d e Eather 1995, p. 114.
- ^ a b c d e RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 139.
- ^ Herington 1954, p. 131.
- ^ Herington 1954, p. 345.
- ^ Gillison 1962, pp. 563–564, 650
- ^ a b c d e f RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 140.
- ^ Alexander 2006, p. 102.
- ^ Alexander 2006, p. 118.
- ^ Alexander 2006, pp. 123–124.
- ^ Thomas 2009, pp. 15–16.
- ^ a b c Eather 1995, p. 115.
- ^ Alexander 2006, pp. 148–150.
- ^ Odgers 1968, pp. 110–111.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 141.
- ^ a b Odgers 1968, p. 118.
- ^ Thomas 2009, p. 26.
- ^ Odgers 1968, pp. 136–139.
- ^ a b c d e RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 142.
- ^ Odgers 1968, p. 229.
- ^ Thomas 2009, p. 77.
- ^ Alexander 2006, p. 163.
- ^ Alexander 2006, p. 166.
- ^ Odgers 1968, p. 396.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section 1995, pp. 142–143.
- ^ a b c RAAF Historical Section 1995, p. 143.
- ^ Waters 1995, p. 110.
- ^ Odgers 1968, p. 472.
- ^ a b c "457 Squadron RAAF". Units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ a b c Rawlings 1978, p. 449.
- ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 478.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, pp. 94–95.
References
- Alexander, Kristen (2006). Clive Caldwell, Air Ace. St. Leonards: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-74114-705-0.
- Bowyer, John D.R.; Rawlings, Michael J.F. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek: 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: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Gillison, Douglas (1962). Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 1. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 2000369.
- 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.
- Herington, John (1954). Air War Against Germany and Italy, 1939–1943. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. III (1st ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 3633363.
- Jefford, ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- OCLC 246580191.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Vol. 2: Fighter Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42794-9.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1978). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Thomas, Andrew (2009). Spitfire Aces of Burma and the Pacific. Osprey Aircraft of the Aces. Botley: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-422-0.
- Waters, Gary (1995). OBOE – Air Operations Over Borneo 1945. Canberra: Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-22590-7.
Further reading
- Grant, Jim; Phil Listemann (2008). No.457 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, 1941–1945; Spitfire. France: RAF-in-Combat.COM. ISBN 978-2-9526381-2-8.
- Smith, Frank; Geoffrey Pentland (1971). Spitfire Markings of the RAAF: Pacific Area 1942–45, part 1. Dandenong, Victoria, Australia: Kookaburra Technical Publications. ISBN 0-85880-001-2.
- Smith, Frank; Peter Malone (1971). Spitfire Markings of the RAAF: Pacific Area 1944–45, part 2. Dandenong, Victoria, Australia: Kookaburra Technical Publications. ISBN 0-85880-007-1.