No. 548 Squadron RAF
No. 548 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 15 Dec 1943 – 31 Oct 1945[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Insignia | |
Squadron Codes | TS (Apr 1944 – Oct 1945)[2][3] |
No. 548 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1943 to 1945.
History
The squadron was formed at
Only two offensive operations were undertaken by the squadron before the Japanese surrender. A sweep was conducted over
Disbandment
There has been confusion regarding when the squadron disbanded. According to some sources, the squadron was disbanded at
The squadron's Personnel Occurrence Reports (POR) show that the squadron was wound down during September 1945, when RAAF ground staff were either posted to other units or demobilised.[8] The squadron's RAF pilots meanwhile ferried their aircraft out of the Northern Territory and were posted to Melbourne, mostly during the period 16-23 September, and given permission to "live out" while the RAF organised for their return home to the United Kingdom.[9] The squadron's final POR, dated 2 October 1945, notes that the last member, Flying Officer I. H. Lance, RAAF, a ground staff officer who was likely the Adjutant, was posted to another squadron with effect from 3 October.[10] It would appear therefore that the disbandment process was completed on 3 October 1945, six days ahead of the scheduled date of 9 October.
Aircraft operated
From | To | Aircraft | Version | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
December 1943 | April 1944 | CAC Wirraway | For training | |
December 1943 | April 1944 | de Havilland Tiger Moth | For training | |
April 1944 | October 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.VIII | Tropicalised |
Squadron bases
From | To | Base | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
15 December 1943 | 19 January 1944 | Lawnton Airfield, Queensland | |
19 January 1944 | 25 May 1944 | Strathpine , Queensland |
|
25 May 1944 | 15 June 1944 | RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland | Det. at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland |
15 June 1944 | 22 October 1944 | Livingstone Airfield, Northern Territory | Dets. at Strauss Airfield, Northern Territory and at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia |
22 October 1944 | 23 September 1945 | Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Darwin, Northern Territory | Det. at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia |
Commanding officers
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
January 1944 | July 1944 | S/Ldr. W.H.A. Wright
|
July 1944 | February 1945 | S/Ldr. R.A. Watts |
February 1945 | October 1945 | S/Ldr. E.D. Glaser |
See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d Jefford 2001, p. 98.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 99.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 108.
- ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 409.
- ^ RAF – Squadron history.
- ^ a b c d e Rawlings 1978, p. 467.
- ^ 548 Squadron Operations Record Book, page 226, National Archives of Australia, Series A9186, File 162, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1359512
- ^ 548 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Reports, September 1945, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12234126
- ^ 548 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Reports, Volume 1, pages 2-10 covering September-October 1945, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12234125
- ^ 548 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Report, 2 October 1945, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12234126
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 275.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- 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 Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. 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 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.