- No. 549 Squadron RAF
-
No. 549 Squadron RAF Nil Badge Active 15 Dec 1943 - 31 Oct 1945[1] Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Insignia Squadron Codes ZF (Apr 1944 - Oct 1945)[2][3] No. 549 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) operating in Australia from 1943 to 1945.
Contents
History
The squadron was formed at Lawnton Airfield, Queensland Australia on 15 December 1943,[1] made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF groundstaff, to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks were inadequate for interception missions.[4][5] On 1 January they moved to Petrie Airfield, Strathpine, Queensland.[1] In April 1944 the squadrons Spitfire's arrived. May 1944 the unit moved to RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland,[1] while June saw a move to Strauss Airfield, Northern Territory
with a detachment at Truscott Airfield, West Australia. On 5 September 1944 it joined sister unit No. 548 Squadron RAF on a sweep over Selaru Island, 300 miles north of Darwin. In October they went to Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Northern Territory, maintening their detachment in Truscott. On 27 November they went over Timor. The squadron was disbanded according to some sources at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Northern Territory[6][7] on 9 October 1945 -but a more recent source states 31 October at Melbourne, Victoria[1]- and the RAF personnel returned to the United Kingdom.Aircraft operated
Aircraft operatedby no. 549 Squadron RAF, data from[1][6][7] From To Aircraft Version Remark 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
Bases and airfields used by no. 548 Squadron RAF, data from[1][6][7][8] From To Base Remark 15 December 1943 1 January 1944 Lawnton Airfield, Queensland 1 January 1944 24 May 1944 Petrie Airfield, Strathpine, Queensland 24 May 1944 16 June 1944 RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland Det. at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland 16 June 1944 23 October 1944 Strauss Airfield, Northern Territory Det. at Truscott Airfield, West Australia 23 October 1944 23 September 1945 Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Darwin, Northern Territory Det. at Truscott Airfield, West Australia 23 September 1945 31 October 1945 RAAF Base Melbourne (No. 1 PD), Victoria Commanding officers
Officers commanding no. 548 Squadron RAF, data from[9] From To Name January 1944 October 1945 S/Ldr. E.P.W. Bocock, DFC See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Jefford 2001, p. 98.
- ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 120.
- ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 123.
- ^ RAF – Squadron history.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 409.
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 410.
- ^ a b c Rawlings 1978, p. 467.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 275.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 468.
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Possé, Victor. Together up There: Unit History of 549 RAF/RAAF Fighter Squadron in Northern Australia in World War II. Loftus, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Military History Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-87643-992-0.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
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