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No. 549 Squadron RAF

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No. 549 Squadron RAF
Some of No. 549 Squadron's pilots and a Spitfire in June 1945
Some of No. 549 Squadron's pilots and a Spitfire in June 1945 near Darwin, Australia
Active15 Dec 1943 – 31 Oct 1945[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Insignia
Squadron CodesZF (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.

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, Western 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. Between New Year 1945 and its disbandment the squadron was commanded by Dave Glaser. 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 operated by No. 549 Squadron RAF[1][6][7]
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

Bases and airfields used by No. 549 Squadron RAF[1][6][7][8]
From To Base Remarks
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 Detachment at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland
16 June 1944 23 October 1944 Strauss Airfield, Northern Territory Detachment at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia
23 October 1944 23 September 1945 Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Darwin, Northern Territory Detachment at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia
23 September 1945 31 October 1945 RAAF Base Melbourne (No. 1 PD), Victoria

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 549 Squadron RAF[9]
From To Name
January 1944 October 1945 S/Ldr. E.P.W. Bocock, DFC

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  2. ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 120.
  3. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 123.
  4. ^ RAF – Squadron history.
  5. ^ Halley 1988, p. 409.
  6. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 410.
  7. ^ a b c Rawlings 1978, p. 467.
  8. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 275.
  9. ^ 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 1-876439-92-0.
  • 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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