102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE)

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Brief History

Initially raised as the 109th Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Woodman Point in Western Australia in August 1942, with 151st and 152nd Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries. 150th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery was formed in September. In June 1943 they moved to Naval Base, with 152 Battery moving to Geraldton and Pearce to provide protection for those airfields, and 'R' battery to Exmouth to provide protection for the submarine facility. In August 1943 150th Battery moved to Mosman Park while the HQ element moved to Guildford.

In September the unit was re-organised to form 102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment which was given the role of protecting RAAF airfields in the north west of the state. In October they handed over Geraldton and Pearce airfields, and in November 1943 the Exmouth submarine base was closed freeing up the detachment there to move to Corunna Downs. In December a Battery moved to Noonkanbah to defend the airfield being developed there. In January they were again responsible for Pearce and Guildford airfields and at this time the Forward HQ was at Corunna Downs and the Rear HQ at Pearce until it moved to Guildford in March joined by the 138th HAA Battery.

By late 1944 the air threat to Perth was ended and the call for protection of forward airfields had reduced enough to reduce the number of AA batteries and in October 1944 the 102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE) and all its sub units gathered at Bellevue where they were disbanded in December 1944.

Unit Personnel

• Donald Walter Cumming
• Leslie Charles Peters

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.228 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018