No. 85 Squadron RAAF

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Brief History

On 23 February 1943, Squadron Leader C.N. Daly was directed to form No. 85 Squadron at Guildford, Western Australia. It was to be located at Dunreath Aerodrome. Flying commenced with Brewster Buffalos and approximately 140 hours were flown on these aircraft before the first 11 Boomerangs arrived on 30 April, having flown from No. 83 Squadron at Strathpine, Queensland. On reaching Dunreath they were informed that they would be accompanying the Boomerangs to 'Potshot', Exmouth Gulf, to form half a squadron there. At 'Potshot' the aircraft landed on a dusty strip parallel to the coast and close to the United States Navy base on the shore-line. All personnel were billeted in a Nissen hut at the base until Masonite huts were completed in May 1943 between the airstrip and the coast.

On 20 May 1943, 6 Fighter Sector reported that unidentified aircraft were approaching. Two Boomerangs took of to find them without success. During the evening of the 21st, three unidentified aircraft flew over the airstrip. Again two Boomerangs took of to intercept but again the aircraft evaded the defenders.

Training exercises began in earnest, the planes being operated from the new bitumen strips. After becoming familiar with the area the pilots carried out formation and gunnery exercises, security patrols, cooperation with the anti-aircraft batteries and night flying. On 15 Sep 1943 there was a yellow warning at 2330 hours. Four aircraft were airborne for two hours but there were no sightings. Training exercises at for the rest of the Squadron at Guildford took place before there was a fatal accident at Guildford due to an aircraft swinging on take-off. The aircraft burnt and the pilot died in hospital six days later. On 30 Sep 1943 a signal was received on 30 Sep 1943 to move Boomerang aircraft to Derby for an emergency operation. On 3 October 1943 a fatal accident occurred at Derby when a pilot was detailed to locate and drop a message to the SS Koomilya in King Sound. After doing so, the aircraft rolled and plunged into the Sound. Meanwhile at Guildford there were two fatal accidents in a fortnight.

ExerciSeS at Derby were from dawn to dusk Oymg pa1rs of rurcraft which were airborne from two to two and a half hours at a time, patrolling from the stnp at Derby to Point Tonnent Patrols took place from 6 to 13 October, after wh1ch Flight Llcutenant Wilson led II altCI'ilft back to 'Potshot'. Several accidents occurred in the following months. On 27 ~mber Flight Sergeant W.). Turnbull was killed when his a~tcraft landed, hit a ditch and burnt. In january 1944 the last of the Buffa los was flown to Eagle Fann by the Commanding Officer. ll'ere was another emergency movement of airmen to Derby on 1 February 1944, followed by 18 Boomerang atrcraft between the lOth and 14th. Patrols began on 17 February, and continued until the 26th. The following day the aircraft began returning to Gu1ldford. On II March 1944, two Spitfires arrh•ed from Gerald ton. These were followed by 18 from Carnarvon and a further four from Kalgoorhe on the 12th. Another was delivered from Gerald ton on the 2.3rd. On 6 April1944, another detachment, led by Flight L•cutcnant Wilson, was sent to Derby, returning on the 13th. On the 14th a further five aircraft went to Derby, patrols took place from the 18th to the 28th and the aircraft returned to Guildford on 1 May 1944. Another night of six 89 aircraft went to Derby on 12 May, to be followed by another 19 aircraft on the 13th. During July 1944, the Squadron began gearing up to fly Spitfires. A fatal accident occurred on 4 july when Leading Aircraftman ).E.). Williamson, an armou rer, was cleaning a gun on a Boomemng. During August 1944, air-to-ground and air-to-air gunnery t>xcrcises, and fighter affiliation t'Xt>rcist's with Vultee Vengt>ance nircraft from 25 Squad ron. were flown. During September 1944 tht> first of the Spitfires arrived and Squadron Leader K. )ames assumed command. Early in October 1944 the process of rc-am1ing with Spitfires received an impetus when three SpilfLres arrived from Corrie. With U1C111 cal]le Flight Lieuten11n~ 'Nobbie' Clark and l-ock Munro who were attached to the Squadron for six weeks to give instruction. An ·•cc•dcnt happened t>arly on th~ mom~ng of 2 November 1944 when Warrant Officer G.S. Cuming crashed ,, Boomerang dose to the strip. He escaped with minor injuries although the wreckage spread more than 100 yards. On 10 Oeccmber 194-1, 12 Sp•tfuii?S engaged Vultt'C Vt'ngeance aircraft in an exerciSe: also height tests were carried out a t 31 000 feet. On the 20th the airmen's Christmas party took place and on the 22nd, four Spitfires flew over Glouce~ter Park in support of the Uno ted States Navy Chnstmas party. Late in December two more Boomcra.ngs lt'ft Cuildford and Spitfires carried out cross country flights to Quaraidtng. Dowenn, Lake Yomdamung, Har"ey and Gu<ldford. On 12 january 1945. the Commanding Officer led a 01ght of 12 Spitfires In a Squ.1dron formallon. The last of the Boomerangs left Guild ford for Kalgoorlie, the Squadron now being fully equipped with Spitfires. On 13 January, Leading A.rcraf man). Roberts wa~ presentl'Cl with a Certificate of M!!rit for a gal1.1nt attempt to rescue a pilot from a burning Aoracobra at War~ Stnp, Port Moresby, in September 19-ll. Fhght Sergeant Doyle was inJured when his aircraft collided with another Spitfire after landing on 26 February. Doyle was flown to Melboume for specialist treatment, .and sub~'<juently recovered. On 4 April 1945 eight Squadron ;urcraft, led by Squadron Leader Lewis, escorted the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester's Avro York from 90 Cunderdin to Perth, and personnel p.~tticipated in a march p<1st for the Duke and Duchess tn Perth on the 9th. Late in April there were cross country ny.ng practices, battle climbs and combat Oy.ng. On II May 19-15 the Squadron recetved tnStructtons that 1t was to move to Pearce; the first truck moved off to Pearce next day. Flying resumed at Pearce and cross country nights were made to Cunderdin and Kalgoorhe. Fhghls were also made over HMS lllflstno11s m FremanUe Harbour. During june 1945 air-to-ground gunnery was carried out at Lancelin Island, although bad weather and heavy rain restricted flymg. On 7 July, the Squadron had the sad task of escorting the aircraft carrying the 1'\'mains of the late Prime Minister, john Curtin. On IS August, Sergeant Dunn force-landed a Spitfire ncar Rockingham due to engine failure. He was not injured but the plane was a write-off. On the 16th, 17 a1rcraft, led by Squadron Leader MS. Lew as, new over Perth m perfect formation during the Victory Pageant. Durmg the rest of the month there were numerous cross country Ooghls to Cunderdin. Ourmg September 1945 more formation flying; cross country exercises were undertaken and dog fights with a Beaufort from 14 Squadron eased the ted1um. Aying officially ceased on 20 September and the Squadron officially ceased to function on the 24th. Aircraft were allottt'C! to 6 Aircraft Depot. On 11 October ot was onnounced that 29 November would be the last day of 85 Squadron. Ourmg October the Spitfires departt'C!; one was damaged in landing at Kalgoorlie on the 6th, another became unserviceable at Paraficld due to a glycol leak. From the 20th onwards disbnndment proceeded and o((Jccs, tool stores and maintenance shops were all vacated. COMMANDING O

Individual Honours

Notes

In early 1942, the area on which Perth Airport is now located was converted from the Dunreath golf course to an RAAF base, which operated until the end of World War II in 1945.