RAAF Service Police Unit (WA)

Brief History

The provost service within the RAAF began in a very small way during 1930, when service police were first established for unit duties. World War II found the RAAF totally unprepared for its provost requirements. Towards the end of 1940 the first Provost Marshal and Assistant Provost Marshal were appointed, but it was not until 6 April 1942 that the RAAF Service Police Unit was properly established and organised.

The headquarters of the Service Police Unit was formed in Melbourne with detachments established in each State and overseas. Specialist sections were formed: the Special Investigations Branch, to handle serious crime; the Port Detachment to prevent large-scale desertions; mobile patrols for traffic duty; street patrols to ensure good conduct by the troops in the streets; and the Compassionate Section to handle all matters within this field. Finally in November 1942, the WAAAF were enlisted as serv1ce policewomen. After 1942, the provost service grew rapidly and at the end of the War it numbered over 1,000 members with some 50 officers.

Unit Personnel

RAAF Service Police Unit (WA)

• Kenneth William McCallum 7 Apr - 25 Nov 1942

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 9 Ancillary Units p. 206 - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995