No. 73 Squadron RAAF

73 Squadron Anson at Nowra AWM photo P02175.003

Brief History

No. 73 Squadron was formed at Cootamundra, New South Wales, on 1 Jul 1942 from personnel loaned by No. 1 Air Observers School. The squadron's formation was part of the RAAF's response to Japanese submarine attacks on shipping off Australia during mid-1942, and it was equipped with Avro Anson training aircraft.

No. 73 Squadron conducted anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols off the Australian east coast for most of its existence. These were usually uneventful, and no submarines were sighted.[4] Six aircraft were lost in flying accidents. TIn September 1942 the squadron moved to RAAF Base Nowra and began flying operational patrols. It was allocated twelve Ansons in October, split equally between its two flights. 'A' Flight's six aircraft were based at Nowra and 'B' Flight was stationed at RAAF Base Richmond. 'B' Flight later moved to Camden in late 1942 and a 'C' Flight with four Ansons was briefly formed at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, operatimg from 10 July to 11 Aug 1943.

In late 1943 the RAAF began to reduce its anti-submarine effort as no Japanese submarine attacks had been made in Australian waters since the middle of the year. Anti-submarine escort patrols south of the 24th parallel ceased from February 1944, considerably reducing No. 73 Squadron's workload. The squadron was formally disbanded on 9 Sep 1944.

Air crew

• Stanley Neil Butcher 17 Jan - 20 Aug 1944