No. 452 Squadron RAAF

Spitfires near Morotai, late 1944 AWM 0G3404

Brief History

No. 452 Squadron RAAF was formed at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey on 8 April 1941 as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme as the first Australian squadron formed in Britain during World War II. However, its ground crew in the UK were RAF personnel. On 22 May No. 452 Squadron became operational as a fighter unit, flying early model Supermarine Spitfires from RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey in Lincolnshire. No. 452 Squadron was involved in many different kinds of operation, including offensive patrols, convoy escort and bomber escort missions over Europe. The squadron moved to RAF Redhill in October 1941, remaining there until March 1942, when it moved to RAF Andreas on the Isle of Man. It remained there until it withdrew from operations in Britain in June 1942 to return to Australia. Its effort in Europe resulted in 70 enemy aircraft shot down and 17 damaged, for the loss of 22 pilots killed.

The Squadron departed the UK on 14 Jan 1942, and arrived in Melbourne on 13 August and re-assembled at RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales on 6 September. They became operational again on 17 Jan 1943, flying Spitfire Mark Vc aircraft. Based at Batchelor Airfield in the Northern Territory it became part of No. 1 Wing RAAF, which defended Darwin from Japanese air raids. The squadron was relocated to Strauss Airfield on 1 Feb 1943, before relocating again on 1 Jul 1944, this time to Sattler Airfield in the Northern Territory. It was now assigned ground attack duties against sites in the Dutch East Indies.

On 11 Dec 1944 they relocated to Morotai to support Australian operations in Kalimantan. In May 1945 the groud staff relocated to Tarakan with the aircraft following once the landing field was completed. Operations continued after the war, albeit limited to defensive duties only. In October 1945 the aircraft of 452 Squadron were returned to Australia and the unit disbanded at Tarakan on 17 November 1945.

Unit Personnel

• Gordon Boyle 30 Apr - 1 Jun 1944