No. 67 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron RAAF

Ground crew adjust a No. 67 Squadron Avro Anson's radar in 1945 AWM VIC0192

67 Squadron RAAF aircrew at Laverton Apr 1945 - AWM Vic0193

Brief History

In 1943 the Australian Government expanded the military's anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces with the formation of the No. 66, No. 67, and No.71 Squadrons to undertake marine patrols equipped with Avro Anson's. Known to be below par, there was no other aircraft available.

No. 67 {General Reconnnaissance) Squadron was formed at RAAF' Base Laverton on 6 Jan 1943, with 180 personnel and 14 Avro Anson aircraft. The Squadron's role wns to carry out anti-submarine patrols nnd act as an escort fo Allied shipping. No. 67 Squadron operated from Laverton, Mallacoota, Yanakie, Bairnsdale and Warmambool. The Squadron was later div1ded into "A" and "B" Flights, operating alternately from Laverton and Mallacoota.

Continuous seaward patrols were carred out for the first few months of 1943 with a number of possible submarine sightings investigated. Aircrew reported sighting submarines on 1, 11, 16 and 21 February but none of these boats were attacked. An Anso was lost on 21 Jun 1943 when it crashed into the sea, with two survivors rescued. Another aircraft landed in the ocean on 7 Jul 1943, with all three crew uninjured. On 11 April a No. 67 Squadron aircraft was escorting Convoy OC86 when it was attacked by Japanese submarine I-26, but did not sight the attacker. The next day two No. 67 Squadron Ansons protected the minesweeper HMAS Orara by attacking a submarine which they believed they had sighted near the ship.

By the end of March 1944, 244 personnel and 17 Anson aircraft were attached to No. 67 Squadron. Plying hours for the month totaled 775. Over the rest of the year, aircraft were used to train Army personnel and to provide training for Air Training Corps personnel. hey also assisted with searches for a mising 40 foot launch.

A successful Navy co-operation exercise was also carried out on 13 Apr 1945. At 1100 hours on 15 August 1945, a siren sounded announcing the cessation of hostilities and the surrender of Japan. Leave was granted for the rest of the day and the following day for all ranks. As at 17 Aug 1945 the Squadron was declared non-operational and on 10 November the squadron was disbanded.

Unit personnel

• Alfred Arthur Shepherd 30 Apr 1943 - 29 May 1944
• Henry Frederick Wills 16 Oct 1944 - 17 Jan 1945

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 4 Maritime & Transport Units - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995 pages 84 - 87