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No. 67 Squadron RAAF

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67 Squadron.jpg
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 Squadron RAAF was formed at RAAF Base Laverton on 6 Jan 1943 with a strength of 180 personnel and 14 Ansons. The squadron operated from Laverton and several other bases in Victoria to escort convoys and conduct anti-submarine patrols. It was later organised into two flights which operated alternately from Laverton and Mallacoota.


The squadron made a number of possible submarine sightings during the first months of 1943. Aircrew reported sighting submarines on 1, 11, 16 and 21 February but none of these boats were attacked. In March 1944 the squadron reached a strength of 244 personnel and 17 Ansons. 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.


No. 67 Squadron continued to conduct uneventful patrols off southern Australia until the end of the war, suffering the loss of 4 aircraft and crew addition to its main ASW task, it also conducted searches for missing aircraft and vessels and participated in naval and army co-operation exercises in Victoria and Tasmania. The Squadron had an unusual adjunct to its patrol work - providing aircraft for a Council for Scientific and Industrial Research survey of pelagic fish between Sydney and Ceduna from 21 to 24 April 1945. No. 67 Squadron was demobilised rapidly after Japan's surrender, with the squadron being declared non-operational on 17 Aug 1945 and its disbandment was completed on 10 November that year.



Air Crew


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