No. 17 Air Observation Post Flight RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 17 Air Observation Post Flight (17 AOP Flight) was a Royal Australian Air Force
artillery-spotting and liaison unit which saw action in the Second World War. The Flight was formed at Cairns on 2 October 1944 and was equipped with Auster Mk 3 light aircraft
. The Flight first saw action as part of the Bougainville campaign with the Flight's first Auster arriving on Bougainville
on 22 October followed by the remainder of the Flight on 14 December. A detachment of the Flight equipped with Tiger Moth
aircraft was established on New Britain
in February 1945. No. 17 AOP Flight was disbanded on 7 December 1945.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
artillery-spotting and liaison unit which saw action in the Second World War. The Flight was formed at Cairns on 2 October 1944 and was equipped with Auster Mk 3 light aircraft
Auster
Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
. The Flight first saw action as part of the Bougainville campaign with the Flight's first Auster arriving on Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
on 22 October followed by the remainder of the Flight on 14 December. A detachment of the Flight equipped with Tiger Moth
Tiger moth
Tiger moths are moths of the family Arctiidae.Tiger moth may also refer to:*de Havilland Tiger Moth, an aircraft; an aerobatic and trainer tailwheel biplane*de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth, an earlier monoplane produced by de Havilland...
aircraft was established on New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
in February 1945. No. 17 AOP Flight was disbanded on 7 December 1945.