No. 24 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 24 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force
squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1940 and saw action as a bomber squadron during World War II. Since the end of the war the Squadron has been an RAAF Reserve squadron located near Adelaide, South Australia.
on 17 June 1940. The Squadron moved to Townsville
in October where it undertook patrol and training flights operating a mix of Wirraway
, Moth Minor and Hudson
aircraft.
No. 24 Squadron moved to Rabaul
in December 1941 shortly before the outbreak of war in the Pacific. Following the outbreak of war Rabaul came under Japanese attack on a number of occasions, but flying operations continued until 20 February 1942 when over 100 Japanese aircraft attacked Rabaul, destroying five of No. 24 Squadron's eight Wirraways (all of which had taken off to intercept the raiding force). With the Squadron reduced to just three aircraft orders to attack the approaching Japanese invasion force were cancelled and the Squadron was withdrawn to Townsville. The Australian Army garrison at Rabaul was later defeated in the Battle of Rabaul
.
No. 24 Squadron moved to Bankstown, New South Wales
in July 1942 where it performed training, anti-submarine and air defence patrols using a diverse assortment of aircraft. The squadron continued in this role until May 1943 when it began converting to a dive bomber
squadron equipped with Vultee Vengeance
aircraft.
After completing its training on the Vengeance No. 24 Squadron deployed to New Guinea
in August 1943 where it provided support to Australian Army and United States Marine Corps units in New Guinea and New Britain. The Squadron continued in this role until March 1944, making it the last RAAF Squadron to use the Vengeance in action.
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No. 24 Squadron was withdrawn to Australia in March 1944 to begin preparations to convert to the heavy bomber role equipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft. The Squadron flew its first combat sorties with these new aircraft in September 1944. Operating from bases in the Northern Territory
the Squadron continued to fly bombing and anti-shipping strikes against Japanese forces in the Netherlands East Indies until the end of the war. Following the Japanese surrender No. 24 Squadron was used to ferry Australian prisoners of war home before being disbanded at RAAF Station Tocumwal on 15 May 1946.
fighters and training aircraft until 1 March 1960 when it ceased operations as a flying squadron. Since this date No. 24 Squadron has been a non-flying RAAF Reserve squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh
near Adelaide. On 28 May 1979, the squadron received the Freedom of Entry to the City of Adelaide. The Freedom Scroll was presented at a ceremonial parade by the Lord Mayor, The Right Honourable Mr George Joseph.
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...
squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1940 and saw action as a bomber squadron during World War II. Since the end of the war the Squadron has been an RAAF Reserve squadron located near Adelaide, South Australia.
World War II
No. 24 Squadron was formed at RAAF Base AmberleyRAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
on 17 June 1940. The Squadron moved to Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
in October where it undertook patrol and training flights operating a mix of Wirraway
CAC Wirraway
The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
, Moth Minor and Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
aircraft.
No. 24 Squadron moved to Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
in December 1941 shortly before the outbreak of war in the Pacific. Following the outbreak of war Rabaul came under Japanese attack on a number of occasions, but flying operations continued until 20 February 1942 when over 100 Japanese aircraft attacked Rabaul, destroying five of No. 24 Squadron's eight Wirraways (all of which had taken off to intercept the raiding force). With the Squadron reduced to just three aircraft orders to attack the approaching Japanese invasion force were cancelled and the Squadron was withdrawn to Townsville. The Australian Army garrison at Rabaul was later defeated in the Battle of Rabaul
Battle of Rabaul (1942)
The Battle of Rabaul, also known by the Japanese as Operation R, was fought on the island of New Britain in the Australian Territory of New Guinea, in January and February 1942. It was a strategically significant defeat of Allied forces by Japan in the Pacific campaign of World War II...
.
No. 24 Squadron moved to Bankstown, New South Wales
Bankstown, New South Wales
Bankstown is a suburb of south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bankstown is located 20 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Bankstown.-History:Prior to European...
in July 1942 where it performed training, anti-submarine and air defence patrols using a diverse assortment of aircraft. The squadron continued in this role until May 1943 when it began converting to a dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
squadron equipped with Vultee Vengeance
Vultee A-31 Vengeance
The Vultee A-31 Vengeance was an American dive bomber of World War II, built by Vultee Aircraft. The Vengeance was not used in combat by US units, however it served with the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and Indian Air Force in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.The...
aircraft.
After completing its training on the Vengeance No. 24 Squadron deployed to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
in August 1943 where it provided support to Australian Army and United States Marine Corps units in New Guinea and New Britain. The Squadron continued in this role until March 1944, making it the last RAAF Squadron to use the Vengeance in action.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
the Squadron continued to fly bombing and anti-shipping strikes against Japanese forces in the Netherlands East Indies until the end of the war. Following the Japanese surrender No. 24 Squadron was used to ferry Australian prisoners of war home before being disbanded at RAAF Station Tocumwal on 15 May 1946.
Post-war
No. 24 Squadron was re-formed as a Citizens Air Force (reserve) fighter squadron. The Squadron operated P-51 MustangP-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
fighters and training aircraft until 1 March 1960 when it ceased operations as a flying squadron. Since this date No. 24 Squadron has been a non-flying RAAF Reserve squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh
RAAF Base Edinburgh
RAAF Base Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh, 25km north of the centre of Adelaide.It is primarily home to No 92 Wing's AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft that conduct surveillance operations throughout Australia's airspace....
near Adelaide. On 28 May 1979, the squadron received the Freedom of Entry to the City of Adelaide. The Freedom Scroll was presented at a ceremonial parade by the Lord Mayor, The Right Honourable Mr George Joseph.
Aircraft operated
- CAC WirrawayCAC WirrawayThe Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
(June 1940-May 1943, April 1951-June 1960?) - de Havilland Moth Minor (June 1940-December 1941?)
- Lockheed HudsonLockheed HudsonThe Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
(June 1940-February 1942) - Junkers W34F(?) (February 1942)
- Ford TrimotorFord TrimotorThe Ford Trimotor was an American three-engined transport plane that was first produced in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and that continued to be produced until June 7, 1933. Throughout its time in production, a total of 199 Ford Trimotors were produced...
(February 1942) - Bell Airacobra (July 1942-May 1943)
- Fairey BattleFairey BattleThe Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
(July 1942?-May 1943) - Brewster BuffaloBrewster BuffaloThe Brewster F2A Buffalo was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service early in World War II. Though the Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the US Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft, it turned out to be a big disappointment...
(May-August 1943) - Vultee VengeanceVultee A-31 VengeanceThe Vultee A-31 Vengeance was an American dive bomber of World War II, built by Vultee Aircraft. The Vengeance was not used in combat by US units, however it served with the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and Indian Air Force in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.The...
(May 1943-March 1944) - Consolidated B-24 Liberator (June 1944-May 1946)
- North American P-51 Mustang (April 1951-June 1960)
- de Havilland Tiger MothDe Havilland Tiger MothThe de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
(1951?-?) - CAC WinjeelCAC Winjeel|-See also:-External links:* http://www.warbirdalley.com/winjeel.htm* http://www.dropbears.com/f/felix_noble/winjeel.htm* http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/raaf2/html/body_winjeel.htm...
(January 1959-June 1960)