No. 25 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 25 Squadron is a general reserve squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force
. The squadron is based at RAAF Base Pearce
in Perth, Western Australia
and forms part of the Combat Reserve Wing
. The squadron has been based at Pearce since 1938. 25 Squadron was originally formed at RAAF Base Laverton in Victoria, on 3 May 1937 and was initially known as No. 23 (City of Perth) Squadron. It was originally tasked with providing support for the Australian Army
and Royal Australian Navy
, as well as pilot training.
It was re-named 25 Squadron on 1 January 1939. Following the declaration of World War II
the squadron was allocated Australian built Wirraways
and then Brewster Buffalo
after Japan
entered the war. With these two obsolete aircraft 25 Squadron was tasked with providing the air defence of Perth. The squadron was re-equipped with Vultee Vengeance dive bomber
s in August 1943, and began joint exercises with the army.
In January 1945, the squadron was re-equipped with B-24 Liberator
heavy bomber
s and flew its first bombing mission two months later out of Cunderdin
—refuelling in northern WA at Corunna Downs
and/or Truscott
—to bomb targets in the Dutch East Indies
. For the rest of the war, 25 Squadron was tasked with attacking Japanese shipping and base facilities in the Dutch East Indies. The Squadron assisted in the allied landings at Brunei Bay
in northern Borneo
. In the months following the end of the war, No 25 Squadron aircraft evacuated POWs to Australia from Morotai
and Borneo
. The squadron was disbanded in July 1946.
No. 25 Squadron was reformed in April 1948 as a Citizen Air Force unit based out of Pearce. Between 1948 and 1960, the Squadron trained reservist pilots and ground crew. After receiving the de Havilland Vampire
jets the Squadron also took over the responsibility for maintaining a fighter presence in Western Australia. In 1960 the Squadron's flying role ceased and it began to concentrate on providing ground support for Permanent Air Force units. In 1989, the Squadron resumed flying operations with the Italian
built Macchi
jet trainer, conducting jet introduction training and fleet support for the Royal Australian Navy. With the introduction of the Macchi in 1989 and with a Permanent Air Force component, 25 Squadron was the only reserve unit with operational aircraft.
On 1 July 1998 the Permanent Air Force component separated from the reserve element and reformed as No. 79 Squadron
, and the flying operations were reassigned to it. No. 25 Squadron returned to its role of providing a reserve pool of trained personnel to the Air Force.
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...
. The squadron is based at RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and forms part of the Combat Reserve Wing
Combat Reserve Wing RAAF
Reserve Training Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force unit responsible for recruiting and training members of the RAAF reserves. It was formed on 18 May 1998 and redesignated to its current name on 1 January 2006....
. The squadron has been based at Pearce since 1938. 25 Squadron was originally formed at RAAF Base Laverton in Victoria, on 3 May 1937 and was initially known as No. 23 (City of Perth) Squadron. It was originally tasked with providing support for the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
, as well as pilot training.
It was re-named 25 Squadron on 1 January 1939. Following the declaration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the squadron was allocated Australian built Wirraways
CAC Wirraway
The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
and then Brewster Buffalo
Brewster Buffalo
The 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...
after Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
entered the war. With these two obsolete aircraft 25 Squadron was tasked with providing the air defence of Perth. The squadron was re-equipped with Vultee Vengeance 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...
s in August 1943, and began joint exercises with the army.
In January 1945, the squadron was re-equipped with B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
s and flew its first bombing mission two months later out of Cunderdin
RAAF Station Cunderdin
RAAF Station Cunderdin was a Royal Australian Air Force airfield located at Cunderdin, Western Australia during World War II.-History:Cunderdin was home to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 17 Repair and Salvage Unit...
—refuelling in northern WA at Corunna Downs
Corunna Downs Airfield
Corunna Downs Airfield was a Royal Australian Air Force base at Corunna Downs, 35 kilometres south west of Marble Bar, Western Australia in the Pilbara Region during World War II....
and/or Truscott
Mungalalu Truscott Airbase
Mungalalu Truscott Airbase, which during World War II was known as Truscott Airfield is today a commercial air field in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. The airbase falls under the traditional ownership of the Wunambal Gaambera people...
—to bomb targets in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. For the rest of the war, 25 Squadron was tasked with attacking Japanese shipping and base facilities in the Dutch East Indies. The Squadron assisted in the allied landings at Brunei Bay
Brunei Bay
Brunei Bay is the gateway to Brunei and Borneo. It is located 4°45'-5°02'N, 114°58'-115°10'E; east of Bandar Seri Begawan. The Brunei portion of the bay is in two sections separated by a finger of Sarawak about 6km wide at the coast...
in northern Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. In the months following the end of the war, No 25 Squadron aircraft evacuated POWs to Australia from Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
and Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. The squadron was disbanded in July 1946.
No. 25 Squadron was reformed in April 1948 as a Citizen Air Force unit based out of Pearce. Between 1948 and 1960, the Squadron trained reservist pilots and ground crew. After receiving the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
jets the Squadron also took over the responsibility for maintaining a fighter presence in Western Australia. In 1960 the Squadron's flying role ceased and it began to concentrate on providing ground support for Permanent Air Force units. In 1989, the Squadron resumed flying operations with the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
built Macchi
Aermacchi MB-326
The Aermacchi or Macchi MB-326 is a light military jet aircraft designed in Italy. Originally conceived as a two-seat trainer, there have also been single and two-seat light attack versions produced. It is one of the most commercially successful aircraft of its type, being bought by more than 10...
jet trainer, conducting jet introduction training and fleet support for the Royal Australian Navy. With the introduction of the Macchi in 1989 and with a Permanent Air Force component, 25 Squadron was the only reserve unit with operational aircraft.
On 1 July 1998 the Permanent Air Force component separated from the reserve element and reformed as No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
, and the flying operations were reassigned to it. No. 25 Squadron returned to its role of providing a reserve pool of trained personnel to the Air Force.