No. 549 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 549 Squadron RAF was a fighter
squadron
of the Royal Air Force
(RAF) operating in Australia
from 1943 to 1945.
, Queensland
Australia
on 15 December 1943, made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF
groundstaff, to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks
were inadequate for interception missions. On 1 January they moved to Petrie Airfield
, Strathpine, Queensland. In April 1944 the squadrons Spitfire's arrived. May 1944 the unit moved to RAAF Base Amberley
, Queensland, while June saw a move to Strauss Airfield
, Northern Territory
with a detachment at Truscott Airfield
, West Australia. On 5 September 1944 it joined sister unit No. 548 Squadron RAF
on a sweep over Selaru Island, 300 miles north of Darwin. In October they went to Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil)
, Northern Territory
, maintening their detachment in Truscott. On 27 November they went over Timor
. The squadron was disbanded according to some sources at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil)
, Northern Territory
on 9 October 1945 -but a more recent source states 31 October at Melbourne
, Victoria
- and the RAF personnel returned to the United Kingdom
.
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) operating in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1943 to 1945.
History
The squadron was formed at Lawnton AirfieldLawnton, Queensland
Lawnton is a suburb north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Moreton Bay Region. The origin of the suburb name is from an early property owner by the name of Stephen Lawn...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 15 December 1943, made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF
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...
groundstaff, to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
were inadequate for interception missions. On 1 January they moved to Petrie Airfield
Petrie Airfield
Petrie Airfield was a World War II military airfield located just to the south of the North Pine River in Petrie, Queensland, Australia. After the war, the airfield was dismantled and the area is now part of the urban area of Petrie-Strathpine.-World War II:...
, Strathpine, Queensland. In April 1944 the squadrons Spitfire's arrived. May 1944 the unit moved to RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF 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...
, Queensland, while June saw a move to Strauss Airfield
Strauss Airfield
Strauss Airfield was an airfield constructed between 19 March to 27 April 1942 near Noonamah, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II. It was also known as 27 Mile Field or Humpty Doo Strip.-History:...
, Northern Territory
with a detachment at Truscott Airfield
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...
, West Australia. On 5 September 1944 it joined sister unit No. 548 Squadron RAF
No. 548 Squadron RAF
No. 548 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.-History:The squadron was formed at Lawnton, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 15 December 1943 to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks were inadequate for interception missions...
on a sweep over Selaru Island, 300 miles north of Darwin. In October they went to Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil)
Parap Airfield
Parap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:...
, Northern Territory
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...
, maintening their detachment in Truscott. On 27 November they went over Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
. The squadron was disbanded according to some sources at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil)
Parap Airfield
Parap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:...
, Northern Territory
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...
on 9 October 1945 -but a more recent source states 31 October at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
- and the RAF personnel returned to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1943 | April 1944 | CAC 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... |
For training | |
| December 1943 | April 1944 | de Havilland Tiger Moth De Havilland Tiger Moth The 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... |
For training | |
| April 1944 | October 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Mk.VIII | Tropicalised |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 December 1943 | 1 January 1944 | Lawnton Airfield Lawnton, Queensland Lawnton is a suburb north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Moreton Bay Region. The origin of the suburb name is from an early property owner by the name of Stephen Lawn... , Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... |
|
| 1 January 1944 | 24 May 1944 | Petrie Airfield Petrie Airfield Petrie Airfield was a World War II military airfield located just to the south of the North Pine River in Petrie, Queensland, Australia. After the war, the airfield was dismantled and the area is now part of the urban area of Petrie-Strathpine.-World War II:... , Strathpine, Queensland |
|
| 24 May 1944 | 16 June 1944 | RAAF Base Amberley RAAF 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... , Queensland |
Det. at RAAF Base 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... , Queensland |
| 16 June 1944 | 23 October 1944 | Strauss Airfield Strauss Airfield Strauss Airfield was an airfield constructed between 19 March to 27 April 1942 near Noonamah, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II. It was also known as 27 Mile Field or Humpty Doo Strip.-History:... , Northern Territory 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... |
Det. at Truscott Airfield 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... , West Australia |
| 23 October 1944 | 23 September 1945 | Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil) Parap Airfield Parap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:... , Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities... |
Det. at Truscott Airfield 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... , West Australia |
| 23 September 1945 | 31 October 1945 | RAAF Base Melbourne (No. 1 PD) RAAF Williams RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams... , Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| January 1944 | October 1945 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... E.P.W. Bocock, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... |