No. 66 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 66 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) maritime patrol
squadron
of World War II
. The squadron was formed in May 1943 as an emergency measure and was disbanded in January 1944.
, sinking 16 ships and damaging several more. In response to these losses the Australian Government expanded the military's anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) forces. Three new RAAF maritime patrol units equipped with Avro Anson
training aircraft, No. 66, No. 67
and No. 71
squadrons, were raised during this expansion. While it was recognised that the Ansons lacked sufficient range and payload to be effective in the ASW role, superior aircraft were not available.
No. 66 Squadron was formed at Bundaberg, Queensland
on 20 May 1943 from elements of No. 8 Service Flying School, and was the last of the three new Anson-equipped squadrons to be raised. It received its first Ansons on 2 July, began flight training on 26 July and conducted its first operational patrol the next day. Pilots from the squadron ferried more Ansons from RAAF Base Laverton
to Bundaberg in early August, and it reached a strength of 18 aircraft on the 8th of that month. A flight
of Beaufort
aircraft from No. 32 Squadron
was also attached to the unit.
From late July 1943 onwards the squadron escorted Allied shipping travelling off the east coast of Australia. These patrols were uneventful, and the squadron did not sight any Japanese submarines or ships. No. 66 Squadron aircraft also exercised with Royal Australian Navy
ships east of Moreton Island
on 29 and 30 August. While several of the squadron's Ansons were involved in accidents, only one was written off. In November 1943 the Government decided to reduce the military's ASW force as no Japanese submarines were known to have operated off Australia since June. Accordingly, No. 66 Squadron was disbanded on 8 January 1944 and its personnel were transferred to No. 8 Service Flying School, No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit and No. 71 Squadron.
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...
(RAAF) maritime patrol
Maritime patrol
Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities....
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 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 formed in May 1943 as an emergency measure and was disbanded in January 1944.
History
During the first half of 1943 Japanese submarines operated off the Australian east coastAxis naval activity in Australian waters
Although Australia was remote from the main battlefronts, there was considerable Axis naval activity in Australian waters during the Second World War. A total of 54 German and Japanese warships and submarines entered Australian waters between 1940 and 1945 and attacked ships, ports and other targets...
, sinking 16 ships and damaging several more. In response to these losses the Australian Government expanded the military's anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(ASW) forces. Three new RAAF maritime patrol units equipped with Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
training aircraft, No. 66, No. 67
No. 67 Squadron RAAF
No. 67 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in January 1943, conducted patrols off the southern Australian coastline until the end of the war and was disbanded in November 1945....
and No. 71
No. 71 Squadron RAAF
No. 71 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II. It was formed in January 1943 and conducted patrols off the east coast of Australia until it was disbanded in August 1944.-History:...
squadrons, were raised during this expansion. While it was recognised that the Ansons lacked sufficient range and payload to be effective in the ASW role, superior aircraft were not available.
No. 66 Squadron was formed at Bundaberg, Queensland
Bundaberg, Queensland
Bundaberg is a city in Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Local Government Area of the Bundaberg Region and is a major centre within Queensland's broader Wide Bay-Burnett geographical region...
on 20 May 1943 from elements of No. 8 Service Flying School, and was the last of the three new Anson-equipped squadrons to be raised. It received its first Ansons on 2 July, began flight training on 26 July and conducted its first operational patrol the next day. Pilots from the squadron ferried more Ansons from RAAF Base Laverton
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...
to Bundaberg in early August, and it reached a strength of 18 aircraft on the 8th of that month. A flight
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
of Beaufort
Bristol Beaufort
The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
aircraft from No. 32 Squadron
No. 32 Squadron RAAF
No. 32 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force unit based at RAAF East Sale in Victoria. It currently flies training and transport operations.- World War II :...
was also attached to the unit.
From late July 1943 onwards the squadron escorted Allied shipping travelling off the east coast of Australia. These patrols were uneventful, and the squadron did not sight any Japanese submarines or ships. No. 66 Squadron aircraft also exercised with 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...
ships east of Moreton Island
Moreton Island
Moreton Island is a large sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay, on the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia. Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. The island is 95% National Park and a popular destination for four wheel driving, camping,...
on 29 and 30 August. While several of the squadron's Ansons were involved in accidents, only one was written off. In November 1943 the Government decided to reduce the military's ASW force as no Japanese submarines were known to have operated off Australia since June. Accordingly, No. 66 Squadron was disbanded on 8 January 1944 and its personnel were transferred to No. 8 Service Flying School, No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit and No. 71 Squadron.