No. 200 Flight RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 200 Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force
special duties flight
of World War II
. The flight was formed in February 1945 to support the Allied Intelligence Bureau
(AIB) and saw action over Borneo
and the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) from March that year until the end of the war in August. No. 200 Flight was disbanded in December 1945.
(USAAF) 380th Bombardment Group
were used on occasion to support Allied special operations
units in the South West Pacific Area
. In July two No. 24 Squadron RAAF
B-24s were also modified to drop special operations personnel and conducted operations from Hollandia
in this role during August.
In June 1944 it was proposed that a specialised RAAF unit be formed to provide air transport for the AIB's Z Special Unit
. This proposal was supported, and No. 200 Flight was formed at Leyburn, Queensland
on 20 February 1945. Many of the flight's air and ground crew were transferred to it from No. 99 Squadron
. The flight was controlled by the AIB and was tasked with the insertion and supply of intelligence gathering parties behind Japanese lines. Due to the secrecy of these tasks personnel from the flight were forbidden to speak about their duties at any time. No. 200 Flight's six B-24 Liberators had been modified for the unit's specialised role. The main changes were the removal of the mid-upper and ball turrets and all armour plate, the replacement of the normal radar with a 'Rebecca' radio set and the installation of a slide at the rear of the aircraft to drop personnel and supplies.
No. 200 Flight began training operations with Z Special Force immediately upon formation. Despite the priority accorded to the unit, it experienced shortages of equipment and its accommodation and maintenance facilities at Leyburn were basic. By mid-March No. 200 Flight had a strength of nine eleven-man aircrews, 450 ground crew and six B-24s.
The flight began its first operations on 15 March 1945. On that day two B-24s departed Leyburn for McGuire Field in Mindoro
. On 18 March these aircraft conducted a reconnaissance flight over Borneo and were subsequently joined by a third B-24. After unsuccessful attempts on 20 and 21 March, two B-24s dropped a party of eight Z Special Force personnel near Bario
on 24 March but the aircraft flown by No. 200 Flight's commanding officer, Squadron Leader Graham Pockley, disappeared on its way back to base. Australian and United States Navy
aircraft searched for this B-24 for two days, but did not locate its wreckage. No. 200 Flight continued to support Z Special Force's operations (designated 'Semut 1') around Bario for the next few months, and eventually flew in 30 of the 42 personnel involved. Wing Commander E.V. Read succeeded Pockley on 15 April.
No. 200 Flight continued supporting AIB operations until the end of the war. On the night of 15/16 April three of its aircraft dropped personnel assigned to the Semut 2 operation in Borneo. It subsequently flew over 30 operations to drop AIB personnel and supplies in Borneo, Ambon
, Lombok
, Sumatra
and Timor
. These operations were successful, though the flight was hampered by the difficulty of locating its drop zones and inadequate support from the Australian First Tactical Air Force
at Morotai
, its main forward operational base. No. 200 Flight lost a further two B-24s in these operations; one was possibly shot down over Timor on 17 May and the other crashed either in or off the coast of north Borneo on or about 21 May. At least 46 men, including Z Special Force operatives, were killed in the three aircraft which were lost, and this represented the highest loss rate of any of the RAAF's B-24 equipped units.
No. 200 Flight continued flying after the end of the war in mid August. It continued dropping AIB operatiives and supplies until mid-October whereupon it was used to fly AIB
personnel from Bougainville Island
and Finschafen in New Guinea to Australia as well as to conduct courier flights. Mechanical problems were increasingly encountered in this period as a result of experienced personnel being discharged. No. 200 Flight's last sorties were made to drop leaflets and the unit was disbanded on 15 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...
special duties 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 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 flight was formed in February 1945 to support the Allied Intelligence Bureau
Allied Intelligence Bureau
The Allied Intelligence Bureau was an joint United States, Australian, Dutch and British intelligence and special operations agency during World War II. It was responsible for operating parties of spies and commandos behind Japanese lines in order to collect intelligence and conduct guerrilla...
(AIB) and saw action over 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....
and the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) from March that year until the end of the war in August. No. 200 Flight was disbanded in December 1945.
History
From late 1943 B-24 Liberators of the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) 380th Bombardment Group
380th Expeditionary Operations Group
The 380th Expeditionary Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 380th Air Expeditionary Wing...
were used on occasion to support Allied special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
units in the South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
. In July two No. 24 Squadron RAAF
No. 24 Squadron RAAF
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....
B-24s were also modified to drop special operations personnel and conducted operations from Hollandia
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
in this role during August.
In June 1944 it was proposed that a specialised RAAF unit be formed to provide air transport for the AIB's Z Special Unit
Z Special Unit
Z Special Unit was a joint Allied special forces unit formed during the Second World War to operate behind Japanese lines in South East Asia...
. This proposal was supported, and No. 200 Flight was formed at Leyburn, Queensland
Leyburn, Queensland
Leyburn is a town in the Southern Downs region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Leyburn and the surrounding area had a population of 348.-History:...
on 20 February 1945. Many of the flight's air and ground crew were transferred to it from No. 99 Squadron
No. 99 Squadron RAAF
No. 99 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force heavy bomber squadron of World War II.No. 99 Squadron was formed at Leyburn on 1 February 1945. The Squadron's B-24 Liberator bombers arrived in early March and the Squadron was declared operational in April. No...
. The flight was controlled by the AIB and was tasked with the insertion and supply of intelligence gathering parties behind Japanese lines. Due to the secrecy of these tasks personnel from the flight were forbidden to speak about their duties at any time. No. 200 Flight's six B-24 Liberators had been modified for the unit's specialised role. The main changes were the removal of the mid-upper and ball turrets and all armour plate, the replacement of the normal radar with a 'Rebecca' radio set and the installation of a slide at the rear of the aircraft to drop personnel and supplies.
No. 200 Flight began training operations with Z Special Force immediately upon formation. Despite the priority accorded to the unit, it experienced shortages of equipment and its accommodation and maintenance facilities at Leyburn were basic. By mid-March No. 200 Flight had a strength of nine eleven-man aircrews, 450 ground crew and six B-24s.
The flight began its first operations on 15 March 1945. On that day two B-24s departed Leyburn for McGuire Field in Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
. On 18 March these aircraft conducted a reconnaissance flight over Borneo and were subsequently joined by a third B-24. After unsuccessful attempts on 20 and 21 March, two B-24s dropped a party of eight Z Special Force personnel near Bario
Bario
Bario is a Malaysian village located in the centre of the Kelabit Highlands in the north east of Sarawak, very close to the international border with Indonesian Kalimantan, and 3280 feet above sea level. It is the main settlement in the Kelabit Highlands...
on 24 March but the aircraft flown by No. 200 Flight's commanding officer, Squadron Leader Graham Pockley, disappeared on its way back to base. Australian and United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
aircraft searched for this B-24 for two days, but did not locate its wreckage. No. 200 Flight continued to support Z Special Force's operations (designated 'Semut 1') around Bario for the next few months, and eventually flew in 30 of the 42 personnel involved. Wing Commander E.V. Read succeeded Pockley on 15 April.
No. 200 Flight continued supporting AIB operations until the end of the war. On the night of 15/16 April three of its aircraft dropped personnel assigned to the Semut 2 operation in Borneo. It subsequently flew over 30 operations to drop AIB personnel and supplies in Borneo, Ambon
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
, Lombok
Lombok
Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east...
, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and 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...
. These operations were successful, though the flight was hampered by the difficulty of locating its drop zones and inadequate support from the Australian First Tactical Air Force
Australian First Tactical Air Force
The Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force . Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area...
at 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:...
, its main forward operational base. No. 200 Flight lost a further two B-24s in these operations; one was possibly shot down over Timor on 17 May and the other crashed either in or off the coast of north Borneo on or about 21 May. At least 46 men, including Z Special Force operatives, were killed in the three aircraft which were lost, and this represented the highest loss rate of any of the RAAF's B-24 equipped units.
No. 200 Flight continued flying after the end of the war in mid August. It continued dropping AIB operatiives and supplies until mid-October whereupon it was used to fly AIB
personnel from Bougainville Island
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...
and Finschafen in New Guinea to Australia as well as to conduct courier flights. Mechanical problems were increasingly encountered in this period as a result of experienced personnel being discharged. No. 200 Flight's last sorties were made to drop leaflets and the unit was disbanded on 15 December 1945.