No. 454 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 454 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force
was formed during World War II
. 454 Squadron came into existence at Williamtown
in New South Wales
on 23 May 1941. The squadron was raised under the Empire Air Training Scheme
.
with the Royal Air Force
. It was, however, disbanded on 11 July, and its personnel dispersed between 456
, 457
and 458 Squadrons
.
. It proceeded to Iraq where, equipped with Bristol Blenheim
s, it joined a force intended to counter German
threat from the Caucasus. Based at Qaiyara
, Iraq
the squadron flew no operational missions and instead served to provide refresher training on the Blenheim for crews being posted to other RAF squadrons.
In February 1943 454 Squadron moved to RAF El Amiriya
in Egypt
, where it joined 201 Group
of the RAF's Middle East Command
. Having left its Blenheims in Iraq, the squadron was equipped with Martin Baltimore
s. It commenced operations as a maritime patrol squadron and spent the next 17 months working in this capacity over the Mediterranean Sea
– its main targets were enemy submarines and merchant shipping. It was also used for long-range reconnaissance and occasionally employed in strikes against land targets in Crete
and the Greek islands. During this period 454 Squadron operated from several airfields including Amiriya, LG.143/Gambut III
, RAF St Jean
and Berka III
.
in Italy
and joined the Desert Air Force
. Its role now changed to providing air support for the ground forces engaged in the Italian campaign
, generally in the form of concentrated pattern bombing. Operating from a succession of airfields, 454 Squadron earned a reputation for efficiency, despite Italy's climatic extremes. In addition to its ground support missions, the squadron also attacked targets, experimented with radar-controlled bombing techniques, and, in early 1945, harried the retreating German forces by night. The squadron's war ended with the surrender of German forces in Italy on 2 May 1945 and it was disbanded at Villaorba on 14 August 1945.
During the war the squadron suffered 60 Australian fatalities.
|+Aircraft operated by no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| November 1942 || January 1943 || Bristol Blenheim
|| Mk.IV
|-
| February 1943 || September 1943 || Martin Baltimore
|| Mk.III
|-
| June 1943 || December 1944 || Martin Baltimore || Mk.IV
|-
| October 1943 || August 1945 || Martin Baltimore || Mk.V
|+Officers commanding no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 16 October 1942 || 16 November March 1943 || Squadron Leader
Ian Lindsay Campbell, RAAF
|-
| 16 November April 1943 || 1 April 1944 || Wing Commander
John Arthur Gordon Coates, CBE
, DFC
, MID, RAF
|-
| 1 April 1944 || 25 November 1944 || Wing Commander Milton 'Mike' Jeffery Moore, DFC, RAAF
|-
| 25 November 1944 || 18 May 1945 || Wing Commander Andrew Dil 'Pete' Henderson, OBE
, MID, RAAF
|-
| 19 May 1945 || 14 August 1945 || Wing Commander John Gordon Rees, DFC, DFC(US)
, 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...
was formed during 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...
. 454 Squadron came into existence at Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
on 23 May 1941. The squadron was raised under the Empire Air Training Scheme
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
.
Formation
The squadron was destined for service in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with 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...
. It was, however, disbanded on 11 July, and its personnel dispersed between 456
No. 456 Squadron RAAF
No. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force night fighter squadron, active over Europe during World War II.-History:No. 456 Squadron was formed on 30 June 1941 at RAF Valley, Isle of Anglesey, Wales in the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night fighter squadron,...
, 457
No. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in England during June 1941 as an Article XV squadron equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters...
and 458 Squadrons
No. 458 Squadron RAAF
No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in Australia, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. The Squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East.-Over Europe:No. 458 was formed at...
.
Middle East
454 Squadron was given a second lease of life on 30 September 1942 when it was reformed as a light bomber squadron at RAF Aqir in PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. It proceeded to Iraq where, equipped with Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
s, it joined a force intended to counter German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
threat from the Caucasus. Based at Qaiyara
Baiji, Iraq
Baiji is a city of about 200,000 inhabitants in northern Iraq some 130 miles north of Baghdad, on the main road to Mosul. It is a major industrial centre best known for its oil refinery, the biggest in Iraq and has a large power plant...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
the squadron flew no operational missions and instead served to provide refresher training on the Blenheim for crews being posted to other RAF squadrons.
In February 1943 454 Squadron moved to RAF El Amiriya
RAF El Amiriya
RAF El Amiriya is a former Royal Air Force military airfield in Egypt, located approximately 16 km south-southwest of Alexandria; 180 km northwest of Cairo...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where it joined 201 Group
No. 201 Group RAF
No. 201 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 201 Group RAF was formed on 18 September 1939 from General Reconnaissance Group, Middle East of the Royal Air Force . The group was initially commanded by Group Captain H.W.G. Penderel. On May 11, 1940, Group...
of the RAF's Middle East Command
Middle East Command
The Middle East Command was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.The...
. Having left its Blenheims in Iraq, the squadron was equipped with Martin Baltimore
Martin Baltimore
The Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States, originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was...
s. It commenced operations as a maritime patrol squadron and spent the next 17 months working in this capacity over the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
– its main targets were enemy submarines and merchant shipping. It was also used for long-range reconnaissance and occasionally employed in strikes against land targets in Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and the Greek islands. During this period 454 Squadron operated from several airfields including Amiriya, LG.143/Gambut III
RAF Gambut
RAF Gambut is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, located about 5 km north-northeast of Kambut and 50 km east-southeast of Tobruk....
, RAF St Jean
RAF St Jean
RAF St Jean is a former military airfield in Israel, which is located approximately 4 km east-northeast of Acre and 100 km north-northeast of Tel Aviv....
and Berka III
Berca Airfield
Berca Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, which is located in the vicinity of the Al Birkah suburb of Benghazi. Its precise locatino is unknown as the urban growth of Benghazi has absorbed the former airfield's location....
.
Italy
In July 1944 The squadron relocated to PescaraPescara
Pescara is the capital city of the Province of Pescara, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. As of January 1, 2007 it was the most populated city within Abruzzo at 123,059 residents, 400,000 with the surrounding metropolitan area...
in Italy
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...
and joined the Desert Air Force
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
. Its role now changed to providing air support for the ground forces engaged in the Italian campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
, generally in the form of concentrated pattern bombing. Operating from a succession of airfields, 454 Squadron earned a reputation for efficiency, despite Italy's climatic extremes. In addition to its ground support missions, the squadron also attacked targets, experimented with radar-controlled bombing techniques, and, in early 1945, harried the retreating German forces by night. The squadron's war ended with the surrender of German forces in Italy on 2 May 1945 and it was disbanded at Villaorba on 14 August 1945.
During the war the squadron suffered 60 Australian fatalities.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| November 1942 || January 1943 || Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
|| Mk.IV
|-
| February 1943 || September 1943 || Martin Baltimore
Martin Baltimore
The Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States, originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was...
|| Mk.III
|-
| June 1943 || December 1944 || Martin Baltimore || Mk.IV
|-
| October 1943 || August 1945 || Martin Baltimore || Mk.V
Commanding officers
{|class="wikitable"|+Officers commanding no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 16 October 1942 || 16 November March 1943 || Squadron Leader
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...
Ian Lindsay Campbell, RAAF
|-
| 16 November April 1943 || 1 April 1944 || Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
John Arthur Gordon Coates, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 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...
, MID, RAF
|-
| 1 April 1944 || 25 November 1944 || Wing Commander Milton 'Mike' Jeffery Moore, DFC, RAAF
|-
| 25 November 1944 || 18 May 1945 || Wing Commander Andrew Dil 'Pete' Henderson, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MID, RAAF
|-
| 19 May 1945 || 14 August 1945 || Wing Commander John Gordon Rees, DFC, DFC(US)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, RAAF
See also
- RAAF units under RAF operational control