No. 549 Squadron RAF

No. 549 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) operating in Australia from 1943 to 1945.

No. 549 Squadron RAF
Some of No. 549 Squadron's pilots and a Spitfire in June 1945 near Darwin, Australia
Active15 Dec 1943 – 31 Oct 1945[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Insignia
Squadron CodesZF (Apr 1944 – Oct 1945)[2][3]

History

The squadron was formed at Lawnton Airfield, Queensland Australia on 15 December 1943,[1] made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF groundstaff, to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks were inadequate for interception missions.[4][5] On 1 January they moved to Petrie Airfield, Strathpine, Queensland.[1] In April 1944 the squadron's Spitfires arrived. May 1944 the unit moved to RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland,[1] while June saw a move to Strauss Airfield, Northern Territory with a detachment at Truscott Airfield, Western 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. Throughout its life the Squadron was commanded by Sqn Ldr E.P.W. Bocock. The squadron was disbanded, according to some sources, at Parap Airfield, Darwin, on 9 October 1945.[6][7] However, a more recent source states that disbandment occurred on 31 October, at Melbourne.[1] Afterwards, the RAF personnel returned to the United Kingdom.

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by No. 549 Squadron RAF[1][6][7]
FromToAircraftVersionRemarks
December 1943April 1944CAC WirrawayFor training
December 1943April 1944de Havilland Tiger MothFor training
April 1944October 1945Supermarine SpitfireMk.VIIITropicalised

Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by No. 549 Squadron RAF[1][6][7][8]
FromToBaseRemarks
15 December 19431 January 1944Lawnton Airfield, Queensland
1 January 194424 May 1944Petrie Airfield, Strathpine, Queensland
24 May 194416 June 1944RAAF Base Amberley, QueenslandDetachment at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland
16 June 194423 October 1944Strauss Airfield, Northern TerritoryDetachment at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia
23 October 194423 September 1945Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Darwin, Northern TerritoryDetachment at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia
23 September 194531 October 1945RAAF Base Melbourne (No. 1 PD), Victoria

Commanding officers
Officers commanding No. 549 Squadron RAF[9]
FromToName
January 1944October 1945S/Ldr. E.P.W. Bocock, DFC

See also

References

Notes
  1. Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  2. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 120.
  3. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 123.
  4. RAF – Squadron history.
  5. Halley 1988, p. 409.
  6. Halley 1988, p. 410.
  7. Rawlings 1978, p. 467.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 275.
  9. Rawlings 1978, p. 468.

Bibliography
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Possé, Victor (2003). Together up There: Unit History of 549 RAF/RAAF Fighter Squadron in Northern Australia in World War II. Loftus, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-92-0.
  • Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
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