No. 13 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 13 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force
squadron. The Squadron saw combat during World War II as a bomber and maritime patrol squadron and is currently active as a mixed regular and reserve RAAF unit located in Darwin
, fulfilling both operational support and training duties.
at RAAF Base Darwin
on 1 June 1940. The Squadron initially served in the general reconnaissance role and flew maritime surveillance patrols over the seas to the north of Australia and survey flights over northern Australia
. In May the Squadron began flying familiarisation flights over the Netherlands East Indies in preparation to deploy to the NEI following the outbreak of war with Japan.
Following the start of the Pacific War
, No. 13 Squadron deployed two flights of Hudson
light bombers to Ambon
. Flying in the face of heavy resistance these aircraft conducted patrols throughout the eastern islands of the NEI, locating a number of Japanese
convoys. The surviving aircraft from these flights returned to Darwin in February 1942, as Ambon faced invasion
. However, the squadron commander, Wing Commander
Ernest Scott, was killed in a massacre by Japanese troops following the battle.
No. 13 Squadron was severely affected by the Japanese Air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942, with the Squadron's headquarters, stores and spares being destroyed. As a result of the Squadron's heavy losses during the defence of the NEI and the raids on Darwin, No. 13 Squadron generally only had one or two aircraft operational on most days in early 1942. Nevertheless, the Squadron continued to fly operational attack and reconnaissance missions over the NEI. No. 13 Squadron was later awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation
for its operations over Timor
during August and September 1942. No. 13 is one of only two RAAF Squadrons to have received this honour (the other unit being No. 2 Squadron
which received the award for its performance in the Vietnam War
).
The Squadron continued to conduct operations against the Japanese until 4 April 1943 when it handed its Hudson aircraft over to No. 2 Squadron and was withdrawn to RAAF Base Fairbairn to rest and re-equip. At Fairbairn the Squadron took delivery of Bristol Beaufort
and Lockheed Ventura
aircraft and conducted anti-submarine and shipping patrols along the Australian East Coast. The Beauforts were handed over to No. 2 Squadron in August. The future Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
joined the Squadron as a navigator during 1943.
No. 13 Squadron moved to Cooktown in late May 1944 before moving again to Gove in August. From Gove the Squadron mainly carried out anti-submarine and escort patrols, though it appears to have also mounted a small number of bombing raids against the eastern islands of the NEI.
In late June 1945 the Squadron moved to Morotai
in the NEI and, soon after the end of the War, to Labuan
in British North Borneo. From Labuan the Squadron operated in the transport role and ferried ex-Prisoners of War
and other personnel back to Australia before being disbanded on 11 January 1946.
No. 13 Squadron was re-formed as a non-flying Air Force Reserve Squadron located at RAAF Base Darwin
on 1 July 1989. On 31 May 1990 the Squadron was officially presented the Presidential Unit Citation it had been awarded in 1942.
On 1 July 2010 changes to the structure of the Combat Support Group resulted in the combat support and fixed base services functions of No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (321ECSS)
being integrated with No. 13 Squadron at RAAF Darwin
and 321ECSS being disbanded.
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...
squadron. The Squadron saw combat during World War II as a bomber and maritime patrol squadron and is currently active as a mixed regular and reserve RAAF unit located in Darwin
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...
, fulfilling both operational support and training duties.
History
No. 13 Squadron was formed from elements of No. 12 SquadronNo. 12 Squadron RAAF
No. 12 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force general purpose, bomber and transport squadron. The squadron was formed in 1939 and saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. From 1941-1943, it mainly conducted maritime patrols off northern Australia...
at RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
on 1 June 1940. The Squadron initially served in the general reconnaissance role and flew maritime surveillance patrols over the seas to the north of Australia and survey flights over northern Australia
Northern Australia
The term northern Australia is generally known to include two State and Territories, being Queensland and the Northern Territory . The part of Western Australia north of latitude 26° south—a definition widely used in law and State government policy—is also usually included...
. In May the Squadron began flying familiarisation flights over the Netherlands East Indies in preparation to deploy to the NEI following the outbreak of war with Japan.
Following the start of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, No. 13 Squadron deployed two flights of Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
light bombers to Ambon
Battle of Ambon
The Battle of Ambon occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies , on 30 January – 3 February 1942, during World War II. A Japanese invasion was resisted by Dutch and Australian forces...
. Flying in the face of heavy resistance these aircraft conducted patrols throughout the eastern islands of the NEI, locating a number of Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
convoys. The surviving aircraft from these flights returned to Darwin in February 1942, as Ambon faced invasion
Battle of Ambon
The Battle of Ambon occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies , on 30 January – 3 February 1942, during World War II. A Japanese invasion was resisted by Dutch and Australian forces...
. However, the squadron commander, 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...
Ernest Scott, was killed in a massacre by Japanese troops following the battle.
No. 13 Squadron was severely affected by the Japanese Air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942, with the Squadron's headquarters, stores and spares being destroyed. As a result of the Squadron's heavy losses during the defence of the NEI and the raids on Darwin, No. 13 Squadron generally only had one or two aircraft operational on most days in early 1942. Nevertheless, the Squadron continued to fly operational attack and reconnaissance missions over the NEI. No. 13 Squadron was later awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)
The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
for its operations 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...
during August and September 1942. No. 13 is one of only two RAAF Squadrons to have received this honour (the other unit being No. 2 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron RAAF
No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
which received the award for its performance in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
).
The Squadron continued to conduct operations against the Japanese until 4 April 1943 when it handed its Hudson aircraft over to No. 2 Squadron and was withdrawn to RAAF Base Fairbairn to rest and re-equip. At Fairbairn the Squadron took delivery of Bristol 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....
and Lockheed Ventura
Lockheed Ventura
The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
aircraft and conducted anti-submarine and shipping patrols along the Australian East Coast. The Beauforts were handed over to No. 2 Squadron in August. The future Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
joined the Squadron as a navigator during 1943.
No. 13 Squadron moved to Cooktown in late May 1944 before moving again to Gove in August. From Gove the Squadron mainly carried out anti-submarine and escort patrols, though it appears to have also mounted a small number of bombing raids against the eastern islands of the NEI.
In late June 1945 the Squadron moved to 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:...
in the NEI and, soon after the end of the War, to Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
in British North Borneo. From Labuan the Squadron operated in the transport role and ferried ex-Prisoners of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
and other personnel back to Australia before being disbanded on 11 January 1946.
No. 13 Squadron was re-formed as a non-flying Air Force Reserve Squadron located at RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
on 1 July 1989. On 31 May 1990 the Squadron was officially presented the Presidential Unit Citation it had been awarded in 1942.
On 1 July 2010 changes to the structure of the Combat Support Group resulted in the combat support and fixed base services functions of No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (321ECSS)
No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF
No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force ground support squadron based at RAAF Base Darwin near Darwin, Northern Territory....
being integrated with No. 13 Squadron at RAAF Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
and 321ECSS being disbanded.
Aircraft operated
- Avro AnsonAvro AnsonThe 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...
(June 1940) - Lockheed HudsonLockheed HudsonThe Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
(June 1940 – April 1943) - Bristol BeaufortBristol BeaufortThe 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....
(April–August 1943) - Lockheed VenturaLockheed VenturaThe Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
(April 1943 – January 1946)