No. 15 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 15 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) light bomber and maritime patrol squadron of World War II
. The squadron was formed in January 1944 and initially flew anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of Australia. From September that year elements of the squadron took part in the New Guinea Campaign
, and the main body of the squadron moved to New Guinea in March 1945. Its duties in New Guinea included anti-submarine and anti-barge patrols as well as attacking Japanese positions. No. 15 Squadron was demobilised after the end of the war, and was formally disbanded in March 1946.
on 27 January 1944. The squadron was issued with 19 Bristol Beaufort
light bombers and 380 air and ground crew, and had the roles of conducting anti-submarine patrols off the full length of the Australian east coast as well as supporting Australian Army
and Royal Australian Navy
operations and conducting photo reconnaissance. The unit's headquarters moved to nearby Menangle, New South Wales
in late February, but returned to Camden in May.
In July 1944, No. 15 Squadron began preparations to deploy to New Guinea
. An advance party departed on 21 July, but elements of the squadron remained in Australia where they continued to undertake anti-submarine patrols until the end of the war. On 25 December 1944 No. 15 Squadron Beauforts located the damaged liberty ship
Robert S. Walker and her surviving crew shortly after the ship was torpedo
ed by the German submarine U-862 off Moruya
. The liberty ship subsequently sank.
No. 15 Squadron gradually moved to New Guinea between September 1944 and March 1945, and its headquarters was relocated to Madang Airfield
at Madang
on 20 March 1945. A detachment was established at Middleburg Airfield
off the north-west tip of New Guinea shortly afterwards. The squadron's roles in New Guinea were to conduct anti-submarine and anti-barge patrols and attack Japanese ground positions. In addition, it also conducted photo reconnaissance sorties, and carried mail and other supplies. As at late April 1945, No. 15 Squadron's headquarters was located at Madang and it had operational detachments at Middleburg, Cairns and Townsville and a rear echelon at Camden.
From 4 to 11 May 1945, a detachment of eight No. 15 Squadron aircraft was assigned to No. 71 Wing
and supported the Australian Army forces engaged in the Aitape–Wewak campaign alongside other Beaufort-equipped RAAF squadrons. These aircraft operated from Tadji Airfield at Aitape
. The aircraft bombed Japanese positions throughout the region, and mounted an intensive effort on 11 May to support the landing at Dove Bay. No. 71 Wing's operations were successful, though they were hampered by a continual shortage of bomb
s. From June many of the squadron's operations from Madang were conducted in conjunction with the P-40 Kittyhawk-equipped No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron
.
Following the end of the war on 15 August 1945, No. 15 Squadron dropped leaflets on Japanese positions. In addition, the unit also undertook transport and courier flights. The squadron received orders to return to Australia on 22 September, and its air echelon departed Middleburg Island late in the month. The sea echelon sailed on 2 October and No. 15 Squadron's headquarters arrived at Kingaroy in Queensland
on 5 October. The squadron began the demobilisation process as soon as it was established at Kingaroy, and was formally disbanded there on 23 March 1946. No. 15 Squadron suffered 15 fatalities during its existence.
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) light bomber and maritime patrol squadron 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 January 1944 and initially flew anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of Australia. From September that year elements of the squadron took part in the New Guinea Campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
, and the main body of the squadron moved to New Guinea in March 1945. Its duties in New Guinea included anti-submarine and anti-barge patrols as well as attacking Japanese positions. No. 15 Squadron was demobilised after the end of the war, and was formally disbanded in March 1946.
Squadron history
No. 15 Squadron was formed at Camden, New South WalesCamden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
on 27 January 1944. The squadron was issued with 19 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....
light bombers and 380 air and ground crew, and had the roles of conducting anti-submarine patrols off the full length of the Australian east coast as well as supporting Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and 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...
operations and conducting photo reconnaissance. The unit's headquarters moved to nearby Menangle, New South Wales
Menangle, New South Wales
Menangle is a village in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia.-Location:Menangle is part of the Wollondilly Shire. At the 2006 census, Menangle had a population of 327 people.-History:...
in late February, but returned to Camden in May.
In July 1944, No. 15 Squadron began preparations to deploy to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. An advance party departed on 21 July, but elements of the squadron remained in Australia where they continued to undertake anti-submarine patrols until the end of the war. On 25 December 1944 No. 15 Squadron Beauforts located the damaged liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
Robert S. Walker and her surviving crew shortly after the ship was torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed by the German submarine U-862 off Moruya
Moruya, New South Wales
Moruya is a small regional centre in New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Moruya River, approximately 300 kilometers south of Sydney. At the 2006 census, Moruya had a population of 10,278 people. The town relies predominantly on agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism...
. The liberty ship subsequently sank.
No. 15 Squadron gradually moved to New Guinea between September 1944 and March 1945, and its headquarters was relocated to Madang Airfield
Madang Airport
Madang Airport , is an airport located in Madang, Papua New Guinea.-Airlines and destinations:-World War II:During World War II, occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army in January 1943, as a forward operating airfield for aircraft based at Wewak. Later expanded to a 3250' x 240' runway with a single...
at Madang
Madang
Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century....
on 20 March 1945. A detachment was established at Middleburg Airfield
Middleburg Airfield
Middleburg Airfield is a World War II airfield located on Middleburg Island, to the north of Sansapor in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia...
off the north-west tip of New Guinea shortly afterwards. The squadron's roles in New Guinea were to conduct anti-submarine and anti-barge patrols and attack Japanese ground positions. In addition, it also conducted photo reconnaissance sorties, and carried mail and other supplies. As at late April 1945, No. 15 Squadron's headquarters was located at Madang and it had operational detachments at Middleburg, Cairns and Townsville and a rear echelon at Camden.
From 4 to 11 May 1945, a detachment of eight No. 15 Squadron aircraft was assigned to No. 71 Wing
No. 71 Wing RAAF
No. 71 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force wing of World War II. It was formed in February 1943 at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, as part of No. 9 Operational Group. The wing initially comprised two squadrons of P-40 Kittyhawks, one of Lockheed Hudsons, and one of Bristol Beauforts...
and supported the Australian Army forces engaged in the Aitape–Wewak campaign alongside other Beaufort-equipped RAAF squadrons. These aircraft operated from Tadji Airfield at Aitape
Aitape
Aitape is a small town of about 8,000 people on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province. It is a coastal settlement that is almost equidistant from the provincial capitals of Wewak and Vanimo, and marks the midpoint of the highway between these two capitals...
. The aircraft bombed Japanese positions throughout the region, and mounted an intensive effort on 11 May to support the landing at Dove Bay. No. 71 Wing's operations were successful, though they were hampered by a continual shortage of bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
s. From June many of the squadron's operations from Madang were conducted in conjunction with the P-40 Kittyhawk-equipped No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron
No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF
No. 120 Squadron was a joint Dutch and Australian squadron of World War II. The squadron was first formed in December 1943 as part of the Royal Australian Air Force , and saw combat in and around New Guinea during 1944 and 1945 equipped with P-40 Kittyhawk fighters. Following the war, No...
.
Following the end of the war on 15 August 1945, No. 15 Squadron dropped leaflets on Japanese positions. In addition, the unit also undertook transport and courier flights. The squadron received orders to return to Australia on 22 September, and its air echelon departed Middleburg Island late in the month. The sea echelon sailed on 2 October and No. 15 Squadron's headquarters arrived at Kingaroy in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
on 5 October. The squadron began the demobilisation process as soon as it was established at Kingaroy, and was formally disbanded there on 23 March 1946. No. 15 Squadron suffered 15 fatalities during its existence.