No. 31 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 31 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force
airbase support squadron re-raised in July 2010. The Squadron was first formed in August 1942 and was disbanded in July 1946 after seeing action in the South West Pacific Theatre
of World War II
.
on 14 August 1942 and was equipped with Bristol Beaufighter
fighter and attack aircraft, the first of which was received on 23 August 1942. After a period of training the Squadron deployed to Batchelor, Northern Territory
in October, the aircraft flying via Alice Springs. A period of more intense training followed and familiarisation flights were carried out before moving to its operational base at Coomalie Creek Airfield
on 12 November and then began flying combat operations on 17 November. From November 1942 until December 1944 the Squadron flew ground-attack missions against Japanese forces in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), concentrating on airfields and ships. From December 1944 until the end of the war the Squadron continued in the ground attack role from bases in the NEI. After the war No. 31 Squadron conducted weather reconnaissance and escorted single-engined aircraft from the NEI to Australia. The Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 and was disbanded at RAAF Base Williamtown
on 9 July 1946.
No. 31 Squadron was re-raised on 1 July 2010 as the unit responsible for providing airbase support services to RAAF Base Wagga
. The squadron is designated No. 31 (City of Wagga Wagga
) Squadron and forms part of Combat Support Group.
, DFC later to become Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sir Charles Frederick Read KBE, CB, DFC, AFC
13 September 1943 - Wing Commander Frederick William Ball Mann, DFC
May 1944 - Wing Commander George D'Arcy Wentworth, DFC
September 1944 - Squadron Leader John A'Beckett Penleigh Boyd, DFC & Bar
26 December 1944 - Squadron Leader John Couper Black
1 July 2010 - Squadron Leader Nigel Webster
August 2011 - Wing Commander Jo Elkington
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...
airbase support squadron re-raised in July 2010. The Squadron was first formed in August 1942 and was disbanded in July 1946 after seeing action in the South West Pacific Theatre
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....
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...
.
History
No. 31 Squadron was formed at RAAF Base WaggaRAAF Base Wagga
RAAF Base Wagga is located in the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.The RAAF no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council...
on 14 August 1942 and was equipped with Bristol Beaufighter
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
fighter and attack aircraft, the first of which was received on 23 August 1942. After a period of training the Squadron deployed to Batchelor, Northern Territory
Batchelor, Northern Territory
Batchelor is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. The town is located in the Coomalie Shire Local Government Area, 98 kilometres south of the territory capital, Darwin...
in October, the aircraft flying via Alice Springs. A period of more intense training followed and familiarisation flights were carried out before moving to its operational base at Coomalie Creek Airfield
Coomalie Creek Airfield
Coomalie Creek Airfield was a Royal Australian Air Force airfield built in 1942 near Coomalie Creek, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II.-History:...
on 12 November and then began flying combat operations on 17 November. From November 1942 until December 1944 the Squadron flew ground-attack missions against Japanese forces in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), concentrating on airfields and ships. From December 1944 until the end of the war the Squadron continued in the ground attack role from bases in the NEI. After the war No. 31 Squadron conducted weather reconnaissance and escorted single-engined aircraft from the NEI to Australia. The Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 and was disbanded at RAAF Base 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...
on 9 July 1946.
No. 31 Squadron was re-raised on 1 July 2010 as the unit responsible for providing airbase support services to RAAF Base Wagga
RAAF Base Wagga
RAAF Base Wagga is located in the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.The RAAF no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council...
. The squadron is designated No. 31 (City of Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
) Squadron and forms part of Combat Support Group.
Commanding Officers
1 September 1942 - Wing Commander Charles Frederick ReadCharles Read (RAAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Charles Frederick Read KBE, CB, DFC, AFC is a retired senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1972 to 1975. Born in Sydney, Read joined the RAAF in 1937, and began his career flying biplane fighters. As a Beaufighter pilot, he...
, DFC later to become Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sir Charles Frederick Read KBE, CB, DFC, AFC
13 September 1943 - Wing Commander Frederick William Ball Mann, DFC
May 1944 - Wing Commander George D'Arcy Wentworth, DFC
September 1944 - Squadron Leader John A'Beckett Penleigh Boyd, DFC & Bar
26 December 1944 - Squadron Leader John Couper Black
1 July 2010 - Squadron Leader Nigel Webster
August 2011 - Wing Commander Jo Elkington
Decorations
- 16 Distigushed Flying Cross (DFC)
- 2 Distigushed Flying Cross and Bar (DFC & Bar)
- 1 Distigushed Flying Medal (DFM)
- 6 Mentioned In Dispatch (MID)
- 1 King's Commendation for Brave Conduct