No. 456 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force
night fighter squadron, active over Europe during World War II
.
, Isle of Anglesey, Wales
in the United Kingdom
under the Empire Air Training Scheme
as a night fighter squadron, equipped with Defiant
turret-fighters. The Squadron was soon re-equipped with Beaufighters
and scored its first kill in January 1942. In December 1942 the Squadron was re-equipped with Mosquito
fighters and began offensive (Ranger) missions over Europe. No. 456 Squadron continued in the fighter and ground attack roles until the end of the European war when it was disbanded on 15 June 1945 at RAF Bradwell Bay
, Essex
.
|+Aircraft operated by no. 456 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| June 1941 || November 1941 || Boulton Paul Defiant
|| Mk.I
|-
| September 1941 || July 1942 || Bristol Beaufighter
|| Mk.IIf
|-
| July 1942 || January 1943 || Bristol Beaufighter || Mk.VIf
|-
| December 1942 || April 1944 || de Havilland Mosquito
|| Mk.II
|-
| June 1943 || October 1943 || de Havilland Mosquito || Mk.VI
|-
| January 1944 || February 1945 || de Havilland Mosquito || Mk.XVII
|-
| December 1944 || June 1945 || de Havilland Mosquito || Mk.XXX
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 456 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base !! Remark
|-
| 30 June 1941 || 30 March 1943 || RAF Valley
, Isle of Anglesey, Wales
|| Det. at RAF Colerne, 15–30 Mar 43
|-
| 30 March 1943 || 17 August 1943 || RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
|| Dets. at RAF Castle Camps
, Cambridgeshire
and RAF Predannack
, Cornwall
|-
| 17 August 1943 || 17 November 1943 || RAF Colerne
, Wiltshire
||
|-
| 17 November 1943 || 29 February 1944 || RAF Fairwood Common
, Glamorgan
, Wales||
|-
| 29 February 1944 || 30 December 1944 || RAF Ford
, West Sussex
||
|-
| 30 December 1944 || 16 March 1945 || RAF Church Fenton
, Yorkshire
||
|-
| 16 March 1945 || 15 June 1945 || RAF Bradwell Bay
, Essex
||
|+Officers commanding no. 456 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 30 June 1941 || 27 March 1942 || Wing Commander
C.G.C. Olive, DFC
|-
| 27 March 1942 || 1 February 1943 || Wing Commander E.C. Wolfe
|-
| 1 February 1943 || 1 June 1943 || Wing Commander M.H. Dwyer
|-
| 1 June 1943 || 14 December 1943 || Wing Commander G. Howden
|-
| 14 December 1943 || 1 July 1944 || Wing Commander K.M. Hampshire, DSO
|-
| 1 July 1944 || 29 May 1945 || Wing Commander B. Howard, DFC
|-
| 29 May 1945 || 15 June 1945 || Squadron Leader
R.B. Cowper
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...
night fighter squadron, active over Europe 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...
.
History
No. 456 Squadron was formed on 30 June 1941 at RAF ValleyRAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
, Isle of Anglesey, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
as a night fighter squadron, equipped with Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
turret-fighters. The Squadron was soon re-equipped with Beaufighters
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...
and scored its first kill in January 1942. In December 1942 the Squadron was re-equipped with Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
fighters and began offensive (Ranger) missions over Europe. No. 456 Squadron continued in the fighter and ground attack roles until the end of the European war when it was disbanded on 15 June 1945 at RAF Bradwell Bay
Bradwell-on-Sea
Bradwell-on-Sea is a village in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about north-northeast of Southminster and is east from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the District of Maldon in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon whose boundaries were...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no. 456 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| June 1941 || November 1941 || Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
|| Mk.I
|-
| September 1941 || July 1942 || 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...
|| Mk.IIf
|-
| July 1942 || January 1943 || Bristol Beaufighter || Mk.VIf
|-
| December 1942 || April 1944 || de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
|| Mk.II
|-
| June 1943 || October 1943 || de Havilland Mosquito || Mk.VI
|-
| January 1944 || February 1945 || de Havilland Mosquito || Mk.XVII
|-
| December 1944 || June 1945 || de Havilland Mosquito || Mk.XXX
Squadron bases
{|class="wikitable"|+Bases and airfields used by no. 456 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base !! Remark
|-
| 30 June 1941 || 30 March 1943 || RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
, Isle of Anglesey, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
|| Det. at RAF Colerne, 15–30 Mar 43
|-
| 30 March 1943 || 17 August 1943 || RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
|| Dets. at RAF Castle Camps
Castle Camps (village)
Castle Camps is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, south-east of Cambridge and near to the borders of Suffolk and Essex and to the town of Haverhill....
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
and RAF Predannack
Predannack Airfield
Predannack Airfield is situated near Mullion on Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula in the United Kingdom. The runways are operated by the Royal Navy and today it is used as a satellite airfield and relief landing ground for nearby RNAS Culdrose.-World War II:...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
|-
| 17 August 1943 || 17 November 1943 || RAF Colerne
RAF Colerne
RAF Colerne now known as Colerne Airfield or AEF Colerne is a former World War II RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command airfield located on the outskirts of the village of Colerne, Wiltshire...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
||
|-
| 17 November 1943 || 29 February 1944 || RAF Fairwood Common
RAF Fairwood Common
RAF Fairwood Common was a World War II aerodrome located at Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula to the west of Swansea. It is now the location of Swansea Airport.-History:...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, Wales||
|-
| 29 February 1944 || 30 December 1944 || RAF Ford
Ford (HM Prison)
HM Prison Ford is a Category D men's prison, located at Ford, in West Sussex, England, near Arundel and Littlehampton. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
||
|-
| 30 December 1944 || 16 March 1945 || RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
||
|-
| 16 March 1945 || 15 June 1945 || RAF Bradwell Bay
Bradwell-on-Sea
Bradwell-on-Sea is a village in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about north-northeast of Southminster and is east from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the District of Maldon in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon whose boundaries were...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
||
Commanding officers
{|class="wikitable"|+Officers commanding no. 456 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 30 June 1941 || 27 March 1942 || 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...
C.G.C. Olive, 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...
|-
| 27 March 1942 || 1 February 1943 || Wing Commander E.C. Wolfe
|-
| 1 February 1943 || 1 June 1943 || Wing Commander M.H. Dwyer
|-
| 1 June 1943 || 14 December 1943 || Wing Commander G. Howden
|-
| 14 December 1943 || 1 July 1944 || Wing Commander K.M. Hampshire, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
|-
| 1 July 1944 || 29 May 1945 || Wing Commander B. Howard, DFC
|-
| 29 May 1945 || 15 June 1945 || 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...
R.B. Cowper