No. 458 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force
squadron during World War II
. It was formed in Australia
, under the Empire Air Training Scheme
. The Squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington
bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East.
on 8 July 1941. The squadron departed for England in August to join other personnel assembled at RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
, whee the squadron was officially established as No. 458 (Bomber) Squadron on 25 August 1941. Equipped with Wellington Mk.IV
bombers, No 458 Squadron soon participated in its first operational sortie on 20/21 October, when ten of its aircraft joined in night attacks made by 1 (Bomber) Group RAF
against the ports of Emden
, Antwerp and Rotterdam
. In addition to bombing missions over France and Germany the Wellingtons were involved in mine-laying operations along enemy occupied coasts. At the end of January 1942 the squadron was withdrawn from Bomber Command to perform services in the Middle East
.
proved to be a chaotic affair. Air and ground crews were separated as the latter went by boat and the squadron’s aircraft were commandeered for operations by other squadrons from Malta, where they had stopped on their way to Egypt. When they finally arrived in the Middle East, the squadron’s ground crew found themselves working on the maintenance of bombers operated by the Royal Air Force
and the United States Army Air Force, while the air crew were already being attached to 37
, 70, 104
, 108
, and 148 Squadrons RAF
.
, Malta
, Libya
, Tunisia
, Algeria
, Sardinia
, and Corsica
. The squadron also still undertook conventional bombing tasks, such as in support of the Allied invasion of southern France
in August 1944. No 458 Squadron moved altogether to the European continent in September 1944, when it moved its headquarters to Foggia Airfield
, Italy, while detachments were deployed to Falconara Airfield
, Italy; Rosignano Airfield
, Italy and La Vallon Airfield
, France
.
, Gibraltar
. With the allied liberation of France, and the continuing progress of the Allied campaign in Italy, enemy submarines and surface vessels in the Mediterranean presented little threat anymore. The squadron new task was now to roam out from Gibraltar across the western Atlantic, escorting Allied convoys and searching for German submarines. The squadron was still carrying out these tasks when the war in Europe ended. 458 Squadron disbanded shortly thereafter on 9 June 1945 at Gibraltar.
|+Aircraft operated by no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| August 1941 || January 1942 || Vickers Wellington
|| Mk.IV
|-
| February 1942 || April 1942 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.Ic
|-
| October 1942 || November 1942 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.Ic
|-
| October 1942 || September 1943 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.VIII
|-
| June 1943 || May 1944 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.XIII
|-
| February 1944 || June 1945 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.XIV
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base !! Remark
|-
| 8 July 1941 || 7 August 1941 || Williamtown
, New South Wales
, Australia
||
|-
| 7 August 1941 || 25 August 1941 || en route to the UK ||
|-
| 25 August 1941 || February 1942 || RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
, Yorkshire
||
|-
| February 1942 || March 1942 || en route to the Middle East || Dispersed upon arrival
|-
| 1 September 1942 || 30 March 1943 || Shallufa, Egypt
|| re-establishment
|-
| 30 March 1943 || 18 June 1943 || LG.91, Egypt || Dets. at RAF Luqa
, Malta
and Blida
, Algeria
|-
| 18 June 1943 || 9 October 1943 || Protville I
, Tunisia
||
|-
| 9 October 1943 || 25 March 1944 || Bone Airfield
, Algeria || Dets. at Blida, Algeria; RAF Luqa, Malta;
Grottaglie Airfield, Italy
; Ghisonaccia Airfield
, Corsica
;
Borizzo Airfield
, Sicily
and Réghaïa
, Algeria
|-
| 25 March 1944 || 3 September 1944 || Alghero Airfield
, Sardinia
|-
| 3 September 1944 || 29 January 1945 || Foggia Airfield
, Italy || Dets. at Falconara Airfield
, Italy; Rosignano Airfield
, Italy
and La Vallon Airfield
, France
|-
| 29 January 1945 || 9 June 1945 || RAF North Front
, Gibraltar
||
|+Officers commanding no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 1 September 1941 || 15 February 1942 (MIA
) || Wing Commander
N.G. Mulholland, DFC
|-
| 15 February 1942 || 1 June 1943 || Squadron Leader
L.L. Johnston
|-
| 1 June 1943 || 27 September 1943 || Lieutenant Colonel
B.R. McKenzie (SAAF)
|-
| 27 September 1943 || 1 July 1944 || Wing Commander J. Dowling
|-
| 1 July 1944 || 9 June 1945 || Wing Commander R.C. MacKay, DFC
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 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...
. It was formed in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 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...
. The Squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East.
Over Europe
No. 458 was formed at Williamtown, New South WalesWilliamtown, New South Wales
Williamtown is a rural suburb of the Port Stephens Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the main road between Newcastle and Nelson Bay.-Geography:...
on 8 July 1941. The squadron departed for England in August to join other personnel assembled at RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or more simply RAF Holme as it was also known, was an airfield in Yorkshire. Built during the Second World War, it was used during the war by the Royal Air Force as a bomber station, and after the war as a transport base and bomb store before being "mothballed"...
, whee the squadron was officially established as No. 458 (Bomber) Squadron on 25 August 1941. Equipped with Wellington Mk.IV
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bombers, No 458 Squadron soon participated in its first operational sortie on 20/21 October, when ten of its aircraft joined in night attacks made by 1 (Bomber) Group RAF
No. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
against the ports of Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, Antwerp and Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. In addition to bombing missions over France and Germany the Wellingtons were involved in mine-laying operations along enemy occupied coasts. At the end of January 1942 the squadron was withdrawn from Bomber Command to perform services in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
To the Middle East
The relocation to Middle East CommandMiddle East Command
The Middle East Command was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.The...
proved to be a chaotic affair. Air and ground crews were separated as the latter went by boat and the squadron’s aircraft were commandeered for operations by other squadrons from Malta, where they had stopped on their way to Egypt. When they finally arrived in the Middle East, the squadron’s ground crew found themselves working on the maintenance of bombers operated by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and the United States Army Air Force, while the air crew were already being attached to 37
No. 37 Squadron RAF
-History:No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack...
, 70, 104
No. 104 Squadron RAF
No. 104 Squadron RAF was formed at Wyton on 4 September 1917 and was equipped with the DH 9. It then moved to Andover, prior to being posted to France in May 1918. The squadron later began re-equipping with the DH 10, however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned...
, 108
No. 108 Squadron RAF
Motto "Viribus contractis" .No. 108 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. The unit was formed at Stonehenge and it adopted an oak leaf as a badge being symbolic of strength and age...
, and 148 Squadrons RAF
No. 148 Squadron RAF
No. 148 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has been part of the RAF since World War I.-History:As No. 148 Squadron it was reformed as a special duties squadron and part of the Balkan Air Force in World War II. It dropped men and materiel behind enemy lines in the occupied countries such as...
.
In the Mediterranean
Finally, on 1 September 1942, 458 Squadron was re-united at El Shallufa and began a new life of maritime patrols, convoy escorts and mine laying operations. In this role, its aircraft operated from airfields in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, and Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. The squadron also still undertook conventional bombing tasks, such as in support of the Allied invasion of southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
in August 1944. No 458 Squadron moved altogether to the European continent in September 1944, when it moved its headquarters to Foggia Airfield
Foggia Airfield Complex
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy...
, Italy, while detachments were deployed to Falconara Airfield
Falconara Airport
Falconara Airport is a joint-use civil airport and Italian Air Force facility in Italy, located approximately 3km west of Falconara Marittima in province of Ancona, about 200km north-northeast of Rome....
, Italy; Rosignano Airfield
Rosignano Airfield
Rosignano Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located near the comune of Rosignano Marittimo in the Province of Livorno in Tuscany....
, Italy and La Vallon Airfield
La Vallon Airfield
La Vallon Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in France, which is located approximately 6 km north-northeast of Montbrison ; about 385 km south-southeast of Paria....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Gibraltar
26 January 1945 the squadron was to move one final time, to RAF North FrontRAF Gibraltar
Royal Air Force Station Gibraltar, better known as RAF Gibraltar and formally as North Front, is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but there are regular visits...
, Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. With the allied liberation of France, and the continuing progress of the Allied campaign in Italy, enemy submarines and surface vessels in the Mediterranean presented little threat anymore. The squadron new task was now to roam out from Gibraltar across the western Atlantic, escorting Allied convoys and searching for German submarines. The squadron was still carrying out these tasks when the war in Europe ended. 458 Squadron disbanded shortly thereafter on 9 June 1945 at Gibraltar.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| August 1941 || January 1942 || Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
|| Mk.IV
|-
| February 1942 || April 1942 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.Ic
|-
| October 1942 || November 1942 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.Ic
|-
| October 1942 || September 1943 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.VIII
|-
| June 1943 || May 1944 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.XIII
|-
| February 1944 || June 1945 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.XIV
Squadron bases
{|class="wikitable"|+Bases and airfields used by no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base !! Remark
|-
| 8 July 1941 || 7 August 1941 || Williamtown
Williamtown, New South Wales
Williamtown is a rural suburb of the Port Stephens Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the main road between Newcastle and Nelson Bay.-Geography:...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
||
|-
| 7 August 1941 || 25 August 1941 || en route to the UK ||
|-
| 25 August 1941 || February 1942 || RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or more simply RAF Holme as it was also known, was an airfield in Yorkshire. Built during the Second World War, it was used during the war by the Royal Air Force as a bomber station, and after the war as a transport base and bomb store before being "mothballed"...
, 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...
||
|-
| February 1942 || March 1942 || en route to the Middle East || Dispersed upon arrival
|-
| 1 September 1942 || 30 March 1943 || Shallufa, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
|| re-establishment
|-
| 30 March 1943 || 18 June 1943 || LG.91, Egypt || Dets. at RAF Luqa
RAF Luqa
Royal Air Force Luqa was a flying station and location of RAF Mediterranean Command headquarters of the Royal Air Force on the island of Malta during World War II...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Blida
Blida Airport
Blida Airport is an airport in Blida, Algeria .On November 8th, 1942, during World War II, the airport was taken by the British 11th Infantry Brigade. The event was part of the Operation Torch of the North African Campaign.Major A...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
|-
| 18 June 1943 || 9 October 1943 || Protville I
Protville Airfield
Protville Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which is located approximately 18 km north of Oued Lill; 25 km north-northwest of Tunis. It was built by United States Army engineers in 1943 during the Tunisian Campaign...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
||
|-
| 9 October 1943 || 25 March 1944 || Bone Airfield
Rabah Bitat Airport
Rabah Bitat Airport , formerly known as Les Salines Airport, and popularly as El Mellah Airport is an international airport located 9 km south of Annaba, a city in Algeria...
, Algeria || Dets. at Blida, Algeria; RAF Luqa, Malta;
Grottaglie Airfield, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; Ghisonaccia Airfield
Ventiseri-Solenzara Air Base
Solenzara Air Base is a front-line French Air Force base located in the village of Ventiseri approximately 40 km north-norhteast of Porto-Vecchio on Corsica.-World War II:...
, Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
;
Borizzo Airfield
Borizzo Airfield
Borizzo Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which was located in the vicinity of Trapani on Sicily.- History :...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Réghaïa
Réghaïa
Réghaïa is a municipality in Algiers province, Algeria. It is located in Rouïba district and is the most populated municipality of the district.-Geography:...
, Algeria
|-
| 25 March 1944 || 3 September 1944 || Alghero Airfield
Fertilia Airport
Alghero Airport is an international airport situated north-northwest of the city of Alghero, in northern Sardinia, Italy. It is also known as Fertilia Airport or Alghero-Fertilia Airport, named for the nearby village of Fertilia...
, Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
|-
| 3 September 1944 || 29 January 1945 || Foggia Airfield
Foggia Airfield Complex
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy...
, Italy || Dets. at Falconara Airfield
Falconara Airport
Falconara Airport is a joint-use civil airport and Italian Air Force facility in Italy, located approximately 3km west of Falconara Marittima in province of Ancona, about 200km north-northeast of Rome....
, Italy; Rosignano Airfield
Rosignano Airfield
Rosignano Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located near the comune of Rosignano Marittimo in the Province of Livorno in Tuscany....
, Italy
and La Vallon Airfield
La Vallon Airfield
La Vallon Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in France, which is located approximately 6 km north-northeast of Montbrison ; about 385 km south-southeast of Paria....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
|-
| 29 January 1945 || 9 June 1945 || RAF North Front
RAF Gibraltar
Royal Air Force Station Gibraltar, better known as RAF Gibraltar and formally as North Front, is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but there are regular visits...
, Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
||
Commanding officers
{|class="wikitable"|+Officers commanding no. 458 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 1 September 1941 || 15 February 1942 (MIA
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
) || 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...
N.G. Mulholland, 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...
|-
| 15 February 1942 || 1 June 1943 || 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...
L.L. Johnston
|-
| 1 June 1943 || 27 September 1943 || Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
B.R. McKenzie (SAAF)
|-
| 27 September 1943 || 1 July 1944 || Wing Commander J. Dowling
|-
| 1 July 1944 || 9 June 1945 || Wing Commander R.C. MacKay, DFC