No. 459 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No 459 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force
squadron during World War II
. It served from 1942 as a maritime patrol and bomber unit in the mediterranean theatre of war until disbanded in 1945.
No 459 Squadron was formed at LG 39/Burg-el-Arab
, Egypt
on 10 February 1942 under the Empire Air Training Scheme
. The Squadron was initially equipped with Lockheed Hudson
and Bristol Blenheim
aircraft and operated in the maritime reconnaissance role. During 1942 and early 1943 the Squadron operated against German shipping in the Mediterranean and sank a number of ships including a destroyer. In September 1943 the Squadron temporally changed roles to become a bomber unit. The Squadron was equipped with Lockheed Ventura
s from March to July 1944, when it was re-equipped with Martin Baltimore
aircraft.
No 459 Squadron continued operating around the Greek islands until March 1945, when it was posted to the United Kingdom
. No 459 Squadron shortly thereafter disbanded at RAF Chivenor, Devon
on 10 April 1945.
|+Aircraft operated by no 459 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| February 1942 || May 1942 || Bristol Blenheim
|| Mk.IV
|-
| March 1942 || December 1942 || Lockheed Hudson
|| Mk.III
|-
| July 1942 || January 1944 || Lockheed Hudson || Mk.IIIa
|-
| August 1943 || April 1944 || Lockheed Huson || Mk.VI
|-
| September 1943 || November 1943 || Lockheed Huson || Mk.V
|-
| December 1943 || July 1944 || Lockheed Ventura
|| Mk.V
|-
| July 1944 || February 1945 || Martin Baltimore
|| Mks.IV, V
|-
| March 1945 || April 1945 || Vickers Wellington
|| Mk.XIII
|+Bases and airfields used by No 459 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Station !! Remark
|-
| 10 February 1942 || 14 May 1942 || LG.39/Burg-el-Arab
, Egypt
|| Dets. at LG.05/Sidi Barrani
, Egypt and RAF Gambut
, Libya
|-
| 14 May 1942 || 30 June 1942 || LG.40/Bahig South, Egypt ||
|-
| 30 June 1942 || 10 September 1942 || LG.208/LG Z'Mahsma, Egypt || Dets at LG.226/Gianaclis, Egypt; RAF St Jean, Palestine;
RAF Khormaksar
, Aden
; Scuscuiban;
RAF Socotra
, Yemen; Gambut III, Libya;
LG 227/Gianaclis Satellite, Egypt
|-
| 28 November 1942 || 18 December 1942 || LG.226/Gianaclis, Egypt || Dets at RAF Khormaksar, Aden; Scuscuiban;
Socotra, Yemen; Gambut III, Libya;
LG.227/Gianaclis Satellite, Egypt; Berka III, Libya
|-
| 18 December 1942 || 5 april 1944 || LG.143/Gambut III
, Libya || Dets at RAF Khormaksar, Aden; Berka III, Libya;
LG.227/Gianaclis Satellite, Egypt; RAF Nicosia
, Cyprus
;
LG.91, Egypt; LG.07/'Z'LG/Matruh West, Egypt;
RAF Lydda, Palestine; Gianaclis, Egypt;
RAF El Adem
, Libya; RAF St Jean, Palestine
and RAF Ramat David, Palestine
|-
| 5 April 1944 || 15 May 1944 || RAF Ramat David
, Palestine ||
|-
| 15 May 1944 || 9 August 1944 || RAF St Jean
, Palestine ||
|-
| 9 August 1944 || 17 February 1945 || Berka III
, Libya || Det. at Mersa Matruh, Egypt
|-
| 17 February 1945 || 25 February 1945 || RAF Almaza (No 22 PTC), Egypt ||
|-
| 25 February 1945 || 14 March 1945 || en route to the UK ||
|-
| 14 March 1945 || 10 April 1945 || RAF Chivenor, Devon
|| Disbanded before becoming operational
|+Officers commanding No 459 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 10 February 1942 || 19 April 1942 || Squadron Leader
P.W. Howson (acting)
|-
| 19 April 1942 || 15 September 1942 || Wing Commander
K.S. Hennock
|-
| 15 September 1942 || 19 January 1943 || Wing Commander P.W. Howson
|-
| 19 January 1943 || 5 October 1943 || Squadron Leader W. Allsopp
|-
| 5 October 1943 || 9 November 1944 || Wing Commander A.D. Henderson
|-
| 9 November 1944 || 10 April 1945 || Wing Commander C.E. Payne
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 served from 1942 as a maritime patrol and bomber unit in the mediterranean theatre of war until disbanded in 1945.
History
Borg El Arab Airport
Airlines and destinations will be completely updated upon the completion of the new terminal building by late 2011 and transfer of airlines from Alexandria International Airport.- See also :*Alexandria International Airport*Transportation in Alexandria...
, 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...
on 10 February 1942 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 was initially equipped with Lockheed 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...
and Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
aircraft and operated in the maritime reconnaissance role. During 1942 and early 1943 the Squadron operated against German shipping in the Mediterranean and sank a number of ships including a destroyer. In September 1943 the Squadron temporally changed roles to become a bomber unit. The Squadron was equipped with 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...
s from March to July 1944, when it was re-equipped with Martin Baltimore
Martin Baltimore
The Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States, originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was...
aircraft.
No 459 Squadron continued operating around the Greek islands until March 1945, when it was posted to 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...
. No 459 Squadron shortly thereafter disbanded at RAF Chivenor, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
on 10 April 1945.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no 459 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| February 1942 || May 1942 || Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
|| Mk.IV
|-
| March 1942 || December 1942 || Lockheed 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...
|| Mk.III
|-
| July 1942 || January 1944 || Lockheed Hudson || Mk.IIIa
|-
| August 1943 || April 1944 || Lockheed Huson || Mk.VI
|-
| September 1943 || November 1943 || Lockheed Huson || Mk.V
|-
| December 1943 || July 1944 || 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...
|| Mk.V
|-
| July 1944 || February 1945 || Martin Baltimore
Martin Baltimore
The Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States, originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was...
|| Mks.IV, V
|-
| March 1945 || April 1945 || 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.XIII
Squadron stations
{|class="wikitable"|+Bases and airfields used by No 459 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Station !! Remark
|-
| 10 February 1942 || 14 May 1942 || LG.39/Burg-el-Arab
Borg El Arab Airport
Airlines and destinations will be completely updated upon the completion of the new terminal building by late 2011 and transfer of airlines from Alexandria International Airport.- See also :*Alexandria International Airport*Transportation in Alexandria...
, 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...
|| Dets. at LG.05/Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani is a town in Egypt, near the Mediterranean Sea, about east of the border with Libya, and around from Tobruk, Libya.Probably named after Sidi Mohammed el Barrani, a Senussi fighter in the early 1900s, the village is mainly a Bedouin community...
, Egypt and RAF Gambut
RAF Gambut
RAF Gambut is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, located about 5 km north-northeast of Kambut and 50 km east-southeast of Tobruk....
, 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....
|-
| 14 May 1942 || 30 June 1942 || LG.40/Bahig South, Egypt ||
|-
| 30 June 1942 || 10 September 1942 || LG.208/LG Z'Mahsma, Egypt || Dets at LG.226/Gianaclis, Egypt; RAF St Jean, Palestine;
RAF Khormaksar
RAF Khormaksar
RAF Khormaksar was a Royal Air Force station in Aden. Its motto was "Into the Remote Places". During the 1960s, it was the base for nine squadrons and became the RAF's busiest-ever station. It later became Aden International Airport.-History:...
, Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
; Scuscuiban;
RAF Socotra
Socotra Airport
Socotra Airport is an airport in Socotra, Yemen . It is the only commercial airport that serves the Yemeni island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea and its capital town of Hadibo...
, Yemen; Gambut III, Libya;
LG 227/Gianaclis Satellite, Egypt
|-
| 28 November 1942 || 18 December 1942 || LG.226/Gianaclis, Egypt || Dets at RAF Khormaksar, Aden; Scuscuiban;
Socotra, Yemen; Gambut III, Libya;
LG.227/Gianaclis Satellite, Egypt; Berka III, Libya
|-
| 18 December 1942 || 5 april 1944 || LG.143/Gambut III
RAF Gambut
RAF Gambut is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, located about 5 km north-northeast of Kambut and 50 km east-southeast of Tobruk....
, Libya || Dets at RAF Khormaksar, Aden; Berka III, Libya;
LG.227/Gianaclis Satellite, Egypt; RAF Nicosia
RAF Nicosia
The former Royal Air Force Station Nicosia, commonly known as RAF Nicosia, was a Royal Air Force airbase in Cyprus. RAF Nicosia was Headquarters Royal Air Force Cyprus from 8 June to 29 July 1941...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
;
LG.91, Egypt; LG.07/'Z'LG/Matruh West, Egypt;
RAF Lydda, Palestine; Gianaclis, Egypt;
RAF El Adem
Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base
Gamal Abdul El Nasser Air Base is a Libyan Air Force base, located about 16 km south of Tobruk. It is believed to have once had about 60 or 70 Mirage F.1EDs aircraft assigned....
, Libya; RAF St Jean, Palestine
and RAF Ramat David, Palestine
|-
| 5 April 1944 || 15 May 1944 || RAF Ramat David
Ramat David Airbase
Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force, located southeast of Haifa, close to kibbutz Ramat David and Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley...
, Palestine ||
|-
| 15 May 1944 || 9 August 1944 || RAF St Jean
RAF St Jean
RAF St Jean is a former military airfield in Israel, which is located approximately 4 km east-northeast of Acre and 100 km north-northeast of Tel Aviv....
, Palestine ||
|-
| 9 August 1944 || 17 February 1945 || Berka III
Berca Airfield
Berca Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, which is located in the vicinity of the Al Birkah suburb of Benghazi. Its precise locatino is unknown as the urban growth of Benghazi has absorbed the former airfield's location....
, Libya || Det. at Mersa Matruh, Egypt
|-
| 17 February 1945 || 25 February 1945 || RAF Almaza (No 22 PTC), Egypt ||
|-
| 25 February 1945 || 14 March 1945 || en route to the UK ||
|-
| 14 March 1945 || 10 April 1945 || RAF Chivenor, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
|| Disbanded before becoming operational
Commanding officers
{|class="wikitable"|+Officers commanding No 459 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 10 February 1942 || 19 April 1942 || 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...
P.W. Howson (acting)
|-
| 19 April 1942 || 15 September 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...
K.S. Hennock
|-
| 15 September 1942 || 19 January 1943 || Wing Commander P.W. Howson
|-
| 19 January 1943 || 5 October 1943 || Squadron Leader W. Allsopp
|-
| 5 October 1943 || 9 November 1944 || Wing Commander A.D. Henderson
|-
| 9 November 1944 || 10 April 1945 || Wing Commander C.E. Payne