No. 548 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 548 Squadron RAF was a fighter
squadron
of the Royal Air Force
(RAF) from 1943 to 1945.
, near Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia
on 15 December 1943 to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks
were inadequate for interception missions. The first months were spent training with Wirraways
and de Havilland Tiger Moth
s, but in April 1944 the squadrons Spitfire's arrived. The squadron was made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF
Groundstaff. On 15 June 1944 the squadron moved initially to Livingstone Airfield
and Strauss Airfield
in Northern Territory, Australia. The squadron was then relocated in October 1944 to Parap Airfield
, at Darwin, Northern Territory
.
Only two operations were undertaken by the squadron before the Japanese surrender. A sweep was conducted over Selaru Island, 300 miles north of Darwin, on 5 September 1944 and the airfield at Cape Chater, Timor was attacked on 3 June 1945.
The squadron was disbanded according to some sources at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil)
, Northern Territory
on 9 October 1945 -but a more recent source states 31 October at Melbourne
, Victoria
- and the RAF personnel returned to the United Kingdom
.
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of 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...
(RAF) from 1943 to 1945.
History
The squadron was formed at LawntonLawnton, Queensland
Lawnton is a suburb north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Moreton Bay Region. The origin of the suburb name is from an early property owner by the name of Stephen Lawn...
, near Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, 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...
, 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...
on 15 December 1943 to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
were inadequate for interception missions. The first months were spent training with Wirraways
CAC Wirraway
The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946...
and de Havilland Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
s, but in April 1944 the squadrons Spitfire's arrived. The squadron was made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF
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...
Groundstaff. On 15 June 1944 the squadron moved initially to Livingstone Airfield
Livingstone Airfield
Livingstone Airfield was an airfield at Livingstone, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II.The airfield was built by the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion, less Company A and HQ Detachment, between 16 March 1942 until 13 April 1942. The runway was long and wide...
and Strauss Airfield
Strauss Airfield
Strauss Airfield was an airfield constructed between 19 March to 27 April 1942 near Noonamah, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II. It was also known as 27 Mile Field or Humpty Doo Strip.-History:...
in Northern Territory, Australia. The squadron was then relocated in October 1944 to Parap Airfield
Parap Airfield
Parap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:...
, at Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
.
Only two operations were undertaken by the squadron before the Japanese surrender. A sweep was conducted over Selaru Island, 300 miles north of Darwin, on 5 September 1944 and the airfield at Cape Chater, Timor was attacked on 3 June 1945.
The squadron was disbanded according to some sources at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil)
Parap Airfield
Parap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
on 9 October 1945 -but a more recent source states 31 October at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
- and the RAF personnel returned 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...
.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1943 | April 1944 | CAC Wirraway CAC Wirraway The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946... |
For training | |
| December 1943 | April 1944 | de Havilland Tiger Moth De Havilland Tiger Moth The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft... |
For training | |
| April 1944 | October 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Mk.VIII | Tropicalised |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 December 1943 | 19 January 1944 | Lawnton Airfield Lawnton, Queensland Lawnton is a suburb north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Moreton Bay Region. The origin of the suburb name is from an early property owner by the name of Stephen Lawn... , 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... |
|
| 19 January 1944 | 25 May 1944 | Petrie Airfield Petrie Airfield Petrie Airfield was a World War II military airfield located just to the south of the North Pine River in Petrie, Queensland, Australia. After the war, the airfield was dismantled and the area is now part of the urban area of Petrie-Strathpine.-World War II:... , Strathpine, Queensland |
|
| 25 May 1944 | 15 June 1944 | RAAF Base Amberley RAAF Base Amberley RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron... , Queensland |
Det. at RAAF Base Townsville RAAF Base Townsville RAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No... , Queensland |
| 15 June 1944 | 22 October 1944 | Livingstone Airfield Livingstone Airfield Livingstone Airfield was an airfield at Livingstone, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II.The airfield was built by the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion, less Company A and HQ Detachment, between 16 March 1942 until 13 April 1942. The runway was long and wide... , Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... |
Dets. at Strauss Airfield Strauss Airfield Strauss Airfield was an airfield constructed between 19 March to 27 April 1942 near Noonamah, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II. It was also known as 27 Mile Field or Humpty Doo Strip.-History:... , Northern Territory and at Truscott Airfield Mungalalu Truscott Airbase Mungalalu Truscott Airbase, which during World War II was known as Truscott Airfield is today a commercial air field in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. The airbase falls under the traditional ownership of the Wunambal Gaambera people... , West Australia |
| 22 October 1944 | 23 September 1945 | Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil) Parap Airfield Parap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:... , Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities... |
Det. at Truscott Airfield Mungalalu Truscott Airbase Mungalalu Truscott Airbase, which during World War II was known as Truscott Airfield is today a commercial air field in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. The airbase falls under the traditional ownership of the Wunambal Gaambera people... , West Australia |
| 23 September 1945 | 31 October 1945 | RAAF Base Melbourne (No. 1 PD) RAAF Williams RAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams... , Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| January 1944 | July 1944 | S/Ldr. 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... W.H.A. Wright |
| July 1944 | February 1945 | S/Ldr. R.A. Watts |
| February 1945 | October 1945 | S/Ldr. E.D. Glaser |