No. 107 Squadron RAAF

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Two Australian Kingfisher aircraft in 1942. These aircraft were operated by No. 107 Squadron after its formation.

No. 107 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron. Based in New South Wales the Squadron conducted anti-submarine patrols off the Australian east coast during the Second World War.

[edit] Squadron history

No. 107 Squadron was formed on 10 May 1943 at RAAF Base Rathmines in New South Wales to operate the Vought Kingfisher aircraft which had been ordered by the Netherlands East Indies Naval Service but delivered to Australia following the Japanese conquest of the NEI (prior to the formation of No. 107 Squadron these aircraft had been used by No. 3 Operational Training Unit for training purposes). The Squadron initially operated from Rathmines where it conducted convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols in conjunction with No. 11 Squadron and No. 20 Squadron.

In July 1944 No, 107 Squadron moved south to St Georges Basin where it flew patrols along the south coast of New South Wales. In this role the Squadron participated in the search for the German submarine U-862 after she sank the American Liberty Ship Robert J Walker off Moruya on 24 December 1944. This search was, however, unsuccessful and No. 107 Squadron does not appear to have sighted an enemy submarine throughout the war.

Anti-submarine patrols off the Australian east coast decreased considerably in early 1945 and No. 107 Squadron was disbanded on 31 October 1945 without seeing combat.

[edit] Aircraft operated

• Vought Kingfisher (1943-1945)
• Consolidated Catalina (1943-1944) (small numbers only)
• Douglas Dolphin (1943-1944) (small numbers only)

[edit] References

• RAAF Historical Section (1995), Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
• RAAF Museum No. 107 Squadron