No. 452 Squadron RAAF

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No. 452 Squadron Spitfire aircraft near Morotai Island in late 1944

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No. 452 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed during World War II, from Australian flyers in England.

452 Squadron, primarily an Australian Squadron with Australian pilots, also enjoyed the services of pilots from other countries. Paddy Finucane (pronounced "fin ew can"), an Irish Ace and great 'mate' of Bluey Truscott and Bardie Wawn flew with the Squadron. Truscott and Wawn went on later to fly in No. 76 Squadron RAAF in Milne Bay, New Guinea in Curtiss P-40 'Kittyhawks'. A number of Polish pilots also flew with 452 Squadron and proved to be formidable pilots, however the language barrier caused some problems.

The Squadron rapidly developed a name and was credited with the leading tally of any Squadron. They were involved in numerous types of operations but two of note were escorting the bombers that dropped off the artificial leg to the British Ace Douglas Bader who was held as a Prisoner of War. This was achieved with the co-operation of the Germans who allowed safe passage for this purpose. The bombers (? Blenheims) flew on to bomb a factory and required fighter escort.

Bardie and Bluey - Great 'Mates'. Bardie had just shot down an enemy aircraft targeting Bluey.

The other notable operation was the attack made on the pocket battleships Scharnhorst, Prince Eugen and Gneisenau who were attempting to 'dash' out of their harbour and through the Channel to safety. The Squadron inflicted severe damage to these ships through intense anti-aircraft fire without the loss or damage to themselves. Keith 'Bluey' Truscott was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) (DFC) for this action.

The Squadron flew Supermarine Spitfire fighter planes for the remainder of the war, initially over the UK and Nazi-occupied Europe.

In 1943, the squadron returned to Australia and was based in Darwin, defending northern Australia from Japanese air raids.

The squadron finished the war as part of the Australian First Tactical Air Force, based in the Dutch East Indies.

[edit] See also

• RAAF units under RAF operational control
• Australian War Memorial - 452 Squadron

[edit] References

• Ivan Southall, Bluey Truscott.
• Clive Wawn Jr (collection of memorabilia and documents)

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• 452 Squadron - RAAF in Britain during WW2
• Digger History - An excellent website for research
• 452 Squadron
• "Out of the Blue" - Thorold-Smith painting by Troy White
• Stories of Pilots, many of whom flew with 452 Squadron

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