No. 11 Squadron RAAF

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No.11 Squadron RAAF
Image:Squad 11.gif
Active September 1939-
Branch RAAF
Part of 92 Wing
Garrison/HQ RAAF Base Edinburgh
Motto "Shepherd or Destroy"
Aicraft P-3C Orion
Insignia
Callsign Shepherd

No. 11 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. It was formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War. The Squadron became known to the public through its participation in the Great Southern Ocean rescues of wrecked sailors such as Tony Bullimore and Isabelle Autissier.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Second World War

No. 11 Squadron was established on 25 September 1939 at RAAF Base Richmond.[1] It deployed to Port Moresby in New Guinea later that year where it monitored Japanese shipping movements in the region. The Squadron was re-equipped with Catalina aircraft in 1941.

Upon the outbreak of war with Japan, No. 11 Squadron began flying patrol missions across the South West Pacific area. While the Squadron was withdrawn to RAAF Base Rathmines on Lake Macquarie in New South Wales following the Japanese air attacks on Port Moresby in February 1942, it continued to carry out patrols in the waters around New Guinea. In early March 1943 aircraft from No. 11 Squadron took part in the surveillance of the Japanese convoy which was destroyed in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea.

No. 11 Squadron Catalina being beached for maintenance in 1943
No. 11 Squadron Catalina being beached for maintenance in 1943

In 1943 No. 11 Squadron began conducting offensive mine-laying operations, which it continued until the end of the war. The Squadron's most notable achievement in this role was the mining of Manila harbour in late 1944, which required three aircraft to fly over 14,500 kilometres in the RAAF's longest mission of the war.

An incident in which a a US Navy Wildcat mistook a No. 11 Squadron Catalina for a Japanese aircraft resulted in the adoption of what became the modern RAAF Roundel. At the time RAAF aircraft were using the RAF roundel and the USN aircraft mistook this for the Japanese red circular aircraft marking. This incident led to the adoption of a Roundel consisting of the same blue ring surrounding a red kangaroo in motion.

[edit] Post-war

P-3W of 11 Sqn in 1990
P-3W of 11 Sqn in 1990

No. 11 Squadron was disbanded in 1946, re-forming at RAAF Base Pearce in 1948. Operating modified Lincoln heavy bombers, the Squadron conducted patrols over the Indian Ocean. It was re-equipped with Neptune aircraft in 1951 and relocated to RAAF Base Richmond in May 1954.[1]

In February 1968,[1] No. 11 Squadron moved to RAAF Base Edinburgh where it re-equipped with P-3B Orion aircraft. These were replaced with P-3Cs in 1986. No. 11 Squadron continues to operate in the maritime patrol and surveillance roles.

[edit] Aircraft operated

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Roylance, Air Base Richmond, p.125

[edit] References


Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons
Main series

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Empire Air Training Scheme squadrons

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Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons

No. 18 (NEI) No. 119 (NEI) No. 120 (NEI)