No. 21 Squadron RAAF
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| 21 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | |
| Branch | RAAF |
| Role | Reserve unit |
| Part of | CResW |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Williams; Laverton Base |
| Motto | "Coronat Victoria Fortes" |
No. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.
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[edit] History
No. 21 Squadron was formed at RAAF Base Laverton in April 1936, as a Citizen Air Force (reserve) squadron. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, it began operating CAC Wirraways.
.jpg/180px-Wirraway_(AWM_AC0141).jpg)
[edit] Fighter unit in Malaya
In mid-1941, as war with Japan became more likely, the squadron was re-designated a fighter unit and was sent to augment four other British Commonwealth units in Malaya, including No. 453 Squadron RAAF. The only fighter available was the Brewster Buffalo.
The five British Commonwealth units — including two RAF and one RNZAF squadrons — that flew Buffalos in the Malayan campaign were beset with numerous problems, including: poorly-built and ill-equipped planes;[1][2] inadequate supplies of spare parts;[2] inadequate numbers of support staff;[1][2] airfields that were difficult to defend against air attack;[1] lack of a clear and coherent command structure;[1] antagonism between RAF and RAAF squadrons and personnel,[1][2] and inexperienced pilots lacking appropriate training.[1]
No 21 Squadron suffered severe losses to Japanese fighters, on the ground and in the air, during the first week of the campaign, resulting in its operational merger with 453 Squadron, and later with other Buffalo squadrons. Surviving pilots were evacuated to the Dutch East Indies and from there to Australia.
[edit] Bomber squadron in Australia
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[edit] Post-war
The squadron ceased flying operations in 1960 and is currently a non-flying general reserve squadron headquartered at RAAF Williams near Melbourne.
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f Squadron Leader W.J. Harper, 1946, "REPORT ON NO. 21 AND NO. 453 RAAF SQUADRONS" (UK Air Ministry), p.1 (Source: UK Public Records Office, ref. AIR 20/5578; transcribed by Dan Ford for Warbird's Forum.) Access date: September 8, 2007
- ^ a b c d Harper, p.2
[edit] References
- RAAF Museum 21 Squadron
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