No. 42 Squadron RAAF

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A No. 42 Squadron Catalina (left) with a No. 20 Squadron Catalina (right)

No. 42 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol and mine laying squadron of World War II.

[edit] Squadron history

No. 42 Squadron was formed at Darwin on 1 June 1944. Equipped with Catalina aircraft the Squadron moved to Melville Island in July and began flying operational patrols on 27 August.

While No. 42 Squadron initially flew reconnaissance and escort missions, the Squadron's main role from September 1944 was mine laying. The Squadron began its mine laying campaign by flying missions in the eastern islands of the Netherlands East Indies. The Squadron's operations around Celebes were particularly successful.

From November 1944 No. 42 Squadron maintained forward detachments closer to the battlefront, initially at Morotai and later at Leyte. Flying from these bases and Melville Island mine laying aircraft from the Squadron ranged as far afield as Formosa, Borneo and Sumatra during 1945.

Following the end of the war No. 42 Squadron assisted in the repatriation of Australian Prisoners of War and other personnel. The Squadron was disbanded at Melville Island on 30 November 1945.

[edit] Aircraft operated

• Consolidated Catalina (June 1944-November 1945)

[edit] References

• RAAF Museum 42 Squadron
• Steve Eather (1995) Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Aerospace Publications.
• RAAF Historical Section (1995), Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.