No. 548 Squadron RAF
No. 548 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1943 to 1945.
History
The squadron was formed at Lawnton, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 15 December 1943[4] to provide air defence duties with Spitfires, as the RAAF Kittyhawks were inadequate for interception missions.[4][5] The first months were spent training with Wirraways and de Havilland Tiger Moths, but in April 1944 the squadrons Spitfire's arrived.[6] The squadron was made up of RAF Aircrew and RAAF Groundstaff. On 15 June 1944 the squadron moved initially to Livingstone Airfield and Strauss Airfield in Northern Territory, Australia. The squadron was then relocated in October 1944 to Parap Airfield, at Darwin, Northern Territory.
Only two operations were undertaken by the squadron before the Japanese surrender. A sweep was conducted over Selaru Island, 300 miles north of Darwin, on 5 September 1944 and the airfield at Cape Chater, Timor was attacked on 3 June 1945. The squadron was disbanded according to some sources at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Northern Territory[4][6] on 9 October 1945 -but a more recent source states 31 October at Melbourne, Victoria[1]- and the RAF personnel returned to the United Kingdom.
Aircraft operated
Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by no. 548 Squadron RAF, data from[1][4][6][7]
| From |
To |
Base |
Remark |
| 15 December 1943 |
19 January 1944 |
Lawnton Airfield, Queensland |
|
| 19 January 1944 |
25 May 1944 |
Petrie Airfield, Strathpine, Queensland |
|
| 25 May 1944 |
15 June 1944 |
RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland |
Det. at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland |
| 15 June 1944 |
22 October 1944 |
Livingstone Airfield, Northern Territory |
Dets. at Strauss Airfield, Northern Territory
and at Truscott Airfield, West Australia |
| 22 October 1944 |
23 September 1945 |
Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Darwin, Northern Territory |
Det. at Truscott Airfield, West Australia |
| 23 September 1945 |
31 October 1945 |
RAAF Base Melbourne (No. 1 PD), Victoria |
|
Commanding officers
Officers commanding no. 548 Squadron RAF, data from[6]
| From |
To |
Name |
| January 1944 |
July 1944 |
S/Ldr. W.H.A. Wright |
| July 1944 |
February 1945 |
S/Ldr. R.A. Watts |
| February 1945 |
October 1945 |
S/Ldr. E.D. Glaser |
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
External links
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