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No. 548 Squadron RAF

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No. 548 Squadron RAF
Active15 Dec 1943 – 31 Oct 1945[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Insignia
Squadron CodesTS (Apr 1944 – Oct 1945)[2][3]

No. 548 Squadron RAF was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1943 to 1945.

History

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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] It was first formed under the command of Squadron Leader Dave Glaser, a RAF veteran of the Battle of Britain. The first months were spent training with Wirraways and de Havilland Tiger Moths, but in April 1944 the squadron's Spitfires 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 the Northern Territory of Australia. The squadron was then relocated in October 1944 to Parap Airfield in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Only two offensive 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.

Disbandment

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There has been confusion regarding when the squadron disbanded. According to some sources, the squadron was disbanded at Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Northern Territory[4][6] on 9 October 1945. A more recent source states that it was disbanded on 31 October at Melbourne, Victoria.[1] The confusion is likely the result of misreadings of the squadron's Operations Record Book, which includes a handwritten note that "Sqn disbanded on 9 Oct 1945", in line with Air Force Command Order B443/45; just above this note is what appears to be a correction, at first glance appearing to be the number 31 but more likely the numeral 3 followed by a correction mark.[7]

The squadron's Personnel Occurrence Reports (POR) show that the squadron was wound down during September 1945, when RAAF ground staff were either posted to other units or demobilised.[8] The squadron's RAF pilots meanwhile ferried their aircraft out of the Northern Territory and were posted to Melbourne, mostly during the period 16-23 September, and given permission to "live out" while the RAF organised for their return home to the United Kingdom.[9] The squadron's final POR, dated 2 October 1945, notes that the last member, Flying Officer I. H. Lance, RAAF, a ground staff officer who was likely the Adjutant, was posted to another squadron with effect from 3 October.[10] It would appear therefore that the disbandment process was completed on 3 October 1945, six days ahead of the scheduled date of 9 October.

Aircraft operated

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Aircraft operated by No. 548 Squadron RAF[1][4][6]
From To Aircraft Version Remarks
December 1943 April 1944 CAC Wirraway For training
December 1943 April 1944 de Havilland Tiger Moth For training
April 1944 October 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Tropicalised

Squadron bases

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Bases and airfields used by No. 548 Squadron RAF[1][4][6][11]
From To Base Remarks
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, Western Australia
22 October 1944 23 September 1945 Parap Airfield (Darwin/Civil), Darwin, Northern Territory Det. at Truscott Airfield, Western Australia

Commanding officers

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Officers commanding No. 548 Squadron RAF[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

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  2. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 99.
  3. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 108.
  4. ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 409.
  5. ^ RAF – Squadron history.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rawlings 1978, p. 467.
  7. ^ 548 Squadron Operations Record Book, page 226, National Archives of Australia, Series A9186, File 162, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1359512
  8. ^ 548 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Reports, September 1945, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12234126
  9. ^ 548 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Reports, Volume 1, pages 2-10 covering September-October 1945, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12234125
  10. ^ 548 Squadron Personnel Occurrence Report, 2 October 1945, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=12234126
  11. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 275.

Bibliography

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  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
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