Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/December 4

Two Hudson aircraft from No. 13 Squadron near Darwin in 1940

No. 13 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force is currently a RAAF Reserve unit located in Darwin. No. 13 Squadron was first established in 1940 as a general reconnaissance squadron equipped with Lockheed Hudson aircraft. In this role the Squadron participated in the unsuccessful defence of the Netherlands East Indies in 1941-42. No. 13 Squadron conducted raids over the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies until 1943 when it was reequipped and primarily operated in the anti-submarine role until the end of the war. Future Prime Minister Gough Whitlam served as a navigator with the Squadron during this period. While No. 13 Squadron was disbanded in 1946 it was re-established as a non-flying Air Force Reserve Squadron located at RAAF Base Darwin in 1989.