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In November 1942 4 Squadron commenced operations in New Guinea, attacking targets around Gona, Buna, Wairopi, Sanananda, and Cape Endaiadere. Aircraft were then detached to Popondetta to support the 7th Australian Division and to Dobodura for the 32nd US Army Division. On 26 December the squadron also gained distinction when Pilot Officer J. Archer shot down a Zero while on a tactical reconnaissance mission over a Japanese shipwreck off Gona. This was a unique victory for a Wirraway and earned Archer the American Silver Star.
The squadron continued to support ground operations and in August support was given to the 17th Brigade when it captured Kamiatum. In September aircraft were detached to Tsili Tsili, to support the Lae–Nazab campaign and later actions in the Markham and Ramu Valley. From January 1944 "A" and "B" Flight operated from Gusap and Nadzab airfields respectively, in support of the 7th and 9th Divisions. Here the unit lead Beauforts, Vengeances, and Kittyhawks to specific targets identified by the army.
When the squadron moved from Port Moresby to Nadzab in March 1944, a detachment was sent to New Britain to support the US Army's westward advance, spotting Japanese escaping to the Gazelle Peninsula.
The Gusap detachment returned to Nadzab in July, before moving to Madang in October to cover the 6th Division as it advanced into Bogadjim, Erima, and Angoram. "B" Flight carried out reconnaissance around the Sepik River, Marienberg, and Anneberg. In November a flight was also sent to Tadji airfield in Aitape.
The squadron reunited at Nadzab on 19 March 1945 to move to Moratai and then Labuan, arriving on 23 June. Wirraway aircraft commenced tactical reconnaissance around Kuching while the Boomerangs were detached to Balikpapan where they lead-in Spitfire and Kittyhawk squadrons.
After the end of the Second World War, 4 Squadron began searching for and dropping messages to prisoners of war. The unit returned to Canberra on 14 November. 4 Squadron ceased to exist as of 7 March 1948, when it was renamed 5 (Tac/R) Squadron.
You're welcome mate.Wildcat,
thanks for the addtional informations about RAAF!
Higgins - Cape York Peninsula, QLDCan you tell me where are the following locations?
- Higgins: no idea.......
- Lowood: near Brisbane?
- Garbutt: near Townsville?
- Gove: about 300 miles East of Darwin?
- Merauke: southern New Guinea
- Ross River: near Townsville?
Any info about Wings and Groups?
For example, No. 10 Group comprised No. 73 and No. 78 Wings at the time, and I remember a 1st FW in the Darwin area with Spitfire squadrons.
Off the top of my head Max, the 3 spitfire sqn's (54, 452, 457) did belong to No.1 Fighter Wing in the Darwin area. The 3 Vengeance sqns (21, 23, 24) belonged to 77 wing, however they were withdrawn from New Guinea in March 44 and replaced by 22 and 30 sqn's.
Most of the Darwin based units came under NWA command so I'm not sure if they were allocated to wing formations at this time. Apart from 10 group, No.9 group was also in the New Guinea area, I'll do some more checking and get back to you with hopefully a better answer.
To complete I've compiled the OOB for a rear area, that was involved in the reduction of Rabaul and in the Battle for Bougainville.
Solomons Area:
AirNorSols
Green Island:
USN
VB-115 PB4Y-1
VD-1 Det. PB4Y-1(P)
VF-34 F6F-3
VB-98 Det. SBD-5
USMC
MAG-14
VMF-114, 211, 212, 321 F4U-1
VMSB-243, 341 SBD-5
VMTB-134 TBF-1
Bougainville Is (Torokina, and Piva?)
USAAF
68th FS P-39Q
17th PhRS Det. F-5
USN
VB-306 SBD-5
VT-305 TBF-1
USMC
MAG-24
VMF-115, 215 F4U-1
VMSB-235 SBD-5
VMTB-242 TBF-1
RNZAF
No. 16 Sqn and No.17 in place of No. 19 around 20 april Kittyhawk IV (P-40N)
No. 25 Sqn Dauntless (SBD-5)
No. 30 Sqn Avenger I (TBF-1)
No. 2 ???? Ventura (PV-1) Don't know if already there
Treasury Is.
USAAF
42d BG(M) (69, 70, 75, 390) B-25 (D/H)??
100th BS(M) B-25
347th FG(-) (339) P-38J
Adv base of 12th and 44th FS (18th FG) P-38H
USN
VB-138 PV-1
VP-91 Det. PBY-5 (USS Chincoteague)
VS-68 SBD-4
USMC
VMB-413 PBJ-1
Vella Lavella Is. (Bakaroma)
USMC
VMF(N)-531 PV-1(N)
New Georgia Is. (Munda, Ondonga, Segi)
USAAF
70th FS P-38 and P-39
307th BG(H)(-) (370-372) B-24
USN
FAW-1
VP-12, 81(-) PBY-5A
VP-14 PBY-5 (USS Pocomoke)
VB-148 PV-1
VB-305, VB-98(-) SBD-5
VS-64 SBD-4
Don't know if the following were under ComAirNorSols
Russell Is.
USAAF
67th FS P-39L/N
Guadalcanal
USAAF
XIII FC
18th FG (12th FS(-)) P-38H
419th NFS P-38, P70
XIII BC
424th BS(H) B-24
17th PhRS (-) F-5
64th TCS C-47
USN
VS-54 SBD-3/4
VD-1 (-) PB4Y-1(Ph)
VP-91 (-) PBY-5 (Tulagi Is.)
USMC
1st MAW
VMD-254 PB4Y-1(Ph)
VMO-1 OY-1
RNZAF
No. 6 Sqn Catalina (PBY) (Halavo Bay)
No. 20 Sqn Corsair (F4U-1)
I'll add the plane units based in Central Pacific, where TF 58 started and then returned after covering of Hollandia and a second Truk strike.
USN Units: FAW-2 (HQ in Hawaii)
USAAF Units: 7th Air Force (HQ Hawaii)
Majuro Atoll
USMC
4th MBDAW
MAG-13
VMSB-231, 331 SBD-5
USN
VF-39 F6F-3
VP-53(-) PBY-5A
VB-142 Det. PV-1
VJ-1 Det. JM-1, TBF-1
Kwajalein Atoll (Roi, Kwajalein Is.)
USMC
MAG-31
VMF-224, 311, 441 F4U-1
USN
VB-144 Det. PV-1
VP-72 PBY-5 (USS Curtiss, Mackinac)
VS-52(-) SBD-5
VP-13(-), VP-102 Det. PB2Y-3
USAAF
VII BC
11th BG(H) (26, 98, 431) B-24
30th BG(H) (27, 38, 392) B-24
Eniwetok atoll (Engebi is., Wigley field, Eniwetok is., Stickell Field)
USMC
MAG-22
VMF-113, 422 F4U-1
VMSB-151 SBD-5
VMF(N)-532 F4U-2
USN
VB-108, 109 PB4Y-1
VD-3 PB4Y-1(Ph)
VP-13 Det., VP-102 Det. PB2Y-3
VS-52(-) SBD-5/J2F-5
Gilbert Islands (Makin, Tarawa, Apamama atolls)
Apamama, O'Hare field
USMC
MAG-15
VMJ-252 R5C-1
VMJ-353 R4D-5/-1
USN
VS-66 Det. J2F-5
USAAF
9th TCS C-47
47th, 48th BS(M) B-25 (D/G/H??) (To Makin)
Makin Island, Starmann field
USMC
VMF-111 F4U-1 (MAG-31)
USAAF
396th BS(M) B-25 (D/G/H??); all 41st BG(M) at Makin by the end of the month)
72 FS (318th FG) P-39Q (To Haliewa, Hawaii, 23 april)
USN
VS-66 Det. SBD-5
Tarawa atoll, Hawkins and Mullinix fields
USN
VB-142(-), VB-144(-) PV-1
VP-53 Det. PBY-5A
VS-66(-) SBD-4/5
USAAF
41st BG(M) (820) B-25 (To Makin)
Hawaii:
Ewa
Mar. Air. Haw. Area
VMO-4 OY-1
VMJ-952 R5C-1
VMF(N)-533 F6F-3N
MAG-23
VMF-312, 313, 322 F4U-1
VMSB-133, 332 SBD-5
MAG-32
7th Air Force
42 BS(H) B-24 (Kahuku)
819 BS(H) B-24 (Wheeler)
28 PhRS F-5 (Kipapa)
John Rodger Ap.
6 NFS (15 FG) P-70
19 TCS C-47
VII FC
Bellows
318 FG (19, 73, 333) P-47D
531 FS A-24
Mokuleia
15 FG (45, 47, 48 ) P-40N/P-47D
46 FS P-39Q (Wheeler)
FAW 2
Kanehoe
VP-13 Det. PB2Y-3
VP-102 PB2Y-3
VP-16, 202, 216 PBM-3D
VB-146, 150(-) PV-1
VP-24(-) PBY-5A
VB-101 PB4Y-1
VB-200 PV-1
VP-200 PBY-5A
Pearl Harbour
VS-46, 53, 69 SBD-5
VJ-1, 2, 12 JM-1, PV-1, BD-2, TBF
Honolulu
VR-2(-) PBM-3R
VR-11 R5D-1, RY-2
Barbers Point
VD-1 Det. PB4Y-1
VD-3 Det. PBJ-1
VD-4 PB4Y-1, F6F-3
VF(N)-76(-) F6F-3N
VF(N)-77 F6F-3N
VF(N)-101(-) F4U-1/2
Midway Island
VMO-155 F4U-1
VMSB-245 SBD-5/4
VP-24 Det. PBY-5A
Johnston Island
VS-47(-) SBD-4
VB-150 Det. PV-1
FAW-2 Det. PV-1