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RAAF units might also have been stationed in Morotai, Jefman and Saidor, Hollandia and Biak.
Note: These locations are only given where the Squadrons were based at the time of Oct44. The RAAF Operated out of Port Morseby, Milne Bay, Goodenough Is, Nadzab, Cape Gloucester, Tadji, Hollianda, Biak, Noenfoor, Moratai and Tarakan to name a few.
I forgot two other squadrons. 452 (spitfires) was at Sattler before moving out to Moratai, and 457 (spitfires) were at Livingstone before shipping out to Moratai as well.
At Moratai there was a huge amount of RAAF aircraft and personell, with the following squadrons being based there, mainly from late '44 onwards - 1,4,13,22,24,30,31,75,76,77,78,79,80,82,452 and 457.
BTW, why all the interest, are you doing research or something? If you need any more info I'll be glad to try and help out.
maxs75 said:Sorry, my bad habit not to post the quoting. I was asking of the bases you listed above that had no sqns assigned (Hollandia, Biak etc.). Apart for Tarakan that was still in Japanes hands.
Correct, 54 squadron RAF played a major part in defending the North of Australia in 1943 from Japanese air attacks along with its fellow RAAF spitfire squadrons 452 and 457.maxs75 said:Yes, around Darwin there were also 54, 548 and 549 RAF Spitfire squadrons (AFAIK the only RAF sqns in the area during WW2), five in total as in my first post.
Correct 21, 23 and 24 sqdrns made up 82 wing. I did some more reading and infact 21 squadron did have a permanent detachment operating from Moratai to support the Tarakan invasion.maxs75 said:Were some other B-24 squadrons deployed on Morotai? In your list I see only no. 24 sqn.
AFAIK 82 Wing (Bomb.) was composed by 21,23,24 (and maybe 25?) sqns.
And what about 13 sqn (PV)? Wasn't it based in Australia during late WW2?
maxs75 said:I'll see if I'll write something.
Thanks very much, I'll ask you many more questions.
As for 13 squadron flying Venturas, they flew strikes around Timor and the NEI's before moving to Moratai and then on to Labaun.
13 sqn - Ventura - Gove (Aug44-Aug45)
Bases such as Biak and Hollandia were only used by some RAAF squadrons for a very short time. 75, 78 and 80 for example were only there for about a month.
Thanks that clears that up, however 75, 78 and 80sqn did came under 81 wing when they moved to noemfoor in 1944. I'm guessing it was only for a short time before changing back to 78 wing.maxs75 said:Thanks Wildcat,
Happy to hear You again.
I've read (probably from your link) that 75, 78 and 80 sqn (P40's) were under no. 78 Wing. But from what I've understand the organization was quite fluid, so it is entirely possible that they came later under no. 81 wing.
I had a feeling 31 sqn would come under 77 wing but I couldn't find any info to back it up.maxs75 said:The no. 77 wing grouped 3 Beaufighter squadron, probably in 1945 (nos. 22 (its Bostons were destroyed on Morotai in nov. 1944 IIRC), 30 and 31).
82 wing was part of 1TAF when at Morotai as part of the Borneo campaign, but as you said 85 wing wasn't.maxs75 said:I also think that 82 and 85 wings were not part of a "Tactical" air Force.
Wildcat said:Max, do you know about the Beaufort squadrons and what wings they came under? I'm fairly certain they were not part of the 1TAF, but I could be wrong.
Cheers.