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31:
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348:(SWPA) to receive these aircraft and their arrival was popular with the squadron's personnel as it was believed that the Vengeances would allow them to play an active part in the war. This did not eventuate, however, and No. 12 Squadron continued its routine program of patrols after all the Vengeances had arrived. The only exception to this was a bombing raid conducted on 18 June 1943 by twelve of the squadron's Vengeances against villages on
468:
295:. As part of this reorganisation the squadron's headquarters became the RAAF Station's headquarters, Eaton, who was by now a Wing Commander, was appointed the commander of the station and all of the Ansons were transferred to No. 13 Squadron; only No. 12 Squadron's 'C' Flight remained with the unit. The squadron continued to conduct anti-submarine and maritime patrols and began a program of exercises with
375:, where they were used for anti-submarine patrols and the escort of shipping. No. 12 Squadron gradually moved to Merauke between September and November 1943, and continued to be employed mainly in maritime patrols. The squadron's only contact with the Japanese during its period at Merauke took place on 9 October when a Vengeance unsuccessfully attacked a float plane.
503:
units based in northern
Australia, though they also occasionally conducted air-sea rescues, provided flood relief and performed a range of other tasks in support of the civil authorities. Unusual tasks included placing lighthouses in isolated locations and air conditioning plants on the roofs of tall
268:
general purpose aircraft at
Laverton on 1 September, and all of the squadron's aircraft had arrived in Darwin by 17 September. The squadron's flying was reduced during September and October to make personnel available to improve the aerodrome's facilities, but by the end of October it had returned to
320:
which took place on 19 February 1942. The squadron also lost a considerable portion of its stores when a new hangar was destroyed at the civil aerodrome in this raid. Following the attack, No. 12 Squadron's surviving aircraft dropped supplies to the survivors of sunken ships and conducted patrols of
394:
heavy bombers on 5 February 1945. No. 12 Squadron began to move to Darwin in late March 1945 and became operational there in early May. It flew its first heavy bomber operation on 24 May and attacked three
Japanese ships on 26 May, setting one of them on fire. The squadron continued to attack
303:
units based at Darwin from July 1940. No. 12 Squadron relocated to the new military airfield in Darwin in April 1941 and reached a strength of 18 Wirraways in May. The squadron increased its flying in the later months of 1941 as war with Japan became increasingly likely.
530:
Due to the need to reduce defence expenditure, the
Australian government decided to retire the Chinook helicopters in 1989. Following the retirement of the Chinooks on 30 June 1989, No. 12 Squadron was disbanded on 25 August 1989. While it was hoped that the Army's new
315:
while 'A' flight returned to the civil aerodrome. On 12 December, the unit had a strength of 18 Wirraways but was down to 14 aircraft by mid-February 1942. Two of the aircraft based at Darwin were destroyed on the ground in the devastating
218:
from
November 1943 to July 1944, when it was withdrawn from operations. After being re-equipped, it operated as a heavy bomber unit from February 1945 until the end of the war. The squadron continued in this role until it was redesignated
499:, and arrived in Australia in March 1974. The squadron made its first flight in the aircraft on 8 July 1974, and was declared operational with the type in December that year. The Chinooks were primarily used to support
431:
on 10 August and it dropped leaflets over Borneo and the
Netherlands East Indies later in August to inform civilians of the Japanese surrender. Following this its Liberators dropped food and medical supplies to Allied
535:
helicopters could fulfill some of the
Chinook's roles, this was not successful. As a result, four of the ex-RAAF CH-47Cs were upgraded to CH-47D standard and assigned to 'C' Squadron of the Army's
371:. The squadron's 270-man strong advance party arrived in Merauke on 8 July but found that no facilities had been constructed for the unit. As a result, its aircraft were stationed at
415:
until the end of the war. During this period the squadron initially suffered from a shortage of spare parts but this was rectified after the unit gained access to USAAF spares at
264:. Seven No. 12 Squadron Ansons were based in Darwin by late August, and these began flying reconnaissance patrols on the last day of the month. The Demons were replaced with
1487:
436:(POW) and later repatriated POWs to Australia. In February 1946 No. 12 Squadron became a transport unit, though it only continued in this role until March when it moved to
280:
The squadron experienced considerable changes in 1940 and 1941. During the early months of 1940, its activities were expanded to include gunnery and bombing training and a
1482:
1492:
983:
356:
which were believed to house workers employed by the
Japanese to build a new airstrip. This was the first attack to be conducted by Vengeances in the SWPA.
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256:
in July 1939, with its advance party arriving there on the 24th of the month. The squadron was the first RAAF unit to be permanently based in the
1456:
1451:
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311:
on 8 December 1941 (local time), No. 12 Squadron was dispersed between two air bases; the squadron's 'B' and 'C' flights were transferred to
504:
buildings and supporting police anti-narcotics operations. In late August 1980 one of No. 12 Squadron's
Chinooks flew from Amberley to
483:
345:
207:
1317:
548:
921:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 2 (reprint ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
967:
416:
223:
in
February 1948. The squadron was reformed in 1973 to operate transport helicopters but was again disbanded in 1989.
943:
902:
864:
536:
30:
960:
455:
heavy bombers. The squadron continued operating these aircraft until 22 February 1948 when it was redesignated
1327:
326:
206:(RAAF) general purpose, bomber and transport squadron. The squadron was formed in 1939 and saw combat in the
210:. From 1941 to 1943, it mainly conducted maritime patrols off northern Australia. The squadron was based at
492:
helicopters. The helicopters were shipped from the United States to Brisbane on board the aircraft carrier
252:
maritime reconnaissance aircraft and commenced intensive training in May. No. 12 Squadron began to move to
241:
109:
880:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 1. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
786:
287:
was attached to the unit to assist with air gunnery practice. On 1 June No. 12 Squadron was split to form
391:
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62:
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normal operations. These included escorting shipping, maritime reconnaissance and coastal patrols.
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helicopter; this was the longest helicopter deployment undertaken by the RAAF to that time.
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No. 12 Squadron was re-formed at Amberley on 3 September 1973 to fly the RAAF's twelve new
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Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 3 Bomber Units
500:
300:
261:
148:
144:
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489:
322:
176:
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427:. The squadron's last bombing raid was conducted against a barracks at
364:
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dive bombers from October 1942. The squadron was the first unit in the
249:
215:
171:
140:
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400:
396:
382:, where it was reduced to cadre status ahead of being converted to a
895:
Tocumwal to Tarakan. Australians and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator
505:
325:
from 15 July – 16 September 1942 while Batchelor was being used by
428:
336:
No. 12 Squadron aircrew in the bar of the aircrew mess at Merauke
211:
982:
467:
349:
135:
444:. No. 12 Squadron suffered 27 fatalities during World War II.
240:
on 6 February 1939 under the command of Squadron Leader
236:
No. 12 Squadron was formed as a general purpose unit at
933:
938:. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
781:
779:
1488:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1989
359:
In May 1943, No. 12 Squadron was ordered to move to
776:
276:
No. 12 Squadron Wirraways at Darwin in January 1941
1483:Military units and formations established in 1939
447:In June 1947, No. 12 Squadron's aircrew moved to
1469:
857:Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force
244:. The squadron was initially equipped with four
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340:No. 12 Squadron began to be re-equipped with
819:
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390:in December and began to be reequipped with
321:the area around Darwin. It was stationed at
984:Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons
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395:Japanese shipping and installations in the
367:, where it would come under the command of
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484:Boeing CH-47 Chinook in Australian service
208:South West Pacific theatre of World War II
1493:Recipient of the Duke of Gloucester's Cup
814:
811:RAAF Historical Section (1995), pp. 36–37
610:
596:
581:RAAF Historical Section (1995), pp. 33–34
566:
522:A Flight Line of 12 Squadron Chinooks at
873:
859:. Weston Creek: Aerospace Publications.
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517:
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271:
260:and was initially stationed at Darwin's
471:A No. 12 Squadron Chinook picking-up a
378:In July 1944, No. 12 Squadron moved to
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1435:Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons
911:
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854:
549:Vultee Vengeance in Australian service
462:
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702:RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 36
621:RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 35
607:RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 34
572:RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 33
877:Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942
35:A No. 12 Squadron Vengeance in 1943
16:Royal Australian Air Force squadron
13:
14:
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787:"A15 Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook"
451:to begin conversion training for
318:first Japanese air raid on Darwin
934:RAAF Historical Section (1995).
29:
918:Air War Against Japan 1943–1945
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307:Following the outbreak of the
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657:Gillison (1962), pp. 238, 425
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327:United States Army Air Forces
440:and became a lodger unit of
386:unit. The squadron moved to
7:
897:. Belconnen: Banner Books.
893:Nelmes, Michael V. (1994).
542:
392:Consolidated B-24 Liberator
72:General purpose (1939–1943)
10:
1509:
874:Gillison, Douglas (1962).
832:Eather (1995), pp. 49, 151
729:Nelmes (1994), pp. 120–121
684:Odgers (1968), pp. 114–115
481:
407:areas in conjunction with
248:biplane fighters and four
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204:Royal Australian Air Force
63:Royal Australian Air Force
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764:. Australian War Memorial
510:Royal Malaysian Air Force
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1318:Rescue and Communication
793:. RAAF Museum Point Cook
666:Odgers (1968), pp. 58–59
630:Eather (1995), pp. 47–48
559:
419:. From July, No. 12 and
346:South West Pacific Area
84:"We roam and we charge"
855:Eather, Steve (1995).
527:
479:
380:Strathpine, Queensland
337:
277:
841:Eather (1995), p. 151
747:Nelmes (1994), p. 122
738:Nelmes (1994), p. 119
720:Nelmes (1994), p. 120
711:Odgers (1968), p. 116
537:5th Aviation Regiment
521:
508:to recover a crashed
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297:Royal Australian Navy
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76:Transport (1973–1989)
1338:Article XV squadrons
823:Eather (1995), p. 49
675:Odgers (1968), p. 58
648:Eather (1995), p. 48
593:Eather (1995), p. 47
442:No. 3 Aircraft Depot
373:Cooktown, Queensland
24:No. 12 Squadron RAAF
463:Helicopter squadron
449:RAAF Base East Sale
289:RAAF Station Darwin
285:Supermarine Seagull
221:No. 1 Squadron RAAF
758:"12 Squadron RAAF"
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438:RAAF Base Amberley
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313:Batchelor Airfield
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258:Northern Territory
238:RAAF Base Laverton
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413:No. 24 Squadrons
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423:formed part of
329:(USAAF) units.
301:Australian Army
293:No. 13 Squadron
262:civil aerodrome
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200:No. 12 Squadron
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1447:No. 19 (NEI)
1442:No. 18 (NEI)
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795:. Retrieved
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766:. Retrieved
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453:Avro Lincoln
446:
388:Cecil Plains
384:heavy bomber
377:
358:
339:
306:
279:
266:CAC Wirraway
246:Hawker Demon
235:
232:World War II
199:
198:
93:World War II
18:
991:Main series
768:30 November
539:from 1995.
425:No. 85 Wing
405:Arafura Sea
369:No. 72 Wing
363:in western
309:Pacific War
214:in western
112:(1939–1940)
89:Engagements
1472:Categories
791:RAAF Units
555:References
494:HMAS
482:See also:
475:bomber in
365:New Guinea
250:Avro Anson
216:New Guinea
172:Helicopter
106:commanders
99:Commanders
927:246580191
513:S-61 Nuri
496:Melbourne
401:Banda Sea
397:Timor Sea
149:Liberator
145:Vengeance
54:Australia
46:1973–1989
44:1939–1948
1323:Seaplane
915:(1968).
797:27 April
543:See also
524:Amberley
506:Malaysia
189:Wirraway
117:Insignia
81:Motto(s)
1313:Fighter
886:2000369
429:Kendari
361:Merauke
352:in the
227:History
212:Merauke
184:Trainer
177:Chinook
160:Fighter
153:Lincoln
104:Notable
51:Country
942:
925:
901:
884:
863:
473:Boston
409:No. 21
350:Selaru
254:Darwin
202:was a
136:Bomber
59:Branch
41:Active
762:Units
560:Notes
165:Demon
141:Anson
125:M, NH
940:ISBN
923:OCLC
899:ISBN
882:OCLC
861:ISBN
799:2014
770:2010
417:Biak
411:and
403:and
299:and
291:and
69:Role
1426:467
1421:466
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1303:107
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816:^
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526:.
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399:,
151:,
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143:,
1038:9
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