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No. 454 Squadron RAAF

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role, attacking German forces as they withdrew north. The squadron's last sorties were flown on 1 May 1945, the day before the German forces in Italy surrendered. Following the conclusion of hostilities, No. 454 Squadron was disbanded on 14 August 1945, while it was at
355:. According to the Australian War Memorial, 454 Squadron "earned a reputation for efficiency, despite Italy's climatic extremes", utilising techniques such as radar-controlled bombing. In November, Wing Commander A. D. "Pete" Henderson RAAF succeeded Moore as CO. 322:
While many of its personnel during this period came from countries other than Australia, from April 1944 onwards, the squadron's commanding officers were RAAF personnel, beginning with Wing Commander M. J. "Mike" Moore.
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in Egypt, and was re-roled as a maritime patrol squadron. Operating in the Mediterranean Theatre for a period of almost a year and a half, No. 454 Squadron attacked targets in
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in the United Kingdom in a reconnaissance/light-bomber role, from RAF personnel. Two months later, the squadron was transferred to Egypt, where the ground crews were sent to
1596: 1591: 276:, and was employed in a training role, providing Blenheim refresher training for crews from other RAF squadrons. In October, Wing Commander Ian Campbell took command. 1586: 199:
in mid-1941, but was disbanded shortly afterwards. It was re-formed later in 1941 from mainly British personnel and subsequently took part in the fighting in the
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shortly after this. In late September, the squadron received aircrew and concentrated at Aqir again. It proceeded to Iraq where it was equipped with
1083: 1565: 1560: 1555: 1550: 367:. During the war the squadron suffered 60 Australian fatalities. Its final commanding officer was Wing Commander John Rees DFC, DFC(US), RAAF. 307:, concentrating on anti-submarine patrols and striking merchant shipping, operating from a number of different locations including Amiriya, 545: 549: 364: 602: 1426: 221: 196: 1076: 980:
RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912
790: 1006: 987: 968: 949: 930: 351:. The squadron moved between a number of different airfields as the fighting advanced, and even attacked targets in 1039: 1069: 332: 236:, but it disbanded shortly afterwards on 11 July, and its personnel posted to various other squadrons including 1436: 1026: 587: 188: 97: 553: 288: 121: 1431: 1061: 1534: 1529: 1524: 1519: 1514: 1509: 1504: 1499: 1494: 1489: 1484: 1479: 1469: 1464: 1459: 1454: 1421: 1416: 1411: 1406: 1401: 359: 245: 241: 237: 225: 1446: 1396: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1376: 1371: 1366: 1361: 1356: 1351: 1346: 1341: 1336: 1331: 1326: 1321: 1316: 1311: 1306: 1301: 1296: 1291: 1286: 1281: 1276: 1271: 1266: 1261: 1256: 1251: 1246: 1241: 1236: 1231: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1166: 1161: 1156: 1151: 617: 8: 1146: 1141: 1136: 1131: 1126: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 348: 232:
on 23 May 1941. Upon formation, the squadron was intended for service in Europe with the
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Unit of the Royal Australian Air Force that served during World War II
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Military units and formations in Mandatory Palestine in World War II
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Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
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Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
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Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
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Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
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The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988
336: 982:(2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. 1091: 300: 164: 107: 925:. St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia: Allen & Unwin. 304: 264:
to service aircraft from other squadrons; they moved to the
1001:(2nd ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers). 725: 723: 710: 708: 706: 656: 654: 652: 639: 637: 635: 633: 376:
Aircraft operated by no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from
1034:. Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory: Mark Lax. 504:
Officers commanding no. 454 Squadron RAAF, data from
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Early in 1943, the squadron moved to Gianaclis, near
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
735: 720: 703: 649: 630: 256:On 2 April 1942, No. 454 Squadron was re-raised at 331:From July 1944, the squadron was committed to the 1592:Military units and formations established in 1941 963:. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians). 195:. The squadron was raised in Australia under the 1578: 1028:Alamein to the Alps: 454 Squadron RAAF 1941–1945 942:Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force 1587:Australian Article XV squadrons of World War II 999:Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft 1077: 358:In early 1945, 454 Squadron converted to the 272:. During this time the squadron was based at 1093:Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons 35:Members of No. 454 Squadron RAAF celebrate 1084: 1070: 224:, No. 454 Squadron came into existence at 343:. During this time, it was re-roled as a 791:"RAAF Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, IV & V" 977: 777: 689:Second World War, 1939–1945 units 203:before being disbanded in August 1945. 1579: 1544:Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons 1057:454 and 459 RAAF Squadrons Association 958: 939: 920: 765: 741: 729: 714: 660: 643: 601:Wing Commander John Gordon Rees, DFC, 498: 1065: 996: 753: 679: 677: 675: 673: 671: 669: 201:Mediterranean and Middle East theatre 370: 1024: 13: 1017: 666: 14: 1613: 1050: 923:The RAAF and the Flying Squadrons 287:. In February, it became part of 871:"RAAF Taylorcraft Auster Mk.III" 283:, where it was re-equipped with 92: 78: 63: 29: 888: 863: 838: 813: 783: 339:, where it was assigned to the 771: 759: 747: 251: 1: 913: 54:2 April 1942 – 20 August 1945 584:Andrew Dill 'Pete' Henderson 211: 140:South-East Europe, 1942–1945 7: 997:Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). 896:"454 Squadron: Our History" 846:"RAAF Supermarine Spitfire" 611: 569:Milton 'Mike' Jeffery Moore 529:Ian Lindsay Campbell, RAAF 10: 1618: 821:"RAAF Fairchild F24 Argus" 222:Empire Air Training Scheme 206: 197:Empire Air Training Scheme 191:(RAAF) that served during 189:Royal Australian Air Force 98:Royal Australian Air Force 52:23 May 1941 – 11 July 1941 1543: 1445: 1099: 959:Halley, James J. (1988). 691:. Australian War Memorial 542:John Arthur Gordon Coates 347:squadron, supporting the 163: 158: 131: 113: 103: 88: 73: 58: 48: 28: 23: 1427:Rescue and Communication 623: 326: 143:Mediterranean, 1940–1943 978:Jefford, C.G. (2001) . 921:Barnes, Norman (2000). 289:RAF Middle East Command 940:Eather, Steve (1995). 24:No. 454 Squadron RAAF 1447:Article XV squadrons 618:Article XV squadrons 475:Supermarine Spitfire 801:on 13 February 2015 685:"454 Squadron RAAF" 505: 499:Commanding officers 377: 349:British Eighth Army 133:Battle honours 122:Middle East Command 1025:Lax, Mark (2006). 503: 489:Taylorcraft Auster 375: 220:provisions of the 187:was a unit of the 1574: 1573: 609: 608: 496: 495: 371:Aircraft operated 309:LG.143/Gambut III 295:, based at LG.91 285:Martin Baltimores 270:Bristol Blenheims 216:Raised under the 179: 178: 118:No. 201 Group RAF 1609: 1086: 1079: 1072: 1063: 1062: 1045: 1033: 1012: 993: 974: 955: 936: 907: 906: 904: 902: 892: 886: 885: 883: 881: 867: 861: 860: 858: 856: 842: 836: 835: 833: 831: 817: 811: 810: 808: 806: 797:. Archived from 787: 781: 775: 769: 763: 757: 751: 745: 739: 733: 727: 718: 712: 701: 700: 698: 696: 681: 664: 658: 647: 641: 576:25 November 1944 564:25 November 1944 506: 502: 447:Martin Baltimore 433:Martin Baltimore 418:Martin Baltimore 402:Bristol Blenheim 378: 374: 341:Desert Air Force 333:Italian campaign 185:No. 454 Squadron 174:Martin Baltimore 170:Bristol Blenheim 146:Italy, 1943–1945 126:Desert Air Force 96: 83: 82: 68: 67: 33: 21: 20: 1617: 1616: 1612: 1611: 1610: 1608: 1607: 1606: 1577: 1576: 1575: 1570: 1539: 1441: 1437:Berlin Air Lift 1095: 1090: 1053: 1048: 1042: 1031: 1020: 1018:Further reading 1015: 1009: 990: 971: 952: 933: 916: 911: 910: 900: 898: 894: 893: 889: 879: 877: 869: 868: 864: 854: 852: 844: 843: 839: 829: 827: 819: 818: 814: 804: 802: 789: 788: 784: 776: 772: 764: 760: 752: 748: 740: 736: 728: 721: 713: 704: 694: 692: 683: 682: 667: 659: 650: 642: 631: 626: 614: 582:Wing Commander 567:Wing Commander 540:Wing Commander 520:16 October 1942 501: 461:Fairchild Argus 373: 329: 254: 234:Royal Air Force 230:New South Wales 214: 209: 182: 172: 137: 124: 108:Bomber Squadron 77: 62: 53: 44: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1615: 1605: 1604: 1599: 1594: 1589: 1572: 1571: 1569: 1568: 1563: 1558: 1553: 1547: 1545: 1541: 1540: 1538: 1537: 1532: 1527: 1522: 1517: 1512: 1507: 1502: 1497: 1492: 1487: 1482: 1477: 1472: 1467: 1462: 1457: 1451: 1449: 1443: 1442: 1440: 1439: 1434: 1429: 1424: 1419: 1414: 1409: 1404: 1399: 1394: 1389: 1384: 1379: 1374: 1369: 1364: 1359: 1354: 1349: 1344: 1339: 1334: 1329: 1324: 1319: 1314: 1309: 1304: 1299: 1294: 1289: 1284: 1279: 1274: 1269: 1264: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1244: 1239: 1234: 1229: 1224: 1219: 1214: 1209: 1204: 1199: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1164: 1159: 1154: 1149: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1129: 1124: 1119: 1114: 1109: 1103: 1101: 1097: 1096: 1089: 1088: 1081: 1074: 1066: 1060: 1059: 1052: 1051:External links 1049: 1047: 1046: 1040: 1021: 1019: 1016: 1014: 1013: 1007: 994: 988: 975: 969: 956: 950: 937: 931: 917: 915: 912: 909: 908: 887: 862: 837: 812: 782: 770: 768:, p. 476. 758: 756:, p. 252. 746: 744:, p. 111. 734: 732:, p. 273. 719: 717:, p. 274. 702: 665: 663:, p. 272. 648: 646:, p. 110. 628: 627: 625: 622: 621: 620: 613: 610: 607: 606: 599: 598:14 August 1945 596: 592: 591: 580: 577: 573: 572: 565: 562: 558: 557: 538: 535: 534:4 October 1943 531: 530: 527:Wing Commander 524: 523:4 October 1943 521: 517: 516: 513: 510: 500: 497: 494: 493: 490: 487: 484: 480: 479: 476: 473: 470: 466: 465: 462: 459: 456: 452: 451: 448: 445: 442: 438: 437: 434: 431: 428: 424: 423: 420: 415: 414:September 1943 412: 408: 407: 404: 399: 396: 392: 391: 388: 385: 382: 372: 369: 360:night intruder 328: 325: 297:RAF El Amiriya 253: 250: 213: 210: 208: 205: 180: 177: 176: 167: 161: 160: 159:Aircraft flown 156: 155: 154: 153: 150: 147: 144: 141: 135: 129: 128: 115: 111: 110: 105: 101: 100: 90: 86: 85: 84:United Kingdom 75: 71: 70: 60: 56: 55: 50: 46: 45: 34: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1614: 1603: 1600: 1598: 1595: 1593: 1590: 1588: 1585: 1584: 1582: 1567: 1566:No. 120 (NEI) 1564: 1562: 1561:No. 119 (NEI) 1559: 1557: 1554: 1552: 1549: 1548: 1546: 1542: 1536: 1533: 1531: 1528: 1526: 1523: 1521: 1518: 1516: 1513: 1511: 1508: 1506: 1503: 1501: 1498: 1496: 1493: 1491: 1488: 1486: 1483: 1481: 1478: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1466: 1463: 1461: 1458: 1456: 1453: 1452: 1450: 1448: 1444: 1438: 1435: 1433: 1430: 1428: 1425: 1423: 1420: 1418: 1415: 1413: 1410: 1408: 1405: 1403: 1400: 1398: 1395: 1393: 1390: 1388: 1385: 1383: 1380: 1378: 1375: 1373: 1370: 1368: 1365: 1363: 1360: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1338: 1335: 1333: 1330: 1328: 1325: 1323: 1320: 1318: 1315: 1313: 1310: 1308: 1305: 1303: 1300: 1298: 1295: 1293: 1290: 1288: 1285: 1283: 1280: 1278: 1275: 1273: 1270: 1268: 1265: 1263: 1260: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1240: 1238: 1235: 1233: 1230: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1220: 1218: 1215: 1213: 1210: 1208: 1205: 1203: 1200: 1198: 1195: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1155: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1145: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1128: 1125: 1123: 1120: 1118: 1115: 1113: 1110: 1108: 1105: 1104: 1102: 1098: 1094: 1087: 1082: 1080: 1075: 1073: 1068: 1067: 1064: 1058: 1055: 1054: 1043: 1037: 1030: 1029: 1023: 1022: 1010: 1008:0-354-01027-1 1004: 1000: 995: 991: 989:1-85310-053-6 985: 981: 976: 972: 970:0-85130-164-9 966: 962: 957: 953: 951:1-875671-15-3 947: 943: 938: 934: 932:1-86508-130-2 928: 924: 919: 918: 897: 891: 876: 872: 866: 851: 847: 841: 826: 822: 816: 800: 796: 792: 786: 780:, p. 94. 779: 774: 767: 762: 755: 750: 743: 738: 731: 726: 724: 716: 711: 709: 707: 690: 686: 680: 678: 676: 674: 672: 670: 662: 657: 655: 653: 645: 640: 638: 636: 634: 629: 619: 616: 615: 604: 600: 597: 594: 593: 589: 585: 581: 578: 575: 574: 570: 566: 563: 560: 559: 555: 551: 547: 543: 539: 536: 533: 532: 528: 525: 522: 519: 518: 514: 511: 508: 507: 491: 488: 485: 482: 481: 477: 474: 471: 468: 467: 463: 460: 457: 454: 453: 449: 446: 443: 440: 439: 435: 432: 430:December 1944 429: 426: 425: 421: 419: 416: 413: 411:February 1943 410: 409: 405: 403: 400: 397: 395:November 1942 394: 393: 389: 386: 383: 380: 379: 368: 366: 361: 356: 354: 350: 346: 342: 338: 334: 324: 320: 318: 314: 310: 306: 302: 298: 294: 290: 286: 282: 277: 275: 271: 267: 263: 259: 249: 247: 246:458 Squadrons 243: 239: 235: 231: 227: 223: 219: 204: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 181:Military unit 175: 171: 168: 166: 162: 157: 151: 148: 145: 142: 139: 138: 136: 134: 130: 127: 123: 119: 116: 112: 109: 106: 102: 99: 95: 91: 87: 81: 76: 72: 66: 61: 57: 51: 47: 42: 38: 32: 27: 22: 19: 1556:No. 19 (NEI) 1551:No. 18 (NEI) 1474: 1041:0-9775340-06 1027: 998: 979: 960: 941: 922: 899:. Retrieved 890: 878:. Retrieved 874: 865: 853:. Retrieved 849: 840: 828:. Retrieved 824: 815: 803:. Retrieved 799:the original 794: 785: 778:Jefford 2001 773: 761: 749: 737: 693:. Retrieved 688: 590:, MID, RAAF 571:, DFC, RAAF 561:1 April 1944 537:1 April 1944 441:October 1943 398:January 1943 357: 335:, moving to 330: 321: 278: 255: 215: 193:World War II 184: 183: 114:Part of 18: 1100:Main series 880:10 February 855:10 February 830:10 February 805:11 February 766:Halley 1988 742:Eather 1995 730:Barnes 2000 715:Barnes 2000 661:Barnes 2000 644:Eather 1995 595:19 May 1945 579:19 May 1945 486:August 1945 444:August 1945 313:RAF St Jean 252:Middle East 226:Williamtown 152:Gothic Line 149:Gustav Line 1581:Categories 914:References 901:27 October 754:Moyes 1976 695:25 October 455:March 1945 353:Yugoslavia 345:day bomber 281:Alexandria 218:Article XV 74:Allegiance 41:Cesenatico 427:June 1943 365:Villaorba 317:Berka III 293:201 Group 258:Blackpool 212:Formation 69:Australia 37:Anzac Day 1432:Seaplane 612:See also 483:May 1945 472:May 1945 469:May 1945 458:May 1945 390:Version 387:Aircraft 262:RAF Aqir 238:Nos. 456 1422:Fighter 605:, RAAF 603:DFC(US) 492:Mk.III 478:PR.IVT 422:Mk.III 337:Pescara 274:Qaiyara 207:History 59:Country 43:, Italy 1038:  1005:  986:  967:  948:  929:  556:, RAF 436:Mk.IV 406:Mk.IV 301:Greece 165:Bomber 89:Branch 49:Active 1032:(PDF) 624:Notes 515:Name 450:Mk.V 327:Italy 305:Crete 1036:ISBN 1003:ISBN 984:ISBN 965:ISBN 946:ISBN 927:ISBN 903:2013 882:2020 857:2020 832:2020 807:2020 697:2007 509:From 464:F24 381:From 315:and 303:and 266:Suez 244:and 104:Role 1535:467 1530:466 1525:464 1520:463 1515:462 1510:461 1505:460 1500:459 1495:458 1490:457 1485:456 1480:455 1475:454 1470:453 1465:452 1460:451 1455:450 1417:292 1412:107 1407:102 1402:100 588:OBE 554:MID 550:DFC 546:CBE 319:. 291:'s 242:457 228:in 39:in 1583:: 1397:99 1392:94 1387:93 1382:92 1377:87 1372:86 1367:85 1362:84 1357:83 1352:82 1347:80 1342:79 1337:78 1332:77 1327:76 1322:75 1317:73 1312:71 1307:67 1302:66 1297:60 1292:43 1287:42 1282:41 1277:40 1272:38 1267:37 1262:36 1257:35 1252:34 1247:33 1242:32 1237:31 1232:30 1227:29 1222:28 1217:27 1212:26 1207:25 1202:24 1197:23 1192:22 1187:21 1182:20 1177:15 1172:14 1167:13 1162:12 1157:11 1152:10 873:. 848:. 823:. 793:. 722:^ 705:^ 687:. 668:^ 651:^ 632:^ 586:, 552:, 548:, 544:, 512:To 384:To 311:, 248:. 240:, 120:, 1147:9 1142:8 1137:7 1132:6 1127:5 1122:4 1117:3 1112:2 1107:1 1085:e 1078:t 1071:v 1044:. 1011:. 992:. 973:. 954:. 935:. 905:. 884:. 859:. 834:. 809:. 699:.

Index


Anzac Day
Cesenatico
Australia
United Kingdom

Royal Australian Air Force
Bomber Squadron
No. 201 Group RAF
Middle East Command
Desert Air Force
Battle honours
Bomber
Bristol Blenheim
Martin Baltimore
Royal Australian Air Force
World War II
Empire Air Training Scheme
Mediterranean and Middle East theatre
Article XV
Empire Air Training Scheme
Williamtown
New South Wales
Royal Air Force
Nos. 456
457
458 Squadrons
Blackpool
RAF Aqir
Suez

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