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control flying in Europe and over the
Atlantic. The squadron was formed in 1942 and was disbanded in mid-1945, just after the end of the war in Europe. Personnel were drawn from many countries of the British Empire, although the majority were Australians. Throughout the war, the squadron was credited
307:
Following the liberation of France the numbers of German U-boats in the
Atlantic declined and No. 461 Squadron made few contacts with the enemy between October 1944 and the end of the war; between September and October 1944 a detachment from the squadron operated over Norwegian waters from a base in
299:
in April 1943. These patrols exposed the squadron's aircraft to frequent attacks by German fighters. The
Sunderland aircraft were fitted with a heavy defensive armament, however, and were often successful in beating off fighter attacks. During 1943, the squadron sank a total of three U-boats. By May
300:
1943, No. 461 Squadron was fully equipped with the more advanced Mark III Sunderland. This aircraft allowed the
Squadron to operate at night. Equipped with these improved aircraft the squadron continued to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic, including patrols in support of the
308:
the
Shetland Islands. No. 461 Squadron was disbanded at Pembroke Dock on 4 June 1945. The squadron lost 20 Sunderlands to enemy action and accidents. A total of 86 squadron members of all nationalities were killed on operations, including 64 Australians. The squadron was awarded six
280:. The engagement was not successful and although several U-boats were damaged the squadron was not successful in sinking any submarines during 1942. The squadron flew a number of transport flights to
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RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the
Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912
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272:
most of the aircrew were inexperienced and required further training and flight experience. No. 461 Squadron moved to
987:
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Combat Codes: A Full
Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938
1404:
340:
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Units of the Royal
Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 4 – Maritime and Transport Units
268:
patrols over the
Atlantic in July. While some of No. 461 Squadron's aircrew had previously served with
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aircraft instead. After a period of training, the squadron began flying operational anti-
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During 1943, No. 461 Squadron mainly conducted daylight anti-submarine patrols over the
961:
The Anzac
Squadron: A History of No 461 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, 1942–1945
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During the war No. 461 destroyed a total of six German U-boats. These were:
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A No. 461 Squadron Sunderland Mark V landing at Pembroke Dock, Wales in 1944
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in Britain on 25 April 1942 as an anti-submarine squadron raised under an
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with destroying a total of six German U-boats, and operated mainly in the
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859:. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications.
256:. It was originally intended that the squadron would be equipped with
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62:
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Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft
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895:
The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988
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in August 1942 and the next month it encountered its first
449:
Bases and ports used by no. 461 Squadron RAAF, data from
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982:. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
379:
Aircraft operated by no. 461 Squadron RAAF, data from
550:
Officers commanding no. 461 Squadron RAAF, data from
1560:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
916:(2nd ed.). Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing.
710:
1004:. Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson.
878:. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing.
840:. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing.
817:Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979).
780:
778:
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1555:Military units and formations established in 1942
897:. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians).
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183:(April 1942 – August 1943, July 1944 – June 1945)
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963:. Carlisle, Western Australia: Hesperian Press.
857:Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force
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1565:Australian Article XV squadrons of World War II
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304:. The squadron sank three U-boats during 1944.
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172:A demi-shark couped, pierced by a harpoon
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145:English Channel and North Sea, 1939–1945
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874:Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003).
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538:, 28 September 1944 – 29 October 1944
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935:. London: Jane's Publishing Company.
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749:from the original on 24 February 2018
743:Second World War, 1939–45 units
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821:. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens.
611:Wing Commander J.M. Hampshire, DFC
239:
16:Royal Australian Air Force squadron
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14:
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978:RAAF Historical Section (1995).
295:, having moved to a new base at
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597:Wing Commander D.L.G. Douglas,
586:Wing Commander R.C.O. Lovelock
244:No. 461 Squadron was formed at
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1:
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931:Rawlings, John D.R. (1982).
129:"They shall not pass unseen"
7:
745:. Australian War Memorial.
622:Wing Commander R.R. Oldham
260:, but it was equipped with
44:25 April 1942 – 4 June 1945
10:
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1002:They Shall Not Pass Unseen
838:The Source Book of the RAF
705:Flintham & Thomas 2003
693:Bowyer & Rawlings 1979
302:Allied landing in Normandy
254:Empire Air Training Scheme
214:Royal Australian Air Force
96:Royal Australian Air Force
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1025:RAAF Museum: 461 Squadron
959:Ashworth, Norman (1994).
893:Halley, James J. (1988).
312:for its wartime service.
284:in October in support of
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912:Jefford, C.G. (2001) .
819:Squadron Codes, 1937–56
169:Squadron Badge heraldry
148:Biscay Ports, 1940–1945
855:Eather, Steve (1995).
491:RAF Hamworthy Junction
258:Catalina flying boats
223:which operated under
24:No. 461 Squadron RAAF
1415:Article XV squadrons
270:No. 10 Squadron RAAF
836:Delve, Ken (1994).
770:, pp. 119–120.
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135:Battle honours
739:"No. 461 Squadron"
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262:Short Sunderland
246:RAF Mount Batten
240:Squadron history
219:squadron during
210:No. 461 Squadron
199:Short Sunderland
116:No. 19 Group RAF
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495:Poole Harbour
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800:Jefford 2001
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751:. Retrieved
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591:January 1943
583:January 1943
510:20 June 1945
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329:(1 May 1943)
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221:World War II
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112:Part of
18:
1068:Main series
768:Eather 1995
753:14 November
717:Eather 1995
681:Halley 1988
580:August 1942
569:August 1942
414:August 1942
52:4 June 1945
1549:Categories
647:Delve 1994
629:References
398:April 1942
250:Article XV
72:Allegiance
619:June 1945
431:June 1945
417:June 1945
282:Gibraltar
274:Hamworthy
266:submarine
67:Australia
49:Disbanded
1400:Seaplane
1000:(1956).
747:Archived
566:May 1942
536:Scotland
526:Det. at
401:May 1943
393:Version
390:Aircraft
234:Atlantic
164:Insignia
126:Motto(s)
1390:Fighter
1010:9069916
477:, Devon
463:Remark
423:Mk.III
252:of the
57:Country
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499:Dorset
409:Mk.II
278:U-boat
212:was a
194:Patrol
87:Branch
41:Active
634:Notes
561:Name
522:Wales
437:Mk.V
366:U-270
358:U-385
350:U-571
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