No. 4 Squadron RAAF
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No. 4 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter and army co-operation squadron. The squadron was initially formed in 1916 and saw action in both world wars.
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[edit] History
[edit] World War I
No. 4 Squadron was formed at Point Cook on 16 October 1916. Shortly after its formation the Squadron departed for Britain, arriving at Castle Bromwich for further training in March 1917.
No. 4 Squadron arrived in France on 18 December 1917. During its time in France the Squadron performed fighter sweeps, provided air support for the Army and raided German airstrips. No. 4 Squadron destroyed 128 German aircraft with 11 members of the Squadron becoming 'aces'. The most notable member of the Squadron was Captain A.H. Cobby who was credited with destroying 29 aircraft and 13 observation balloons.
Following the armistice No. 4 Squadron remained in Europe and, as part of the British Army of Occupation, was based in Cologne. The Squadron returned home in March 1919 and was disbanded in Melbourne in June 1919.
[edit] World War II
No. 4 Squadron was re-formed at Richmond on 3 May 1937 but re-named No. 6 Squadron on 1 January 1939. The Squadron was re-formed a further time as an Army Co-operation Squadron at Richmond on 17 June 1940 and was based in Canberra between September 1940 and May 1942. On 20 May 1942 No. 4 Squadron re-deployed to Camden, New South Wales where the Squadron flew anti-submarine patrols until being deployed to New Guinea in November.
The Squadron's initial task in New Guinea was to support the American and Australian forces in the Battle of Buna-Gona. Until the end of the war the Squadron operated in the Army co-operation role, providing ground forces with artillery observation, reconnaissance and air support. On 26 December 1942 a No. 4 Squadron Wirraway piloted by Pilot Officer J. Archer shot down a A6M Zero. This was the only 'kill' achieved by a Wirraway aircraft during the War and earned Archer the American Silver Star medal. On 31 January 1943 No. 4 Squadron was re-deployed to Wau where it participated in the Battle of Wau.
In May 1943 No. 4 Squadron was partially re-equipped with the CAC Boomerang fighter aircraft. Operating with both these new aircraft and Wirraways the Squadron supported the Australian 7th and 9th Divisions during the Australian-lead campaign on the Huon Peninsula. No. 4 Squadron continued to support Australian and American Army units in New Guinea and New Britain until March 1945 when it deployed to Labuan in Borneo to support the Australian-lead Borneo campaign (1945). In Borneo the Squadron supported the 9th Division's campaign in North Borneo and the 7th Division's campaign at Balikpapan.
No. 4 Squadron returned to Australia on 14 November 1945 and was again based at Canberra. The Squadron appears to have been re-rolled as a fighter squadron and was re-equipped with higher performance aircraft. On 7 March 1948 No. 4 Squadron was re-named No. 3 Squadron and ceased to exist.
[edit] Aircraft operated
- Sopwith Camel (1917-1918)
- Sopwith Snipe (1918-1919)
- Hawker Demon (1937 and 1940)
- Avro Anson (1937-1939)
- CAC Wirraway (1940-1945)
- Tiger Moth (1942-?)
- CAC Boomerang (1943-1945)
- Piper Cub (1943-1944)
- P-40 Kittyhawk (1945-1947)
- P-51 Mustang (1947-1948)
- Auster (1947-1948)
[edit] References
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
- RAAF Museum 4 Squadron
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