RAAF No 30 Squadron

Motto: Strike swiftly

No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Raised in 1942 as a long-range fighter unit, the squadron saw action in the Second World War, serving in the South West Pacific Area against the Japanese and operating mainly in the ground attack and anti-shipping roles from bases in New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies. After the war, the squadron was disbanded, however, it was re-raised a short time later as a unit of the part-time Citizen Air Force, operating in the target towing and air defence role in New South Wales. In 1960s the squadron ceased flying aircraft and operated surface-to-air missiles, providing for the defence of Sydney and Darwin before disbanding in 1968. The squadron was re-raised again in 2010 and since then it has served as an airbase support squadron located at RAAF Base East Sale.

History

Second World War

No. 30 Squadron was established at RAAF Base Richmond on 9 March 1942 as a long-range fighter squadron operating the Bristol Beaufighter. After a brief period of training the squadron deployed to Townsville where it escorted anti-shipping patrols. In early September a small detachment from the squadron was sent to Milne Bay from where they attacked Japanese shipping, becoming the first RAAF Beaufighter squadron to see action. Shortly afterwards, the rest of the squadron was deployed to Port Moresby in New Guinea from where it operated as a low-level ground attack unit supporting the Allied efforts in Papua, a role in which the Beaufighter proved highly successful.^[1][3]

No. 30 Squadron's primary mission during the war was attacking Japanese shipping and coastal bases, with the focus initially being upon targets around Buna and Sanananda, before being expanded to support operations along the Kokoda Track, Goodenough Island and Lae. In early 1943 the squadron took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, an air-sea battle which resulted in heavy losses for the Japanese. During the battle, the squadron's aircraft conducted low-level attacks on Japanese shipping. They later attacked a Japanese airbase around Lae, destroying a significant number of Japanese aircraft. In July 1943, the squadron was moved to Goodenough Island, tasked with attacking Japanese airfields and searching for supply barges that were being moved along the coast between Madang and Nassau Bay. It also undertook convoy escort duties for Allied ships transiting the area. No. 30 Squadron remained on the island until November, when the squadron was moved to Kiriwina.^[4]

In March 1944, the squadron became part of No. 77 Wing, along with Nos. 22 and 31 Squadrons. It was then relocated to Tadji, from where it continued to interdict Japanese barge-borne supplies in the Aitape-Wewak region; these proved very successful and in October the squadron's arsenal was expanded to include air-to-ground rockets.^[4]

As part of the Australian First Tactical Air Force, No. 30 Squadron moved to Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies in November 1944 carrying out operations in the Celebes Sea and the islands of Ambon, Ceram and Halmahera. During this time, the squadron suffered a serious set back when it lost two aircraft destroyed and eight damaged in a Japanese night air raid; however, the losses were made up through either replacements or repairs and operations continued. During 1945, No. 30 Squadron supported Australian operations in Borneo and in May it deployed to Tarakan, flying operations from that island in support of the Australian landing at Balikpapan. The squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 on board HMS Glory and was disbanded at Deniliquin, New South Wales, on 15 August 1946. During the war, 68 of the squadron's personnel were killed in action or died on active service. The following decorations were bestowed upon members of the squadron: one Order of the British Empire, two Distinguished Service Orders, 26 Distinguished Flying Crosses and one bar, one Distinguished Flying Medal and three Mentions in the Despatches.^[3]

Post-war

No. 30 Squadron was re-formed at RAAF Base Richmond as No. 30 (Target Towing) Squadron on 3 March 1948. In this role the squadron supported Army, Air Force and Navy training exercises and research conducted by the CSIRO, operating a variety of aircraft including Beaufighters, Beauforts, Dakotas, Wirraways, Ansons and Mustangs. It was moved around a few times during this period, firstly to Schofields, New South Wales, RAAF Base Fairbairn and then back to Richmond. The squadron was again disbanded on 21 March 1956.

On 11 January 1961 No. 30 Squadron was re-formed at RAAF Base Williamtown as a Surface-to-Air Guided Weapons Squadron equipped with Bloodhound missiles. In this role the Squadron provided air defence to the Sydney region and, from June 1965, to Darwin. The squadron was disbanded again on 30 November 1968. To date, No. 30 Squadron is the only RAAF unit to have operated surface-to-air missiles,^[4] as ground based air defence is currently provided by an Army unit, the 16th Air Land Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.^[6]

No. 30 Squadron was re-raised on 1 July 2010 as the unit responsible for providing airbase support services to RAAF Base East Sale. The squadron is designated No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron and forms part of Combat Support Group.^[2][7]

Casualties: 68 died (including 1 RAF in Ceylon)
Squadron Codes used: LY

Commanding Officers
Emerton, James Gibson
Gibson, Philip Leslie Boyce
Glassock, C P
Macquire, F R
Sanford, J T
Thompson, Claude Henry Carey
Walker, Brian Reginald (Blackjack)
Wentworth, George D'Arcy

No. 30 Squadron has operated the following aircraft:^[4]
Bristol Beaufighter;
Bristol Beaufort;
Douglas C-47 Skytrain;
CAC Wirraway;
Avro Anson;
CAC Mustang; and
Bristol Bloodhound SAM.

30 Squadron RAAF

30 Squadron was formed at Richmond in New South Wales on 9 March 1942, where it conducted training flights and sea reconnaissance. In August the unit moved to Townsville and then to Port Moresby and began attacking Japanese shipping and other targets around Buna and Sanananda.

For the rest of 1942 the squadron aircraft attacked boats, airstrips, and supply dumps in Lae, on Goodenough Island, Buna, and Gona. The unit also played a major part in supporting army operations between Buna, Kokoda, and Sanananda by regularly attacking supply and communication lines. By November 30 squadron had begun a series of strafing missions against Japanese infantry retreating from Kokoda towards the north coast. The squadron's Beaufighters maintained an armed reconnaissance searching for troops escaping the bombing offensives on Buna, Soputa, and Gona. They also made a series of successful strafing attack on grounded aircraft at the Lae aerodrome.

In early 1943, when the Allies began to pressure Japanese strongholds at Lae and Salamaua, 30 Squadron made numerous offensive attacks on troop concentrations, grounded aircraft, supply dumps, barges, and landing parties from New Britain. Unit aircraft also led the Allied assault during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in early March, resulting in the destruction of many Japanese vessels heading for Lae. The remainder of the year was spent attacking targets in Madang and Nassau Bay, and providing convoy escorts to ships bring troops and supplies to New Guinea.

The first months of 1944 saw 30 Squadron undertaking barge sweeps and reconnaissance and other offensive missions on a daily basis. On 9 June the squadron moved to Tadji airfield in Aitape and commenced attacks on Japanese barges supplying the Wewak stronghold. The squadron left Tarakan in December 1945, bound for Deniliquin in New South Wales. It was disbanded on 15 August 1946.^[8]

Citations:
Eather 1995, p. 64.
"No 30 Squadron". RAAF Museum.
"30 Squadron RAAF". Australian War Memorial.
Eather 1995, p. 65.
Odgers 1968, pp. 196-198.
Hetherington, Andrew (2 February 2012). "Tying air and land together". Army News (Canberra: Australian Department of Defence) 1274: p. 24.
Lineham, Paul (24 June 2010). "Building up our cities". Air Force.
The Australian War Memorial

References:
Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
Odgers, George (1968) [1957]. Air War Against Japan 1943-1945. Australia in the War of 1939-1945: Series 3 - Air, Volume 2. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 1990609.
Barnes, Norman, The RAAF and the flying squadrons, (St Leonards, N.S.W : Allen & Unwin, 2000)
Dick, George, Navigators of No 30 Beaufighter Squadron : some personal recollections, (Glenbrook, N.S.W.: Adam Press, 1994)
Dick, George, Service in no. 30 Beaufighter Squadron : some individual recollections, (Glenbrook, N.S.W.: Adam Press, 1994)
Dick, George; Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Museum, Point Cook, Beaufighters over New Guinea : No. 30 Squadron RAAF 1942-1943, (Point Cook, Vic.: Royal Australian Air Force Museum, 1993)
Royal Australian Air Force Historical Records Section, Units of the Royal Australian Air Force : a concise history: volume 2 Fighter units, (Canberra : AGPS Press, 1995)

Web References:
History of RAF Organisation: http://www.rafweb.org/
Australian War Memorial: http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11065.asp
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/