Royal Australian Air Force Supermarine Spitfire photographs

Royal Australian Air Force Spitfire Squadrons

  • No. 79 Squadron RAAF 1943–45
  • No. 85 Squadron RAAF 1943–45
  • No. 451 Squadron RAAF 1943–46
  • No. 452 Squadron RAAF 1941–45
  • No. 453 Squadron RAAF 1942–46
  • No. 457 Squadron RAAF 1941–42 1942–45

    • RAAF Fighter Squadrons mentioned above used the Spitfire in Europe, North Africa, Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific War. Additionally many Operation Training Units [OTUs] based in Australia operated the Spitfire as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme [EATS]. Some RAF squadrons also flew Spitfires in Australia:

  • 54 Squadron Royal Air Force
  • 548 Squadron Royal Air Force
  • 549 Squadron Royal Air Force
  • RAAF Spitfire 453 squadron fought in Europe. Based in UK they moved to France after D-Day the squadron.

    • RAAF 451 Squadron fought in North Africa and the Mediterranean. When in 1943 was assigned to Defence of the Nile Delta area it operated Hurricanes and a detachment of Spitfire fighters for high-altitude interceptions. In early 1944 it was completely equipped with Spitfires and based in Corsica. Now its mission changed to support operations in Italy and southern France, missions consisted mainly in escorting bombers and conducting armed reconnaissance patrols. In late 1944 it was transferred to the United Kingdom, where it was based until moved to Germany at the end of the war.

    When fighters were needed to defend the Northern Territory from the Japanese Australia started receiving American fighters but Australian government wanted RAF Spitfires to be deployed to Australia. Spitfire had better high altitude performance than the RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk and was considered by RAAF as the best fighter Australia could get. In 1942 RAAF 452 Squadron, RAAF 457 Squadron RAAF and RAF 54 Squadron were moved to Australia as 1st Wing RAAF. They saw a lot of combat over the first twelve months fighting Japanese bombers, recon and fighter sweeps.

    RAAF 79th Squadron was used in New Guinea and the Solomons campaign for protection of the airfields which the American heavy bombers used. In late 1943 79 Squadron relocated to Morotai.

    As Mk.V Spitfires were quickly worn out by combat operations in 1943 new Mk.VIII Spitfire started to arrive to RAAF. Unfortunately Spitfire plane was not rugged enough for the flying conditions of Northern Australia and the Pacific and had numerous technical and mechanical failures. It did not help that supporting Spitfire squadrons on remote Pacific islands proved to be a nightmare due to poor logistics. Operationally its short range was a handicap for the Pacific theatre.

  • RAAF 551 Squadron was formed in Australia in February 1941.
  • RAAF 452 Squadron was created in UK in April 1941. Started fighting in Europe and later transferred to Australia.
  • RAAF 453 Squadron. Reformed in 1941 in June 1942 and equipped with Supermarine Spitfire aircraft to be part of RAF Fighter Command. Fought in Europe.
  • RAAF 457 Squadron was created in UK in June 1941. Started fighting in Europe and later transferred to Australia.
  • RAAF 79 Squadron was created In April 1943 in Australia. It included Australian pilots had already fought in North Africa.
  • RAAF 85 Squadron was formed in 1943 with Brewster Buffaloes and in late 1944 received Mk.Vs retired from 79 Squadron.

    • Aircrew RAAF 1TAC Cobby Caldwell (AWM OG3380)

    Aircrew RAAF 1TAC Nil ops (AWM OG3233)

    Aircrew RAAF 1TAC Scherger Morshead (AWM OG3243)

    Aircrew RAAF Clive R Caldwell 01

    Aircrew RAAF Clive R Caldwell 1942 01

    Aircrew RAAF Grp Capt Clive R Caldwell Morotai 1944 01

    Aircrew RAAF Grp Capt Clive R Caldwell Morotai 1944 02

    Aircrew RAAF John Waddy 1945 01

    Aircrew RAAF MP John Waddy 1971 01

    Aircrew RAF 112Sqn RAAF Sqn Ldr Clive Caldwell at Gambut 24 Mar 1942 IWM CM2419

    Aircrew RAF 3Sqn RAAF Sqn Ldr RHM Gibbes at LG91 Egypt IWM CM3112

    Mosquito IIF RAAF 456Sqn RXX DD739 flying from Middle Wallop Hampshire 1943 IWM TR1090

    Mosquito IIF RAAF 456Sqn RXX DD739 flying from Middle Wallop Hampshire 1943 IWM TR1090a

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF 548Sqn TSV JG422 A58 353 Queensland 1944 01

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF 548Sqn TSV JG422 A58 353 Queensland 1944 02

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF 6AD A58-315 over NSW 1945 01

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF 6AD A58-315 over NSW 1945 02

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF 6AD A58-395 over NSW 1945 01

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF 6AD A58-395 over NSW 1945 02

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF CRC Clive Caldwell A58 484 Mortotai PNG 1945 01

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF CRC Clive Caldwell A58 518 Mortotai PNG 1945 01

    Spitfire LFVIII RAAF CRC Clive Caldwell A58 518 Mortotai PNG 1945 02

    Spitfire MkVc RAAF CRC Clive Caldwell PNG 1945 01

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAAF 2OTU 862 John Waddy LZ862 A58 217 Victoria 1943 01

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAAF 2OTU 862 John Waddy LZ862 A58 217 Victoria 1943 02

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAAF 451Sqn being serviced El Daba Egypt 1943 01

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAAF A58-125 EE719 01

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAAF on patrol 01

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAF 54Sqn DLM SLdr EM Gibbs with Cavanagh Norwood and Thompson Australia late 1943 01

    Spitfire MkVcTrop RAF 54Sqn E FO Ian Taylor Australia 1943 01

    Spitfire MkVIII MT655 later as RAAF as A58-520 01

    Spitfire MkVIII RAAF 155Sqn DGZ A58 xxx Australia 1945 01

    Spitfire MkVIII RAAF Australia 01

    Spitfire MkVIII RAAF CGS A58-303 Australia May 1944 01

    Spitfire RAAF A58-146 UPO presevered 01

    Spitfire RAAF A58-150 forced landing Rockhampton August 1945 01

    Spitfire RAAF A58-758 Australia 1945 01

    Spitfire RAAF AVAGROG A58 xxx 01

    Aircrew RAF 112Sqn RAAF Squn Ldr Clive Caldwell at Gambut 24 Mar 1942 IWM CM2419

    Polish officer presenting the Polish wings to Squadron Leader Clive Caldwell, the Australian CO of No. 112 Squadron RAF (The Shark Squadron), who alredy holds the DFC and Bar. The squadron inludes Polish fighter pilots, who have taken part in succesful engagements with the enemy from the very beginning. RAF Gambut, 24 March 1942.

    Imperial War Museum IWM CM 2419 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205382015

    Aircrew RAF 3Sqn RAAF Sqn Ldr RHM Gibbes at LG91 Egypt IWM CM3112

    Squadron-Leader R H M Gibbes, Officer Commanding No. 3 Squadron RAAF, at LG 91, Egypt, shortly after being awarded the DFC for his leadership of the unit in the Western Desert. After initial service with Nos. 23 and 450 Squadrons RAAF, Gibbes transferred to No.3 Squadron RAAF intime to see action during the Syrian Campaign in June 1941. He was rapidly promoted during his subsequent service in the Western Desert and took command of the Squadron in February 1942. Despite being shot down twice he continued to lead 3 Squadron through the Battle of Alamein and the Tunisian campaign before his tour finished in April 1943 with a victory score of 12 enemy aircraft shot down. Gibbes then returned to Australia to lead No. 80 Wing RAAF in the South-West Pacific from October 1944 to April 1945, and to serve thereafter with the Air Board in Melbourne until the end of the War.

    Imperial War Museum IWM CM 3112 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205212125

    Mosquito IIF RAAF 456Sqn RXX DD739 flying from Middle Wallop Hampshire 1943 IWM TR1090

    A De Havilland Mosquito IIF DD739/RX-X of No 456 Squadron, flying from Middle Wallop, in flight. The censor has scratched out the wing-tip antennae of the Airborne-Interceptor radar.

    Imperial War Museum IWM TR 1090 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205123894

    IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover - COD/CLOD skins
     
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        Magazine References: +

    • Airfix Magazines (English) - http://www.airfix.com/
    • Avions (French) - http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/rubrique10.html
    • EDUARD - https://www.eduard.com/
    • EDUARD - Are in my opinion are what modelers are looking for loads of pictures and diagrams and have become a leading historical information source. *****
    • FlyPast (English) - http://www.flypast.com/
    • Flugzeug Publikations GmbH (German) - http://vdmedien.com/flugzeug-publikations-gmbh-hersteller_verlag-vdm-heinz-nickel-33.html
    • Flugzeug Classic (German) - http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/
    • Klassiker (German) - http://shop.flugrevue.de/abo/klassiker-der-luftfahrt
    • Luftwaffe IM Focus (German) - https://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/
    • Embleme der Luftwaffe Band-1 (German) - https://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/
    • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://boutique.editions-lariviere.fr/site/abonnement-le-fana-de-l-aviation-626-4-6.html
    • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://www.pdfmagazines.org/tags/Le+Fana+De+L+Aviation/
    • Osprey (English) - http://www.ospreypublishing.com/
    • model airplane international magazine - https://adhpublishing.com/shop/store/magazine-backissues/model-airplane-international-backissues/
    • Revi Magazines (Czech) - http://www.revi.cz/

        Web References: +

    • eBay - https://picclick.de/ or https://www.ebay.com
    • Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com
    • History of RAF Organisation: http://www.rafweb.org
    • History of RAAF: http://www.airpages.ru/eng/ot/raaf_01.shtml
    • Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/

    This webpage was updated 19th August 2024

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