No. 42 Squadron RAAF
| No. 42 Squadron RAAF | |
|---|---|
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A No. 42 Squadron Catalina (left) with a No. 20 Squadron Catalina (right)
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| Active | 1944–45 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Mine laying; maritime patrol |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron code | RK |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Patrol | PBY Catalina |
No. 42 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) mine laying and maritime patrol squadron of World War II. It was formed in June 1944 and conducted patrol and mine-laying operations over the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) from August 1944 until the war ended a year later, as well as operations in the waters off southern China in early 1945. Following the Japanese surrender, the squadron performed transport and reconnaissance flights until it was disbanded in November 1945.
No. 42 Squadron was formed at Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory on 1 June 1944. In early July the squadron's 50 personnel moved to Melville Bay aboard USS John Owen, arriving there on the 11th of the month. During July No. 42 Squadron was expanded to a strength of 300 personnel, and it received its PBY Catalina flying boats and further personnel in August. The unit conducted its first operation on 27 August when three Catalinas flew patrols searching for shipping.
During 1944 RAAF Catalinas based in northern Australia conducted a highly successful minelaying campaign against Japanese shipping in the NEI which formed part of the North Western Area Campaign. In order to expand this campaign Air Vice Marshal , the commander of RAAF Command, ordered that the Catalina-equipped No. 20, No. 42 and No. 43 Squadrons be assigned solely to minelaying under the command of No. 76 Wing.
No. 42 Squadron commenced minelaying operations in September 1944. During this month it laid mines off Celebes and suffered its first loss on 23 September when a Catalina made a forced landing in Japanese-controlled territory; the aircraft's crew were later rescued by a No. 43 Squadron Catalina. The squadron focused on laying mines off Makassar and Pare Pare Bay in Celebes during October, and lost two aircraft to Japanese anti-aircraft guns. In November a detachment of aircraft was deployed to Morotai in the NEI, which had been captured by Allied forces in mid-September, from where they flew minelaying operations against Brunei Bay, Tarakan, Sandakan and the Balabac Straits. Later in 1944 seven No. 42 Squadron Catalinas were deployed to Leyte in the Philippines from where they mined Manila Bay on the night of 14/15 December.
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