No. 456 Squadron RAAF
| No. 456 Squadron RAAF | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
Members of No. 456 Squadron RAAF in front of a de Havilland Mosquito night fighter in 1943
|
|
| Active | 30 June 1941 – 15 June 1945 |
| Country | Australia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Night fighter |
| Part of | |
| Battle honours | Fortress Europe, 1940–1944 France and Germany, 1944–1945 Normandy, 1944 Biscay, 1940–1945 |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron codes |
PZ (Jun 1941 – Sep 1941) SA (Sep 1941 – Dec 1941) RX (Dec 1941 – Jun 1945) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
Boulton Paul Defiant Bristol Beaufighter de Havilland Mosquito |
No. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) night fighter squadron, operational over Europe during World War II. Formed in mid-1941, the squadron was the RAAF's only night fighter squadron. It was also the first RAAF unit to use a roundel featuring a red kangaroo in a blue circle, on some parts of its aircraft. While this insignia was unofficial and the squadron's main markings conformed to the RAF roundels used by British and other Commonwealth units, it inspired the post-war roundel used by the RAAF.
No. 456 Squadron RAAF was formed on 30 June 1941 at RAF Valley, Isle of Anglesey, Wales, in the United Kingdom under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night-fighter squadron, equipped with Defiant turret-fighters. The squadron was soon re-equipped with Beaufighters and scored its first kill in January 1942. Throughout the year, the squadron's aircraft operated in a mainly defensive role over the United Kingdom, but in December 1942, the squadron was re-equipped with Mosquito fighters and began offensive "Ranger" missions over Europe attacking a variety of targets ground targets including German , and also attacking German bombers close to their airfields during "Intruder" missions.
In March 1943, after a move to Middle Wallop, No. 456 Squadron was utilised in the night fighter and long-range day fighter roles. It also provided a detachment of aircraft to conduct fighter sweeps in support of aircraft mounting anti-submarine patrols in the Bay of Biscay, and escorted air–sea rescue vessels picking up downed airmen. Further moves occurred as the squadron relocated first to Colerne and then Fairwood Common. It continued in the fighter and ground attack roles until the end of the European war. In January 1944, it was deployed in defence of London following an increase in German bombing (Operation Steinbock) during which its crews accounted for 12 German aircraft, continuing in the air defence role until late February or early March when the squadron moved to Ford.
...
Wikipedia