No. 458 Squadron RAAF

No. 458 Squadron RAAF
Crew from No. 458 Squadron in front of their aircraft, December 1941
Active	8 July 1941 – 9 June 1945
Country	Australia
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Bomber Maritime patrol
Part of	No. 1 Group RAF, Bomber Command RAF Middle East Command
Motto(s)	We find and destroy
Battle honours	Fortress Europe, 1940–1944 France and Germany, 1944–1945 South-East Europe, 1942–1945 Mediterranean, 1940–1943 Sicily, 1943 Italy, 1943–1945
Insignia
Squadron Codes	FU (Sep 1941 – Mar 1942) MD (Oct 1942 – Apr 1943)
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Vickers Wellington

No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron that operated during World War II. It was formed in Australia under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East. It was disbanded in mid-1945, following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe.

No. 458 Squadron was formed at Williamtown, New South Wales, on 8 July 1941 as an Article XV squadron under the terms of the Empire Air Training Scheme. Consisting of only ground staff, the squadron departed for the United Kingdom in August to join other personnel assembled at RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, where the squadron was officially established as No. 458 (Bomber) Squadron on 25 August 1941. From the outset, the squadron drew personnel from many different countries, with many coming from Britain, Canada and New Zealand, as well as Australia.

Equipped with Wellington Mk.IV bombers, No. 458 Squadron formed part of No. 1 Group RAF of Bomber Command. It participated in its first operational sortie on 20/21 October, when ten of its aircraft joined in night attacks made against the ports of Emden, Antwerp and Rotterdam. Further attacks were made against industrial targets in France and Germany over the course of several months as part of a strategic bombing campaign. In addition, the Wellingtons were involved in mine-laying operations along enemy occupied coasts. In late 1941, No. 458 Squadron provided a flight to help raise the newly formed No. 460 Squadron RAAF. At the end of January 1942 the squadron was withdrawn from Bomber Command to serve in the Middle East.