COMMONWEALTH SQUADRONS

 

No.3 (RAAF) Squadron (Kittyhawk)

The squadron operated Kittyhawks from Ta’ Qali, between 4th and 18th July 1943, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. No.3 Squadron formed part of No.239 Wing.

Enright, P E

LAC RAAF

25.07.43

Fleming, W

Cpl RAAF

21.07.43

No.458 (RAAF) Squadron (Wellington)

On 7th January 1943 a detachment of three Wellingtons from No.458 Squadron was the first to reach Luqa and there joined No.69 Squadron. On 6th February a further eighteen Wellingtons moved to Luqa and No.458 became established in its own name absorbing the original elements of No.69 Squadron Special Duties Flight. During January and February, Wellingtons flew several sorties mostly around the northern and western shores of Sicily in search of enemy ships. There were several losses and on 3rd March it was necessary to transfer sixteen aircrew members from No.38 Squadron in order to maintain operational strength. Very little success was achieved but the true value of this constant pressure by Wellingtons was that it forced the enemy to discontinue large convoys from Naples and to attempt a daylight passage to Tunis from Palermo and Trapani under cover of heavy naval and air escort. In June the squadron was based in North Africa.

Armour, R D

F/Sgt RAAF

29.04.43

Banks, G J

Wnt Off II RCAF

29.04.43

Bates, K T

Sgt

27.04.43

Batton, I W

LAC RAAF

06.11.42

Brighurst, A W

Sgt

28.04.43

Brown, E A 

Sgt

13.02.43

Brown, P E E

Wnt Off II RCAF

13.02.43

Cameron, G A D

Sgt RCAF

30.04.43

Clark, L W

Wnt Off II RCAF

25.02.43

Gleason, L H

Plt Off RCAF

13.02.43

Grasley, J R

Wnt Off II RCAF

29.04.43

Hudson, R W J

Plt Off RCAF

27.04.43

Hunter, J R

Sgt

27.04.43

Huntley, A J

F/Sgt RAAF

19.04.44

Jenkins, F S

Wnt Off II RCAF

25.02.43

Keith, A L

F/Sgt RCAF

28.04.43

Kempton, M M

Flg Off RCAF

13.02.43

King, P

Wnt Off II RCAF

25.02.43

Kirk, J F

Wnt Off II RCAF

25.02.43

Lees, W S

Sgt

27.04.43

Lyle, G

Sgt

27.04.43

Markey, J R

Flg Off RAAF

23.01.44

McLeod, A F W

Wnt Off II RCAF

25.02.43

McMillan, H R

Flg Off RAAF

19.04.44

Musto, T E

Sgt

27.04.43

Paroissien, J C

Plt Off RAAF

28.04.43

Prebble, I D

Flg Off RNZAF

28.04.43

Rogers, T R

F/Sgt RAAF

23.01.44

Sheffield, R A P

Wnt Off II RCAF

25.02.43

Shipard, J C

F/Sgt RAAF

23.01.44

Stanley, H E 

Sgt RCAF

13.02.43

Stelter, N A

Wnt Off II RCAF

29.04.43

Sutherland, A M

F/Sgt

28.04.43

Taylor, J L

Flt Lt

29.04.43

Taylor, L C

F/Sgt RAAF

23.01.44

Wagstaffe, J M

Wnt Off

19.04.44

Westhan, R M

Wnt Off II RCAF

29.04.43

Williamson, R H

F/Sgt

19.04.44

No.459 (RAAF) Squadron (Hudson)

Blackstock, W D

Flg Off RAAF

15.06.42

Darr, N C

F/Sgt RAAF

15.06.42

Durrell, A H

Flg Off RAAF

15.06.42

Powell, R D

F/Sgt RAAF

15.06.42

No.1 (SAAF) Squadron

Rossouw, A deL

Lt SAAF

25.06.43

No.12 (SAAF) Squadron (Boston)

After the Axis surrender in Tunisia the squadron moved to Hal Far by the end of July 1943 as part of No.3 SAAF Wing. From Malta the squadron flew light bomber sorties with its Bostons to support Operation Husky – the Allied landings – during the Sicilian campaign.

Davids, M H

Lt SAAF

01.08.43

Goulding, T T

Lt SAAF

23.07.43

Jonker, M J

F/Sgt

06.08.43

Lehman, C W

F/Sgt

06.08.43

Trembath, W M

Lt

06.08.43

van Zyl, L A 

Lt SAAF

06.08.43

No.21 (SAAF) Squadron (Baltimore)

In July 1943 the squadron moved from North Africa to Hal Far to support the Allied invasion of Sicily – Operation Husky – as part of No.3 SAAF Wing, from where it flew light bomber sorties. The maintenance echelon remained in Africa until it moved to Sicily to join its aircraft there.

Chapman, R E

Flg Off RNZAF

09.08.43

Childe, F R 

F/Sgt SAAF

23.07.43

Christian, D

F/Sgt

09.08.43

Handley, S J

Lt SAAF

18.08.43

Roberts, V P 

F/Sgt SAAF

18.08.43

Shepperson, K O 

F/Sgt SAAF

18.08.43

Simpson, R A E W 

Lt SAAF

18.08.43

Wright, J

Sgt

09.08.43

No.24 (SAAF) Squadron (Boston)

In July 1943, the squadron flew from North Africa to Hal Far to support the Allied invasion of Sicily – Operation Husky – as part of No.3 SAAF Wing, from where it flew light bomber sorties.

Isenberg, M I

Lt SAAF

01.08.43

No.40 (SAAF) Squadron (Spitfire)

The ground echelon of the squadron arrived at Luqa on 17th June 1943, whilst its Spitfires flew in six days later to provide tactical reconnaissance support to the Allied Forces which landed in Sicily in July in Operation Husky.

Le Roux, C G, DFC

Capt SAAF

10.07.43

Robinson, K

Lt SAAF

12.07.43

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