squadron raaf squadron royal_australian_air_force raaf fighter squadron world war equipped fighters formed england june article empire air training scheme squadron transferred australia june saw combat disbanded november squadron saw combat nazi_germany war march based southern england flew missions german occupied france shot luftwaffe aircraft deployed australia squadron based near darwin wing raaf intercepted japanese raids allied bases northern australia march november squadron remained darwin saw combat moved later attacked japanese positions borneo allied areas history britain squadron formed raf england june equipped second raaf fighter unit formed england squadron establishment squadrons formed expansion sought improve ability defend britain renewed german air offensive conduct offensive operations occupied europe time formation squadron commanding officer squadron leader flight commanders members ground crew british pilots australian squadron ground crew component formed australia june departed england august day squadron moved situated undertake training isle man squadron trained pilots pilots squadrons operational duties time functioned operational training unit escorted allied convoys contact german aircraft october british pilots brothers flight commanders replaced australians squadron ground crew arrived britain october november making entirely australian unit march squadron moved surrey assumed squadron line duties group raf included shipping protection patrols escorting bombers conducting fighter sweeps northern france contributing air defence southern england fighter command received launch scale offensive campaign german air units shortly squadron arrived effort squadron saw action march brothers shot multi squadron fighter sweep france lost action end week operations squadron shot german aircraft inflicted damage went conduct operations german territory april operations encountered fierce opposition german fighters proved superior mark squadron equipped squadron scored victory europe april fighter sweeps france continued end british prime minister winston_churchill agreed request dispatch fully equipped squadrons australia reinforce raaf squadrons selected australian squadrons british squadron raf accordingly squadron withdrawn operations prepare australia time pilots credited confirmed kills damaging seven aircraft june squadron left england board carrying men squadrons darwin castle arrived melbourne august given days leave squadron personnel richmond new south wales september october wing raaf squadrons intended wing diverted middle_east voyage australia squadron initially aircraft training purposes squadron fully equipped november moved 7th month continued intensive training program december squadron informed deployed darwin counter japanese air raids town squadron advance party departed december main body followed sea january squadron commenced air operations january moved day month squadron saw combat japanese march squadron number times february claim kill march shot reconnaissance aircraft near darwin march wing squadrons intercepted large raid darwin squadron shot damaged fighters squadron credited damaging bomber claimed japanese aircraft encountered northern australia period squadron practiced tactics cooperation raaf australian_army units flying normally limited hour day wing responded major japanese raid darwin resulting air battle squadron shot fighter claimed lost overall raaf suffered destroyed damaged claiming kills operation considered success seven days later squadron deployed detachment island airfield attacked detachment intercepted japanese raids shooting loss squadron continued operations darwin region seeing combat number occasions major battle near town july squadron shot zero damaged lost japanese air activity northern australia dropped away july squadron saw little combat result squadron personnel suffered greatly squadron scored kills august aircraft shot sent darwin day fourth destroyed wing acting commander wing commander squadron shot august september wing intercepted japanese reconnaissance aircraft escorted fighters ensuing battle squadron shot loss november squadron deployed days later intercepted damaged japanese reconnaissance aircraft squadron maintained detachment river mission december squadron assumed duty early hours november squadron force intercepted raid darwin squadron pilot flying officer interception destroyed betty bombers attack november final japanese raid darwin area result wing flying squadrons little pilots bored squadron conducted little operational flying march squadron ordered perth western australia response fears japanese naval force raid area squadrons departed darwin march arrived modern perth airport days later flying difficult weather conditions attack squadron returned march squadron saw action april took attack japanese radar station wing headquarters squadrons deployed western australia protect facilities established refuel operation fleet attacked java squadron departed returned new base 24th month squadron provided detachment river mission june began july july squadrons transferred newly formed wing raaf wing established support planned offensive darwin offensive cancelled june communicated wing continued train operation august operation cancelled wing squadrons purpose continued conduct training exercises means maintaining morale november wing informed island netherlands east indies allied region squadron movement delayed early squadron ground crew departed darwin sea january arrived island february departed february arrived days later squadron flew operations february squadron main roles period conduct ground attack missions japanese camps shipping escorting aircraft engaged attacking targets involved heavy workload squadron flew operational sorties february end april squadron began dive bombing tactics targets guns squadron participated borneo campaign final months war ordered prepare deployment june personnel equipment sailed island north west coast borneo operation squadron attached wing departed june commenced operations days later alongside squadron raaf primary roles providing air support allied troops area air defence island june squadron fighters shot squadron kill november operations japanese continued end war august war squadron australian personnel killed following japanese surrender squadron initially remained period flew security patrols training exercises air tests squadron aircraft left october queensland arrived day month squadron officially disbanded november following war squadron awarded battle honours fortress europe pacific darwin borneo defence britain aircraft operated squadron operated following aircraft squadron bases squadron operated following bases airfields commanding officers squadron commanded following officers
No. 457 Squadron RAAF