No. 31 Squadron

Royal Australian Air Force

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History  

Formed: 14Aug42

Disbanded: 09Jul46

History

31 Squadron was formed during World War Two on the 14th of

August, 1942, at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The squadron

recieved its first aircraft (Bristol Beaufighters) the next

month and soon became a common sight in the skies around the

Wagga Wagga area as they practiced low level flying.

The time in Wagga Wagga passed quickly and late in October

the squadron moved to Batchelor in the Northern Territory

and shortly after moved yet again to their first operational

base at Coomalie Creek.

The squadron carried out their first operation against the

Japanese on the 17th of November, 1942, when six of their

Beaufighters were sent to attack targets in Timor. The

aircraft were intercepted by Japanese fighters and one of

the Beaufighters was shot down. The squadron soon got

revenge. On the 2nd of December, the Beaufighters carried

out a raid on Penfoei Airfield. The Japanese had 40

fighters and bombers at the airfield and they were caught

totaly by surprise and 18 of these aircraft were destroyed

and many others damaged for no loss to the Beaufighters.

The first air to air victory by the squadron occured on the

23rd of December when a Japanese Nate was shot down over

Fuilora by Sgt. E. J. C. Barnett. The squadron kept up the

pressure on the Japanese with lots of raids against Timor,

Aru Islands and Tanimbar Islands. The squadron wiped out a

lot of their opposition by 1944 and in many cases had to fly

to thier maximum range to reach any worthwile targets, so

later in the year they began operations from Noemfoor and in

December from Moratai. From here they attacked targets in

Ambon, the Celebes, Ceram, the Halmaheras and also provided

support for the Tarakan landings.

When the war finished, the squadron was kept occupied

escorting single engined fighters back to Australia, flying

weather reconnaissance flights and dropping surrender

leaflets to the Japanese.

The squadron moved back to Australia during December, 1945,

and was based at Deniliquin for a while and then moved to

Williamtown where it was disbanded on the 9th of July, 1946.

Commanding Officers

14Aug42 - ? Sqaudron Leader C.F. Read.

Roll

Sergeant E. J. C. Barnett.

Flying Officer J. E. Dennett.

Squadron Leader R. L. Gordon.

Squadron Leader C. F. Read.

Equipment

Bristol Beaufighter

Bases

Aug-Oct 1942 Wagga Wagga

Oct-Nov 1942 Batchelor

Nov 1942 - Dec 1944 Coomalie Creek

Dec 1944 Noemfoor

Dec 1944 - May 1945 Moratai

May-Aug 1945 Tarakan

Aug-Dec 1945 Moratai

Dec 1945 - Mar 1946 Deniliquin

Mar-Jul 1946 Williamtown