No. 548 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.548 Squadron was a fighter squadron created to defend northern Australia against any Japanese air raids from the north. The squadron was formed in Queensland in December 1943 (as was its sister squadron No.549) to operate the Spitfire VIII, which was considered more suited to intercept Japanese aircraft than the Kittyhawks then in use.

The Spitfires took some time to arrive, and the squadron wasn't equipped until April 1944. It finally moved to the Darwin area in June 1944, where its main duty was to intercept any incoming raiders. The squadron also took part in two offensive missions, a sweep over Selaroe Island on 5 September 1944 and an attack on a Japanese airfield at Cape Chater in Timor on 3 June 1945 (a reminder that even that late in the war the Japanese still had bases close to Australia).

The squadron was disbanded on 9 October 1945, and its British personnel were returned to the UK.

Aircraft
April 1944-October 1945: Supermarine Spitfire VIII

Location
December 1943-January 1944: Lawnton
January-May 1944: Strathpine
May-June 1944: Amberley
June-October 1944: Livingstone
October 1944-October 1945: Darwin Civil

Squadron Codes: TS

Duty
1944-1945: Fighter Squadron, Northern Australia

Books

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