No. 462 Squadron RAAF
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No. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The Squadron saw action during World War II as a bomber and electronic warfare squadron.
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[edit] Squadron history
[edit] 1942–44
No. 462 Squadron was formed on 7 September 1942 at Fayid, Egypt from detachments of No. 10 Squadron RAF and No. 76 Squadron RAF. Due to the manner of its formation the Squadron contained very few Australians upon formation. The Squadron was equipped with Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers and flew its first operation on the night of 8/9 September 1942. No. 462 Squadron was the only heavy bomber squadron in North Africa in 1942 and suffered from shortages of aircrew as a result.
During 1943 and early 1944 No. 462 Squadron conducted raids against Axis targets throughout the Mediterranean area. Despite the efforts of Australian authorities the Squadron contained mostly British aircrew and ground staff. Frustrated with the British dominance of the squadron the RAAF Overseas Headquarters requested that the squadron be disbanded and reformed in Britain as an Australian squadron. This request was acted upon, and No. 462 Squadron was re-designated No. 614 Squadron RAF on 3 March 1944.
[edit] 1944–45
No. 462 Squadron was reformed at Driffield in Britain on 12 August 1944 as an Australian heavy bomber squadron within RAF Bomber Command equipped with Halifax bombers. Many of the Squadron's personnel had been transferred from No. 466 Squadron RAAF. No. 462 Squadron flew its first operational missions within days of being reformed and over the next five months it participated in the bombing of German industrial targets and cities and supported the operations of Allied land forces.
On 29 December 1944 No. 462 Squadron was relocated to RAF Foulsham and became part of No. 100 Group RAF. This group specialised in electronic warfare and No. 462 Squadron's aircraft were modified to carry radar and wireless broadcasting and jamming equipment. Until the end of the war the Squadron used its special equipment to attempt to deceive the enemy as to the location of the raids conducted by Bomber Command. German speaking additional crew members, known as Special Operators, using the secret wireless jamming equipment codenamed Airborne Cigar (ABC) would locate and jam German flight control frequencies, occasionally broadcasting misleading information. [1][2] Following the end of the war No. 462 Squadron conducted transport and training flights until being disbanded on 24 September 1945.
[edit] Since 2005
No. 462 Squadron was reformed in April 2005 as a non-flying squadron within the Information Warfare Wing of the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The Squadron's role is to "protect the Air Force's capability through the conduct of information operations".[1] The Squadron is based in Canberra.
[edit] References
- ^ Lake, Jon (30 July 1999). Halifax Squadrons of World War II. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1855328921.
- ^ "John Hereford", Obituaries, The Daily Telegraph, 13 December 2007.
- Steve Eather (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Aerospace Publications.
- RAAF Museum 462 Squadron
- Australian War Memorial 462 Squadron RAAF
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