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Australia’s War Diary
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50 Years Ago
September 1 – Britain. 458 Squadron RAAF, which is to fly Wellington bombers, is forming at Holme-on-SpaldingMoor in the East riding of Yorkshire under the command of W/Cdr N G Mulholland DFC. It had been first designated in a RAAF signal back on July 18 and ground staff had left Australia in August bound for the UK via Canada. At Halifax, they had boarded the Empress of Asia, a vessel previously used to transport Italian POWs. Finding the ship’s accommodation and facilities filthy and totally unsatisfactory, the men walked off and refused to go back despite “discussions” with the authorities. They had been returned to their transit camp and afterwards censured by AVM Goble, RAAF Liaison Officer to EAT S Canada, but remained adamant. Alternative transport had eventually been found and in due course the men arrived in England. Unfortunately, these incidents along the way have put the new squadron under a black cloud and relations between the men and those in authority remain strained. Eastern Front. Leningrad is cut off by the Germans. September 2/3 – Britain. 455 Squadron flies its second operation, again with one aircraft, when S/Ldr R Reynolds successfully bombs Berlin. Because of supply problems, the squadron has only two Hampdens on strength but on this night two other crews lay mines in the vicinity of the Friesian Islands, another Hampden being borrowed from 50 Squadron RAF which shares Swinderby airfield. Minelaying sorties are also carried out on the 7th, 11th and 12th.
September 3 – North Africa. Two Tac. A (Tactical Reece) Hurricanes of 451 Squadron are intercepted over Sollum by three Bf 110s of 111/ZG 26. Sgt Leslie Readett of Sydney is shot down and posted as missing. (His family will subsequently be informed that he has been KIA. Later, notification will come from the RAAF that he has been overpaid by £1/19/1, ie. , $3. 91, which will be written off!) T he other Hurricane has to break away when its guns jam. September 5 – Britain. 456 Squadron, the first Australian night fighter unit, is officially declared operational. Two of its Defiants have earlier, on the 4th, already flown the squadron’s first sorties. September 7 – Russia. Hurricanes of 151 Wing RAF, comprised of Nos 81 and 134 Squadrons, fly from the aircraft carrier HMS Argus and land at the· Russia. n airfield of Vaenga, near Murmansk. They have been pledged by Churchill for the protection of this essential ice free port which is a vital gate for the delivery of supplies to the Soviets. Australians serving in the wing are F/O Selwyn Clark of Perth, P/O Mark Sheldon of Sydney, Sgt Arthur Gould of Roma and Sgt Barton Campbell of Cairns.
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