54 SQUADRON RAF
IN AUSTRALIA
DURING WW2
54 Squadron RAF originally served in Britain during the early part of World War 2 but was relocated to Darwin airfield in Northern Australia in 1943 and then moved to Livingstone airfield in 1944.
On 2 March 1943, six Japanese Zeros attacked Coomalie Creek airfield in the Northern Territory. Three of the Zeros were claimed as shot down by Spitfires of 54 Squadron RAF over the sea. They also damaged three other Zeros.
Three Spitfires from 54 Squadron RAF intercepted a Japanese "Dinah" aircraft carrying out a high-level reconnaissance flight in the Drysdale area not far from Truscott airfield on 20 July 1944. They managed to shoot the "Dinah" down. This was apparently the last Japanese aircraft to be shot down over Australian soil during WW2.
Crash
of Spitfire A58-42 (BR536) in the water
off West Point, Darwin, NT on 2 May 1943
Crash of Spitfire A58-309 near Pine Creek,
Northern Territory NT on 18 April 1944
Crash of a Spitfire in the Darwin
area, Northern Territory on 17 June 1945
54 SQN(I/F)
ASCOT VALE | 13.08.42 | 24.08.42 | Show Ground Building EPSOM Rd. MELBOURNE |
RICHMOND | 24.08.42 | 13.01.43 | Airfield Temp Huts PERCIVAL St WINDSOR |
SYDNEY | 13.01.43 | 25.01.43 | SYDNEY |
PARAP | 25.01.43 | 09.05.44 | Airfield Temp Huts 2 MILES St. DARWIN |
POTSHOT | 09.05.44 | 19.05.44 | Airfield Tents EXMOUTH GULF |
LIVINGSTONE | 19.05.44 | 23.10.44 | Airfield Huts. Tent 34 MILES Sth. DARWIN |
PARAP | 23.10.44 | 30.10.45 | Airfield Temp Huts 2 MILES Sth. DARWIN |
MELBOURNE | 30.10.44 | 31.10.45 | Unit was disbanded |
54 Squadron Commanding Officers
ASCOT VALE | Sqn.Ldr. GIBBS E.M | 13.08.42 | 24.08.42 |
RICHMOND | Sqn.Ldr. GIBBS E.M | 24.08.42 | 13.01.43 |
SYDNEY | Sqn.Ldr. GIBBS E.M | 13.01.43 | 25.01.43 |
PARAP | Sqn.Ldr. GIBBS E.M | 25.01.43 | 11.01.44 |
PARAP | Sqn.Ldr. NEWTON R.B. | 11.01.44 | 09.05.44 |
POTSHOT | Sqn.Ldr. NEWTON R.B. | 09.05.44 | 19.05.44 |
LIVINGSTONE | Sqn.Ldr. NEWTON R.B. | 19.05.44 | 23.10.44 |
PARAP | Sqn.Ldr NEWTON R.B | 23.10.44 | 30.10.45 |
PARAP | Sqn.Ldr NICHOLAS J.B.H | 01.07.45 | 30.10.45 |
PARAP | F-Lt GOSSLAND D.M | 30.10.45 | 31.10.45 |
MELBOURNE | F-Lt GOSSLAND D.M | 31.10.44 | 31.10.45 |
54 Squadron Aircraft
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V, Mk.VIII (Unit Code KL)
The
Diary of Flying Officer Fred Thomas RAF
This is a 1.5MB PDF file donated by Gavin Thomas, nephew of Fred
Thomas
A
Spitfire over Darwin
54 Squadron RAF and Flying Officer William Torrens Hinds
by Greg Blackmore
Subject: 54 RAF Squadron
Date:
Thu, 1 Nov 2001 22:01:50 -0500
From: Jim Gossland <jimgoss@mindspring.com>
I was with 54 Squadron in Darwin, but have no recollection of a Batchelor Airfield. We were at Darwin Airfield, and at one time I took a flight of three Spits to Old Drysdale Mission Strip, about 200 miles west of Darwin on the coast, where we were stationed for a few days in 1943, I think - I can check my logbook for that. There was myself and Freddie Meakin and a third pilot. I'm afraid I can't remember.
Unfortunately, Freddie bought it about two weeks later back at Darwin taking off from a road strip. Your URL mentions a few names I remember: Nicholas and Newton and PARAP F-Lt GOSSLAND D.M. That's me! But what does the PARAP mean? and how do I rate a mention when there's no word of Sid Linnaird, the C.O. after Newton and before Nicholas?
Please follow up when you've time, and fill me in.
Best wishes
D.M. "Jim" Gossland
Subject: RAF
54/Batchelor Airfield questions
Date:
Thu, 26 Oct 2000
15:57:38 +0400
From: "Peter
Enright esq." <peter.enright@co.ru>
I am writing a film script which includes the Spitfires of RAF 54 Squadron that landed at Batchelor Airfield in Jan. 1943 (?). Can you supply any info about this Squadron in Australia during WWII (or direct me to a website that can) and do you know the present condition of this base? Is it abandoned, off-limits or still functioning as an airfield etc. Any info would be helpful.
Thank you in advance,
Peter Enright
Aussie writer in Moscow
Subject: Names
From: kaz/peter gropler [grop01@bigpond.com]
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2005 11:54 AM
To: Peter Dunn
While I was researching my grandfathers history I came across your site......some other names that were at Darwin at this time with 54 Squadron (Spitfires) were......William Marshall.....George Thomas.......Jim Kinnear....Tommy Madden....
I'm sorry I cannot give you their ranks . If you find any information on these people please feel free to email me. I'm looking more for information on William Marshall i.e. like his service record could use any help that you can offer .
K.K.Gropler
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Gavin Thomas and Dennis Whiley for their assistance with this home page.
I'd like to thank John Birch for his assistance with this home page. John has an RAF logbook originally belonging to Squadron Leader Robert Newton of 54 Squadron RAF. Other names mentioned in it are Keith Gamble and Beaton.
Can anyone help me with more information?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
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This page first produced 22 September 2002
This page last updated 18 January 2021