44th Depot Repair Squadron

44TH DEPOT REPAIR SQUADRON
81ST AIR DEPOT GROUP
EAGLE FARM AIRFIELD, BRISBANE
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

On 15 June 1943, the 44th Depot Repair Squadron arrived from the USA and was assigned to the 81st Depot Repair Squadron. It comprised 335 Enlisted Men and 10 Officers with Major Grant W. Bowen as its Commanding Officer.

Fred Chew was a member of the 44th Depot Repair Squadron, 81st Air Depot Group at Eagle Farm Airfield in Brisbane during WWII. Fred contacted me on 8 November 2000 and told me that he also worked with Pappy Gunn whilst at Eagle Farm Airfield and helped to install 75mm cannons in B-25 Mitchells and was involved with many other combat modifications.

The 44th Depot Repair Squadron went From Eagle Farm airfield to Finschaffen in New Guinea. Fred Chew told me that they constructed a major Combat Overhaul & Modification Base at Finschaffen. They even tried to install a 75 MM Cannon in a P-38 Lightning. Fred Chew was a Graduate of "Embry Riddle School of Aviation" and ran a Flying school in 1946. He had 14 Aircraft and had been a pilot ever since.

From New Guinea the 44th Depot Repair Squadron went to "Clark Field" in the Philippines.