| The
only operational RAAF squadron to use the Lockheed Ventura in Australia
and the SWPA was No 13 Squadron. (No 459 Squadron and No 464 Squadron
operated RAF Venturas in the Middle East and U.K. respectively). Formed
at Darwin on 1st June 1940 with Avro Ansons, No 13 Squadron re-equipped
with Lockheed Hudsons the same month. In anticipation of hostilities
with Japan, Hudsons were detached to Laha and Namlea in the Netherlands
East Indies. After incurring heavy losses, the squadron consolidated
at Darwin from where reconnaissance flights and bombing missions continued.
Enemy air raids on Darwin prompted a partial withdrawal south to Daly
Waters in February 1942 and again to Hughes in May 1942. In April 1943,
the squadron became non-operational and moved to Canberra to re-equip
with Bristol Beauforts and Lockheed Venturas. During November and December,
a detachment of Beauforts conducted maritime patrols from Coffs Harbour
while a detachment of Venturas conducted similar operations from Camden.
By May/June of 1944, the squadron had relinquished its Beauforts and
moved to Cooktown with its complement of B-34 and PV-1 Venturas. In
August 1944, the squadron moved to Gove in the Northern Territory from
where it conducted anti-submarine patrols and strikes into the N.E.I.
and Timor. In August 1945, the squadron moved to Morotai and Labuan.
Operations from Labuan commenced on 16th August with patrols and leaflet
drops. As hostilities wound down, the Venturas were progressively stripped
of armament and radar to prepare them for repatriating Australian service
personnel. After the Japanese surrender, the squadron evacuated prisoners
of war to Australia and operated courier flights to Singapore and Darwin.
One Ventura (A59-76) was detached to the 1st Tactical Air Force in Tokyo.
The squadron disbanded on the 11th January 1946 but reformed at Darwin
in July 1989 as a non-flying reserve unit. |
| SERIAL | MODEL |
SF
|
NAME
|
RECEIVED | DISPOSED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A59-1 | B-34 |
-
|
-
|
29DEC43 | 28APR44 |
| A59-5 | " |
-
|
-
|
29DEC43 | 05JAN45 |
| A59-6 | " |
-
|
-
|
01JAN44 | To CMU Tocumwal |
| A59-7 | " |
-
|
-
|
05JAN44 | 05JAN45 |
| A59-8 | " |
-
|
-
|
29DEC43 | To 1AD |
| A59-10 | " |
-
|
-
|
30DEC43 | 05JAN45 |
| A59-11 | " |
-
|
-
|
25FEB44 | To 3AD |
| A59-12 | " |
-
|
-
|
03MAR44 | To 2AD |
| A59-14 | " |
-
|
-
|
06FEB44 | To 34 Sqn |
| A59-15 | " |
-
|
-
|
02FEB44 | To 2AD |
| A59-19 | " |
-
|
-
|
03JAN44 | To 2AD |
| A59-51 | PV-1 |
-
|
-
|
12SEP43 | To 2AD |
| A59-52 | " |
-
|
-
|
15APR43 | To 2AD |
| A59-53 | " |
W
|
-
|
15AUG43 | To 2AD |
| A59-54 | " |
-
|
-
|
12SEP43 | 22NOV43 |
| A59-55 | " |
-
|
-
|
17SEP43 | 07DEC43 |
| A59-56 | " |
T
|
Coffee
Pot
|
01OCT43 | 27JAN45 |
| A59-57 | " |
-
|
-
|
16OCT43 | To CMU |
| A59-58 | " |
-
|
-
|
17NOV43 | 21JAN44 |
| A59-59 | " |
P
|
-
|
16NOV43 | To 1AD |
| A59-60 | " |
O
|
-
|
23NOV43 | To 2AD |
| A59-61 | " |
X/U
|
-
|
20JAN44 | 24SEP45 |
| A59-62 | " |
T/U
|
-
|
27DEC43 | To 2AD |
| A59-63 | " |
-
|
-
|
27DEC43 | To 2AD |
| A59-64 | " |
H
|
-
|
16APR44 | To 2AD |
| A59-65 | " |
R/Z
|
-
|
22JAN44 | To 2AD |
| A59-66 | " |
-
|
-
|
29MAR44 | 21AUG44 |
| A59-67 | " |
F/O/K
|
-
|
25FEB44 | To 2AD |
| A59-68 | " |
L
|
-
|
03JAN45 | To 2AD |
| A59-69 | " |
W
|
-
|
29APR44 | To 2AD |
| A59-70 | " |
Y
|
-
|
01SEP44 | 03JUN46 |
| A59-71 | " |
Q
|
-
|
16OCT44 | To 2AD |
| A59-72 | " |
T/F
|
Southern
Job
|
15MAY44 | 25NOV45 |
| A59-73 | " |
O
|
-
|
APR44 | 12OCT45 |
| A59-74 | " |
-
|
-
|
? | To 2AD |
| A59-75 | " |
Q/P/U
|
-
|
24MAY44 | 02OCT44 |
| A59-76 | " |
E
|
-
|
02MAY44 | 10NOV45 |
| A59-77 | " |
D/M
|
-
|
16MAY44 | To 2AD |
| A59-78 | " |
J
|
-
|
11MAY44 | To 2AD |
| A59-79 | " |
B/F
|
|
16MAY44 | To 2AD |
| A59-81 | " |
D
|
Wiff-Oh
|
26MAY44 | 08OCT45 |
| A59-83 | " |
-
|
-
|
28JUL44 | 19OCT44 |
| A59-84 | " |
N
|
-
|
25NOV44 | 27JAN45 |
| A59-85 | " |
R
|
Reluctant
Dragon
|
29NOV45 | To 2AD |
| A59-86 | " |
G/C
|
-
|
18FEB45 | To 2AD |
| A59-89 | " |
V
|
-
|
23JUN45 | To 2AD |
| A59-95 | " |
S/Y
|
-
|
06APR45 | 16APR46 |
| A59-98 | " |
T
|
-
|
?
|
To 2AD |
| A59-99 | " |
M/K
|
-
|
20FEB45 | 06SEP45 |
| A59-100 | " |
-
|
-
|
16JUL45 | To 2AD |
| A59-101 | " |
B
|
-
|
21MAY45 | To 2AD |
| A59-103 | " |
U/A
|
-
|
31JAN45 | To 2AD |
| A59-104 | " |
S
|
-
|
06APR45 | To 2AD |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
|
4
|
06JAN04 |
Several
additional codes were added thanks to Phil Herdman. Also added
a name for A59-72
|
| 3 | 21DEC02 |
Added
codes for A59-61, 62 & 99 and names for A59-56, 81 & 85. Thanks to Bob
Livingstone.
|
|
2
|
- |
Many
additional codes were added thanks to Phil Herdman. Also added A59-64 & 98
as 13 Sqn aircraft.
|
