No. 82 Squadron RAAF

No. 82 Squadron Mustang aircraft in Japan in 1947

No. 82 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in June 1943 and was disbanded in October 1948 after seeing action during World War II and participating in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.

History

No. 82 Squadron was formed at Bankstown, New South Wales on 18 June 1943. The Squadron was to be equipped with P-40 Kittyhawk fighters but was initially partially equipped with P-39 Airacobras. The Squadron conducted training at Bankstown until April 1944 when it moved to Townsville, Queensland for further training. No. 82 Squadron moved to Noemfoor island in August 1944 and flew its first combat mission on 7 September. The Squadron conducted ground attack missions in New Guinea until March 1945 when it moved to Morotai Island in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI).

From Morotai No. 82 Squadron conducted ground attack missions in the NEI and escorted Allied convoys carrying troops bound for the liberation of Borneo. The Squadron moved to Labuan island off Borneo in June and flew in support of the Australian Army units in Borneo until the end of the war.

Shortly after the end of the war No. 82 Squadron was selected to form part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan. The Squadron was reequipped with P-51D Mustang fighters in September and deployed to Japan in March 1946. From April the Squadron conducted surveillance patrols over Japan as well as participating in routine exercises and flypasts. No. 82 Squadron was disbanded at Iwakuni, Japan on 22 October 1948 as part of the reduction of Australian forces in Japan.

Aircraft operated

• P-40 Kittyhawk (June 1943 – September 1945)
• P-39 Airacobra (June 1943 – ?)
• P-51D Mustang (September 1945 – October 1948)

References

• Steve Eather (1995) Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1875671153 Pages 94-95.
• RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Volume 2 Fighter Units. Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra. ISBN 0644427949 Pages 78-82.
• RAAF Museum 82 Squadron