No. 41 Squadron was formed from 'A' Flight of No. 33 Squadron at Townsville, Queensland on 21 August 1942. It was initially equipped with two ex-QantasShort Empire flying boats and flew its first transport flights on the day it was established. The unit was later allocated two Dornier Do 24 flying boats.[4][5]
In June 1943 No. 41 Squadron had a strength of three Empires and two Do 24s, but the Empires were returned to Qantas in July that year.[4] The Do 24s were in poor mechanical condition and serviceability rates were constantly low.[5]Martin Mariners supplemented the Do 24s from February 1944 and these larger and more reliable aircraft became the squadron's only aircraft from May.[4] The squadron moved to RAAF Base Rathmines on 11 May 1944 but maintained detachments at Townsville and at Rose Bay in Sydney. It moved again to Cairns on 2 July and added longer flights to Nouméa, Espiritu Santo and other islands to its routes.[7]
The squadron was originally scheduled to be disbanded on 10 June 1945, but it was decided to maintain it. Some personnel were posted to No. 114 Air-Sea Rescue Flight, however. During June the squadron continued to fly a daily service to Madang, a bi-weekly service to Brisbane and occasional flights to Merauke and Darwin. No. 41 Squadron was officially disbanded on 27 September 1945.[6]
Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek: Aerospace Publications. ISBN1-875671-15-3.
Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Francillon, René J. (1970). The Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers. ISBN0-8168-0308-0.
RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Volume 4 Maritime and Transport Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN0-644-42796-5.
External linksedit
"No 41 Squadron". Royal Australian Air Force Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
January 01, 1970
squadron, raaf, squadron, royal, australian, force, raaf, transport, squadron, world, formed, august, 1942, operated, flying, boats, south, west, pacific, area, squadron, disbanded, september, 1945, squadron, martin, mariner, 1944active1942, 1945countryaustral. No 41 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force RAAF transport squadron of World War II It was formed in August 1942 and operated flying boats in the South West Pacific area The squadron was disbanded in September 1945 No 41 Squadron RAAFA No 41 Squadron Martin Mariner in 1944Active1942 1945CountryAustraliaBranchRoyal Australian Air ForceRoleTransportEngagementsWorld War IIInsigniaSquadron codeDQ Jan 1943 Sep 1944 1 2 3 Aircraft flownTransportEmpire Do 24 Mariner Contents 1 History 2 References 2 1 Notes 2 2 Bibliography 3 External linksHistory editNo 41 Squadron was formed from A Flight of No 33 Squadron at Townsville Queensland on 21 August 1942 It was initially equipped with two ex Qantas Short Empire flying boats and flew its first transport flights on the day it was established The unit was later allocated two Dornier Do 24 flying boats 4 5 The squadron s main task throughout the war was to conduct regular transport flights between towns in northern Australia and Allied military bases in New Guinea Regular destinations included Bowen Brisbane Cairns Darwin and Karumba in Australia and Finschhafen Goodenough Island Hollandia Los Negros Madang Milne Bay Port Moresby Salamaua in New Guinea 4 The squadron also had a large maritime section and performed a number of air sea rescues 6 During its existence the squadron s boats and aircraft rescued more than 150 people 5 In June 1943 No 41 Squadron had a strength of three Empires and two Do 24s but the Empires were returned to Qantas in July that year 4 The Do 24s were in poor mechanical condition and serviceability rates were constantly low 5 Martin Mariners supplemented the Do 24s from February 1944 and these larger and more reliable aircraft became the squadron s only aircraft from May 4 The squadron moved to RAAF Base Rathmines on 11 May 1944 but maintained detachments at Townsville and at Rose Bay in Sydney It moved again to Cairns on 2 July and added longer flights to Noumea Espiritu Santo and other islands to its routes 7 The squadron was originally scheduled to be disbanded on 10 June 1945 but it was decided to maintain it Some personnel were posted to No 114 Air Sea Rescue Flight however During June the squadron continued to fly a daily service to Madang a bi weekly service to Brisbane and occasional flights to Merauke and Darwin No 41 Squadron was officially disbanded on 27 September 1945 6 References editNotes edit Flintham and Thomas p 131 Francillon 1970 p 96 Pentland 1980 p 141 a b c d RAAF Historical Section 1995 p 75 a b c Eather 1995 p 78 a b RAAF Historical Section 1995 p 76 Eather 1995 p 79 Bibliography edit Eather Steve 1995 Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force Weston Creek Aerospace Publications ISBN 1 875671 15 3 Flintham Vic Thomas Andrew 2003 Combat Codes A Full Explanation and Listing of British Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing ISBN 1 84037 281 8 Francillon Rene J 1970 The Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific Fallbrook California Aero Publishers ISBN 0 8168 0308 0 Pentland Geoffrey 1980 RAAF Camouflage and Markings 1939 45 Vol 1 Melbourne Australia Kookaburra Technical Publications ISBN 0 85880 036 5 RAAF Historical Section 1995 Units of the Royal Australian Air Force A Concise History Volume 4 Maritime and Transport Units Canberra Australian Government Publishing Service ISBN 0 644 42796 5 External links edit No 41 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force Museum Retrieved 15 November 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 41 Squadron RAAF amp oldid 1068345672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
