I assume this has already posted here but couldnt get my Iphone to access the Search feature, and so I am sorry if this is doubling up a previous post?
“
RAAF re-establishes No. 100 Squadron
6 February 2021
Joint media release:
AHEAD of centenary commemorations of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), No. 100 Squadron will be re-formed as the Air Force Heritage Squadron, operating from two locations RAAF Base Point Cook and Temora.
Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said 100 Squadron had a proud history and after a 75-year absence it was fitting that RAAF reactivates it in the same year as it commemorates its first 100 years.
“First established during the Second World War in February 1942 at RAAF Base Richmond, 100 Squadron was an Air Force bomber and maritime patrol squadron, trained on Australian-built Bristol Beauforts,” Mr Chester said.
“The squadron conducted several successful missions throughout the war, taking part in the famous Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943, and eventually disbanding in New Guinea on 19 August 1946.
“The heritage fleet of 100 Squadron will continue to recognise the service of previous generations and inspiring the next generation of pilots.”
No. 100 Squadron will fly a number of aircraft from the current heritage fleet from Point Cook, Victoria, and Temora, New South Wales.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack welcomed Temora’s worthy involvement in marking the RAAF’s centenary.
“Temora has an extensive aviation history dating back to the Second World War, where pilots trained at RAAF’s No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School,” Mr McCormack said.
“The training school closed after the Second World War on 12 March 1946, but since then Temora has maintained a strong aviation focus, which will now include being part of the rejuvenated No. 100 Squadron.
“Temora Historic Flight will build on to the Riverina’s lengthy contribution to the RAAF, which includes RAAF Base Wagga and the former 5 Service Flying Training School at Uranquinty.
“The Temora Aviation Museum, of course, has played a special role in preserving RAAF history since 2000 by flying and displaying some iconic warplanes, such as the Spitfire.”
The new Air Force Heritage Squadron headquarters at RAAF Base Point Cook would provide a historical connection to the community. The reestablishment of No. 100 coincides with the Centenary of the RAAF, which was formed on March 31, 1921.
Imagery and historic aircraft information: http://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/history/historic-aircraft
Point Cook based aircraft:
• Mustang VH-SVU A68-170
• CT4A VH-NZP A19-077
• Sopwith Pup VH-PSP
• Harvard VH-HVD NZ1075
• Sopwith Snipe VH-SNP
• RE8 VH-OTF RE8-1 0003
• Winjeel VH-FTS A85-439
• Tiger Moth VH-AWA A17-692
• P-40 A29-90
Temora Based aircraft:
• Canberra VH-ZSQ
• Cessna A37 VH-XVA
• Spitfire Mk.VIII. VH-HET
• DH Vampire VH-VAM
• Lockheed Hudson VH-KOY
• CAC Wirraway VH-BFF
• CAC Sabre VH-IPN
• CAC Boomerang VH-MHR
• Ryan STM VH-RSY
• Meteor F8 VH-MBX
• Spitfire Mk.XVI VH-XVI
• Tiger Moth VH-UVZ”
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/dchester/media-releases/ra…
By: mark_pilkington - 5th March 2021 at 22:22
Simon
yes it was – Australia was building the Bristol Beaufort in Australia and the first 180 were an RAF order inclusive of aircraft to re-equip the RAF 100 Sqn then based at Singapore and operating Vilfdrbeests.
5 new Beauforts were rushed to Singapore but had little impact on the outcome.
An acceptance and conversion flight of 100Sqn crews were already in Australia and were operating the first 20 aircraft in Australia.
After the fall of Singapore the RAF 100Sqn Flight Flew it Beauforts on maritime patrols along the east coast of Australia.
When RAF 100 Sqn was recalled to the UK to reform as a Lancaster Sqn its Besuforts were transferred to the RAAF along with some personnel who chose to stay, forming the RAAF 100 Sqn.
One of those RAF 100 Sqn Beauforts still survive in Australia today.
https://www.aarg.com.au/dap-beaufort.html
By: SimonDav - 5th March 2021 at 14:06
Wasn’t the original RAAF 100 Squadron formed from the remnants of the RAF squadron of the same number which escaped from Singapore and which was equipped with Vildebeests?
By: TEXANTOMCAT2 - 3rd March 2021 at 12:24
What an amazing gesture by the owner and a terrific example of co-operation between military and civillian operators. Surely this must be the largest MILITARY heritage flight in the world?
TT
By: mark_pilkington - 3rd March 2021 at 11:48
Temora transfers Warbirds to the RAAF
10 May 2019
Temora Aviation Museum (TAM) has transferred ownership of some of its most valuable warbirds to the Royal Australian Air Force, TAM announced yesterday.
Eleven historically-significant aircraft have been donated to the RAAF as the air force prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2021.
The aircraft, which TAM will still maintain and house under a five-year contract with the RAAF are:
English Electric Canberra
De havilland Vampire
Gloster Meteor
both Spitfires
Lockheed Hudson
CAC Wirraway
CAC Boomerang
Cessna A-37B Dragonfly,
De havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Ryan STMS2
The CAC Avon Sabre operated by TAM was already owned by the RAAF.
According to Australian Flying’s sister magazine, Flightpath, the Vampire and Canberra will both be returned to airworthy status before being transferred to the RAAF.
Flightpath has also reported a brief statement from the RAAF, which says “as we approach our centenary in 2021, this agreement will ensure that these historic aircraft can continue to be preserved, remembered and displayed.”
The Temora Aviation Museum was founded in 1999 by Sydney businessman David Lowy. Lowy donated the original aircraft and TAM has since added more to become the most significant collection of airworthy warbirds in Australia.
https://www.australianflying.com.au/warbirds/temora-transfers-warbirds-…
By: mark_pilkington - 3rd March 2021 at 11:47
Some background to the above situation:
Our RAAFM has had its own flying collection consisting of 8 aircraft with 3 WW1 replicas, a Harvard, Tigermoth, post war piston engined Winjeel and CT-4 Trainers, and a CAC Mustang that has remained on charge with the RAAF since its delivery. The RAAFM also has a P40 under airworthy restoration.
Also in Australia we are celebrating the Centenary of the RAAF as the third oldest “Air Force” in the world formed in 1921, (as against Army Air Corps etc).
Recently our wealthiest Warbird owner – Billionaire David Lowry of the Westfield Shopping Cente empire, donated his own Temora collection of flying Historic aircraft to the RAAF, which includes the only flying Hudson, a Wirraway, a Boomerang and two Spitfires, and in response the RAAF have reactivated the WW2 “100 Sqn” as the RAAF Heritage Flight to own and operate the 9 aircraft from the RAAF Museum and the 12 aircraft from Temora to a total of 21 aircraft.
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March 3, 2021 at 4:14 am