458 Squadron RAAF Plaque

About

Brass plaque dedicated to the memory of the Squadron during World War II. The plaque displays the Squadron Crest and recognises the memory of 129 Airmen who did not return. Areas of conflict are also recognised. Additional Information 458 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, was formed at Williamtown, New South Wales, on 10 July 1941. Formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme, the squadron was destined for operations in Europe. In early August, the 37 airmen then in it sailed for the United Kingdom, where they joined further personnel from across the British Commonwealth being gathered at Holme-on-Spalding Moor. The squadron was equipped with Vickers Wellington medium bombers, and as part of 1 Group Bomber Command, commenced operations over German-occupied Europe on 20 October 1941. For the next three months the focus of the squadron's operations was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. In January 1942 the squadron was reallocated to Middle East Command. Its primary role was to seek out and attack enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. In this role, its aircraft operated from airfields in Egypt, Malta, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Sardinia, Corsica, and Italy. The squadron also undertook conventional bombing tasks, most notably in support of the Allied invasion of southern France in August 1944. 458 Squadron relocated for the final time, to Gibraltar, on 26 January 1945. With the occupation of southern France, and the continuing progress of the Allied campaign in Italy, enemy submarines and surface vessels in the Mediterranean presented little threat. From Gibraltar, the squadron roamed out across the western Atlantic, escorting Allied convoys and searching for German submarines. The squadron was still carrying out these tasks when the war in Europe ended on 8 May 1945. It disbanded on 9 June 1945. Battle Honours Fortress Europe 1940-1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, South-East Europe 1942-1945, Mediterranean 1940-1943, Sicily 1943, Italy 1943-1945 (Source: Australian War Memorial www.awm.gov.au)