COMMONWEALTH SQUADRONS
No.3 (RAAF) Squadron (Kittyhawk)
The squadron operated Kittyhawks from Ta’ Qali, between 4th and 18th July 1943, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. No.3 Squadron formed part of No.239 Wing.
Enright, P E |
LAC RAAF |
25.07.43 |
Fleming, W |
Cpl RAAF |
21.07.43 |
No.458 (RAAF) Squadron (Wellington)
On 7th January 1943 a detachment of three Wellingtons from No.458 Squadron was the first to reach Luqa and there joined No.69 Squadron. On 6th February a further eighteen Wellingtons moved to Luqa and No.458 became established in its own name absorbing the original elements of No.69 Squadron Special Duties Flight. During January and February, Wellingtons flew several sorties mostly around the northern and western shores of Sicily in search of enemy ships. There were several losses and on 3rd March it was necessary to transfer sixteen aircrew members from No.38 Squadron in order to maintain operational strength. Very little success was achieved but the true value of this constant pressure by Wellingtons was that it forced the enemy to discontinue large convoys from Naples and to attempt a daylight passage to Tunis from Palermo and Trapani under cover of heavy naval and air escort. In June the squadron was based in North Africa.
Armour, R D |
F/Sgt RAAF |
29.04.43 |
Banks, G J |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
29.04.43 |
Bates, K T |
Sgt |
27.04.43 |
Batton, I W |
LAC RAAF |
06.11.42 |
Brighurst, A W |
Sgt |
28.04.43 |
Brown, E A |
Sgt |
13.02.43 |
Brown, P E E |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
13.02.43 |
Cameron, G A D |
Sgt RCAF |
30.04.43 |
Clark, L W |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
25.02.43 |
Gleason, L H |
Plt Off RCAF |
13.02.43 |
Grasley, J R |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
29.04.43 |
Hudson, R W J |
Plt Off RCAF |
27.04.43 |
Hunter, J R |
Sgt |
27.04.43 |
Huntley, A J |
F/Sgt RAAF |
19.04.44 |
Jenkins, F S |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
25.02.43 |
Keith, A L |
F/Sgt RCAF |
28.04.43 |
Kempton, M M |
Flg Off RCAF |
13.02.43 |
King, P |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
25.02.43 |
Kirk, J F |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
25.02.43 |
Lees, W S |
Sgt |
27.04.43 |
Lyle, G |
Sgt |
27.04.43 |
Markey, J R |
Flg Off RAAF |
23.01.44 |
McLeod, A F W |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
25.02.43 |
McMillan, H R |
Flg Off RAAF |
19.04.44 |
Musto, T E |
Sgt |
27.04.43 |
Paroissien, J C |
Plt Off RAAF |
28.04.43 |
Prebble, I D |
Flg Off RNZAF |
28.04.43 |
Rogers, T R |
F/Sgt RAAF |
23.01.44 |
Sheffield, R A P |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
25.02.43 |
Shipard, J C |
F/Sgt RAAF |
23.01.44 |
Stanley, H E |
Sgt RCAF |
13.02.43 |
Stelter, N A |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
29.04.43 |
Sutherland, A M |
F/Sgt |
28.04.43 |
Taylor, J L |
Flt Lt |
29.04.43 |
Taylor, L C |
F/Sgt RAAF |
23.01.44 |
Wagstaffe, J M |
Wnt Off |
19.04.44 |
Westhan, R M |
Wnt Off II RCAF |
29.04.43 |
Williamson, R H |
F/Sgt |
19.04.44 |
No.459 (RAAF) Squadron (Hudson)
Blackstock, W D |
Flg Off RAAF |
15.06.42 |
Darr, N C |
F/Sgt RAAF |
15.06.42 |
Durrell, A H |
Flg Off RAAF |
15.06.42 |
Powell, R D |
F/Sgt RAAF |
15.06.42 |
No.1 (SAAF) Squadron
Rossouw, A deL |
Lt SAAF |
25.06.43 |
No.12 (SAAF) Squadron (Boston)
After the Axis surrender in Tunisia the squadron moved to Hal Far by the end of July 1943 as part of No.3 SAAF Wing. From Malta the squadron flew light bomber sorties with its Bostons to support Operation Husky – the Allied landings – during the Sicilian campaign.
Davids, M H |
Lt SAAF |
01.08.43 |
Goulding, T T |
Lt SAAF |
23.07.43 |
Jonker, M J |
F/Sgt |
06.08.43 |
Lehman, C W |
F/Sgt |
06.08.43 |
Trembath, W M |
Lt |
06.08.43 |
van Zyl, L A |
Lt SAAF |
06.08.43 |
No.21 (SAAF) Squadron (Baltimore)
In July 1943 the squadron moved from North Africa to Hal Far to support the Allied invasion of Sicily – Operation Husky – as part of No.3 SAAF Wing, from where it flew light bomber sorties. The maintenance echelon remained in Africa until it moved to Sicily to join its aircraft there.
Chapman, R E |
Flg Off RNZAF |
09.08.43 |
Childe, F R |
F/Sgt SAAF |
23.07.43 |
Christian, D |
F/Sgt |
09.08.43 |
Handley, S J |
Lt SAAF |
18.08.43 |
Roberts, V P |
F/Sgt SAAF |
18.08.43 |
Shepperson, K O |
F/Sgt SAAF |
18.08.43 |
Simpson, R A E W |
Lt SAAF |
18.08.43 |
Wright, J |
Sgt |
09.08.43 |
No.24 (SAAF) Squadron (Boston)
In July 1943, the squadron flew from North Africa to Hal Far to support the Allied invasion of Sicily – Operation Husky – as part of No.3 SAAF Wing, from where it flew light bomber sorties.
Isenberg, M I |
Lt SAAF |
01.08.43 |
No.40 (SAAF) Squadron (Spitfire)
The ground echelon of the squadron arrived at Luqa on 17th June 1943, whilst its Spitfires flew in six days later to provide tactical reconnaissance support to the Allied Forces which landed in Sicily in July in Operation Husky.
Le Roux, C G, DFC |
Capt SAAF |
10.07.43 |
Robinson, K |
Lt SAAF |
12.07.43 |