No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF

No. 25 Squadron badge / colour patch

One of the three Swordfish used on anti-submarine patrols around Rottnest Island until 1942

Brief History

Originally formed as No. 23 (City of Perth) Squadron in early 1943 at RAAF Base Laverton before being renumbered No.25 and moved to RAAF Base Pearce in January 1939. With the outbreak of war it was allocated some CAC Wirraways to carry out Convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols. With Japan's entry into the war the squadron received a small number of Brewster Buffalo aircraft, and in early 1942 three Fairey Battle biplanes. The later were used to conduct patrols around Rottnest Island until late 1942 before they were returned to the Royal Navy.

In Aug 1943 the squadron was re-equipped with Vultee Vengeance dive bombers to defend against a rumored Japanese invasion, and began joint exercises with the Army. With the removal of the threat to Perth, the squadron was again re-equipped, this time with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, and began to carry out bombing raids against Japanese targets in what is now the Indonesian islands. These sorties required refueling stops at Truscott or Corunna Downs airfields. In June 1945 the squadron relocated to Tarakan in order to play a bombing role assisting the landings at Brunei Bay. With the completion of the war, the squadron moved to Cunderdin and was involved with the evacuation of liberated POWs from Borneo and Morotai to Australia before being disbanded in July 1946. Twenty five of its personnel were killed during the war.

It reformed in 1948 as a Citizen Air Force Unit and went through various guises before July 1998 when its permanent personnel separated to form the No. 79 Squadron. Those that remained returned to the role of providing a reserve pool of personnel.

Battle Honours

• Eastern Waters 1942 - 1945

Individual Honours

• 1 x Mentioned in Despatches

Ground Crew

• † Herman Fred Sass 5 Jul 1937 - 12 Feb 1939
• Edward Arthur Ross 24 Jul - 22 Oct 1941
• Oswald Francis Williams 26 Jul 1943 - 6 Sep 1943
• Ivan Lindsay Dunn 11 Apr - 7 Sep 1944
• William John Gardener 11 Apr - 28 Sep 1944
• Alfred Ensor Hand 4 Jan - 15 May 1946
• Frederick Walter Miller
• Eric William Mills
• Frederick George Thornton