No. 36 Squadron RAAF

Inside a C-47 of 36 Squadron

Brief History

11 March 1942 17 July 1942 11 December 1942 3 January 1943 20 February 1944 August 1945 November 1945 19 August 1946 2 August 1948 1 July 1949 8March 1953 9 March 1953 July 1955 18 August 1958 November 1994 Sure CHRONOLOGY -formed at Laverton, Vic. -moved tn Essendon, Vic. -moved to Townsville, Qld -rear echelon arrived at Paraf1eld, SA on posting to 34 Squadron -transferred to Garbutt -transported the first wave of paratroops to occupy Singapore -2 Air Ambulance Unit added to Squadron -moved to Schofields, NSW -VIP Flight added to 36 Squadron -moved to RAAF Station Richmond, NSW -disbanded at RAAF Richmond -30 Transport Unit became 36 Squadron -<ommenced operations at RAAF Station Canberra, ACT -moved to Richmond -based at Richmond, NSW

No. 36 Squadron RAAF, equipped with Douglas DC-2 aircraft, was formed at Laverton, Victoria, on 11 March 1942. During the early period the Squadron's major operations consisted of transport flights from Laverton to Batchelor with stores and equipment from I Aircraft Depot, and occas1onal flights to Maylands, Western Australia and Mareeba, Queensland. On 14 July 1942, the Squadron came under the operational control of the newly formed Air Transport Command. On 17 July 1942 the Squadron moved to Essendon which was the control point of the southern area for all freight. During the following month it also became a master depot for Douglas spare parts, which forced the Squadron to use some of the hangar space of the lodging USAAC 22nd Transport Squadron which controlled the barracks area. 36 Squadron's strength was increased to six DC-2s, two DH-84s, one DH-86, one Beechcraft and one Tiger Moth. This period proved to be very busy, with high serviceability being required to transport men and materiel to Port Moresby.

On 14 September a DC-2 proceeded to Port Moresby but crushed and burned whilst landing on Seven Mile Strip, killing all crew and destroying all cargo. In November the Squadron moved to Stock Route Strip, Townsville, with a rear echelon at Eddendon. The Squadron immediately began transporting personnel, mail and general supplies to Port Moresby, as well as flights on the mainland. The beginning of 1943 saw many movements of the Squadron's detachments. The rear echelon that was left at Essendon was posted to Parafield to reform No. 34 Squadron. At the same time a Flight from No. 36 Squadron was moved to fulfil the old flight's role. On 19 January 1943 five OC-3 Dakotas were loaned from the USAAF-the first Dakotas to be operated by the RAAF.

3No. 6 Squadron commenced operating a detachment in New Guinea from 1 June, carrying out general transport flights. 'B' Flight, later in the month, was detached to RAAF Richmond for the purpose of training and providing DC-2 aircraft for the Parachute Training Flight. The next year more changes occurred when on 20 Feb 1944 No. 36 Squadron again changed its operational base. This time the Squadron moved to Garbutt, Townsville. During the rest of the year the detachments at Richmond and New Guinea ceased to function. During August, a new record for the Squadron was established: 2989 hours being flown with 1,186 tons of cargo being carried.

With the disbandment of the Directorate of Air Transport, RAAF Air Transport's operational control was handed over to RAAF Headquarters. All aircraft that were on loan from the USAAF were returned. This left the Squadron strength at 12 Dakotas which mainly operated from Townsville to New Guinea. During January 1945, two Dakotas, stationed at Tadji, carried out supply drops to Army personnel. The drops were highly successful with up to 98 per cent recovery reported. The Squadron suffered more fatalities when in February 1945, VH·CUF failed to return from a supply dropping mission in enemy territory in the Aitape area. The survivors were recovered by an Army patrol of commandos, but there were four fatalities. April saw many key maintenance personnel being posted out. This caused the Squadron's serviceability fall and many commitments could not be met. 1lle Oying progress continued to be hampered in this period when VH-ClG crashed again in the Atta pe area. All crew and passengers were lolll-d, with the plane later locatl'd by a natl\'e patrol. 1lle Squadron moved to 2 Proj«t Tran;,ient Ci\11\p, Garbutt, on I AuS'JSt 1945. The Squadron's duties changed to the l.mding of occupalton troo~ and transporting released prisoners of war home. 111ese mission;, continued with detachments In Tadjt, Morotai, Bougainville and later Singapore. By the end of October all Squadron detachments outside the mainla.nd had ceased to {unction. The transport squadrons, Including 36 Squadron, had moved 6500 prisoners of war and JOO 000 lbs of freight from Singapore to evacuation centres. At the beginning of November 1945, 36 Air Ambulance Flight was formed from 2 Atr Ambulance Unit, whtch had disbanded .11 Arcl11.>rfield This brought the Squadron strength to 20 aircraft and 379 personnel. The new year started with detachments at Darwin, Ambon and Morotai. The latter detachment commenced a lri·weeiJy wrviCc to Tokyo and Huoshuna durmg Fcbruruy and two aircraft a_~siSted tn the move of 93 Squ,ldron to lwakuni, japan. After etght months of post·war courier serv•ces and moves of detachments throughout the region, the Squadron moved to Schofields, near Sydney, on 19 August 1946. 86 Wing assumed control of the VJP Flight and it was added to 36Squadron on 2 August 1948. Twenty members left on 25 Augustl948, to pnrtlclpate in 'Operation Pelican', the Berlin Airlift. This so depleted 5Squadron was established: 2989 hours being Oown with 1186 tons of cargo being carried. With the diSbandment of the Directorate of Air Transport_ RAAF Air Transport's operational control was handed o\·er to RAAF Headquarters. All aircraft that were on loan from the USAAF were returned. ThJS left the Squadron strength at 12 Dakotas whtch mamly oper.ltl-d from Townsville to New Guinea. During Januruy 19-15, two Dakotas, stationed at Tadji, cnrried out supply drops to Army pel"'<lnncl. The drops were highly successful with up to 98 per cent recovery reported. The Squadron suffered more fatalities when in February 1945, VH·CUF fililed to return from a supply dropping rnis~ion In enemy territory In the Aitape area. The survivors wen~ .recovered by an Army patrol of commandos, but there were four fatal•ttcs. April saw many problems with key maintenance personnel betng posted out. ThJS snw the Squadron's serviceability fall to 75.4 per cent and many commitments could not be met. 1lle Oying progress continued to be hampered in this period when VH-ClG crashed again in the Atta pe area. All crew and passengers were lolll-d, with the plane later locatl'd by a natl\'e patrol. 1lle Squadron moved to 2 Proj«t Tran;,ient Ci\11\p, Garbutt, on I AuS'JSt 1945. The Squadron's duties changed to the l.mding of occupalton troo~ and transporting released prisoners of war home. 111ese mission;, continued with detachments In Tadjt, Morotai, Bougainville and later Singapore. By the end of October all Squadron detachments outside the mainla.nd had ceased to {unction. The transport squadrons, Including 36 Squadron, had moved 6500 prisoners of war and JOO 000 lbs of freight from Singapore to evacuation centres. At the beginning of November 1945, 36 Air Ambulance Flight was formed from 2 Atr Ambulance Unit, whtch had disbanded .11 Arcl11.>rfield This brought the Squadron strength to 20 aircraft and 379 personnel. The new year started with detachments at Darwin, Ambon and Morotai. The latter detachment commenced a lri·weeiJy wrviCc to Tokyo and Huoshuna durmg Fcbruruy and two aircraft a_~siSted tn the move of 93 Squ,ldron to lwakuni, japan. After etght months of post·war courier serv•ces and moves of detachments throughout the region, the Squadron moved to Schofields, near Sydney, on 19 August 1946. 86 Wing assumed control of the VJP Flight and it was added to 36Squadron on 2 August 1948. Twenty members left on 25 Augustl948, to pnrtlclpate in 'Operation Pelican', the Berlin Airlift. This so depleted 5the Squadron that 36 and 38 Squadrons had to join together as one squadron. On 1 July 1949, 36 and 38 Squadrons completed their move to Richmond.

Individual Honours

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 4 Maritime & Transport Units - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995 pages 55 - 61.