54 SQUADRON RAF
IN AUSTRALIA
DURING WW2

visits since 22 September 2002

54 Squadron RAF originally served in Britain during the early part of World War 2 but was relocated to Darwin airfield in Northern Australia in 1943 and then moved to Livingstone airfield in 1944.

Three Spitfires from 54 Squadron RAF intercepted a Japanese "Dinah" aircraft carrying out a high-level reconnaissance flight in the Drysdale area not far from  Truscott airfield on 20 July 1944. They managed to shoot the "Dinah" down. This was apparently the last Japanese aircraft to be shot down over Australian soil during WW2.

Crash of Spitfire A58-42 (BR536) in the water
off West Point, Darwin, NT on 2 May 1943

54 SQN(I/F)

54 Squadron Commanding Officers

54 Squadron Aircraft

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V, Mk.VIII (Unit Code KL)

Subject:   54 RAF Squadron
Date:           Thu, 1 Nov 2001 22:01:50 -0500
From:           Jim Gossland <jimgoss@mindspring.com>

I was with 54 Squadron in Darwin, but have no recollection of a Batchelor Airfield. We were at Darwin Airfield, and at one time I took a flight of three Spits to Old Drysdale Mission Strip, about 200 miles west of Darwin on the coast, where we were stationed for a few days in 1943, I think - I can check my logbook for that. There was myself and Freddie Meakin and a third pilot. I'm afraid I can't remember.

Unfortunately, Freddie bought it about two weeks later back at Darwin taking off from a road strip. Your URL mentions a few names I remember: Nicholas and Newton and PARAP F-Lt GOSSLAND D.M. That's me! But what does the PARAP mean? and how do I rate a mention when there's no word of Sid Linnaird, the C.O. after Newton and before Nicholas?

Please follow up when you've time, and fill me in.

Best wishes
D.M. "Jim" Gossland

Subject:     RAF 54/Batchelor Airfield questions
Date:              Thu, 26 Oct 2000 15:57:38 +0400
From:            "Peter Enright esq." <peter.enright@co.ru>

I am writing a film script which includes the Spitfires of RAF 54 Squadron that landed at Batchelor Airfield in Jan. 1943 (?). Can you supply any info about this Squadron in Australia during WWII (or direct me to a website that can) and do you know the present condition of this base? Is it abandoned, off-limits or still functioning as an airfield etc. Any info would be helpful.

Thank you in advance,

Peter Enright
Aussie writer in Moscow

Subject: Names
From: kaz/peter gropler [grop01@bigpond.com]
Sent: Friday, 23 September 2005 11:54 AM
To: pdunn@st.net.au

While I was researching my grandfathers history I came across your site......some other names that were at Darwin at this time with 54 Squadron (Spitfires) were......William Marshall.....George Thomas.......Jim Kinnear....Tommy Madden....

I'm sorry I cannot give you their ranks . If you find any information on these people please feel free to email me. I'm looking more for information on William Marshall i.e. like his service record could use any help that you can offer .

K.K.Gropler

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Dennis Whiley for his assistance with this home page.

I'd like to thank John Birch for his assistance with this home page. John has an RAF logbook originally belonging to Squadron Leader Robert Newton of 54 Squadron RAF. Other names mentioned in it are Keith Gamble and Beaton.

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

"Australia @ War"

This page first produced 22 September 2002

This page last updated 23 September 2005