No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron

Role

The Royal Australian Air Force's No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron currently has approximately 50 Active Reserve and 20 Reserve Staff Group members on the books in many different employment fields. The squadron provides training and employment opportunities through its support to ADF units, mainly in the Northern Territory. Throughout any given year, the squadron provides personnel support to all RAAF Base Darwin and Tindal-based units, as well as providing personnel support to Headquarters, Northern Command (HQNORCOM), and Headquarters, 1 Brigade (HQ 1BDE).

No 13 Squadron members successfully maintain dual careers; that is, their primary employment and their part-time Air Force Reserve career. Primary employment for squadron members may mean a profession, trade or domestic duties. The dual career concept requires commitment, understanding and a sense of partnership between the employer, the individual and No 13 Squadron.

Types of musterings/specialisations involved

No 13 Squadron has the ability to employ a wide range of the musterings and specialisations available within the Permanent Air Force as well as some available only within the Air Force Reserve.

Equipment used

No 13 Squadron is focussing on the provision of the following capabilities utilising available equipment:

• access control
• air movements
• road movements.

While the squadron does not possess its own equipment for these functions, it has access to the requisite equipment from various Defence units across the Top End.

No 13 Squadron Association

No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron is a point of contact for the No 13 Squadron Association.

The association was formed to support both current and retired members of No 13 Squadron residing throughout Australia. The association represents members in memorial and returned services to ensure the memory of members is appropriately maintained.

Membership is by application and is open to any person who has served with No 13 Squadron. Associate membership is also available to other interested individuals who do not qualify for full membership.

Point of contact

13SQN Association
C/- 13SQN
RAAF Base Darwin
PMB 13
Winnellie NT 0822

Phone (08) 8923 5061
Fax (08) 8923 5060

History

No. 13 Squadron (13SQN) was formed at Darwin on 1 June 1940 and took over aircraft from No. 12 Squadron. Initially, the squadron was based at the civil aerodrome (Ross Smith Avenue) but moved to the new base on 12 June 1940 where, with a full compliment of 11 Hudson aircraft, the squadron took over coastal and shipping reconnaissance patrols. On 7 December 1941, elements of the squadron were deployed to Laha (Ambon) and commenced patrols from Laha and Namlea.

Laha was attacked by the Japanese throughout January 1942 and, with invasion imminent, the squadron was evacuated back to Darwin on 31 January 1942.

Most of the squadron was deployed to Daly Waters on 8 February 1942 , the rest remaining in Darwin . Accordingly, during the first air raid of Darwin on 19 February 1942 , most of the squadron's aircraft were safe at Daly Waters, while others were airborne assisting with the evacuation of Australians from Timor .

On 2 May 1942, 13SQN was re-equipped and re-grouped and moved to its new base at Hughes Airfield. Throughout June, July and August of 1942, the squadron carried out daily attacks against enemy positions on Timor and surrounding islands.

Daily operations against the enemy continued until 4 April 1943, when the squadron handed over its Hudsons to No. 2 Squadron and moved to Canberra to re-equip. For its outstanding performance of duty in action in north-western Australia during the period 13 April to 25 August 1942 , 13SQN was awarded an American Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism.

In 1943 the squadron was re-equipped with Lockheed Ventura aircraft, carried out training and participated in anti-submarine and shipping patrols on the east coast of Australia. In late May 1944, the squadron, with a complement of 18 Ventura aircraft, was deployed to Cooktown, Queensland, as part of No. 79 Wing.

In August 1944 the squadron was transferred to Gove, Northern Territory, for anti-submarine patrols and shipping escort duties. (One of the aircraft from this period was on display at Gove until 1995 when it was brought to Darwin by 13SQN and the Navy for possible restoration.)

In May 1945 the squadron was ordered to Labuan and an advance party left by sea and arrived on 15 May to set up camp. Operations commenced from Labuan in August 1945. Supply drops to ground forces and evacuation of prisoners of war was the main task.

13SQN was disbanded on 11 January 1946 .

Reformation

On 1 July 1989, official approval was obtained to form an Active Reserve Squadron in Darwin, to be known as No. 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron. Hence after 43 years in limbo, 13SQN was reformed.

The Darwin City Council officially adopted the re-formed squadron as its own on 3 July 1989 and recruiting commenced.

13SQN was granted the Freedom of the City of Darwin on 22 April 1994 and proudly marched through the streets of the city on the same day. Approximately 30 members of the original 13SQN joined current squadron members in exercising the squadron's rights of freedom of entry.

The squadron's role is to recruit and train personnel from the local community to support RAAF operations in the northern area.

13SQN members successfully maintain dual careers, that is, their primary employment and their part-time Air Force Reserve career. Primary employment for 13SQN members may mean a profession, trade or domestic duties. The dual career concept requires commitment, understanding and a sense of partnership by the employer, the individual and 13SQN.

The Devil's Brothers (Fratres Diaboli)

Squadrons formed during wartime were not permitted to have official badges. Undeterred, some of the brightest spirits from 13SQN in World War 2 painstakingly designed their own unofficial badge, shown here.

Despite the superstition surrounding the number 13, it held no terrors to the squadron. The heraldic quarters cocked a snoot at superstition and included a leaning ladder, a cracked mirror, a match lighting three cigarettes and that most fearful of days, Friday the 13th.

The heraldic scroll sums up neatly how the foe must have perceived the squadron. 'Fratres Diaboli' (The Devil's Brothers).

Current 13SQN patch

Awards

US Presidential Citation

The commitment to attacking the enemy that characterised No. 13 Squadron's activities throughout 1942 brought this letter of commendation from Major-General George C. Kenney, Commander of the Allied Air Forces in the South-West Pacific Area.

HEADQUARTERS
ALLIED AIR FORCES
SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC AREA.
October 11th 1942
201.22

SUBJECT: Letter of Commendation.

To: Commanding Officer, No. 13 Squadron,
Royal Australian Air Force.

1. I wish to take this opportunity to commend Squadron No.13, Royal Australian Air Force, for the excellent manner in which its assignments were performed in the Timor area during the period from August 10, 1942, to September 18, 1942.

2. The initiative and courage demonstrated during the numerous reconnaissance and photographic missions as well as in the raids made on enemy shipping and ground installations were very gratifying. I refer particularly to the attacks carried out by nine Hudsons on August 10, 1942, against two enemy vessels which resulted in the sinking of one of them; also the attacks made by nine Hudsons on troops, buildings, and motor transport at Mape, Timor, on August 14, 1942. All bombs were dropped in the target area with several direct hits having been scored. The successful reconnaissance missions which wre carried out over Beco, Viqueue, Nova Anadia and Cape Beacon proved to be of the utmost importance.

3. Those operations contributed greatly to the succeses enjoyed by the Allied Air Forces during this period and your squadron can feel justly proud of the part it played.

(Original Signed) GEORGE C. KENNEY. Major General Commander

On the afternoon of 31 May 1990 the U.S. Charge d'Affaires presented the Banda Sea Pennant and the United States Presidential Unit Citation to the reformed No. 13 Squadron.

Air Commander Australia Commendation

The Air Commander Australia Commendation was awarded to No. 13 Squadron on 11 August 2000 for outstanding service to the Australian Defence Force and Royal Australian Air Force Bases Darwin and Tindal in support of Operations Warden and Tanager.

Air Force Association Trophy

The Air Force Association Trophy was awarded to No. 13 Squadron in recognition of outstanding proficiency in satisfying prescribed objectives and meeting unforseen additional tasking in 1997.

Contact

No 13 Squadron is located at RAAF Base Darwin. Our address is:

No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron
RAAF Base Darwin
PMB 13
Winnellie NT 0822

No 13 Squadron also maintains a permanent detachment at RAAF Base Tindal (Katherine). The detachment address is:

No 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron
Detachment Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Tindal NT 0853