Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/July

Units

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Please follow the unit sequence of Navy, Army, Airforce when creating Daily Unit pages

No. 80 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in September 1943 at Townsville and was equipped with P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft. The squadron completed its training in February 1944 and deployed to New Guinea. During 1944, No. 80 Squadron operated mainly in the escort and ground attack roles. The squadron moved to Morotai in January 1945 but flew few operational missions due to a lack of worthwhile targets. In July 1945, the squadron moved to Tarakan Island and flew in support of the Australian Army until the end of the war. No. 80 Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 and was disbanded in July 1946.

HMAS Condamine was a Royal Australian Navy River class frigate. The ship was built at Newcastle, New South Wales and was commissioned in February 1946. During the first years of her career Condamine operated in Australian and New Guinean waters. The ship saw action during the Korean War, serving in Korean waters from August 1952 to March 1953. Following the war Condamine completed a second tour of Korean waters between February and November 1955. HMAS Condamine paid off into reserve in December 1955 and was sold for scrap in September 1961.

The 4th Brigade is an Australian Army Reserve formation stationed in Victoria. The 4th Brigade was formed in September 1914 as part of the 1st Division and saw action during the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front during World War I. During World War II the brigade was amongst the first of the militia brigades to see action against the Japanese in New Guinea. The 4th Brigade is currently one of five brigades within the 2nd Division and comprises two infantry battalions, a light cavalry regiment, an artillery regiment and several supporting units.

No. 10 Local Air Supply Unit was a Royal Australian Air Force air transport unit of World War II. The Unit was formed at Aitape, New Guinea in April 1945 to undertake the local air supply of Australian Army units in New Guinea. The Unit was equipped with a mix of Avro Anson, Bristol Beaufort and Tiger Moth aircraft and conducted supply and casualty evacuation flights until the end of the war. Following the war No. 10 Local Air Supply Unit conducted courier flights to various locations in New Guinea until it was disbanded in March 1946.

HMAS Kangaroo was a Royal Australian Navy boom defence vessel. She was built in Sydney and was commissioned into the RAN in September 1940. She arrived in Darwin in January 1941 and established and maintained the anti-submarine boom in Darwin Harbour with three similar vessels. Kangaroo suffered damaged and one fatality during the Bombing of Darwin in February 1942. She was repaired in Brisbane and spent the remainder of the war in Darwin. Kangaroo remained in active commission after the war and performed various duties in Australian and New Guinea waters until she was paid off to reserve in December 1955.

The 2/2nd Infantry Battalion was an Australian Army battalion of World War II. The battalion was formed at Sydney in October 1939 as part of the 6th Division. The battalion arrived in the Middle East in February 1940 and first saw action in the Battle of Bardia in January 1941. The battalion later saw action in Greece where it was almost destroyed in April 1941. The 2/2nd Battalion returned to Australia in August 1942 and saw action in New Guinea in 1942–1943 and 1944–1945 where it participated in the Kokoda Track campaign and Aitape–Wewak campaign. The 2/2nd Battalion was disbanded in February 1946.

RAAF Base Pearce is the main Royal Australian Air Force base in Western Australia and is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. The base was formally established in February 1939 after several years of operation and was an important base for maritime patrol aircraft during World War II. RAAF Base Peace is currently home to most of the RAAF's training aircraft and a squadron of Republic of Singapore Air Force trainers. The base also has a significant logistics role.

The second HMAS Canberra (FFG 02) was an Adelaide class guided missile armed frigate of the Royal Australian Navy. The ship was built by Todd Shipyards at Seattle and was commissioned in March 1981. Canberra completed two deployments to the Persian Gulf between November 1992 and March 1993 and March to July 2002 where she took part in enforcing the santions imposed on Iraq. Canberra was decommissioned in November 2005 and is expected to be sunk as a dive wreck off the Victorian coast.

The Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RA Inf) is the parent corps for all infantry regiments of the Australian Army. Major components of the RA Inf include the various battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment and Army Reserve regiments. The Infantry School is located at Singleton, New South Wales. The Head of Corps - Infantry is usually a Brigadier and is the honorary colonel of the Royal Australian Regiment.

No. 112 Air-Sea Rescue Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force unit of World War II. The Flight was formed at Darwin, Northern Territory in December 1944 and was equipped with PBY Catalinas. The Flight's role was to carry out search and rescue operations and provide rescue support to other aircraft during attacks on Japanese targets. Following the Flight evacuated former prisoners of war from Borneo and Morotai to Australia and provided a regular courier and supply service to Australian outposts in East Timor and the Northern Territory. The Flight was disbanded at Darwin in September 1947.

HMAS Biloela was a Royal Australian Navy fleet collier. Biloela was built in Sydney and was the first ship to be entirely built from Australian materials to an Australian design. She was completed in July 1920 and supported the RAN's coal burning warships during peacetime training cruises. These warships were decommissioned in the second half of the 1920s and Biloela was decommissioned into reserve in November 1927. While the RAN considered converting Biloela to a seaplane tender these plans did not eventuate and the ship was sold to a commercial company in March 1931.

Central Bureau's headquarters at 22 Henry St Ascot, Brisbane

Central Bureau was a joint American-Australian Signals intelligence organisation which was established in April 1942. Central Bureau's role was to research, decode and intercept traffic and work in close co-operation with other Sigint centres in the USA, United Kingdom and India. Central Bureau was attached to the HQ of the Allied Commander of the South West Pacific area, General Douglas MacArthur.

No. 463 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force heavy bomber squadron during World War II. The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom in November 1943 and was equipped with Avro Lancaster bombers. Operating as part of RAF Bomber Command, No. 463 Squadron conducted raids against cities, industrial facilities and military targets in Germany and France throughout 1944 and until the end of the war in May 1945. Following the war the squadron evacuated Allied Prisoners of war from Europe until it was disbanded in October 1945.

The first HMAS Geraldton (J178) was a Bathurst-class corvette. Geraldton was built in Sydney and was commissioned in April 1942. From August 1942 until January 1945, Geraldton formed part of the British Eastern Fleet where she mainly served in the Indian Ocean. During mid-1943 she was transferred temporarily to the Mediterranean where she took part in the Allied invasion of Sicily. Geraldton she was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet in November 1944 and served with this fleet until the end of the war. HMAS Geraldton paid off in June 1946 and was sold to the Turkish Navy.

The 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR) was an Australian Army infantry battalion. 5/7 RAR was formed in December 1973 by combining the 5th and 7th Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment to form a single battalion. The battalion was converted to mechanised infantry between the late 1970s and 1984. 5/7 RAR deployed to East Timor in 1999 and returned to Australia in April 2000. The Battalion also contributed elements to Australian units in Iraq from 2003. 5/7 RAR was de-linked into its antecendent units in December 2006.

The Central Flying School is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit. It was formed in March 1913 and trained over 150 pilots during World War I. Although the unit was disbanded after the war it was reformed in 1940. During World War II the unit produced more than 3,600 instructors. The Central Flying School was retained after the war and has been based at RAAF Base East Sale since 1947. The unit has been responsible for producing the RAAF's aerobatic display teams since 1962.

The second HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) is an Anzac class frigate currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Arunta was built at Williamstown, Victoria and was commissioned in December 1998. Since her commissioning Arunta has been deployed to patrol northern Australian waters on a number of occasions. The ship first saw active service in 2002 when she was deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Slipper. During this deployment Arunta conducted more boardings than any other ship had previously conducted while enforcing the sanctions imposed on Iraq.

The 2/7th Armoured Regiment was an Australian Army armoured regiment of World War II. The Regiment was formed in August 1941 as part of the 1st Armoured Division. It was equipped with Universal Carriers and wheeled vehicles in December 1941 and received its allocation of M3 Grant tanks in June 1942. During January to March 1943 the 2/7th Armoured Regiment moved to Mingenew, West Australia with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division. The Regiment became part of the 1st Armoured Brigade Group when the Division was disbanded in September 1943 but was itself disbanded in January 1944 without seeing action.

RAAF Station Archerfield was a permanent Royal Australian Air Force station at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Queensland. The Station was established in September 1939 and No. 2 Elementary Flight Training School and No. 23 Squadron were based there. The Station was transferred to the United States Army Air Forces in July 1942 and became home to a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm base from February 1945. The base returned to Australian control at the end of the war, but was closed in 1955 as its grass runways were unsuitable for supporting jet aircraft.

The first HMAS Warrego was a Royal Australian Navy River class destroyer. Warrego was built in Scotland and shipped to Sydney where she was re-assembled and commissioned in June 1912. During World War I Warrego took part in the search for the German Pacific Squadron and the capture of the German Colonies in the South West Pacific, served with the British Far East Patrol and operated in the Mediterranean. Following the war she operated with an Allied Squadron in the Black Sea and returned to Australia in May 1919. HMAS Warrego paid off in April 1928 and sank while being dismantled in 1931.

Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC Duntroon) is Australia's military academy where Staff Cadets train for commissioning into the Australian Army. RMC Duntroon was established at Canberra in June 1911 under the command of Brigadier General William Throsby Bridges. The College was moved from Canberra as a cost-saving measure in 1930 but returned to the capital in 1936. In addition to training regular officer cadets, the College also oversees the programme for training officers in the Australian Army Reserve. These reservists join a University Regiment and undertake a number of training modules run by the various University Regiments around Australia.

The Airfield Defence Guards are the Royal Australian Air Force's ground security force. The Airfield Defence Guards' responsibilities include protecting the RAAF's equipment, personnel, assets and facilities. The Airfield Defence Guard force was established in 1966 and ADG units have served overseas in Vietnam, Cambodia, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. The ADG squadrons were formerly grouped as No. 1 Airfield Defence Wing, but after becoming security squadrons were moved under the Combat Support Group.

HMAS Burdekin was a River class frigate which formed part of the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. Burdekin was built at Maryborough, Queensland and was commissioned in June 1944. She escorted convoys between New Guinea and the Philippines from November 1944 to May 1945. In May 1945 she supported the Australian landing at Tarakan and carried out surveillance operations in the Borneo and Celebes areas. Following the war Burdekin operated in the Netherlands East Indies and the Japanese surrender of Dutch Borneo was accepted on board the ship. HMAS Burdekin paid off into reserve in April 1946 and was sold for scrap in 1961.

The Australian Army Intelligence Corps (AAIC) is the intelligence Corps of the Australian Army. The AAIC was formed in December 1907 and members of the Corps have served in all the wars the Army has participated in. AAIC staff currently work with the Defence Intelligence Organisation, Defence Signals Directorate and Defence Security Authority. There are also intelligence officers and staff on most of the major Army commands and headquarters providing operational or counter intelligence support.

No. 200 Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force special duties flight of World War II. The Flight was formed at Leyburn, Queensland on 20th. February 1945 and by March was equipped with 6 heavily modified B-24 Liberator aircraft. There were nine eleven-man air crews and 450 ground crew. The Flight was controlled by the Allied Intelligence Bureau and was tasked with the insertion and supply of intelligence gathering parties behind Japanese lines. No. 200 Flight began flying operational missions over Borneo in March 1945 and the unit suffered a heavy casualty rate. No. 200 Flight was disbanded (4 months after the war ended) in December 1945.

HMAS Quickmatch (G92/F04) was a Royal Australian Navy Q class destroyer. Quickmatch was built in England and commissioned in September 1942. The ship escorted convoys in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans until May 1944 when she became part of the British Eastern Fleet. After a period in Australian waters she was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet in March 1945. Quickmatch was converted to an anti-submarine frigate between 1950 and 1955 and performed routine duties until she paid off to reserve in April 1963. HMAS Quickmatch was sold for scrap in February 1972.

The 17th Battalion was an Australian Army battalion of World War I. The battalion was raised in March 1915 in Sydney as part of the 2nd Division. The battalion left Australia in May and trained in Egypt from June until August when it landed at Anzac Cove. The battalion remained at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December 1915. The 17th Battalion arrived in France in March 1916 and remained on the Western Front until the end of the war. The battalion took part in a number of major battles, including Pozières, Second Bullecourt, Menin Road and Poelcappelle. The battalion also helped to repel the German Spring Offensive. The 17th Battalion was disbanded in April 1919.

No. 85 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron which provided air defence to Western Australia during World War II. The Squadron was formed at Guildford, Western Australia in February 1943. While initially equipped with obsolete Brewster Buffalo fighters, the Squadron received more modern Boomerang fighters at the end of April 1943. Due to the almost non-existent level of Japanese activity over Western Australia the Squadron did not see action during the War. No. 85 Squadron was re-equipped with Spitfire V aircraft in September 1944 and was disbanded in December 1945.

HMAS Gympie (J238/M238) was a Royal Australian Navy Bathurst-class corvette of World War II. Gympie was built in Brisbane and was commissioned in November 1942. Gympie escorted convoys off Australia's east coast from November 1942 to February 1944. Following a refit she was deployed to New Guinean waters in February 1944 where she continued to perform escort duties. Following the end of the war Gympie participated in surrender ceremonies at Dili and Kupang. She returned to Australia in November 1945, paid off to reserve in May 1946 and was sold for scrap in January 1961.

The 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (25/49 RQR) is an Australian Army Reserve infantry battalion located in Queensland. 25/49 RQR was formed in 1997 by the amalgamation of the 25th and 49th Battalions of the Royal Queensland Regiment and currently forms part of the 11th Brigade. Since 1997 individual members of the battalion have volunteered for service in Malaysia, East Timor, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Egypt, Bougainville and Iraq. In 2006, a composite company made up of members of 25/49 and 9 RQR deployed to the Solomon Islands as a part of RAMSI.

No. 6 Operational Training Unit (6 OTU) was a Royal Australian Air Force training unit of World War II. 6 OTU was formed at RAAF Base Nowra in June 1943 to provide DAP Beaufort aircrew with training in torpedo dropping procedures and tactics. The Unit also supported the RAAF's torpedo training and trials unit. Training was made as realistic as possible, and the converted ferry HMAS Burra-Bra was often used as a target ship. 6 OTU was disbanded in March 1944.