The runways are shown on the Nepean River floodplain with the base buildings at the bottom of the image. Source: WA Paull, 32 Squadron 60th AnniversaryĪerial view of the RAAF Base Camden at Camden Airfield during the Second World War. They were a ‘relatively easy’ target for Japanese gunners and Zero fighters, but they were the only aircraft available at the time. The aircraft were considered slow with a top speed of 246mph. They were the main Australian bomber in New Guinea until 1943. On their arrival the squadron was equipped with 4 Lockheed Hudsons and 6 Avro Ansons under the command of DW Kingwell. Their clothes were the worst for wear having literally rotted off their backs from the humid climate and replacements destroyed by the enemy. 6 DK Saxelby, an electrician from the Camden base maintenance group, recalled on their arrival that the squadron were 5 Tour of Duty in New GuineaĪfter their tour of duty in New Guinea the squadron was initially posted to Pokolbin, New South Wales, but were then moved to Camden in late 1942. Lyle Abraham claims that 32 Squadron was the only Australian squadron to be formed ‘in the field’. During the eight months of combat operations the squadron flew over 400 missions lost 10 aircraft, with 54 killed in action. The duties of the squadron included bombing and reconnaissance against Japanese bases at Rabaul and Gasmata bases, landings at Lae and Salamaua, the Gona-Buna and Milne Bay campaigns, the Coral Sea battle, as well as anti-submarine and convoy patrols and supply drops to ground forces. At this point the squadron had a strength of 12 Hudsons and crews and 124 maintenance staff. Two more flights of Hudsons, one from 6 Squadron, Richmond (New South Wales) and 23 Squadron, Archerfield (Queensland) were flown in to add to the strength. It was drawn from the survivors of 24 Squadron, who had reformed at Port Moresby with a flight of Hudson bombers. These events led to the formation of 32 Squadron. There was the loss of Singapore (15 February), the commencement of an air campaign against Darwin, the country’s major northern port city (19 February) and the Japanese invasion of Timor (20-23 February). The war was not going particularly well for the Allied Forces. Large scale air attacks on Rabaul in January 1942 had resulted in the virtual elimination of the 24 Squadron, and this was followed by the invasion of New Britain by the Japanese forces (23 January 1942). The squadron had been ‘hastily formed in the field’ in February 1942 with personnel drawn from other units. The members of 32 Squadron arrived in Camden in September 1942 after seven months of hazardous operational duties supporting Allied Forces in New Guinea and the surrounding area, including New Britain. The control tower is shown to the left of the image and the Bellman hangars behind. RAAF Training Squadron at Camden Airfield with one of the main aircraft used for training at the time a Tiger Moth in 1942.
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