During WWII eight Royal Australian Air Force squadrons served with RAF Bomber Command, four of them for short periods, three before moving on to other theatres or roles and one that arrived late when only nine months of hostilities in Europe remained. Each made a valuable contribution and as they represented different bomber groups and operated different aircraft types, their stories provide a diverse insight into life and death in Bomber Command at different stages of the war.

455 Squadron was the first Australian bomber unit to form, beginning the process in Australia in the summer of 1941 and continuing it in rural Lincolnshire as part of 5 Group. It drew in personnel not only from the RAAF, but also from the RAF, the RNZAF and the RCAF and took part in many operations flying Hampdens until a change of role took it to Coastal Command as a torpedo bombing unit in April 1942.

458 Squadron arrived later in 1941 and served on Wellingtons in 1 Group until a posting to the Middle-Eastern theatre in February 1942 ended its Bomber Command career.

462 Squadron came late to Bomber Command after first serving in the Middle-East and eventually being disbanded. It was reformed in 4 Group in August 1944 and was the first to receive the new and much improved Halifax Mk III. The Squadron took its place in the front line and operated predominantly against Ruhr targets until beginning a new career in Radio Countermeasures (RCM) with 100 Group at the start of 1945.

464 Squadron was, perhaps, the odd man out in serving with 2 Group from late 1942 and operating the Ventura, a type not up the requirements of, sometimes unescorted, daylight operations. The squadron survived, however, and transferred with the rest of 2 Group on the 1st of June 1943 to become part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force.

The squadrons of the RAAF contributed massively to the success of Bomber Command and played a vital part in securing victory.

Part of the series RAF Bomber Command profiles - #24.

Details: Non-fiction, published 2023.

Format: Soft cover, illustrations (photographs), 170 pages.

Dimensions: 28.0 cm (h) x 21.5 cm (w) x 1.1 cm (d) / 505 grams.