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Battle of Britain |
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During the war nearly 27,000 Australian aircrew served in Europe and North Africa, 16,000 with RAF units and 11,000 with RAAF units. . They were distributed through five main commands, Bomber, Fighter and Coastal commands, the Desert Air Force, and the 2nd Tactical Air Force. This allocation of manpower was made possible through the Empire Air Training Scheme. This scheme trained aircrew for service with the Royal Air Force. Most basic training was to be completed in Australia before undertaking advanced training in Canada (674 personnel also received training in Rhodesia) before service with the RAF. The first 34 Australians graduated from RAAF Service Flying Training Schools on 18 November 1940; and, as the scheme developed, a further 37,000 aircrew would eventually be trained in Australia. Under the EATS Agreement, provision was made for the Dominions to retain their own identity. This would manifest itself in the gathering of nationals in Dominion squadrons with equipment and facilities being supplied by the RAF. Australian squadrons in Europe were numbered from No. 450 to No. 467. (No. 465 was not allocated). Of these seven operated fighters in the Far East, Middle East and Fighter Command, five were associated with Bomber Command, two in Coastal Command and the remaining three served in the Middle East. Yet, while these 17 squadrons were designated as Australian squadrons, the reality was that Australians who were trained under the EATS actually served in more than 200 RAF squadrons. This scheme was a contentious one particularly after Japan's entry into the war. From the British point of view it was proof of the strength of Empire, drawing as it did from all its points to defend the Mother country. A subsequent Australian view is that it marked a complete surrender of autonomy of Australian service personnel and undermined Australia's capacity for home defence by stripping it of vital manpower reserves. The Australian government was unable to exert any control over the use of Australian aircrew outside the Pacific region. Although meant to be distinctly national units the aircrew of the squadrons were in fact multi national. No distinct Australian air force existed overseas that could be discreetly withdrawn for service in Australia. Furthermore, promotion of Australians at both the combat and administrative levels was limited. Few Australians acquired senior operational command skills that might have been transferred to the Pacific theatre. As well, many (British) Fleet Air Arm squadrons had a high proportion of Australians. One RAN Commanding Officer of a Fleet Air Arm squadron, Lt Cdr GM Haynes RAN, was awarded the DSO whilst in command of No. 828 Squadron in Malta, and inflicted considerable damage to Italian merchant shipping during the North African Campaign. Australian squadrons undertook a wide range of operations including day fighter, night fighter and intruder missions, day bombing, maritime strike and reconnaissance, anti-submarine, night bombing and electronic countermeasures. They were also involved in many famous operations such as the breaching of the Amiens prison wall, the destruction of the Gestapo headquarters building in Copenhagen and, perhaps most famously, the Dam Buster raid in which eight Australians were decorated for their part in the action. Six and a half thousand Australians died in Europe and the Mediterranean, a figure representing over twenty per cent of Australian aircrew who served. Of these 3500 died in Bomber Command, a total that exceeded all Australian aircrew losses in the war against Japan. Proportionately, these figures were the highest casualties for any of the Australian armed services. |
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