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No 79 Squadron RAAF


79 Squadron was formed at Laverton, Victoria, on 26 April 1943. The squadron received its first Spitfire VC aircraft a month later, when it was ordered to deploy to Goodenough Island, off New Guinea’s east coast. The advance party from the squadron left Australia in mid-May, while the pilots and aircraft followed in early June. Unfortunately, the squadron soon experienced its first fatality when Flying Officer Virgil Paul Brennan DFC DFM died on 13 June from injuries sustained in an accident at Cairns. Brennan had served at Malta during the height of air fighting over that island.

The squadron was operational by 26 June. The Spitfires redeployed to Kiriwina Island on 18 August and the squadron operated under adverse conditions alongside 76 Squadron from the northern end of the airstrip. 79 Squadron claimed its first victory on 31 October, when Flight Sergeant Neville Faulks and Sergeant Ian Callister sighted an enemy Kawanishi Ki 21 “Tony” which attempted to outrun the Australians. Callister shot the enemy aircraft down in flames but was killed six days later when his Spitfire collided with a Kittyhawk during an early morning take off.

After a period of training and defensive scrambles the squadron flew its first sweep over enemy territory on 27 November 1943, when Squadron Leader Max Bott led eight Spitfires over Gasmata, New Britain. The following day Flying Officer Arthur Moore on a test flight intercepted a “Dinah”, a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft, and shot it down into the sea five miles south of Kitava. On 21 December Flying Officer James Richards and Pilot Officer Barrie intercepted and shot down a “Tony”, while a “Zeke” was strafed on the ground at Gasmata.

In January and February 1944 the squadron flew offensive sweeps over New Britain, strafing enemy installations and escorting bombers. Operations were hampered by heavy rain which played havoc with radio telecommunications.

On 16 March the squadron deployed to Momote, Los Negros. Here it strafed enemy positions on Manus and the adjoining islands, as well as targets on Pityilu Island. It changed to a mainly shipping escort role by the end of April, with the occupation of the Admiralty Islands by American forces. Operations were hampered by a lack of spare parts and only the untiring efforts of ground crews enabled operations to be undertaken. By May the aircraft were becoming difficult to maintain, with only two available for operations, and flying hours were restricted to urgent operational work only. This situation lasted until late November.

On 24 November the squadron was released from operation, pending a move to Darwin which was completed on 12 January 1945. The squadron did not stay long at Sattler, south of Darwin, and an advance party departed for Morotai on 6 February. The squadron was thus operating with difficulty, which did not ease its re-equipment with Mk V111 Spitfires.

By end of March 1944 the squadron was attacking enemy installations, ships, barges, transport, and fuel dumps in the north-west Halmahera Island area. Armed reconnaissance missions were also carried out over Galela, Mita, Kaoe, Oba, Hiri, and Djailolo. Under the command of Squadron Leader Kenneth Elwyn James, 79 Squadron continued to harass the enemy until the end of the war. After the surrender of the Japanese forces in August the squadron dropped surrender leaflets to the scattered and isolated Japanese troops before being formally disbanded on 12 November.

Please note this is not the World War Two crest for 79 SQN. If you can help to identify the correct SQN crest, during the WWII period, please make contact with us.



PEGASUS - ZP-T - BR543 - 457 Squadron Darwin 1943. LAC Bill Conant (foot on wing) Pilot Jack Newton and LAC Andy Anderson

Townsville, Qld. 2 November 1945. Informal group portrait of pilots of 79 Fighter Squadron, RAAF. They are standing next to a Spitfire Mk VII aircraft at Garbutt Airfield and are en route to No. 6 Aircraft Depot, Oakey, Qld, after serving in Morotai. Identified, from left to right: 402932 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) George William (Bill) Andrews, 408891 Flt Lt Norman G. Smithells, Flying Officer Robert (Bob) Allen, 408021 Squadron Leader Ken E. James, Commanding Officer and 437523 Flying Officer Hugh D. Kennare. The Squadron was disbanded at Oakey on 12 November 1945. (Donor H. Kennare)

Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, New Guinea. 28 May 1944. Pilots of No. 79 Squadron RAAF, No. 73 Wing, with one of their Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc aircraft on Momote airfield. Back row, left to right: 401741 Pilot Officer (PO) R. Hugh (Ross) Cameron (KIA Celebes 27 March 1945); Flying Officer (FO) A. (Arch) Moore; 437476 FO R. Vernon (Ross) Day (Killed Merauke Dutch New Guinea 28 April 1945); Warrant Officer (WO) J. (Jock) Haines; 400735 FO L. S. (Len) Reid DFC; 418232 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) G. A. (Alec) Chomley; 405026 FO P. E. (Paul) Sebire; 411809 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) W. A. (Warren) Napier; 418071 FO W. J. (Bill) Coffey); 401000 FO D. (Doug) Scott. Middle Row: PO J. (John) Vader; FO J. (Joe) Marshall; FO R. (Dick) Long, Acting Flight Commander; 251414 Flt Lt J. W. L. (John) Atkinson, Medical Officer (also known as Leigh); 407778 Flt Lt R. M. (Max) Brinsley DFC, Acting CO; 402270 FO W. H. (Bill) Wright, Flight Commander; 403392 Flt Lt A. S. (Alan) Yates; FO A. (Arthur) Clayton. Front row: Sgt V. (Viv) Pollard; 437523 PO H. D. (Hugh) Kennare; 403681 FO I. E. B. (Ian) McKellar; 408951 FO J. (Jim) Barrie; Flt Lt T. (Tom) Williams. No. 79 Squadron RAAF pilots at that date, but not in this photograph: 412215 WO Phillip F. (Lew) Turner (in hospital); 411741 Flt Sgt A. E. (Andy) Byrne (in sick quarters); FO (Snow) Waldron (in sick quarters).

Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, Papua. 1944-01-11. Group portrait of pilots of No. 79 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF outside their alert hut. FRONT ROW: FLGOFF P. Birch, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF K. Slatyer, Perth, WA; FSGT R. Rice, Glenelg, SA; PLTOFF L. McKellar, Gunnedah, NSW; FSGT A. Byrne, Sydney, NSW. STANDING: FLGOFF W. Pickard, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF R. Nathan, Singapore; FSGT D. Grinlington, Melbourne, VIC; SQNLDR M. Bott, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF P. Sebire, Brisbane, QLD; FSGT P. Turner, Murwillumbah, NSW; FLGOFF W. Wright, Samarai, Papua; FLGOFF J. Barrie, Melton, VIC; FLGOFF O. Morgan, Malvern, SA; FLGOFF W. Napier, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF F. Binning, Sydney, NSW.

No. 79 Squadron pilot (wearing uniform) and two members of the squadron's ground crew posing with a Spitfire at Morotai during September 1945

79 Squadron RAAF Spitfires in the Pacific in World War II

79 Squadron RAAF Spitfires in the Pacific in World War II


Spitfire of 79 Squadron

No. 79 Squadron, Morotai. C.O. Ken James 5th from left front row.

Goodenough Island, D'Entrecasteaux Group, Papua. 26 June 1943. Two airmen of No. 79 Squadron RAAF servicing one of the Squadron's Mk Vc Spitfire aircraft on Vivigani airfield.

Goodenough Island, D'Entrecasteaux Group, Papua. 26 June 1943. Pilots on "Standby" in No. 79 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF Operations/Crew Room on Vivigani airfield. The Squadron's aircraft and pilots' status board is in the background, and the racks for pilots' parachutes, life jackets and personal flying equipment are on the right.

Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, New Guinea. August 1944. 405875 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Benjamin Bernard (Barney) Newman, GD pilot, seated in the cockpit of the No. 79 (Squadron) RAAF Spitfire Mk Vc A58-167, code UP-N (RAF No. ES249), (formerly coded UP-N in 1943 and UP-H in 1944 before an accident) on Momote airfield. Flt Lt Newman had previously completed a successful tour of operations with No. 41 Squadron RAF (Squadron of St Omer) in the UK, and was killed in action at Wasile Bay, Halmahera Islands, Netherlands East Indies on 2 August 1945 - the last wartime casualty of No. 79 Squadron

Morotai, Netherland East Indies. 25 October 1945. Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) B. T. McLaughlin (right), a Catholic RAAF Chaplain, and Flt Lt T. W. Scott (left), an Anglican RAAF Chaplain conduct burial rites for two Australian Spitfire pilots, as one of the caskets is lowered into the ground. 405875 Flt Lt B. B. (Barney) Newman, 79 Squadron, of Ayr, Qld, was killed in action during a strike against a radio station in the Wasile Bay are of Halmahera on 2 August 1945, he was 79 Squadron's last casualty of the war. 432589 Flt Lt E. McL. (Mac) Stevenson, 452 Squadron, of Dubbo, NSW, died in captivity on Halmahera after being tortured by the Japanese. He was captured when he was forced to ditch his Spitfire on a reef close to shore during a strike against Japanese installation on Ternate Island on 13 January 1945. Lowering the casket into the ground (left to right) is 400735 Flt Lt Len S. Reid DFC, 408021 Squadron Leader Ken E. James, Commanding Officer 79 Squadron, and 443666 Flight Sergeant Robert J. (Bob) Davies. Front row, left to right: first five unidentified, Flight Sergeant Jim Davidson, 437523 Flying Officer Hugh Kennare and 408891 Flying Officer Norman A. Smithells. (Donor H. Kennare)

Morotai, Netherland East Indies. 25 October 1945. Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) B. T. McLaughlin (left), a Catholic RAAF Chaplain, and Flt Lt T. W. Scott (right) an Anglican RAAF Chaplain lead the funeral procession for two Australian Spitfire pilots. 405875 Flt Lt B. B. (Barney) Newman, 79 Squadron, of Ayr, Qld, was killed in action during a strike against a radio station in the Wasile Bay area of the Halmaheras on 2 August 1945, he was 79 Squadron's last casualty of the war. The casket containing his cremated remains was carried by 408021 Squadron Leader Ken E. James, Commanding Officer of 79 Squadron (right, behind Flt Lt Scott). 432589 Flt Lt E. McL. (Mac) Stevenson, 452 Squadron, of Dubbo, NSW, died on 14 April 1945 in captivity on Halmahera after being tortured by the Japanese. He was captured when he was forced to ditch his Spitfire on a reef close to shore during a strike against Japanese installation on Ternate Island on 13 January 1945. The casket carrying his remains was carried by 443666 Flight Sergeant Robert J. (Bob) Davies (left, behind Flt Lt McLaughlin). (Donor H. Kennare)

The funeral service for pilots FLTLT Barney Newman and FLTLT Mac Stevenson

Morotai, Netherland East Indies. 9 September 1945. Portrait of the maintenance and servicing personnel of "A" and "B" Flights Groundstaff and Workshop Section and some pilots of 79 Squadron, RAAF. Behind them are three Spitfire Mk VIII aircraft of 79 Squadron. Identified are: Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) O. Jenkin, Engineer Officer (seated in centre) and to his left are pilots, Warrant Officer Clem Hart, 400735 Flt Lt Len Reid DFC, 402932 Flt Lt Bill Andrews, 443666 Flight Sergeant Bob Davies, and Flying Officer Bob Allen. (Donor H. Kennare)



MOMOTE, LOS NEGROS ISLAND, ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. C. 1944-04. THREE MEMBERS OF NO. 79 (SPITFIRE) SQUADRON RAAF STAND TOGETHER UNDER A SIGN READING "MEN OF BOYS TOWN". COULD BE FLIGHT SERGEANT "SLEEPY" FAULKS; CLEM SCHMITZER AND WAL HOWARD.


Anakie East, Victoria. 24 May 1943. Informal group portrait of pilots of the newly formed No. 79 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF resting outside their operations hut in the dispersal area at Wooloomanata Homestead, 1580 Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road. Left to right: 404272 Flying Officer (FO) W. J. (Jeff) Wilkinson; 420930 Sergeant N. S. I. (Neville) Faulks; 405026 FO P. E. (Paul) Sebire; 407174 Pilot Officer D. H. (David) Hopton (seated on the ground).

RAAF No. 79 Squadron fighter pilots discuss operations over New Britain from which they have just returned, with the Squadron's Intelligence and Operations officers. Left to right: 411822 Flying Officer (FO) William Jasper Pickard; 420898 Pilot Officer (PO) W. F. (Wal) Howard; 400109 Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Llewellyn Wettenhall; 255395 FO William John Clarke, Intelligence Officer; 264992 FO John Keith Walton Cowie, Operations Officer; 410760 FO George Wilson Voges; 407174 FO David Henry Hopton; 418232 Flight Sergeant George Alec Chomley; 406799 FO (later Flight Lieutenant) Kenneth Henry Slatyer; 417398 FO Owen Brakspear Morgan (at rear); 405026 FO Paul Francis Sebire. A Spitfire Mk Vc aircraft is in the background. Flt Lt Wettenhall and Flt Lt Slatyer were both lost on operations while serving with 79 Squadron, RAAF near New Guinea, respectively on 31 Dec, 1943 and 19 Feb 1944. Flt Lt Wettenhall has no known grave and is commemorated on the Rabaul Memorial, while Flt Lt Slatyer is buried in the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby, Papua.

Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, Papua. October 1943. Group portrait of pilots of No. 79 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF with two female members of the musical entertainment group, The Rockettes, visiting Kiriwina from Sydney, NSW. Identified, left to right: 420930 Sergeant (Sgt) N. S. I. (Neville) Faulks; Miss Joyce Fletcher; 421830 Sgt C. J. (Clem) Schmitzer; 420898 Sgt W. F. (Wal) Howard. Collectively they referred to themselves as members of "Boys Town".

Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, Papua. September 1943. 420898 Flight Sergeant W. F. (Wal) Howard (left) and 421830 Flt Sgt C. J. (Clem) Schmitzer, on "Standby" beside the No. 79 Squadron RAAF Spitfire Mk Vc A58-28, UP-M (RAF No. BR485) on the airfield. The aircraft was that of their Flight Commander, 260779 Flight Lieutenant M. S. (Max) Bott, and the battery cart lead, plugged in for a quick engine start, can be seen between the two pilots.

No. 79 Squadron Spitfire Mk VC taxiing in the squadron's dispersal area with airmen on the mainplanes in accordance with No. 73 Wing RAAF orders. Some of the aircraft have had Vokes air intake and filters fitted, a necessary consequence of the dust caused by the amount of flying on and off the Kiriwina fighter runway by US Army Air Force P38 Lightnings and RAAF Spitfires and Kittyhawks during the October/November 1943 attacks on New Britain. Other aircraft, rear, left to right: unidentified; A58-165, code UP-L (RAF ES232), continued to serve with No. 79 Squadron RAAF until 5 December 1944 when it was force landed, wheels up, on Tipton airfield, Cecil Plains, Qld, on the last leg of a ferry flight to No. 6 Aircraft Depot, Oakey, Qld; unidentified; A58-28, code UP-M (RAF BR485) was destroyed 16 April 1944 when Spitfire A58-4, code UP-J (RAF AR532) collided with it in rain during a pre-dawn take-off at Momote airfield. The pilot, Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Max Bott was killed instantly and the pilot of A58-28, Sqn Ldr Nigel Pilcher, intended replacement for Bott, was very seriously injured and evacuated to Australia; A58-185, code UP-D (RAF JK231), a gift Spitfire that carried the names of the donors, "Sir Harry and Lady Oakes III", the third Spitfire for which they had provided the purchase funds.



79 Squadron Spitfires ready for action

Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, Papua. October 1943. 411822 Flying Officer (FO) W. J. (Bill) Pickard, GD Pilot putting on parachute and strapping in to his No. 79 Squadron RAAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc aircraft, A58-138, UP-F, (RAF No. EE836), with the assistance of his support crew before take-off from the airfield. Left to right: Leading Aircraftman (LAC) R. (Ray) Harris, Flight Mechanic; 52673 LAC J. H. (Jack) Stewart, Electrician; FO Pickard; Aircraftman 1 R. (Reg) Willingham, Flight Rigger 49388 LAC M. J. (Mick) Moore, Armourer.

MOMOTE, LOS NEGROS ISLAND, ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. C. 1944-04. GROUP PORTRAIT OF PILOTS OF NO. 79 (SPITFIRE) SQUADRON RAAF, OUTSIDE THEIR ALERT HUT.

Some of the crew on Morotai 1945

No. 79 Squadron Spitfire and ground crew at Momote Airfield in April 1944

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