Friday, 8 November 2024
RAAF Base Richmond, Richmond
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

I too acknowledge the Dharug, Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we gather and pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.^[1] I extend that respect to all First Nations people who have served, and continue to do so, with such valour, honour, and distinction, in the Australian Defence Force.

As Honorary Air Commodore of 22 Squadron and Patron of the No 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron Association, I am honoured to be a part of tonight’s Commemorative Dinner and Awards Presentation.

No. 22 Squadron is, of course, rich in history and pride.

Formed here at Richmond on the 20^th of April 1936, it began its life as the No. 22 (Cadre) Squadron – a Citizens Air Force (CAF) unit with a core staff of Permanent Air Force (PAF) members. Two months later it was re-designated No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron to reflect a link to the local community that has been sustained, and built on, ever since.^[2]

The Squadron was initially equipped with Gipsy Moth trainers and two Hawker Demon fighter/bomber bi-planes, supplemented later with twin-engine Avro Ansons for maritime reconnaissance, and the Australian-manufactured CAC Wirraways^[3] as a general-purpose and training aircraft^[4].

Following the outbreak of war in September 1939, No. 22 Squadron was mobilised, and began conducting training exercises, including towing targets for anti-aircraft practice, and, after Japan’s entry into the War in December 1940, anti-submarine and convey escort tasks^[5].

Then came a rather unexpected surprise – the arrival of 22 Douglas Boston Mark III light bombers, in March 1942.

The Bostons had been destined for the Netherlands East Indies, part of a British order of US-built aircraft diverted to the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service to support its defence of the Dutch colony against the Japanese. Only six of the aircraft made it there, however, before the Dutch surrender on the 8^th of March 1942. 22 of the remaining consignment – at the time en route to Java – were diverted to Australia^[6].

Painted in RAF camouflage, but with their British markings overpainted with Dutch Navy insignia,^[7] the Bostons were assembled at No. 1 Aircraft Depot at Laverton, Victoria, and No. 2 Aircraft Depot here at Richmond, before, in April, being allocated, with the RAAF serial numbers A28-1 through to A28-22,^[8] to No. 22 Squadron.

From the outset, the bombers, which the RAAF had neither ordered – nor, it seems, even wanted – were seen as a stop-gap arrangement only, until a large order of Vultee Vengeance dive-bombers from the US could arrive^[9]; lengthy delays in the delivery of the Vengeances, however, meant that significant numbers would not reach Australia until mid-1943, and none of them would be allocated to No. 22 Squadron.

Instead, the Squadron’s first 22 Bostons would form the nucleus of a 69-strong fleet of Bostons the Squadron would operate from 1942 to 1944^[10], the bombers described as one of the “RAAF’s premium strike/attack aircraft” of those years.^[11] Indeed, as the only RAAF Squadron flying the aircraft, many of No. 22 Squadron operations became known as ‘Boston Tea Parties’^[12].

Part of the aircraft’s attack capability was due to modifications made in Australia before deployment. These included installing “four fixed forward-firing [50 calibre] machine guns in the nose in place of the bombardier [thereby reducing the crew from four to three, which], in combination with the standard pairs of [30 calibre] guns mounted in side-blisters, gave them […] formidable firepower.”^[13]

There were some teething problems, however, particularly with that first batch of 22 Bostons. Their instruments were in Dutch, and at the time of being allocated to No. 22 Squadron, many of the Squadron’s pilots had been flying single-engine Hawker Demons and had little experience with twin-engine bombers. Intensive and extensive working-up exercises were required, including formation practice, and gunnery and bombing trials near Amberley, Queensland, before the Squadron could be sent to Port Moresby for combat operations, arriving there in early November 1942.^[14]

Within a month of being deployed, three of the Bostons were destroyed after they blew up: two on operations, and one while on bombing practice.^[15] Initially, enemy anti-aircraft fire was blamed, but then suspicion turned to the light 20lb fragmentation bombs included in the payloads. It was determined that, on being dropped and hitting the slipstream, the fragmentation bombs had flicked up into the fuselage, denoting the entire bombload^[16]. The inclusion of fragmentation bombs was dispensed with, and no further such incidents occurred.^[17]

In any case, according to one commentator, the Bostons are remembered as a “pilot’s aeroplane”; the controls “crisp and light, and the cockpit layout and control systems […] tidy and rational”.^[18] Their only disadvantage was that they had to reach a speed of 177km/hr before being pulled up off the runway on take-off, and, once in the air, had to be “held firm.”^[19]

No. 22 Squadron’s first year of service in 1943 was, to say the least, hectic; they embarked on 137 bombing missions, including in the Battle of the Bismark Sea, and undertook numerous raids against Japanese positions in Lae and Salamaua^[20].

That last name, of course, should be familiar to many of you. It was for his actions during raids on the Salamaua Isthmus that Flight Lieutenant W. E. (Bill) Newton, whom this Dinner is in commemoration of, was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the only RAAF serviceman in the Pacific War to be so honoured; you will hear his citation in full shortly.

Newton had enlisted in the RAAF on 5 February 1940, before undertaking basic training at No.1 Elementary Flying School in Parafield, South Australia, flying Tiger Moths, and with No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron^[21], at Laverton, Victoria, flying Wirraways.

By June, he had been awarded his wings and, following advanced training on Avro Ansons with No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Point Cook, became a flight instructor. By the end of the year, he’d been promoted to flying officer, serving at No. 2 Service Flying Training School near Wagga Wagga, and then No. 5 Service Flying Training School at Uranquinty.^[22]

Following completion of a navigation course on Ansons at the General Reconnaissance School based at Laverton and further training on Hudsons with No. 1 Operational Training Unit at Sale, Victoria, during 1941, he was then promoted to flight lieutenant on April Fool’s Day 1942^[23]. A month later – and fulfilling a long-held desire to be closer to combat action – he was finally posted to No. 22 Squadron, which was right in the midst of its conversion to the newly-arrived Bostons.

Over the course of his 52 operational sorties in New Guinea, commencing on New Year’s Day 1943^[24], Newton quickly gained a reputation as a fearless and effective pilot, renowned for his disdain of evasive tactics, preferring to fly low and straight at targets to achieve maximum accuracy and damage, earning him the nickname ‘Firebug’ for the destruction he wrought.^[25] The Japanese gunners reportedly called him ‘Bluecap’. Whilst the Japanese were unlikely to know what a game of cricket was and were undoubtedly only referring to its colour, it seems that Newton wore a cricketer’s cap on operations – almost certainly harkening back to his days with the Victorian Second XI.^[26]

By the time Newton had been awarded his V. C. posthumously in October 1943, No. 22 Squadron had been depleted to only 6 operational bombers, before being supplied with 18 ex-US Air Force Bostons.^[27] Fitted with long range fuel tanks and 50 calibre machine guns in the upper and lower gunner positions, the new Bostons enabled the Squadron to increase the tempo and range of operations.^[28]

This was increased even further from August of the following year, when another batch of 28 ex-US Air Force Bostons was received^[29]; in the months of August and September, the Squadron flew a remarkable 100 missions^[30].

However, in November, and when the Squadron was coming close to reaching Singapore, a Japanese nuisance raid on the Squadron’s base at Moratai on the night of the 22^nd destroyed 13 of the Squadron’s bombers.^[31]

Forced to withdraw to Noemfoor, the Squadron was then reequipped with Australian-built Beaufighters^[32], a decision, apparently unpopular amongst the airmen, who had grown to love the Bostons^[33]. What Bostons remained were either relegated to noncombatant duties such as mail delivery and communications, returned to the US Air Force, or stripped for components.^[34]

Only a single Boston operated by the Squadron survives today, A-28-8 “J for Jessica”, which had been abandoned at Vivigani airstrip on Goodenough Island after crashing-landing there in September 1943. In 1987, it was recovered and shipped to Sydney, where former crew members^[35] were invited to a dinner aboard the vessel.^[36] 

It was shipped to Amberley in Queensland for restoration where, on September 12^th, 1986, it was unveiled with veterans of No. 22 Squadron in attendance.^[37] It is now part of the collection at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria^[38].

With their new Beaufighters, No. 22 Squadron served out the rest of the War, including supporting attacks on Tarakan and Australian landings at Labuan and Brunei Bay.^[39]

In the end, 65 men from No. 22 Squadron lost their lives in the Second World War^[40]; its members received, in addition to Newton’s V.C., the following decorations: 1 Distinguished Service Order^[41], 13 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 George Medals, 1 British Empire Medal, and five, Mentions in Despatches.^[42]

I congratulate No. 22 Squadron for this extraordinary contribution to Australia’s war effort. I also thank the Squadron and the No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron Association for honouring this history and the achievements of its members through commemorations such as this Dinner.

Most of all, I offer the deepest of thanks and warmest congratulations to all members of No. 22 Squadron, especially those being awarded tonight. Your combined effort and commitment to service, encapsulated so well in your motto ADSUM – ‘I am present’, is exemplary continuation of this Squadron’s proud legacy of adaptability, resilience, and preparedness, first forged in the flames of the Second World War.

Thank you.

[1] Corporal Ronald Schultz will be making an Acknowledgment of Country at the beginning of official proceedings.

[2] The name change occurred on 1 July 1936; No. 21 (Cadre) Squadron, based in Laverton, Victoria, became the No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron on the same date: ‘Formation of Nos 21 and 22 Squadrons’, Royal Australian Air Force website, available here; ‘Establishment of RAAF Base Richmond’, Royal Australian Air Force website, available here

[3] “The Wirraway (an Aboriginal word meaning “challenge”) was a training and general-purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946 at Fisherman’s Bend in Victoria. The aircraft was an Australian development of the North American Aviation NA-16-1A and NA-16-2K aircraft. It is powered by Australian manufactured versions of the Pratt & Whitney R1340 Wasp engine. CAC built a total of 755 Wirraway from 1939 to 1946”: ‘CA-16 Wirraway’, Royal Australian Air Force website, available here

[4] ‘No. 22 Squadron’, Pacific Wrecks website, available here

[5] ‘No. 22 Squadron’, Australian War Memorial website, available here

[6] ‘DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[7] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here

[8] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here

[9] ‘DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[10] “[in addition to the first 22 Bostons], Nine A-20Cs arrived in Australia from the USA in September of 1943. […] Nine ex-USAAF A-20As were taken on charge in November [1943]. […] In June of 1944, the squadron received the first of 28 A-20Gs”: ‘DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[11] ‘DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[12] David C. Eyre, ‘Douglas DB-7 Boston and A-20 Havoc’, Aeropedia website, available here

[13] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here

[14] David C. Eyre, ‘Douglas DB-7 Boston and A-20 Havoc’, Aeropedia website, available here

[15] A28-12 blew up in mid-air 10 November 1942, during bombing practice off Port Moresby; A28-20 blew up while attacking Gona Mission 29 November 1942; A28-22 blew up while attacking Buna strip 26 November 1942: ‘DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here; David C. Eyre, ‘Douglas DB-7 Boston and A-20 Havoc’, Aeropedia website, available here

[16] ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[17] ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[18] David C. Eyre, ‘Douglas DB-7 Boston and A-20 Havoc’, Aeropedia website, available here

[19] David C. Eyre, ‘Douglas DB-7 Boston and A-20 Havoc’, Aeropedia website, available here

[20] ‘No. 22 Squadron’, Australian War Memorial website, available here; ‘DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[21] No. 21 Squadron was formed the same day as No. 22 Squadron: ‘Formation of Nos 21 and 22 Squadrons’, Royal Australian Air Force website, available here

[22] Mark Weate, Bill Newton VC: The Short Life of a RAAF Hero, Australian Military History Publications, 1999, pp. 19-22, cited in ‘Bill Newton’, Wikipedia entry, available here

[23] Weate, Bill Newton VC, op. cit., pp. 26-28

[24] Weate, Bill Newton VC, op. cit., pp. 40-42

[25] Alan Stephens, ‘William Ellis (Bill) Newton (1919–1943)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography online, available here

[26] Newton was selected for the Victorian Second XI in 1939: Alan Stephens and Jeff Isaacs, High Fliers: Leaders of the Royal Australian Air Force, AGPS Press, 1996, pp. 88-90, cited in ‘Bill Newton’, Wikipedia entry, available here

[27] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here

[28] DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[29] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here

[30] DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[31] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here; ‘Douglas Boston (A-20) Aircraft’, Australian War Memorial website, available here

[32] DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[33] DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[34] ‘Boston/Havoc in Service with Royal Australian Air Force’, available here

[35] The crew were Harold Rowell, Black Harry Craig and David Duncan: ‘DB-7B Boston Mark III “Jessica” Serial Number A28-8 Code DU-J’, Pacific Wrecks website, available here

[36] ‘DB-7B Boston Mark III “Jessica” Serial Number A28-8 Code DU-J’, Pacific Wrecks website, available here

[37] ‘DB-7B Boston Mark III “Jessica” Serial Number A28-8 Code DU-J’, Pacific Wrecks website, available here

[38] DB-7B Boston III A28-1 to A28-22’, ADF Serials website (archived), available here

[39] ‘No. 22 Squadron’, Australian War Memorial website, available here

[40] ‘No. 22 Squadron RAAF’, Wikipedia, available here.

[41] Group Captain Keith Hampshire, who had recommended Newton be awarded his V. C.: ‘Keith Hampshire (RAAF officer)’, Wikipedia, available here

[42] ‘No. 22 Squadron’, Australian War Memorial website, available here