No. 460 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force intelligence unit active within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO). It was first formed as a heavy bomber squadron during World War II on 15 November 1941 and disbanded on 10 October 1945 after seeing extensive combat over Europe. The squadron was a multinational unit, but most personnel were Australian. No. 460 Squadron was reformed on 2 July 2010 and is currently located in Canberra.

History

World War II

thumb|left|

thumb|left|Believed to be Mack D Seale at RAF Binbrook pre 1943. The aircraft is 'N for Nuts'

No. 460 Squadron RAAF was formed from 'C' Flight of No. 458 Squadron RAAF at RAF Molesworth, Huntingdonshire on 15 November 1941,

In late 1943 and early 1944, the squadron flew sorties in the Battle of Berlin. During the spring and summer of 1944, the squadron flew many missions in support of the D-Day landings. Its final raid was an attack on Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat of Berchtesgaden on Anzac Day, 1945. In May, No. 460 Squadron joined Operation Manna, the transportation of relief supplies to starving Dutch civilians. The squadron moved to RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, in preparation for re-location to the Pacific theatre, as part of a proposed Commonwealth strategic air force known as Tiger Force, for the invasion of Japan. The move became unnecessary following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and No. 460 Squadron disbanded on 10 October 1945. This aircraft made 90 operational sorties between late 1942 and mid-1944. There is a memorial to the squadron on the site of the former RAF Binbrook, in Lincolnshire, UK, consisting of a plaque, trees and various memorial benches. There are also memorials in a number of other countries including Denmark, France, the Netherlands (Grafhorst) and Germany, marking the sites of where squadron aircraft crashed or individual crew members were killed.

Current role

On 1 April 2010, then Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin announced that No. 460 Squadron was to be reformed as a non-flying squadron within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO). The squadron was subsequently re-established on 2 July at a ceremony held in front of G for George at the Australian War Memorial.

No. 460 Squadron is currently located in Canberra. Its roles include analysing photos and other imagery to help plan strike missions.

! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version

|-

| November 1941 || September 1942 || Vickers Wellington || Mk.IV

|-

| August 1942 || October 1942 || Handley Page Halifax || B.Mk.II (not used operationally)

|-

| August 1942 || October 1942 || Avro Manchester || Mk.I (not used operationally)

|-

| October 1942 || October 1945 || Avro Lancaster || Mks.I, III

|}

Squadron bases

thumb|right|300px|Binbrook, United Kingdom, April 1944: Mr [[John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, getting out of the veteran Lancaster "G" for George, during his visit to 460 Squadron RAAF.]]

{|class="wikitable"

|+Bases and airfields used by no. 460 Squadron RAAF, data from

! From !! To !! Name

|-

| November 1941 || September 1942 || Wing Commander A.L.G Hubbard, DSO, DFC

|-

| September 1942 || December 1942 || Wing Commander K.W. Kaufman, DFC

|-

| December 1942 || February 1943 || Wing Commander J.F. Dilworth, DFC

|-

| February 1943 || September 1943 || Wing Commander C.E. Martin, DSO, DFC

|-

| September 1943 || 8 October 1943 (POW) || Wing Commander R.A. Norman, DSO, DFC

|-

| October 1943 || January 1944 || Wing Commander F.A. Arthur, DFC

|-

| January 1944 || May 1944 || Wing Commander H.D. Marsh, DFC

|-

| May 1944 || October 1944 || Wing Commander J.K. Douglas, DFC

|-

| October 1944 || November 1944 || Wing Commander K.R.J. Parsons, DSO, DFC

|-

| November 1944 || 13 December 1944 (KIA) || Squadron Leader J. Clark, DFC

|-

| December 1944 || January 1945 || Wing Commander W.E. Roberts, DFC

|-

| January 1945 || July 1945 || Wing Commander M.G. Cowan, DSO

|-

| July 1945 || October 1945 || Wing Commander P.H. Swan, DSO, DFC

|-

| July 2010 || December 2010|| Wing Commander P.D. Wooding, MNZM

|-

| January 2011 || January 2014|| Wing Commander R.J.Elliott, CSM

|-

| January 2014 || July 2016|| Wing Commander N.Klohs

|-

| July 2016 || January 2019|| Wing Commander C. Harrison

|-

| January 2019 || January 2021|| Wing Commander A. Hoffmann, CSC

|-

| January 2021 || January 2023|| Wing Commander A. Cullen

|-

| January 2023 || Present|| Wing Commander D. Brown

-

|}

See also

  • Article XV squadrons
  • Roberts Dunstan

References

Bibliography

  • Official RAAF webpage for 460 Squadron
  • Official RAF webpage for 460 Squadron
  • A 460 Squadron tribute site
  • Wartime Memories Project – No.460 Squadron RAAF
  • Peter Dunn's 460 Squadron tribute site
  • Eyewitness accounts from 460 Squadron by F/O Henry Baskerville
  • ADF-Serials Vickers Wellington in RAAF Service
  • ADF-Serials Handley Page Halifax in RAAF Service
  • ADF-Serials Avro Lancasters in RAAF Service
  • ADF-Serials 460 Squadron RAAF Photo Album