2 SQN at RAAF Williamtown

The Minister for Defence, Mr John Moore, said that two AEW&C aircraft will be based as a detachment at RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine in the Northern Territory.

Following a review of battle honours and history, Chief of Air Force (CAF) has directed that No 2 Squadron is to be re-formed as the designated AEW&C Squadron. No 2 Squadron will form at Williamtown in January 2000. A short history of 2 SQN is shown below.

2 SQN formed at Kantara Egypt, in September 1916 and following training in England began combat operations over the Western Front in October 1917. Flying at very low levels the Australian pilots wreaked havoc on the German troops, however, exposed to heavy ground fire squadron casualties were high.

Lieutenant Huxley claimed No 2 Squadron's - and indeed the AFC's - first aerial victory on 22 November, when he shot down an Albatross scout during a ground strafing mission. From 1917 until the end of the war, 2 SQN worked in close co-operation with 4 SQN and continued to inflict heavy losses on the Germans

When Word War II was declared in 1939, 2 SQN Avro Ansons were conducting coastal patrols and providing convoy escort to the ships carrying Australian troops to the Middle East. After deploying to the Dutch East Indies in 1941, flying Hudson aircraft, reconnaissance and bombing operations were mounted against the advancing Japanese forces. In the face of attacks on its bases and heavy losses to enemy fighters, 2 SQN maintained its offensive efforts for the remainder of the war, providing vital information on Japanese shipping movements.

In recognition of No 2 Squadrons heroic stand in this, Australia's darkest hour, the Unit was later awarded a United States Presidential Unit Citation - the highest honour that can be bestowed on a combat unit by the United States government.

In 1958, armed with Canberra jet bombers, 2 SQN moved to Butterworth on Malaya's East Coast, providing vital security during the 1960's when tensions with Indonesia and the newly independent Malaysia resulted in a period of "Confrontation" between Commonwealth and Indonesian forces.

April 1967 saw 2 SQN commence operations against Communist forces in Vietnam. Missions were flown both by day and night and 2 SQN quickly established itself as the most effective bomber squadron in Vietnam. On its return to Australia in 1971, having flown nearly 12,000 operational sorties for the loss of only two aircraft, 2 SQN was awarded the Republic Of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and a United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Commendation.

These two awards, combined with the Presidential Unit Citation awarded previously, give 2 SQN the distinction as the most highly decorated squadron in the RAAF.

The Motto shown on the base of the 2 SQN Crest translates as "TO ADVISE AND TO STRIKE".

After flying its last operational flight in July 1982 the Squadron was disbanded.