http://www.britainatwar.com^73WAR OVER THE PACIFIC |RAAF
Battle of the
BANDA SEA
L
ong-standing tradition has
it that a Commonwealth air
force squadron’s Standard
(flag) is emblazoned with scrolls
bearing the battle honours the unit
has earned for taking part in major
combat operations. For the US forces,
the equivalent of such awards take the
form of a streamer carried on their
flag, often representing a Presidential
Unit Citation. On January 4, 1943
US President Franklin D Roosevelt
uniquely gave such an accolade
for ‘Banda Sea 1942’ to 2 and 13Squadrons, Royal Australian Air Force,
and in March 1943 the acceptance
of the honour was given Royal
approval.
When World War Two
began, 2 Squadron RAAF
under Sqn Ldr Alan
Charlesworth began
mounting convoy escorts
off the Australian east coast
with its obsolescent Avro
Ansons. These continued
after the unit’s re-equipment with
Lockheed Hudsons in mid-1940.A year after the start of the conflict,
Wg Cdr Frank Headlam was in
command and in December 1941,
the squadron began moving
north with Flt Lt Rob Cuming
leading ‘A’ Flight to Kupang
on the island of Timor and
the CO taking the remainder
to Darwin, where news of
war with Japan broke.
Early on December 8 (7th
in Hawaii, which lay east of
the International Date Line), Fg Off
Bob Law-Smith of ‘A’ Flight 72-78 RAAF BAW SEPT2019.indd 73 8/15/2019 9:03:43 AM