78 http://www.britainatwar.comRAAF|WAR OVER THE PACIFIC
RIGHT
During their patrols,
the Hudsons of
2 Squadron often
encountered highly
manoeuvrable F1M
‘Pete’ floatplanes,
which were used as
makeshift fighters.
(VIA YASHUO IZAWA)RIGHT
Larat harbour on
Tanimbar Island, on
the southeast side of
the Banda Sea, was
typical of the targets
for 2 Squadron.
(RAAF)Presidential Unit Citation
On January 4, 1943, on the recommendation
of General Douglas MacArthur, the Allied
Supreme Commander South West Pacific,
President Franklin D Roosevelt signed a
US Presidential Unit Citation to 2 Squadron
RAAF. It was a rare privilege for a foreign
military unit to be thus honoured. The award
stated: “No.2 Squadron Royal Australian Air
Force, is cited for outstanding performance
of duty in action during the period from April
18, 1942 to August 25, 1942. Operating
from bases in northwestern Australia, this
squadron equipped with airplanes highly
vulnerable to enemy fighter airplanes
made repeated attacks on enemy shipping,
airdromes, troops, and installations near
Timor, Amboina, and other islands in the
Banda Sea inflicting heavy damage to enemy
material and causing numerous casualties.
It successfully maintained continuous long-
range reconnaissance over the waters to
the north west of Australia. The courage
of its members in combat and the high
morale of the unit under hazardous combat
situations contributed greatly to the success
of operations in the area.”ABOVE Franklin D Roosevelt, who signed a Presidential Unit
Citation to 2 Squadron in January 1943. (USNA)August from where the Hudsons
mounted their operational missions
into the northwest area. Christmas
Eve 1942 saw 2 Squadron attack a
destroyer escorting transports in
the Wetar Strait, north of eastern
Timor, though only some near
misses on the manoeuvring ships
were achieved.
Three days later, Wg Cdr Ralph
Moran, the new CO, led a formation
back to the same area where they
had a battle with three Zeros.
Although one fighter was claimed
shot-down, the RAAF’s crews
watched in horror as Fg Off MervJohn’s Hudson, A16-210, burst into
flames from halfway under the fuselage
and shot up in the air out of control,
finally spiralling into the sea. The
remaining five aircraft returned, all
but one damaged.
One of the unit’s first missions of
1943 was an armed recce of the Kai
Islands that marked the eastern side
of the Banda Sea. On January 6, a
patrol sighted an Otari-Class torpedo
boat. The Hudsons dived from 6,000ft
and their bombs scored several direct
hits. The Otari stopped dead in the
water belching black smoke before it
exploded.
Attacks on Timor continued through
February, but after the Japanese defeat
in the Bismarck Sea off the island of
New Britain, focus of the Darwin-
based units then switched to targets
further east off southwest New Guinea
in the Arafura Sea.
Although the unit’s unique award of
the Presidential Unit Citation for itsactions over the Banda Sea had been
approved, the exigencies of war meant
the matter was forgotten. However,
in 1959 further enquiries began and
the award was re-confirmed. In 1967,
No.2 Squadron moved to Phan Rang
Air Base, South Vietnam, as part the
USAF’s 35th Tactical Fighter Wing
to defend the country against the
Communist Viet Minh guerrillas and
North Vietnamese regular forces.
There, in a parade on July 11, 1969,
the Commanding General of the
USAF 7th Air Force, General George
S Brown, finally presented the unit
with the citation.
After its return to Australia – when
the squadron Standard was presented
at Amberley on October 9, 1971 –
as well as the four Battle Honours
emblazoned, it carried a blue streamer
with the US honour, ‘Banda Sea 1942’
that had been earned while upholding
the highest traditions of the RAAF. 72-78 RAAF BAW SEPT2019.indd 78 8/15/2019 9:04:15 AM