No. 100 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

Background
On February 15, 1942 No. 100 Squadron was formed in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Richmond Airfield equipped with the Beaufort. The squadron was given the designation of No. 100 Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF) to honor their sacrifices defending Malaya. No. 100 Squadron had squadron code QH with a single letter in white on the fuselage.

Wartime History
During May 1942 moved to Mareeba Airfield and began training and flew anti-submarine patrols off Queensland. During June 1942 flew northward Port Moresby to Gurney Field (No. 1 Strip) near Milne Bay and began flying combat missions in New Guinea.

On September 28, 1942 lost is Beaufort A9-89 pilot S/Ldr Clifford S. Bernard on a flight bound for Gurney Airfield and crashed near Keppel Point with the pilot missing and the rest of the crew rescued.

On June 26, 1942 lost is Beaufort A9-52 pilot S/Ldr Charles W. L. Sage on a mission to bomb Salamaua. Returning crashed near Tapini.

On October 22, 1942 six Beauforts from the squadron took off on a bombing training mission armed with practice bombs and made a mock torpedo attack over Townsville Harbor then practiced dive bombing attacks against the the City of Adelaide shipwreck and crashed is Beaufort A9-26 pilot F/O George D. R. Avery.

On November 24, 1942 took off is lost is Beaufort A9-2 pilot Sgt John R. Duncan on a search mission for Japanese ships off the north coast of New Guinea and encountered bad weather and ran low on fuel then ditched off Cape Vogel with the entire crew rescued.

On February 25, 1943 lost is Beaufort A9-197  pilot F/O George B. Yuille (MIA) on a sea search mission.

On May 17, 1943 the squadron took off from Gurney Field (No. 1 Strip) and lands at Vivigani Airfield on Goodenough Island to stage for a bombing mission against against Gasmata Airfield. This was the first use of the forward airfield for a combat mission.

On May 20 1943 at 11:05pm nine Beauforts took off from Vivigani Airfield on a bombing mission (Gur 89) against Gasmata Airfield. On May 21, 1943 after midnight, the Beauforts arrive over the target and bomb the target causing small fires and explosions. Lost is Beaufort A9-188 pilot FlgOff David J. Forrest (MIA).

On July 12, 1943 lost is Beaufort A9-225 pilot F/O John C. Davis (MIA) on a patrol mission over Bougainville accidentally shot down by PB4Y-1 Liberator pilot Lt(jg) Bill Corbett from Photographic Squadron 1 (VD-1) that shot down an "unidentified twin engine aircraft" that was shot down west of Bougainville.

On September 4, 1943 lost is Beaufort A9-204  pilot F/O Thomas H. Allanson (MIA) on a bombing mission against Gasmata Airfield. Over the target, shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

On September 5, 1943 ten Beauforts took off from Gurney Field (No. 1 Strip) on a bombing mission against Gasmata Airfield. Lost is Beaufort A9-183  pilot F/O Robert Barclay Anderson (MIA) shot down by anti-aircraft fire, Beaufort A9-186 pilot W/O Clement B. Wiggins (MIA) shot down by Japanese fighters and Beaufort A9-374 pilot F/L Roy H. Woollacott (MIA) shot down by Japanese fighters.

On December 14, 1943 lost is Beaufort A9-211 pilot F/Sgt John E. Kenny (MIA) on a bombing mission against Rabaul in bad weather and went missing.

On January 17, 1944 Beauforts from No. 6 Squadron, No. 8 Squadron and No. 100 Squadrons took off from Vivigani Airfield on a bombing mission against Lindenhafen targeting a camp and dump area near the Amgen River.

On March 5, 1944 at night lost is Beaufort A9-480 pilot F/O Alexander P. Potts and crashed shortly after take off from Vivigani Airfield.

During April 1944 moves to Nadzab Airfield.

On May 20, 1944 ten Beauforts from the squadron bomb Japanese positions between Wom Point to Suain. Lost is Beaufort A9-571 pilot F/O Lyle Manhire McLaren (MIA) hit by anti-aircraft fire and ditched. Only F/O Raymond A. Graetz managed to reach shore and escape from behind enemy lines and was rescued.

During July 1944 moves to Tadji Airfield.

On July 10, 1944 lost is Beaufort A9-535 crash landed at Tadji Airfield.

On July 13 1944 lost is Beaufort A9-210 crash landed at Tadji Airfield.

On January 20, 1945 the squadron took off from Tadji Airfield on a bombing mission against Elimi. Crashed while landing is Beaufort A9-557 pilot F/L Harry John Fowler crashed while landing.

On January 23, 1945 the squadron took off from Tadji Airfield on a bombing mission against Amuli Nanu East (Amuli village). At 10:20am over the target area, Beaufort A9-626 and Beaufort A9-627 accidentally collided and both crash with all crew members killed.

On March 13, 1945 lost is Beaufort A9-650  pilot F/L Harry J. Fowler on a bombing mission against Maprik. After dropping their bombs over the target, a faulty fuse prematurely detonated under the aircraft and caused this Beaufort to crash.

On March 16, 1945 lost is Beaufort A9-625 piloted by S/L Philip A. Dey on a mission and exploded midair near But Airfield.

On April 2, 1945 shortly after take off from Tadji Airfield an accidental collision causes the loss of Beaufort A9-667 pilot F/L Ian H. Fielding and Beaufort A9-493 pilot F/L Eric E. Crisp (MIA).

On August 15, 1945 the squadron flew the last bombing mission of the Pacific War in New Guinea only an hour before the announcement of the official surrender of Japan that ended hostilities.

On August 28, 1945 while taxing Beaufort A9-689 collided with Dakota A65-40 at Tadji Airfield and was written off.

On April 30, 1945 lost is Beaufort A9-559 crashed on take off from Tadji Airfield.

On September 3, 1945 lost is Beaufort A9-622 pilot W/O Cedric E. Hall on a mission to to drop surrender leaflets over suspected Japanese positions west of Wewak but crashed near Matapau with the entire crew killed in the crash. By the end of the Pacific War, 155 personnel from No. 100 Squadron were listed as killed or missing.

Postwar
During March 1946 the squadron moves to Finschafen Airfield and conducts non-combat flights as personnel are transfered back to Australia and demobilized. On August 19, 1946 No. 100 Squadron is disbanded.

Today
On January 1, 2021 to coincide with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) centenary No. 100 Squadron was reformed under the Air Force Training Group, to operate historic aircraft including the Point Cook Heritage Flight at RAAF Base Point Cook and the Temora Historic Flight at Temora Aviation Museum.

Display
During 1974, the wreckage of Beaufort A9-557, Beaufort A9-13 and Beaufort A9-210 from No. 100 Squadron abandoned at Tadji Airfield were salvaged to Australia. Beaufort A9-557 was static restored and is stored at the Treloar Technology Centre (Australian War Memorial Annex). Both Beaufort A9-13 and Beaufort A9-210 are displayed at the Australian Army Museum of Flying.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Wing Commander John Balmer (March 1942)

References
Australian War Memorial (AWM) No. 100 Squadron
Australian War Memorial (AWM) The Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Codes
Statement by Flying Officer R. F. Munro (WOAG) RAAF No. 100 Squadron (Beaufort) on Flying Boats Bomb Port Moresby May 26, 1942
National Archives of Australia (NAA) RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 100 Squadron Mar 42 - Aug 46 (NAA: A9186, 123)
Royal Australian Air Force - Air Force Heritage Aircraft Fleet