No. 77 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

Wartime History
On March 16, 1942 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 77 Squadron was formed at Pearce Airfield equipped with P-40E Kittyhawks under the temporary command of D. F. Forsyth and was tasked to defend the Perth area. Motto "Swift to Destroy".

On April 20, 1942 S/Ldr Richard "Dick" Cresswell became the Commanding Officer (C.O.) and transfered to Batchelor Field near Darwin. During September 1942, moved to Livingstone Field (34 Mile). Among the squadron's pilots was John Gorton, who became the 19th Prime Minister of Australia (January 10, 1968–March 10, 1971).

On November 24, 1942 in the early morning, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-113 piloted by S/Ldr Richard "Dick" Cresswell took off to patrol over the Darwin area. While patrolling, he observed a "V" formation of three Japanese G4M1 Bettys at 22,500'. At 3:39am engaged G4M1 Betty 5414 Tail T-359 and after a brief combat, set fire to the right engine of causing it to crash in flames near Koopinyah Station to the east of Darwin. This was the first confirmed aerial victory of the squadron in defense of Australia.

During February 1943 the squadron moved to Milne Bay in New Guinea and was assigned to No. 9 Operational Group.

Korean War
During 1951, the squadron converted from the Mustang to the Gloster Meteor and served in the Korean War.

On January 27, 1953 lost is Meteor "Elyane" A77-15 pilot Francis H. G. Booth (MIA) attacking a train near Sinmak, North Hwanghae in North Korea.

On June 15, 1953 lost is Meteor A77-982 pilot Sgt Donald W. Pinkstone (POW) on an armed road reconnaissance mission and hit by anti-aircraft fire and ejected. Pinkstone landed safely and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). He survived captivity and was liberated.

On September 21, 1953 at Kimpo Air Base (K-14) Flight Lt. Norm Williams from No. 77 Squadron was one of the first U.N. personnel to reach MiG-15bis 2015357 pilot Lt. No Kum-Sok (No Kum So) after his jet landed and he defected to South Korea.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
S.Ldr D. F. Forsyth
S/Ldr Richard "Dick" Cresswell
Richard Edgar Peter Brooker
Bruce Edward "Buster" Brown
Russell Parsons Curtis
William James Keenan
Geoffrey Thompson Newstead
Louis Thomas Spence
Ronald Thomas Susans

References
Australian War Memorial (AWM) No. 77 Squadron
RAAF Museum Point Cook - No. 77 Squadron