No. 4 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

Background
No. 4 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was reformed on June 17, 1940 at Richmond Airfield equipped with the Wirraway. On September 29, 1940 moved to Canberra Airfield (Fairbairn) to train in Army cooperation tactics.

Wartime History
On November 2, 1942 at 3:00pm the air party under S/Ldr G. J. Quinan departs Kingaroy divided into three flights flies via Bundaberg northward to Port Moresby in New Guinea . On November 8, 1942 moves to 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby.

On November 21, 1942 crashed is Wirraway A20-519 pilot F/O T. H. Saunders performing a survey landing at Wairopi Airfield.

On December 4, 1942 two Wirraways including Wirraway A20-551 piloted by F/O Ian C. Curtis with with observer F/Sgt Harold W. Phillips fly a reconnaissance and artillery spotting mission over the Buna-Gona area and lands at Popondetta Airfield. During take off, Wirraway A20-551 hit a large rock in the grass at Popondetta Airfield and the plane was damaged beyond repair with the crew unhurt.

On December 11, 1942 six Wirraways took off on a bombing mission against Buna. Lost is Wirraway A20-485 pilot F/O Albert Thomas Smith (MIA) and Wirraway A20-51 pilot F/Lt Arthur Kenneth Dineen (survived).

On December 22, 1942 during the day, the squadron flies repeated reconnaissance missions over Buna and conducts artillery spotting and gun spotting in the Buna area. Shot down by anti-aircraft fire is CA-7 Wirraway A20-160 pilot F/O George Hockings (KIA).

On December 26, 1942 two Wirraways including CA-9 Wirraway A20-103 piloted by P/O John S. Archer and observer Sgt J. L. Convulsion on a tactical reconnaissance over the north coast of New Guinea searching for Japanese barges at the mouth of the Kumusi River then southward to Gona. Next, Archer made a single strafing pass against the shipwreck of the Ayutosen Maru. Pulling up to make another run, Archer spotted another plane approaching 1,000' below and incorrectly identified it as a Japanese "Zero". In fact, this was Ki-43-I Oscar pilot W/O Tadashi Yoshitake. Taking advantage of their higher altitude, Archer dived down onto fighter firing a long burst with his two machine guns and as he pulled away saw the enemy plane crash into the sea and explode. This was the only time a Wirraway made a confirmed kill against an enemy fighter.

On January 17, 1943 lost is Wirraway A20-492 pilot W/O Stanley J. Hart (MIA) on a reconnaissance flight over Gona.

On February 3, 1943 crashed is Wirraway A20-504 pilot F/Lt Henry L. M. Agg while landing at Wau Airfield.

On February 6, 1943 took off is Wirraway A20-447 on a reconnaissance and artillery observation mission and landed at Wau Airfield. Moments after landing, pilot Rodburn and observer Cole exited the plan and laid flat on the ground when the air raid alarm was sounded before a formation of Japanese planes approached and the parked plane was destroyed by bombing.

On April 15, 1944 lost is Wirraway A20-480 pilot F/L Denis Jack Unkles on a tactical reconnaissance mission over Japanese occupied areas near Wantoat and went missing.

References
AWM No. 4 Squadron

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