| No. 83 Squadron RAAF | |
|---|---|
.jpg) No. 83 Squadron pilots with a Boomerang fighter in November 1943 | |
| Active | 1943–1945 2021–current |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Type | Fighter (1943–1945) Intelligence (2021–current) |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron code | MH[1] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | P-39 Airacobra (February–September 1943) Boomerang (June 1943 – September 1945) |
| Trainer | Moth Minor |
No. 83 Squadron is aRoyal Australian Air Force intelligence unit. It was originally formed in 1943 as a 'home defence' fighter squadron and provided air defence to several locations inQueensland, theNorthern Territory andNew South Wales before being disbanded in 1945. The squadron was re-raised in 2021, and is responsible for a system which integrates intelligence from multiple sources.
No. 83 Squadron was formed atStrathpine, Queensland, on 26 February 1943. Its role was to intercept unidentified and hostile aircraft, ships and submarines in theBrisbane area. The squadron was initially equipped with sixP-39 Airacobra fighters and had only 10 officers and 27 airmen out of its authorised strength of 27 officers and 310 airmen.[2]
The squadron's first operations were flown over the Brisbane area. While it responded to numerous reports of potentially hostile activity it did not sight any Japanese submarines or aircraft. Most operations were conducted fromPetrie while the squadron headquarters remained at Strathpine.[2] The squadron began to be re-equipped with Australian designed and builtBoomerang fighters in June and the Airacobras were withdrawn in September. It reached its full strength of 21 Boomerangs and a singleMoth Minor in October 1943.[3]
No. 83 Squadron moved from Queensland to the Northern Territory in late 1943. All its aircraft suffered from technical faults when they first arrived atMilingimbi Island and none could be used in operations until December.[4] The squadron was subsequently deployed toMelville Island in December and remained there until January 1944, when it made a further move toRAAF Airfield Gove on the mainland. While at Gove the squadron's Boomerangs escortedAllied shipping and conducted patrols.[5] By this time few Japanese forces were operating in the area and No. 83 Squadron did not see combat.[6]
The squadron left the Northern Territory in mid-1944, and arrived atCamden, New South Wales in August where it continued operations with its Boomerangs.[6] In February 1945 it moved again toMenangle where it was disbanded on 18 September 1945.[5] At least one of the Boomerangs operated by No. 83 Squadron remains in flying condition under private ownership.[7][8] A further No. 83 Squadron Boomerang has been preserved at theRAAF Museum and the fuselage of another is at theAustralian National Aviation Museum.[9][10]
No. 83 Squadron was re-raised on 1 January 2021 from the Distributed Ground Station Australia unit that had formed part ofNo. 87 Squadron until January 2020. The RAAF had begun development of the Distributed Ground Station Australia system in 2009.[11] The squadron forms part of theInformation Warfare Directorate.[12] The Distributed Ground Station is a system which integrates and disseminates intelligence from multiple sources.[13] The squadron is located atRAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.[14]
