No. 458 Squadron RAAF

No. 458 Squadron RAAF
Crew from No. 458 Squadron in front of their aircraft, December 1941
Active8 July 1941 – 9 June 1945
CountryAustralia
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force
RoleBomber
Maritime patrol
Part ofNo. 1 Group RAF, Bomber Command[1]
RAF Middle East Command[2]
Motto(s)We find and destroy[3]
Battle honours[3]Fortress Europe, 1940–1944
France and Germany, 1944–1945
South-East Europe, 1942–1945
Mediterranean, 1940–1943
Sicily, 1943
Italy, 1943–1945
Insignia
Squadron CodesFU (Sep 1941 – Mar 1942)[1][4]
MD (Oct 1942 – Apr 1943)[5][6]
Aircraft flown
BomberVickers Wellington

No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron that operated during World War II. It was formed in Australia under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East. It was disbanded in mid-1945, following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe.

  1. ^ a b Moyes 1976, p. 253.
  2. ^ Delve 1994, p. 67.
  3. ^ a b "No. 458 Squadron RAAF". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  4. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 73.
  5. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 71.
  6. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.