7 Squadron, RAAF - History

 
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Formed in 1918 in England, Number 7 Squadron was responsible for training aircrew for the reconnaissance tasks carried out by 3 Squadron.

The start of World War II saw the squadron flying anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort missions off the east coast of Australia.

After being re-equipped with the DAP Beaufort, the Squadron moved to the Northern Territory - from where it conducted patrols over Australia's northern waters. Although generally uneventful, the Squadron's history during this period records a successful attack on a Japanese submarine, as well as the destruction of a number of Japanese "Jake" Floatplanes.

7 Squadron flew its last mission of the War on 15 August 1945 when twelve aircraft struck targets in the Maprik area just hours before Japan's surrender.

7 Squadron operated from the following bases with their DAP Beauforts:
  Place
Arrival Date
 
  Nowra, New South Wales
[Unknown]
  
  Ross River, Queensland
11 November 1942
 
  Detachments at:
Horn Island, Queensland
Wards Strip, Papua New Guinea
 
  Townsville, Queensland
January 1943
 
  Detachments at:
Horn Island, Queensland
Wards Strip, Papua New Guinea
 
  Higgins Field, Queensland
March 1944
 
  Tadji, Papua New Guinea
25 October 1944
 
 

The following aircraft were assigned to this Squadron:

Serial Number
Squadron Code

Picture/Description - Location/Reference Source - Date/Source
A9-48
KT-Z
 On the ground at Wards Air Strip, Papua New Guinea (1943)
A9-65
KT-T
 Accident in Papua New Guinea
A9-108
KT-A
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-112
KT-T
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 July - 31 July 1943
A9-118
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 July - 31 July 1943
A9-120
KT-Q
 Taxying - unknown location and date
A9-124
KT-L
 In Flight, early 1943
A9-129
KT-Q
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 March - 31 March 1943
A9-131
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 May - 31 May 1943
A9-132
KT-?
 No Markings - Townsville, Queensland 1943
A9-133
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 July - 31 July 1943
A9-135
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 March - 31 March 1943
A9-136
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 March - 31 March 1943
A9-138
KT-Y
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 March - 31 March 1943
A9-140
KT-A
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-141
KT-W
 Horn Island, 27 November 1943
A9-143
KT-F
 Being Serviced - Ross River, Queensland (No Date)
A9-144
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 July - 31 July 1943
A9-145
KT-Z
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 July - 31 July 1943
A9-182
KT-X
 After accident, Milne Bay 1943
A9-196
KT-?
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-205
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 May - 31 May 1943
A9-220
KT-M
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 July - 31 July 1943
A9-223
KT-L
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-225
KT-?
  
A9-241
KT-H
 In Flight - Townsville, Queensland (No Date)
A9-255
KT-K
 Being Serviced - Ross River, Queensland 1943
A9-256
KT-?
 Taking Off - Horn Island, Queensland 1943
A9-277
KT-F
 Goggler and crew
A9-294
KT-?
 From RAAF Operational Unit History Sheets - 1 May - 31 May 1943
A9-295
KT-S
 In Flight - Horn Island, Queensland 1943
A9-323
KT-N
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-327
KT-B
 Standing - Horn Island, Queensland 1943
A9-329
KT-D
 On patrol out of Higgins Field, Queensland - pictured in "The Beaufort Files"
A9-341
KT-V
 Standing - Papua New Guinea (No Date)
A9-345
KT-W
 Crashed by Flt. Off. Heyson - Horn Island, Queensland (No Date)
A9-356
KT-O
 2 photographs:
(i) Close up of Nose Art "Salome - Unknown location/date
(ii) Ready for scrapping - Nose Art "Salome" - Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
A9-364
KT-V
 Crashed as a result of a tyre burst - Tadji, Papua New Guinea 16 January 1945
A9-377
KT-?
 Crashed - Higgins Field, Queensland 2 July 1944
No Proof - Just Reference (From SOC Sheets)
A9-381
KT-S
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-389
KT-Q
 Torrcelli Ranges, Papua New Guinea (OC2464)
A9-397
KT-U
 From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward
A9-412
KT-D
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-431
KT-K
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-440
KT-G
 From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward
A9-448
KT-O
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-461
KT-Y
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-466
KT-W
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-471
KT-A
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-481
KT-B
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-502
KT-C
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-599
KT-Q
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-607
KT-W
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-623
KT-P
 Flight line up 5 aircraft: A9-649 in background - Aitape, Papua New Guinea 27 June 1945
A9-637
KT-B
 Personally confirmed - from "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward
A9-646
KT-K
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-647
KT-M
 No Proof - Just Reference (From "The Beaufort Files" by Roger Hayward)
A9-649
KT-F
 Flight line up 5 aircraft: A9-649 in background - Aitape, Papua New Guinea 27 June 1945
 
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