RAAF No79 Sqd Spitfire MkV "Horn Island" V3.0

Guinea’s east coast. The advance party from the squadron left Australia in mid-May, while the
pilots and aircraft followed in early June. Unfortunately, the squadron soon experienced its first
fatality when Flying Officer Virgil Paul Brennan DFC DFM died on 13 June from injuries sustained
in an accident at Cairns. Brennan had served at Malta during the height of air fighting over that
island.

The squadron was operational by 26 June. The spitfires redeployed to Kiriwina Island on 18 August
and the squadron operated under adverse conditions alongside 76 Squadron from the northern end of
the airstrip. 79 Squadron claimed its first victory on 31 October, when Flight Sergeant Neville
Faulks and Sergeant Ian Callister sighted an enemy Kawasaki Ki61 "Tony" which attempted to outrun
the Australians. Callister shot the enemy aircraft down in flames but was killed six days later
when his Spitfire collided with a Kittyhawk during an early morning take off.

After a period of training and defensive scrambles the squadron flew its first sweep over enemy
territory on 27 November 1943, when Squadron Leader Max Bott led eight Spitfires over Gasmata,
New Britain. The following day Flying Officer Arthur Moore on a test flight intercepted a “Dinah”,
a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft, and shot it down into the sea five miles south of Kitava. On
21 December Flying Officer James Richards and Pilot Officer Barrie intercepted and shot down a
“Tony”, while a “Zeke” was strafed on the ground at Gasmata.

In January and February 1944 the squadron flew offensive sweeps over New Britain, strafing enemy
installations and escorting bombers. Operations were hampered by heavy rain which played havoc
with radio telecommunications.

On 16 March the squadron deployed to Momote, Los Negros. Here it strafed enemy positions on Manus
and the adjoining islands, as well as targets on Pityilu Island. It changed to a mainly shipping
escort role by the end of April, with the occupation of the Admiralty Islands by American forces.
Operations were hampered by a lack of spare parts and only the untiring efforts of ground crews
enabled operations to be undertaken. By May the aircraft were becoming difficult to maintain, with
only two available for operations, and flying hours were restricted to urgent operational work only. This situation lasted until late November.

On 24 November the squadron was released from operation, pending a move to Darwin which was
completed on 12 January 1945. The squadron did not stay long at Sattler, south of Darwin, and an
advance party departed for Morotai on 6 February. The squadron was thus operating with difficulty,
which did not ease its re-equipment with Mk V111 Spitfires.

By end of March 1944 the squadron was attacking enemy installations, ships, barges, transport, and
fuel dumps in the north-west Halmahera Island area. Armed reconnaissance missions were also
carried out over Galela, Mita, Kaoe, Oba, Hiri, and Djailolo.

Under the command of Squadron Leader Kenneth Elwyn James, 79 Squadron continued to harass the
enemy until the end of the war. After the surrender of the Japanese forces in August the squadron
dropped surrender leaflets to the scattered and isolated Japanese troops before being formally
disbanded on 12 November.

79 Squadron was destined to be reformed in June 1962 for service at Ubon, Thailand.