Found this looking for something else ...... Spitfire HTML - Veterans Affairs Canada Thought you "flyers " would appreciate it !!
Annie Thanks for this. The sort of site you could spend a long time on! One interesting point it makes: I didn't realise that Canada only ever had eight Spitfires of its own. All those Canadian pilots were flying RAF Spitfires. So, a famous squadron like 410, known as a Canadian squadron, was actually an RAF squadron, but with mainly RCAF personnel. Does that sound right? Adrian
Don't ask me hard questions like that Adrian !! :noidea: But the way you just said it ... I would agree ! I know what you mean about the site .... that's why I didn't find what I was originally looking for ! :noidea:
I don't know the exact ins and outs, AR, but what you say sounds right. The RAAF signed what I recall as Article XV which called for the formation of 15 RAAF squadrons - 450 onwards - with the initial plan being for the air and groundcrew to be Australian. While nominally RAAF squadrons, the aircraft, equipment and some of the air and groundcrew were RAF. I guess the same applied to the RCAF but perhaps with less RAF personnel? Basic stuff off the top of my head so take with a grain of salt!
I wonder if the RAAF squadrons acting directly under Australian command were the ones serving in the Far East; those in Europe were used RAAF personnel in RAF squadrons. Just going by what I know of VC recipients, Newton who was awarded his for actions over New Guinea is quoted as the being the only Australian to be awarded a VC while serving directly with the RAAF. But Middleton was RAAF but serving with RAF Bomber Command.
The RCAF, RAAF & RNZAF squadrons operating in Europe were all under direct RAF operational command, though their internal structures and financing were undertaken by their respective governments. The RCAF's operational theatre of control was their east and west coasts, and tended to be concerned with convoy patrols. But Bomber Command's 6 Group was all Canadian. The RAAF had operational control as far as its coastal defence, and I believe New Guinea, beyond which it was effectively under US control (Though nominally it made its own decisions). But in Europe and North Africa, the shortage of personnel meant that the RAF often made up a majority in a squadron.
Frank McNamara's was awarded with 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps Interestingly Trent and Ward were both RNZAF who won their VCs with NZ squadrons
