Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 453rd Squadron

Our virtual 453 Squadron is formed from the ashes of the old

II/JG2 & 452 and is a salute to the brave men who flew in the

real RAAF 453 Squadron during the Second World War.

During The Battle of Singapore, 453 Squadron was equipped

with the already obsolescent Brewster Buffalo which was no

match for the enormous Japanese air armada, spearheaded

by the A6M Zero. As a result 453 Squadron was virtually wiped

out while defending Malaya and Singapore.

However, in spite of many technical problems, and being

outmatched by the Japanese Zero, the Buffalo squadrons

claimed a 2:1 kill ratio against Japanese aircraft in 1941–42.

Singapore, Malaya. c. 1941-11. A line-up of RAAF RAF Brewster Buffalo aircraft of 453 squadron on Sembawang airfield.

After the fall of Singapore, the remnants of 453 Squadron were

sent to Adelaide where, on the 15th March, 1942 the Squadron

was disbanded. The Squadron was reformed from Australian personnel in the United Kingdom at RAF Drem, near Edinburgh, in Scotland on 18 June 1942.

This time it was equipped with Spitfires and assigned to Fighter Command. It then carried out air intercept and ground attack roles throughout the war. It was during this period that it earned it's nickname as The Bridge Burners.

By the end of the Second World War 453 Squadron had suffered a total of 29 fatalities.

On the 21st January 1946 the Squadron was disbanded until it was reformed in 16 February 2011 as an

air traffic control unit.

Most of our pilots select callsigns that were used by the real pilots of 453 to honour those individuals.

No. 453 Squadron Spitfires, featuring invasion stripes on their wings, at an airfield in Normandy in mid/late 1944.

The Squadron took part in a massive dogfight against approximately 11 German FW109s, just after D Day.