Lax, Mark Sweeping the Skies

A History of No. 452 Squadron RAAF 1941-1945Mark Lax

"Sweeping the Skies" tells the story of No. 452 Squadron, an RAAF fighter squadron formed in Great Britain in April 1941. Equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire, the squadron was soon deployed to bases south of London and found itself in the thick of the fighting against the Luftwaffe over England, the English Channel, and northern France. Remarkably, between August and November 1941, No. 452 Squadron held the record within Fighter Command as Britain's most successful unit. This success was largely due to the exceptional skill and leadership of several outstanding fighter aces, including the Irishman Wing Commander Brendan "Paddy" Finucane and the renowned VFL footballer Squadron Leader Keith "Bluey" Truscott. In 1942, the squadron was transferred to Australia and became part of No. 1 Fighter Wing, which was responsible for the defense of Darwin. The following year was marked by interception missions against large formations of Japanese fighters and bombers. These fierce engagements took a heavy toll, including the loss of the commanding officer, Squadron Leader Ray "Throttle" Thorold-Smith. In the final stages of the war, the squadron advanced north to the islands of Morotai and Borneo in the Dutch East Indies. No. 452 Squadron was rightly acclaimed by the Australian media and deserves to be remembered as one of the most significant RAAF units of the war. Yetas a "400-series" squadron formed in Britainit is often overlooked.