Search and Rescue Wing was a seaplane-equipped unit of the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

(RAAF). It was established in October 1947 and renamed No. 11 Squadron in July the next year.

History

Following the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, the RAAF's four squadrons equipped with

Consolidated PBY Catalina The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served wi ...

were disbanded. On 1 October 1947 a new Search and Rescue Wing was formed at

RAAF Base Rathmines RAAF Base Rathmines is a heritage-listed former RAAF Second World War seaplane base and now used as community venues, sports venues and a visitor attraction at Dorrington Road, Rathmines, City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. It ...

, the RAAF's main seaplane base, to provide a

search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...

capability in and around Australia for the

Department of Civil Aviation A civil aviation authority (CAA) is a national or supranational statutory authority that oversees the regulation of civil aviation, including the maintenance of an aircraft register. Role Due to the inherent dangers in the use of flight vehicles, ...

. This unit operated Catalinas, and took over previously-independent flights located at Darwin,

Townsville Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...

and

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...

. The wing comprised four squadrons, which were designated Headquarters, Flying, Maintenance and Maritime.Wilson (2003), p. 260 A Catalina and crew was held at readiness at each of the wing's bases. In addition, pilots, aircraft and ground crew from Search and Rescue Wing were assigned to work with the

Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE ) is the historical name for the Australian Antarctic Program (AAp) administered for Australia by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). History Australia has had a long involv ...

in 1948. The operations of the Search and Rescue Wing were hampered by insufficient manning, especially among pilots and skilled technicians. In order to meet its operational requirements the wing was unable to conduct training, and its pilots did not take their full leave entitlements. In addition, the Catalinas were in increasingly poor condition. The Search and Rescue Wing was renamed No. 11 Squadron on 1 July 1948.Wilson (2003), p. 261Australian War Memorial (1995), p. 84

References

;Citations ;Works consulted * *{{cite book, last=Wilson, first=David Joseph, title=The Eagle and the Albatross : Australian Aerial Maritime Operations 1921–1971, year=2003, publisher=University of New South Wales Library, location=Sydney, url=http://www.unsworks.unsw.edu.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=UNSWORKS&docId=unsworks_3183&fromSitemap=1&afterPDS=true RAAF wings Military units and formations established in 1947 Military units and formations disestablished in 1948