Alvyn Douglas Farquhar - Airforce Service

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Farquhar

Alvyn Douglas Farquhar enlisted in the Airforce in 1941 and was discharged in 1945. The following is a brief overview of Alv's service.

He was known to his chums as George

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1941

Image:Alvyn Douglas Farquhar - Airforce Service-11.jpg

Wireless Airgunners School, Parkes NSW

• Alv enlisted on 9 October 1941.
• Commenced training (Course 21 Empire Air Training Scheme)
• Completed ITS (rookies) training at Somers, Vic.
• Promoted to Leading Aircraftman.
• Posted to Parkes (NSW) as Wireless Air Gunner (WAG) trainee.
• Japan entered war - all training delayed one month.

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1942

In Melbourne 1942 with good mate Harley Williams.

• Completed Wireless Course ( 22)
• Posted to Pt. Pirie Bombing and Gunnery School.
• Promoted to sergeant.
• Posted to No.1 Operational Training Unit at Bairnsdale.
• In December, posted to No.7 Beaufort Squadron (Beaufort bombers) Based at Townsville, Port Moresby and Horn Island. Main duties included convoy cover and reconnaisance of South Dutch New Guinea coast.

1942. Prior to posting at 7 Squadron in New Guinea.

Airforce summer uniform

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1943

• Posted south to 32 Squadron at Camdon. Main duties included convoy cover from Mallacoota to Brisbane.
• In August, posted to 13 Squadron at Canberra (reforming from Hudsons to Beauforts)
• Posted to 100 Squadron at Goodenough Island bombing Rabaul.

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1944

Crew: L-R: Geoff Castleden (pilot), Don (Butch) MacQueen (observer), Alv (George) Farquhar ( wireless air gunner), Rex (Joe) Walker ( wireless air gunner)

• 100 Squadron moved to Nadzab (near Lae) bombing Japanese targets at Wewak.
• 100 Squadron relocated to Aitape (much closer to Wewak)
• August. Posted south (second tour completed - 63 bombing runs, 40 convoys and patrols
• Posted to General Reconnaissance School at Bairnsdale as Staff (WAG)

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1945

Pilot Officer Alvyn "George" Farquhar

• Granted commission as Pilot Officer.
• Discharged on 13 July 1945 (aged 21).

Certificate of Service and Discharge

Officer's Certificate of Service

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100 Squadron

Alv 3rd row 2nd from left All names for this image can be found at AWM Collection

Alvyn "George" (with moustache, forage cap, first on the left in last row of those seated (in front of the officer standing at extreme left)) | Geoff Castleden (standing 3rd from right) | Don "Butch" McQueen (Front row, 5th from left with moustache ) | Rex "Joe" Walker (Front row, 6th from left.)

No. 100 Squadron was formed at RAAF Station Richmond, New South Wales, on February 15th 1942. The following month Wing Commander John Balmer took command of the squadron. The squadron was formed from a nucleus of No. 100 Squadron RAF, which had been destroyed during the Malayan Campaign, and was named in that unit's honour. Despite this tribute, No. 100 Squadron RAAF was an Australian squadron throughout its existence and considered to be separate from its British namesake, which was re-formed as a heavy bomber squadron in Britain on December 15th 1942. The unit subsequently moved to Mareeba, Queensland, in May 1942, before conducting further training and anti-submarine patrols.

Staging through Port Moresby, No. 100 Squadron flew its first combat missions in June 1942, making it the first of the RAAF's Beaufort bomber-equipped squadrons to see combat. During the mission seven aircraft bombed targets around Lae, losing one aircraft whilst sinking a Japanese merchant ship. Later a number of successful attacks were completed against Japanese positions. Following these attacks the squadron was withdrawn to Laverton in July, subsequently conducting patrols off New South Wales and Victoria and undertaking further training. A further move was later undertaken to Bohle River in Queensland. After completing its training the squadron commenced deploying to Milne Bay in New Guinea in September 1942. In October 1942, while participating in a training exercise off the coast of Townsville, Beaufort A9-26 of the No. 100 Squadron struck the mast of the wrecked SS City of Adelaide in Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island. The aircraft plunged into the shallow water below and the fuselage disintegrated on impact killing three RAAF officers and one US Navy officer aboard. On October 6th 1942 the Squadron conducted its first torpedo strike, with six Beauforts unsuccessfully targeting Japanese naval vessels. Over the following months the squadron conducted a number of dangerous low-level attacks with limited success, although a number of Japanese vessels were damaged or sunk. On January 9th 1943 a convoy returning from Lae was intercepted by six Beauforts off Gasmata. A Japanese cruiser was believed sunk in the action, for the loss of two aircraft.

Flying from bases in eastern New Guinea No. 100 Squadron flew reconnaissance patrols and anti-shipping and bombing missions against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea mainland. Eight aircraft from the squadron participated in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, during which the squadron conducted a torpedo-bombing mission. It was not successful in sinking any ships in this battle, though, and from March 1943 it operated solely in the level bombing role. Later, in September 1943, the squadron flew anti-submarine patrols in support of amphibious landings around Lae. On October 4th, ten Beauforts made a low-level attack on the Japanese airfield at Gasmata, with three aircraft being shot down. A surfaced submarine was attacked and heavily damaged in St George's Channel on October 18th. The squadron bombed a bridge over the Anwek River in November as part of an air offensive over New Britain and the same month moved to Goodenough Island.

The squadron remained at Goodenough Island until April 1944, when it relocated to Nadzab. This was followed by a further move to Tadji in July 1944. As a level bomber squadron, No. 100 Squadron conducted missions against Japanese facilities throughout New Guinea and surrounding islands during 1944, including the key base at Rabaul.

In late 1944 and into 1945, it conducted operations in support of Allied ground operations. In October 1944, a detachment of five aircraft and crews from No. 100 Squadron were sent to reinforce No. 6 Squadron, which had been tasked to support Australian landings on New Britain. Prior to the landings, the Beauforts attacked targets across the Gazelle Peninsula, and then remained on standby to support the Landing at Jacquinot Bay. Later, further operations were flown around Wide Bay. The squadron's attention then turned to support of the 6th Division's campaign in Aitape–Wewak. The squadron continued in this role until the last day of the war, flying its final bombing mission the morning Japan surrendered, on August 15th 1945.

Following the end of hostilities, No. 100 Squadron flew reconnaissance missions and leaflet drops before transferring to Finschafen in March 1946. There it undertook ferrying and courier flights until disbanding on August 19th 1946. Prior to this, the squadron's strength had dwindled as personnel were repatriated back to Australia for demobilisation or transferred to other units for subsequent service with the occupation forces in Japan.

Throughout the war a total of 115 aircrew fatalities were recorded among the squadron's personnel as a result of combat operations.

No. 100 Squadron was re-formed in February 2021 as the Air Force Heritage Squadron, operating from two locations RAAF Base Point Cook and Temora (where pilots trained at RAAF’s No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School). [1]

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A detailed account of Alv's service is contained in Alv's Autobiography (PDF format - 126 pages)