113 Air Sea Rescue Flight RAAF

113 Air Sea Rescue Flight RAAF was formed at Cairns in far north Queensland at 0800 hours on 10 January 1945. The Adjutant, F/O Mervyn Cyril Stanley Bishop (401811) was appointed temporary Commanding Officer. Catalina PBY5 A24-105, was already located at Cairns when the unit was established. It had been delivered to 25 Operational Base Unit 25 OBU and was immediately taken on strength by 113 ASRF. On 10 January 1945, there were 1 officers and 55 airmen assigned to 113 Air Sear Rescue Flight in Cairns. The unit moved into barracks at Cairns Airfield and setup their own kitchen. They obtained barracks equipment from 11 Stores Depot in Townsville.

The Commanding Officer, F/Lt White arrived at Cairns on 12 January 1945 and assumed command of 113 ASRF.

Catalina A24-105 and an advance party departed Cairns on 19 January 1945 for Morotai. They stayed the night in Merauke and flew to Morotai the following day. As there appeared to be no RAAF accommodation at Morotai, the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron USAAF decided to look after the advanced party from 113 ASRF.

Living quarters at Cairns were ready for occupation by 22 January 1945 and messing staff had completed meal arrangements. 113 ASRF moved into the barracks at Cairns Airfield on 23 January 1945.

Catalina A24-105 at Morotai started to cover American and RAAF strikes on the Japanese from 23 January 1945. On 27 January 1945, the C.O. flew to Townsville and then to Morotai to visit the advance party and check on the supply position available for maintenance repairs.

A party flew to Townsville on 2 February 1945 to proceed to 8 S.D. by rail to collect motor transport and equipment which was to be brought to Townsville by road and left there awaiting shipment to Morotai. On 5 June 1945, loading of equipment on to motor transport was completed at Breddan and 4 vehicles departed Breddab for Townsville with equipment where they were handed over to 6 TMO for shipment to Morotai.

On 20 February 1945, instructions were received from N.E.A. Headquarters that the Unit was to move to Townsville immediately for a move by sea to Morotai. The Cairns Detachment of 6 TMO was immediately contacted and arrangements were made to move men and equipment by rail the next afternoon.

On 21 February 1945, the C.O. flew to Bowen to test out Catalina A24-21 which had been repaired and allotted to 113 ASRF. On 3 March 1945, all unit transport was delivered to the Townsville wharves for loading on to "Creel" for shipping to Morotai. All transport had been loaded on to the ship by 6 March 1945. On 9 March 1945, W/O Purdie received orders that the unit was to embark on teh ship "Carlos Carrilio" on 10 March 1945. The party working at 29 ASP was recalled to the Transient Camp in Townsville and preparations were made for the unit to embark.

Catalina A24-91 took off from Cairns for Morotai on 9 March 1945. Three additional unit personnel were taken on board at Cairns. They stayed overnight at Higgins Airfield. Catalina A24091 took off at 0600 hours on 10 March 1945 and landed at Merauke and refueled and then flew on to Noemfoor Island where they stayed overnight.

At 1900 hours on 10 March 1945, the unit moved to the Townsville wharves where they waited until 2359 hours before embarking on the "Carlos Carrilo" and all equipment was loaded on the "Creel".

Catalina A24-91 departed Noemfoor at 0630 hours and arrived at Morotai at 1130 hours the same day. They were met on arrival and taken to 61 OBU for lunch. They unloaded the aircraft during some rain that afternoon and tents were pitched on their new camp site. 61 OBU provided the rations for 113 ASRF. By the 14 March 1945, the unit camp at Morotai was functioning at about 50% with erection of mess buildings, latrines well under way.

The "Carlos Carrillo" arrived at Biak on 20 March 1945. The "Carlos Carrillo" left Biak at 1430 hours on 21 March 1945 in a convoy of four other ships guarded by three corvettes. The "Carlos Carrillo" docked at Morotai at 0930 hours on 24 March 1945 and the unit disembarked at 1130 hours. Because the men had travelled on one ship and their tents and sleeping stretchers were on another ship, they secured beds from the Air Stores Park in Morotai. The men slept in a stores tent and in the mess for the night. On 25 March 1945, the men were still busily erecting their tents on the camp site.

In addition to their Air Sea Rescue duties, they undertook support of a number of Allied Intelligence Bureau missions while they were at Morotai.

W/O Purdie and a party of 14 maintenance personnel as an advance party departed for Labuan on 30 May 1945.

On 15 January 1946, F/Lt Miller and crew in A24-110, left Labuan for Rathmines carrying personnel and stores for the first detachment of the unit moving back to Australia. A24-110 arrived at Rathmines on 18 January 1946. A second aircraft arrived at Rathmines on 19 January carrying more personnel. On 28 January 1945, A24-92 and A24-363 completed the final movement of all personnel and equipment from Labuan to Rathmines.

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