31 Squadron Operational Reports

31 SQUADRON OPERATIONAL REPORTS

Operational Reports for 31 Squadron. 11-8-41 to 31-8-45.

Reproduced with the permission of the National Archives of Australia

Below are the operational logs that the commanding officer of the squadron have signed. They are about the daily missions, operations, equipment, transport and describe the arrival and departure of the various airmen as they eventually completed their tours of duty. From these pages you may be able to trace the start and finish of particular Pilots and Navigators who performed their tours of duty while they were with 31 Squadron. Unfortunately, the Ground crews of the Squadron were not mentioned as the operational notes were mainly about the missions performed. It is interesting to note that from around February 1944 as the squadrons activity started to reduce, that the reports started to include the welfare of the Squadron as a whole.

According to the reports, the topics started to include Medical, Morale, Hygiene and Recreational activities. Recreational activities ranged from Badminton, Football, Cards, Darts and Cricket. There was also swimming at local waterholes and Mindil Beach at Darwin and at Adelaide River and no doubt in the islands as the squadron moved up there. A Cinema was provided at Coomalie around 1943 as was a Chapel for their spiritual needs. These pages cover the period from the formation of the Squadron, 11-08-1942 to the end of August 1945.