This Day in History: 1941-11-19

No. 453 Squadron RAAF was declared operational in Singapore on 19 November 1941 after being equipped with Brewster Buffalo aircraft and completing a period of training. The Squadron was formed at Bankstown, New South Wales in May 1941. In mid July, the men embarked on the SS Marella and SS Sibajak for Singapore with the first section arriving there on 15 Aug 1941. By the end of the month the Squadron had been equipped with Brewster Buffalo fighters. Sources: Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History, Volume 2 Fighter Units, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1995; NAA: A1196, 36/501/192, Item ID 200371 “AMOE (Organisation). EATS Squadrons – Proposals to send Fighter Squadron to Malaya. 453 Sqn.”