Desert Harassers

The infamous Lord Haw-Haw once remarked that 450 Squadron was nothing more than than a band
of "Australian mercenaries whose harassing tactics were easily beaten off by the Luftwaffe".
From that time onward, the personnel of 450 Squadron referred to themselves as the 'Desert Harassers'.

The caption from the reverse of the following photo reads:

Kittyhawk fighter aircraft of the Desert Harassers lined up preparatory to an operation at Kairouna.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

The IWM caption for the following photo reads:

A Curtiss Kittyhawk Mark IV of No. 450 Squadron RAAF in a dispersal at Cutella, south of Vasto,
Italy, with a 1,000-lb GP bomb slung underneath the fuselage, and two 500-lb GP bombs slung from
the wing loading points. Note the pierced steel plandking (PSP) covering the dispersal surface.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

The IWM caption for the following photo, which shows the same ship in the photo above, reads:

An RAF Wing Commander inspects a 1,000-lb GP bomb slung beneath the fuselage of a Curtiss
Kittyhawk Mark IV of No. 450 Squadron RAAF in a dispersal at Cutella, south of Vasto, Italy.
Two 500-lb GP bombs are also slung from the wing loading points.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

The IWM caption for the following photo reads:

Curtiss Kittyhawk Mark IV, FX745 'OK-Y', of No. 450 Squadron RAAF, taxying to the runway at
Cervia, Italy, loaded with three 250-lb GP bombs for a sortie in support of the 8th Army's
spring offensive in the Po Valley.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

The IWM caption for the following photo reads:

The damaged tail of Curtiss Kittyhawk Mark IV, FX529, of No. 450 Squadron RAAF, which was flown
back to base at Cervia, Italy, by the Squadron Commander, Squadron Leader J C Doyle, after being
hit by anti-aircraft fire during a ground attack sortie over the 8th Army Front.


Imperial War Museum - Larger Image

Back to 'RAAF'