Second World War No. 30 Squadron was established at
RAAF Base Richmond on 9 March 1942 as a long-range fighter squadron operating the
Bristol Beaufighter. After a brief period of training the squadron deployed to
Townsville where it escorted anti-shipping patrols. In early September a small detachment from the squadron was sent to
Milne Bay from where they attacked Japanese shipping, becoming the first RAAF Beaufighter squadron to see action. Shortly afterwards, the rest of the squadron was deployed to
Port Moresby in
New Guinea from where it operated as a low-level
ground attack unit supporting the Allied efforts in
Papua, a role in which the Beaufighter proved highly successful. No. 30 Squadron's primary mission during the war was attacking Japanese shipping and coastal bases, with the focus initially being upon targets around
Buna and
Sanananda, before being expanded to support operations along the
Kokoda Track,
Goodenough Island and
Lae. In July 1943, the squadron was moved to Goodenough Island, tasked with attacking Japanese airfields and searching for supply barges that were being moved along the coast between
Madang and Nassau Bay. It also undertook convoy escort duties for Allied ships transiting the area. It was then relocated to
Tadji, from where it continued to interdict Japanese barge-borne supplies in the Aitape–Wewak region; these proved very successful and in October the squadron's arsenal was expanded to include air-to-ground rockets. No. 30 Squadron was re-raised on 1 July 2010 as the unit responsible for providing airbase support services to
RAAF Base East Sale. The squadron is designated No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron and forms part of
Combat Support Group. ==Aircraft operated==