Community & Business
22 March, 2023
Commemorating Leyburn’s airborne past
Thursday, 16 March marked exactly 68 years since the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 23 Heavy Bomber Squadron departed Leyburn Airfield and to mark the occasion a memorial plaque was unveiled at Liberator Park.
Braving the hot and steamy conditions, 50 or so people, including members of the No. 23 Squadron and Toowoomba RAAF and other veterans, found shade in Liberator Park to watch the presentation.
Historian Warrant Officer George Hatchman (Rtd.) spoke about the history of No. 23 Squadron.
It was formed in 1937 and is still active to this day.
Before arriving in Leyburn, it was based in Archerfield before relocating to Lowood in 1943.
It was the first of its kind in Queensland.
In 1944, the squadron relocated again, this time to Leyburn Airfield.
Mr Hatchman said as Leyburn was not on a railway line, troops were required to get off the train at Clifton and march all the way to Leyburn.
One commanding officer refused on behalf of his troops and waited until transport was arranged.
The RAAF base at Leyburn was home to No. 23 Squadron from 15 November 1944 to 16 March 1945.
After Leyburn, the Squadron moved to Darwin for the rest of World War II and then to Tocumwal in New South Wales for post war demobilisation.
The plaque unveiled on Thursday honours the five men of No. 23 Squadron who lost their lives serving their country: Flight Sergeant Frank Hutton, Leading aircraftman Donald Guerin, Flight Lieutenant John Swain, Flight Lieutenant Phillip Swain and Corporal Albert Crane.
Two aircraft were lost as well, one in Darwin and one in Celebes in modern day Indonesia.
Wing Commander Tanya Evans spoke about current operations of the Squadron, now based at Amberley.
She said it is the largest squadron in Australia with over 300 active personnel and 200 reservists,
In recent years, it has assisted in efforts in, among other places, the Solomon Islands and Ukraine as well as in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Member for Southern Downs James Lister was in Brisbane for a sitting of parliament, his wife Belinda Lister spoke on his behalf.
Fittingly, Mrs Lister, a retired RAAF servicewoman, had her first posting in the No. 23 squadron after leaving the army as a logistics officer.
Mr Lister sponsored the plaque.
Representing Southern Downs Regional Council, Cr Marco Gliori recited a fitting poem on behalf of fellow Councillor Cynthia McDonald.
The plaque unveiling was hosted by the No. 23 Squadron, Leyburn RSL Sub-branch and Leyburn & District Historical Society.
It will remain at Liberator Park, next to the propeller and monument recognising the RAAF Z Special Unit, for future generations to absorb.
