1941年2月7日,第450中队在新南威尔士州纽卡斯尔附近的澳大利亚皇家空军威廉敦站成立,是澳大利亚根据“帝国航空训练计划”(Empire Air Training Scheme)建立并在英国军队服役的第一个渥太华协定第15条中队(Article XV squadron),比第451中队(No. 451 Squadron RAAF)早一周[6][7]。新中队原定以“渗透”为主,起初只有地勤人员,受命到达指令战区后再同有经验的飞行员会合[8]。
第450中队首先由布鲁斯·谢泼德(Bruce Shepherd)空军上尉临时指挥[11][12],1941年4月11日在悉尼搭上“伊丽莎白皇后号”运兵船远赴中东,5月3日抵达埃及[13][14]。戈登·斯蒂格(Gordon Steege)空军少校在英国皇家空军阿布苏耶基地(RAF Abu Sueir)接手指挥权后,第450中队与缺乏地勤人员的英国皇家空军第260中队(No. 260 Squadron RAF)飞行员和颶風戰鬥機合并,组成番号“第260/450中队”(No. 260/450 Squadron)的作战中队[13][15]。合并后的第260/450中队转移至外约旦安曼,1941年6月29日首次出动,以飓风战斗机空袭维希法国机场和基础设施,配合盟军入侵叙利亚[16]。中队此役只执行十天任务,空袭机场61架次,进攻巡逻20架次,轰炸机护航六架次[17]。
1941年8月,第260中队新增地勤人员,与第450中队人员分离。第450中队转移到黎巴嫩里亚克机场(Rayak airfield)并配备飓风战斗机和迈尔斯教师教练机[13](Miles Magister)。十月上旬,中队迎来以澳大利亚人为主的20名澳大利亚、英国和加拿大飞行学员,开始执行作战训练任务[15][18]。两周后这批飞行员另派他处,第450中队的飞机也因没有飞行员转调。10月20日,中队迁至埃及阿拉伯堡(Burg El Arab),开始执行高级维修、救助和服务任务,为北非战役贡献力量。[3][19]
1941年12月,中队已有飞机员加入并开始接收P-40小鹰战斗机[19][20]。12月19日,英国皇家空军中东司令部(RAF Middle East Command)发布行政指令,宣布第450和第451中队虽然人员以澳大利亚籍为主,但都是“根据‘帝国航空训练计划’租借并由英国皇家空军负担开支,从任何实际角度出发都应视为英国皇家空军中队”。指令一度引起混乱,经英国空军部(Air Ministry)干预,1942年1月23日发布的公布澄清“第450和第451‘帝国航空训练计划’中队属澳大利亚皇家空军中队”。[21]第450中队同月开始训练,2月19日起投入作战,从英国皇家空军甘布特基地(RAF Gambut)出发在图卜鲁格附近巡逻。行动前几天风平浪静,但三天后雷蒙德·肖(Raymond Shaw)空军中士便在加查拉(Gazala)附近拦截Ju 88轟炸機,是中队首位赢得空战的飞行员。[15][16]
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Barton, Leonard L. The Desert Harassers: Being Memoirs of 450 (RAAF) Squadron 1941–1945. Mosman, New South Wales: Astor. 1991. ISBN 9780646034829.
James, George A. (ed.). OK: Recollections of the Desert Harassers. Illawong, New South Wales: 450 Squadron (RAAF) Association. 1996. ISBN 9780646278636.
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