On 30.11.41 No. 3 celebrated its 106th victory, as all those members who were there will recall and verify. WgCdr John Watson and Louis Jones in "No.3 Squadron at War", John Herington in the "Official History of the RAAF in World War II", and recent independent research confirm that figure.

When the last of the original pilots left the Squadron at the end of 1941 the "score" had grown to 115. These claims, and those that came later, were carefully vetted by the Squadron, but only became official after final approval by the respective RAF Authorities under whose command the Squadron operated from time to time.

Some time between the end of 1941 and August 1942 some confusion arose in the Squadron's progressive "tally". What this was and how and when it happened is unclear after 50 odd years. No doubt the switch in the primary role from Air Combat to Bombing was a contributing factor.

No matter what the cause of the uncertainty a check count of all the Squadron's claims up to 13.8.42 was made. The results were entered in a "Book of Original Entry" as were subsequent claims.

This book has not been located but a list up to and including 26.12.44 was compiled from the book setting out the "Enemy Aircraft Officially Credited to members of No.3 Squadron RAAF". This list was signed by the then CO and a copy has been located in the "RAAF Historical Section", Department of Defence, Canberra.

There are numerous mistakes in this list for the 1940/41 period. Some of the errors are obviously 'clerical' in nature, whilst others arise from ignorance of the period, the specific combats, the pilots concerned and the assessment criteria of the period.

As far as totals are concerned the list gives 130 on 30.11.41 instead of 106 and 140 instead of 115 at the end of 1941 - an error of 25.

In the post 1941 period the Book of Original Entry List gives a total of 75 1/2 and adding 2 Fi156 Storch shot down over Yugoslavia in 1945 makes it 77 1/2.

These claims, both individually and in total, are confirmed by recent research which adds another two making 79 1/2.

In this figure the Squadron claimed 2 x 109's shot down by the RAF CO of NO.239 Wing "as he flew with the Squadron" at the time. It is understood that it was RAF practice to allot Wing scores to Squadrons in this manner. Whether this holds good between RAF and RAAF is a moot point. The RAF pilot was not seconded, attached or on strength of No.3, nor would he have appeared on the Squadron Honour Roll if he'd been killed.

The Squadron's World War II claims of enemy aircraft destroyed in Aerial Combat would therefore appear to be:

(i) 106 as at 30.11.41

(ii) 115 at the end of 1941

(iii) 115 + 77 1/2 = 192 1/2 overall NOT 217 1/2

(iv) 194 1/2 with the 2 x 109's from 239 Wing

Both Wing Commander Watson and John Herrington were no doubt misled by the Book of Original Entry List total of 215 1/2 or 217 1/2 with the 2 Fi156 Storch.

A simple addition of the list to 30.11.41 would have shown that l06 and 217 1/2 were not compatible.

The Squadron has already been accused of counting aircraft destroyed on the ground to make up the total. Luckily, this was referred to the Squadron for checking before publication and lucky war time members were still around to do so.

Steps have been taken to ensure this does not recur and that historians and researches do not fall into the same trap.

A submission signed by all the presently surviving CO's (viz. P.JEFFREY, A.C.RAWLINSON, R.H.GIBBES_, A.W.BARR, B.A.EATON, R.N.B.STEVENS, K.A.RICHARDS and P.M.NASH) has been forwarded to the following with the request that it be cross-referenced to the Squadron World War II Records. "No.3 Squadron at War^" , and the "Official History of the RAAF in World War II".

(i) No.3 Squadron, RAAF Base, Williamtown

(ii) RAAF Historical Section, Department of Defence, Canberra

(iii) Australian War Memorial

(iv) RAAF Museum, RAAF Base, Williams

(v) Imperial War Museum, London

(vi) President, No.3 Sqdn. Association

The mistakes in the Air Combat Claims had to be corrected or they would have remained a constant threat of embarrassment to members of the war time Squadron, and indirectly to the Squadron in being, and to the RAAF.

This does not suggest or infer that the Squadron's Air Combat results were its sole or even its main contribution to the war effort.

Its achievements in all its roles were not surpassed by any other Squadron in the same theatre of operations carrying out the same tasks with the same equipment and we are right to walk tall and be proud that we served in No.3 RAAF.