Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Denzil Howard Baynes was born on the 22nd of May 1933 to Mr. and Mrs Oliver Baynes. He was born and raised with his sister Ezme in the town of Booborowie South Australia, and he attended the Church of England congregation there and throughout his life. In his early adult years, he worked as a mixed farm hand and on the February 21st, 1934, his sister married, and he served as her groomsman.
Sometime between this family event and his enlistment he moved to Nairne, as seen on his Enrolment of person in the reserve form 1941. We learn in his reception and disposal squadron form that he was married to Rita Thelma Jean Baynes.

After his enlistment into the RAAF on the 29th of July 1941 he served Australia by being mustered as a guard at Air Base Laverton. He then moved around North Adelaide from 5th August 1943 to June 15th, 1944, when he would go on leave. On his leave it is likely he either moved house or discussed moving house with his wife Rita. On his reception and disposal squadron form dated 17th of December 1945 it lists his address as being 35 Walkerville Road St Peters (now 35 Walkerville Road Gilberton) not Nairne like on his enrolment form. This could explain the large amount of time he would spend on leave.

Upon his return to duty, he was stationed in Bradfield Park on 2/1/45 and he was stationed here until the end of 22/1/45 where he was posted to Townsville. Between 1941 and 1945 he would be posted around Australia a total of 10 times. He was sent to Nadzab New Guinea on the 5th of the February 1945 which was acting as

Garrison for the combined US and Anzac forces to continue their island-hopping campaign and push Japan’s southern flank.
Denzel would continue to act as a member of the Garrison Force for the Allied offensive being posted in Lae on the 5th of the February 1945. Until posted to Morotai on the 7th of the April 1945. He would spend his time in New Guinea with 4 squadron between 5th February 45 and 7th April 45, he would protect the airfields making sure they did not fall into enemy hands.
Number 4 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) came together at Nadzab on March 19, 1945, before moving on to Moratai and then Labuan, where they arrived on June 23 of the same year. The squadron's Wirraway planes were used for tactical reconnaissance missions in the Kuching area, while the Boomerangs were detached to Balikpapan to lead in Spitfire and Kittyhawk squadrons.

On the 5th May 45 he moved to the 2nd Aerodrome Defence Squadron which was established on 10 April 1945 at Morotai during World War II, with FLTLT John C. Fullerton assuming command. Its main duty was to provide security and air base defence for domestic airbase operations across permanent RAAF bases in Queensland and the Northern Territories. The Squadron comprised of a headquarters and five rifle companies. Sadly, LAC Thomas J. Irvine became the Squadron's first casualty while serving in a Rifle Company Flight during Operation Oboe One, a series of amphibious assaults against the Japanese in Borneo. Despite this tragic loss, the Squadron continued to carry out its crucial duties. However, the Squadron was disbanded on 29 October 1945 after the end of the war. Denzil would spend the last months of the war in Springbank.

Bibliography

Digital Item Page Gallery (2023). Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=4593040&S=33&N=66&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=4593040&T=P&S=33 (Accessed: 7 May 2023).
No 2 airfield defence squadron was formed (no 2 security forces squadron) (no date) No 2 Airfield Defence Squadron was formed (No 2 Security Forces Squadron) | Air Force. Available at: https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/history/our-journey/no-2-airfield-defence-squadron-was-formed-no-2-security-forces-squadron (Accessed: May 7, 2023).
View digital copy (2023). Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1339926 (Accessed: 7 May 2023).
CUSTODIANS, A., Memorial, T. and Memorial, T. (2023) No. 4 Squadron, Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U59369 (Accessed: 7 May 2023).

WEDDING - (Contributed.) BAYNES—ALLEN. - Burra Record (SA : 1878 - 1954) - 28 Feb 1934 (2023). Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36075350?searchTerm=%22Denzil%20Baynes%22 (Accessed: 7 May 2023).

Home On Leave - Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 - 1965; 1992 - 2002) - 15 Jun 1944 (2023). Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/99914990?searchTerm=%22Cpl%20D%20Baynes%22 (Accessed: 7 May 2023).

AWM66 367 Part 1 - [Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) miscellaneous records:] RAAF War History Section - 4 Squadron - War Stand Reports - No. 4 (Tac/R) Sqdn, 96C [Includes reports on training for No.4 Squadron, RAAF] (2023). Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2679587?image=6 (Accessed: 7 May 2023).