The Stirling Castle arrived at Melbourne on 13 August.
After being given 14 days leave the squadron's personnel reassembled at Richmond, New South Wales on 6 September.
On 7 October it became part of No.
1 Wing RAAF along with No.
 54 and No.
 452 Squadrons.
Most of the Spitfires intended for the wing had been diverted to the Middle East during the voyage to Australia, however, and the squadron initially only had CAC Wirraway and Ryan ST aircraft for training purposes.
No.
 457 Squadron was fully equipped with Spitfires by November and moved to Camden on the 7th of the month where it continued an intensive training program.
In December the squadron was informed that it would be deployed to Darwin in the Northern Territory to counter the Japanese air raids against the town.
The squadron's advance party departed on 31 December, and the main body followed by sea on 12 January 1943.
No.
 457 Squadron commenced air operations from Batchelor Airfield on 20 January and moved to Livingstone Airfield on the last day of the month.

No.
 457 Squadron first saw combat against the Japanese in March 1943.
Although the squadron was scrambled a number of times in February, it did not claim its first "kill" until 7 March when two Spitfires shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft near Darwin.
On 15 March No.
 1 Wing's three squadrons intercepted a large raid on Darwin, and No.
 457 Squadron shot down two A6M Zeros and damaged another of the fighters.
The squadron was also credited with damaging a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber and claimed another three Zeros as "probables".
No further Japanese aircraft were encountered over northern Australia until May. During this period No.
 457 Squadron practiced tactics and cooperation with RAAF and Australian Army units.
Flying was normally limited to just one hour each day, however.

On 2 May No.
 1 Wing responded to a major Japanese raid on Darwin.
In the resulting air battle No.
 457 Squadron shot down one fighter and claimed another two "probables", but lost two Spitfires.
Overall, the RAAF suffered 14 Spitfires destroyed or damaged while claiming only six "kills", and the operation was not considered a success.
Seven days later No.
 457 Squadron deployed a detachment of six Spitfires to Milingimbi Island after the island's airfield was attacked.
This detachment intercepted Japanese raids on 10 and 28 May, shooting down two Zeros and two Bettys for the loss of three Spitfires.
The squadron also continued to take part in operations over the Darwin region, seeing combat on a number of occasions.
During the last major battle near the town on 6 July No.
 457 Squadron shot down a Zero and damaged five Bettys, but lost three Spitfires.

Japanese air activity over northern Australia dropped away after 6 July, and No.
 457 Squadron saw little further combat.
As a result, the squadron's personnel suffered greatly from boredom.
No.
 457 Squadron scored its next "kills" on 17 August, when its aircraft shot down three of the four Dinahs sent over Darwin that day; the fourth was destroyed by No.
 1 Wing's acting commander, Wing Commander Clive Caldwell.
The squadron shot down another two Dinahs on 20 August.
On 7 September No.
 1 Wing intercepted a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft escorted by 20 fighters.
In the ensuing battle No.
 457 Squadron shot down four Zeros without loss.
On 4 November No.
 457 Squadron deployed six Spitfires to Drysdale River Mission Airfield, and two days later they intercepted and damaged a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft.
The squadron maintained a detachment at Drysdale River Mission until December, when No.
 54 Squadron assumed this duty.
During the early hours of 12 November three No.
 457 Squadron Spitfires were part of a force which intercepted a raid on Darwin.
No.
 457 Squadron pilot Flying Officer John Smithson made the only interception and destroyed two Betty bombers.

The attack on 12 November was the final Japanese raid on the Darwin area.
As a result, No.
 1 Wing's flying squadrons had little to do and the pilots became bored.
No.
 457 Squadron conducted little operational fl
The Stirling Castle arrived at Melbourne on 13 August. After being given 14 days leave the squadron's personnel reassembled at Richmond, New South Wales on 6 September. On 7 October it became part of No. 1 Wing RAAF along with No. 54 and No. 452 Squadrons. Most of the Spitfires intended for the wing had been diverted to the Middle East during the voyage to Australia, however, and the squadron initially only had CAC Wirraway and Ryan ST aircraft for training purposes. No. 457 Squadron was fully equipped with Spitfires by November and moved to Camden on the 7th of the month where it continued an intensive training program. In December the squadron was informed that it would be deployed to Darwin in the Northern Territory to counter the Japanese air raids against the town. The squadron's advance party departed on 31 December, and the main body followed by sea on 12 January 1943. No. 457 Squadron commenced air operations from Batchelor Airfield on 20 January and moved to Livingstone Airfield on the last day of the month.
No. 457 Squadron first saw combat against the Japanese in March 1943. Although the squadron was scrambled a number of times in February, it did not claim its first "kill" until 7 March when two Spitfires shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft near Darwin. On 15 March No. 1 Wing's three squadrons intercepted a large raid on Darwin, and No. 457 Squadron shot down two A6M Zeros and damaged another of the fighters. The squadron was also credited with damaging a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber and claimed another three Zeros as "probables". No further Japanese aircraft were encountered over northern Australia until May. During this period No. 457 Squadron practiced tactics and cooperation with RAAF and Australian Army units. Flying was normally limited to just one hour each day, however.
On 2 May No. 1 Wing responded to a major Japanese raid on Darwin. In the resulting air battle No. 457 Squadron shot down one fighter and claimed another two "probables", but lost two Spitfires. Overall, the RAAF suffered 14 Spitfires destroyed or damaged while claiming only six "kills", and the operation was not considered a success. Seven days later No. 457 Squadron deployed a detachment of six Spitfires to Milingimbi Island after the island's airfield was attacked. This detachment intercepted Japanese raids on 10 and 28 May, shooting down two Zeros and two Bettys for the loss of three Spitfires. The squadron also continued to take part in operations over the Darwin region, seeing combat on a number of occasions. During the last major battle near the town on 6 July No. 457 Squadron shot down a Zero and damaged five Bettys, but lost three Spitfires.
Japanese air activity over northern Australia dropped away after 6 July, and No. 457 Squadron saw little further combat. As a result, the squadron's personnel suffered greatly from boredom. No. 457 Squadron scored its next "kills" on 17 August, when its aircraft shot down three of the four Dinahs sent over Darwin that day; the fourth was destroyed by No. 1 Wing's acting commander, Wing Commander Clive Caldwell. The squadron shot down another two Dinahs on 20 August. On 7 September No. 1 Wing intercepted a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft escorted by 20 fighters. In the ensuing battle No. 457 Squadron shot down four Zeros without loss. On 4 November No. 457 Squadron deployed six Spitfires to Drysdale River Mission Airfield, and two days later they intercepted and damaged a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron maintained a detachment at Drysdale River Mission until December, when No. 54 Squadron assumed this duty. During the early hours of 12 November three No. 457 Squadron Spitfires were part of a force which intercepted a raid on Darwin. No. 457 Squadron pilot Flying Officer John Smithson made the only interception and destroyed two Betty bombers.
The attack on 12 November was the final Japanese raid on the Darwin area. As a result, No. 1 Wing's flying squadrons had little to do and the pilots became bored. No. 457 Squadron conducted little operational fl
No. 457 Squadron RAAF