No. 14 Squadron RAAF
Early years
### Early years

No. 14 Squadron was formed at [RAAF Base Pearce](/wiki/RAAF_Base_Pearce "RAAF Base Pearce") near [Perth, Western Australia](/wiki/Perth%2C_Western_Australia "Perth, Western Australia") on 6 February 1939\. It was initially equipped with six [Avro Anson](/wiki/Avro_Anson "Avro Anson") aircraft, and conducted training exercises until the outbreak of World War II.RAAF Historical Section (1995\), p. 43

The squadron conducted its first wartime maritime patrol on 7 September 1939\. During late 1939 it also patrolled the remote coastline between [Derby](/wiki/Derby%2C_Western_Australia "Derby, Western Australia") and [Wyndham](/wiki/Wyndham%2C_Western_Australia "Wyndham, Western Australia") in the north of Western Australia as it was thought that German vessels might shelter there. In mid\-January 1940 a detachment was deployed to [Albany](/wiki/Albany%2C_Western_Australia "Albany, Western Australia") in the south of the state to protect a convoy carrying elements of the [Second Australian Imperial Force](/wiki/Second_Australian_Imperial_Force "Second Australian Imperial Force") in cooperation with [No. 25 Squadron](/wiki/No._25_Squadron_RAAF "No. 25 Squadron RAAF"). The squadron flew in support of many subsequent troop convoys throughout the war, and deployed aircraft to Albany on other occasions.Eather (1995\), p. 51 No. 14 Squadron's Ansons were replaced with [Lockheed Hudsons](/wiki/Lockheed_Hudson "Lockheed Hudson") in May 1940\. The new aircraft had superior performance, and were better suited to maritime patrol tasks. The squadron continued its regular program of patrols throughout the year, though a detachment was deployed to [Darwin](/wiki/Darwin%2C_Northern_Territory "Darwin, Northern Territory") in the Northern Territory for a period in December.

From February 1941, No. 14 Squadron began to conduct anti\-submarine patrols off Western Australia in addition to general reconnaissance patrols. It conducted these routine operations throughout the year, and occasionally exercised with [Australian Army](/wiki/Australian_Army "Australian Army") units.RAAF Historical Section (1995\), p. 44 In November the squadron was heavily involved in the unsuccessful search for the light cruiser  after she was [sunk in a battle](/wiki/Sinking_of_HMAS_Sydney "Sinking of HMAS Sydney") with the German auxiliary cruiser [*Kormoran*](/wiki/German_auxiliary_cruiser_Kormoran "German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran"). No. 14 Squadron flew more than 60 sorties during this operation, most of which were conducted from remote airstrips.


What additional patrols did No. 14 Squadron begin conducting from February 1941?