In 1943 85 Squadron RAAF was tasked with the defence of Western Australia against Japanese bombers. Initially though they operated a mix of obsolete ex-Dutch Buffalo and some newer Boomerang fighters, both of which proved unable to intercept the high flying Betty bombers the Japanese sent. It was not until September 1944 that the squadron received Spitfires and their last Boomerangs could be retired. This Buffalo flown by Flight Sergeant John Bailey still carried the olive drab and medium green top camouflage used by the Dutch although the undersides had been repainted in RAAF pale blue.
