26 Repair and Salvage Unit was formed at Laverton, Victoria, on 20 August 1942, to repair and salvage aircraft, motor transport and other equipment, and to repair, maintain and modify equipment beyond the capacity of operational squadrons. Early activities were related to the preparation of demands for equipment and its collection from 1 Stores Depot.
The Unit began its first salvage job on 14 September 1942, when it dismantled a neon sign on the Garrick Theatre, Melbourne, and recovered approximately 14 tons of structural steel. Salvage of aircraft began in October 1942. Flight Lieutenant Ley and Sergeant Lee travelled to Bairnsdale and Lake Victoria to inspect the Unit’s first assignments and, as a result, Sergeant Lee left Laverton with a party of 14 airmen to salvage Beaufort A9-61 at Lake Victoria; they completed the job by 22 October 1942.
On 8 October 1942 the Unit came under the control of 4 Maintenance Group.
On 3 December 1942 the Unit moved to Werribee and then, in June 1943, moved to Goodenough Island, New Guinea, to set up camp. While in this area personnel had small arms instruction and had to perform defence works. The Unit salvaged Beaufort, Kittyhawk, Beaufighter, Spitfire and Boston aircraft. On 29 June 1944, the Unit came under the control of 10 Operational Group. On 7 September 1944 the Unit moved to Noemfoor, via Finschhafen and Biak, on the SS Sidney H. Short. During December, the Unit changed its name to 26 Repair and Servicing Unit.
On 2 April 1945, it embarked aboard the SS Clarence Roberts for Morotai. The Unit reached Morotai on 10 April 1945, before deploying to Tarakan in May. Work suffered due to confrontation with enemy ground troops—at one stage the Unit’s advance party was only 100 yards from the Japanese lines.
With the end of the War in August there was little work for the Unit and, on 18 November 1945, it disbanded.
COMMANDING OFFICERS
- 20 August 1942 — Squadron Leader S.F. Ley
- 4 October 1944 — Squadron Leader K.R. Dalziel
- 30 April 1945 — Squadron Leader N.W. Tucker