nˈoʊ. twˈɛnti θɹˈiː skwˈɑːdɹən wʌz fˈɜːst fˈɔːɹmd ˌɔn θɹˈiː mˈeɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi sˈɛvən æt ɹˈɑːf bˈeɪs lˈævɜːtən æz ɐ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl pˈɜːpəs jˈuːnɪt ɪkwˈɪpt wɪð ˈævɹoʊ ˈænsənz ænd hˈɔːkɚ dˈiːmənz.
No. 23 Squadron was first formed on 3 May 1937 at RAAF Base Laverton as a general purpose unit equipped with Avro Ansons and Hawker Demons.