The Squadrons of the RAAF (1971)

Squadrons

To carry out its current responsibilities for the defence of Australia, the RAAF has sixteen operational squadrons backed by the resources of two major functional commands.

All sixteen squadrons have fine records of service both in peace and in war. The history of three of these squadrons dates from the era of flimsy fabric-and-wire aircraft when daring aviators fought their deadly tournaments over the trenches in the France of the 1914-18 War, or bombed and strafed the Turkish army in dusty Palestine. The history of the other thirteen squadrons dates from the period just before or during the 1939-45 War.

Two of the sixteen RAAF squadrons are equipped with Phantom F-4E aircraft and one with Canberra bombers. These squadrons are available to carry out the strike role of the RAAF. Four more squadrons are equipped with Mirage fighter aircraft; two with maritime aircraft based in Australia but capable of deployment elsewhere as required. The RAAF employs two squadrons of Iroquois helicopters, one in Vietnam and one in Australia for tactical support of our ground forces and for training. The RAAF air transport squadrons comprise two of Hercules aircraft, two of Caribou transports and one special squadron equipped with BAC I-II, Mystere 20 and HS748 aircraft.

STRIKE SQUADRONS

No. 82 Wing has long been the strike force of the RAAF. At the end of the 1939-45 War its three squadrons were equipped with four-engined Liberator bombers, and from the Darwin area and Morotai mounted hundreds of sorties against enemy targets in the Netherlands East Indies. Later the Wing was re-equipped with Lincoln bombers, and No. 1 Squadron of the Wing operated these aircraft with great effect in the Malayan emergency operations in the years 1950-58. The Wing's first jet aircraft was the famous English Electric Canberra. Three squadrons were equipped with Canberras and one of these, No. 2, continues to operate this aircraft type in support of the Vietnam operations.

RAAF plans call for the re-equipment of No. 82 Wing squadrons with the swing-wing F-111C aircraft to provide the RAAF with an effective deterrent capability. However the F-111C has yet to meet the agreed operational and technical requirements of the RAAF and this has resulted in a decision to obtain for the Wing on a leasehold basis from the United States twenty-four Phantom F-4E aircraft, which are now making a significant contribution to the defence capability of the Australian forces.

In a history-making trans-Pacific delivery flight, in September-October 1970 RAAF and United States Air Force crews flew the twenty-four Phantoms from the West Coast of the United States to Amberley, Queensland, via Honolulu and Guam, with air re-fuelling from American KC135 tankers en route. Although in some respect the Phantom F-41E aircraft does not meet RAAF needs as well as the F-111C, it is an effective strike aircraft.

The legendary reputation of the Phantom has been built up not in peacetime manoeuvres but in the realistic testing conditions of combat - in the Vietnamese conflict in which it outfought the MiG-21 and in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The squadron is based at Amberley and has a history going back to the 1914-18 War. Currently equipped with F-4E, it is the oldest squadron in the RAAF, having been formed in March 1916.

In the 1914-18 War, equipped with B.E. and Bristol fighters, the Squadron performed outstanding service in operations in Palestine.

One of its members was the first Australian pilot to receive the Victoria Cross. At the time of Pearl Harbour, it was based in Malaya and took part in the bitter fighting against the Japanese during their initial downward thrust through Malaya and later in the South-West Pacific.

In the Malayan emergency in the 1950s the Squadron played a major part in undermining the morale of the Communist terrorists. The Squadron returned to Australia in 1958 and was re-equipped with Canberra bombers.

Now it flies F-4E Phantom aircraft at Amberley.

Was formed in 1916 as part of the Australian Flying Corps. The squadron saw operational service in the 1914-18 and 1939-45 Wars and its long history includes many notable firsts. It was the first Australian squadron to engage the enemy in France during the 1914-18 War. The Squadron shares with No. 13 Squadron the honour of being awarded the U.S. Presidential Citation for distinguished service in 1942 in the north-western area of Australia. No. 2 was the first RAAF squadron to be equipped with jet bomber aircraft. In 1958 the squadron moved to Butterworth, Malaya, where it served for nine years. In April 1967, it was sent to South Vietnam and from Phan Rang has since been constantly engaged in operations in that country.

This squadron, along with No. 1 Squadron, is equipped with Phantom F-4E aircraft.

Formed in 1939, the Squadron was equipped initially with Avro Anson aircraft, then with Hudsons, and covered the approaches to the Sydney area.

Later, at Milne May, New Guinea, the Squadron's aircraft were engaged in the defence of Port Moresby.

Flying Australian-built Beauforts, No. 6 Squadron took part in the air bombardment of Rabaul and enemy targets in other areas of New Britain and New Guinea, including Wewak.

Immediately after the war it was re-equipped with Lincoln aircraft.

These were replaced by Canberra bombers in 1956 and last year by Phantom F-4E aircraft.

RAAF Phantom F-4E aircraft in flight. Twenty-four Phantoms which are being leased by the RAAF from the United States Government are as modern and effective as any military aircraft in the world, not only for their general capacity, but for their versatility. They are currently based at Amberley, Queensland

FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

The RAAF front-line fighter force is equipped with Mirage aircraft and is a highly effective force not only for air defence but for ground attack. Armed with air-to-air missiles, the Mirage has the capability of intercepting supersonic aircraft by day or night in all weather conditions. The excellence of the Mirage in the ultimate test of war was proved by its success in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Two squadrons of the RAAF Mirages are based at Butterworth, Malaysia. They are to be retained in the Malaysian region, with a detachment of Mirages on rotation to Singapore.

A modification programme to give all Mirage aircraft a full ground attack capability is now complete. This gives the RAAF Mirages greater flexibility. New Hub-cap mobile radars have been provided in support of the Mirage aircraft in addition to existing radar installations.

One of four Mirage squadrons of the RAAF, No. 3 began it's long history in the 1914-18 War.

It operated on the Western Front in France as an army co-operation squadron and in the early battles of the 1939-45 War it again operated as an army co-operation squadron, flying Gladiator aircraft in the first Libyan campaign.

Then it graduated as a fighter squadron and flew in the Syrian campaign and the Western Desert and later in the Italian campaign.

In 1956 it was equipped with Sabre fighters and two years later flew its aircraft to Butterworth, Malaysia.

Returning to Australia in 1967 the Squadron was re-equipped with Mirage fighters and returned to Butterworth in 1969 where it is currently stationed.

Along with No. 3 Squadron, this fighter squadron makes up the RAAF contribution to Malaysian defence.

No. 75 was the first RAAF fighter squadron to be formed with Kittyhawk aircraft in Australia in early 1942, and immediately commenced an heroic struggle against superior enemy forces in the Port Moresby area. In the next three years the Squadron was in the van of the RAAF operations as Allied forces moved through New Guinea to Morotai and Borneo.

On its return to Australia after the war the Squadron was equipped with Mustang aircraft. In 1952, No. 75 was part of No. 78 (Fighter) Wing sent to Malta to contribute to the Allied air defence of the Mediterranean. In 1955 the Squadron returned to Australia and was re-equipped with the Australian-built Avon-Sabre aircraft. In May 1967, after being re-equipped with Mirage fighters, the Squadron flew to Butterworth, Malaysia, where it is now stationed.

Was formed in 1942 at Amberley, Queensland, as an interceptor fighter squadron equipped with Kittyhawk aircraft.

The squadron took part with No. 75 in the operations at Milne Bay which succeeded for the first time in defeating a Japanese force on the ground. The Squadron then operated at Darwin and at Exmouth Gulf in 1943 before returning to New Guinea.

The squadron took part in the invasion of the Admiralty Islands in March 1944 and in the invasion of Borneo in 1945. Re-equipped with Mustangs it was part of the RAAF force occupying Japan.

On its withdrawal from Japan it was sent to Malta. In 1960 it was re-equipped with Sabre jets at Williamtown and in 1966 converted to Mirage fighters.

Formed at Perth, Western Australia, early in 1942 and equipped with Kittyhawk aircraft, No. 77 Squadron first saw action in the Darwin area later the same year.

One of its pilots at this time was the future Australian Prime Minister, the Right Honourable J. G. Gorton.

In 1943 the Squadron was based at Milne Bay and was heavily engaged in an air-to-air battle against Japanese aircraft.

The Squadron took part in subsequent campaigns in New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies and Borneo.

When the Pacific war ended the Squadron was re-equipped with Mustang aircraft and assigned to the occupation of Japan.

It was the only RAAF squadron of the occupation forces still in Japan when, in 1950, the Korean War opened with the invasion of South Korea.

The Squadron was the first British Commonwealth squadron to take part in the Korean War, in which it served with distinction. During the Korean War it was re-equipped with Meteor 8 jets and on returning to Australia at the end of the war was again re-equipped with Sabres and flown to Butterworth in 1959 as part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve force. It returned to Australia in 1969 and is now equipped with Mirage aircraft.

With a vital role in the defence of Australia at sea, the RAAF maritime force of two squadrons (one of Neptune aircraft and one of Orion aircraft) is based in Australia, but capable of deployment elsewhere as required. Both squadrons use modern anti-submarine detection systems and are able to react immediately to any threat in the Australian area of defence interest.

In addition to the anti-submarine role the RAAF maritime squadrons are continually engaged in surveillance patrols in all ocean areas surrounding Australia.

The Orion aircraft can fly to distant areas at high speeds and then loiter in the area for long periods. The field of antisubmarine warfare has become so complex that air electronics officers have been specially trained in the operation of radar and underwater listening devices needed to detect the modern submarine. As well as two pilots, the crew includes flight engineers, air electronics officers and three navigators.

An Orion aircraft of No. ii Squadron has flown non-stop from its home base at Edinburgh, South Australia, to Antarctica and return. Maritime aircraft regularly take part in SEATO exercises and in exercises with the United States forces in the Honolulu area.

As well as their long range surveillance patrols and antisubmarine missions the maritime aircraft are often called on to take part in search-and-rescue missions. The squadron records have a long series of reports on these activities.

Maritime aircraft frequently fly only a few hundred feet over the water and salt spray results in salt caking on the aircraft. On landing from a mission the aircraft are taxied to a concrete pad and the metal-corroding salt is washed off automatically by what the crews refer to as a 'bird bath'. This is but one of the anticorrosion measures adopted to protect the aircraft.

Formed in July 1939, the motto of No. 10 Squadron is 'Strike First'. These words are apt indeed because the Squadron was not only the first RAAF squadron, but also the first squadron from any of the British Dominions, to go into action against the enemy in the 1939-45 War.

No. 10 was in England in 1939 taking delivery of its new Sunderland flying boats when the war began and the Australian Government decided that the Sunderlands and their crews could best serve the cause by remaining in England. For the whole of the war it was part of the RAF Coastal Command.

From England it carried out convoy escorts, reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols. It returned to Australia in 1945, disbanded and then reformed in 1949, equipped with Lincoln aircraft.

In 1953 the Squadron regained its original wartime role as a maritime squadron. It has been equipped with Neptune aircraft since 1962. In peace and war it has one of the finest records of any RAAF squadron.

Formed at RAAF Base, Richmond, New South Wales, in September 1939 the Squadron immediately proceeded to Port Moresby with two Empire flying boats (taken over from Qantas) and began patrolling in the Thursday Island, Tulagi, New Zealand and Bougainville areas.

In 1942 the Squadron began operating from Cairns with Catalina aircraft, carrying out long range patrols.

Using Catalina aircraft the Squadron took part in a successful mine-laying campaign in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

One of its missions was to drop mines in Manila Bay in the Philippines just prior to the invasion of Mindoro Island in December 1944.

The Squadron was disbanded in 1946 but was reformed at Rathmines, New South Wales, in 1948.

In 1950 the Squadron was again disbanded and again reformed during the same year at Pearce, Western Australia, equipped with Lincoln aircraft. From the beginning of 1951 It was re-equipped again, this time with P2V Neptune aircraft.

In 1968 the Squadron proceeded to the United States to take delivery of P311 Orion aircraft and on return to Australia began operating from a new base - Edinburgh, South Australia.