No. 78 Wing RAAF
No. 78 Wing RAAF | ||
---|---|---|
Active | 1943–67 2000–current | |
Country | Australia | |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force | |
Role | Operational training | |
Part of | Air Combat Group | |
Headquarters | RAAF Base Williamtown | |
Motto(s) | Fight | |
Engagements | World War II
Trainer Hawk 127 | |
No. 78 Wing is a
Formed as a fighter wing in November 1943, No. 78 Wing comprised three flying units,
History
World War II
No. 78 Wing was formed on 24 November 1943 at
When No. 10 Operational Group was re-formed as the
Arthur retained command of No. 78 Wing for the
Early post-war period
Following the end of hostilities, No. 78 Wing, comprising Nos. 75, 78 and 80 Squadrons, and No. 114 MFCU, departed Tarakan for Australia. Arriving in December 1945, the formation was based initially at
No. 378 (Base) Squadron was formed under the aegis of No. 78 Wing at Williamtown in June 1947; base squadrons were administrative and logistical units intended to make their wings self-supporting and mobile, in case of deployment.[20][21] No. 478 (Maintenance) Squadron formed the same month to take responsibility for all aircraft and equipment operated by No. 78 Wing.[22] Nos. 75 and 78 Squadrons were disbanded in March and April 1948, respectively.[15] Nos. 478 and 378 Squadrons also disbanded in April, the latter re-forming as Station Headquarters Williamtown.[20][22] For the remainder of the year, No. 78 Wing's aircraft and staff were gradually transferred to other units; by December the formation had been reduced to a strength of four airmen and no officers, and was declared "non-operative".[23]
Malta garrison
No. 78 Wing was re-established in January 1949, comprising Nos. 75, 76, and 478 Squadrons, and No. 114 MFCU.[24] It became the first wing in the RAAF to equip with jet aircraft, when its flying units took delivery of De Havilland Vampire F.30 fighters between 1949 and 1951; it was also allocated Mustangs and CAC Wirraways.[22][25] The wing subsequently re-equipped with Vampire FB.9s leased from the Royal Air Force, in exchange for Australia's commitment to support RAF operations in the Middle East. Comprising Nos. 75 and 76 (Fighter) Squadrons, No. 378 (Base) Squadron and No. 478 (Maintenance) Squadron, No. 78 Wing was deployed to Malta on garrisoning duties under Wing Commander (later Group Captain) Brian Eaton.[26][27]
As the RAAF's presence was essentially a symbolic gesture to demonstrate the Commonwealth's solidarity in the midst of the Cold War, the combat squadrons were half-strength only, operating eight aircraft each. In addition to the Vampires, two Gloster Meteor trainers were provided. Personnel departed Australia in July 1952; the posting overseas being a minimum of two years, families were permitted to make the journey as well.[28][29] Although under the operational control of the RAF's No. 205 Group, the wing was under no circumstances to be used in combat without the express permission of the Australian government.[26] The airmen participated in many NATO exercises while stationed at Malta, and one year took first and second place in the Middle Eastern Gunnery Contest for the "Imshi" Mason Cup.[30]
Originally based at the Royal Navy's Ħal Far airfield, in south-east Malta, the wing moved in June 1953 to the centrally located RAF Station Ta'Kali, command of which was given to Group Captain Eaton.[29][31] By this time, with plans afoot to form a Far East Strategic Reserve to contain communist aggression in South East Asia, the British and Australian governments began to discuss withdrawing No. 78 Wing from the Middle East when its planned two-year garrison was complete. Eaton handed over command to Wing Commander Geoff Newstead in September 1954. The wing flew its last sorties in December, and returned to Australia the following month.[31][32]
Following its tour in the Mediterranean, No. 78 Wing was reorganised at Williamtown. On 16 March 1955, the wing headquarters was re-formed, and Nos. 76 and 378 Squadrons were disbanded. No. 75 Squadron remained with the wing, augmented on 21 March by Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons. On 1 April, No. 478 Squadron absorbed the maintenance functions of No. 77 Squadron.[33] Nos. 75 and 77 Squadrons initially operated Meteors from Williamtown and No. 3 Squadron was based at RAAF Station Canberra, where it flew P-51D Mustangs. By November 1956 the wing had re-equipped with CAC Sabres and all of its units were stationed at Williamtown.[34][35]
Malayan Emergency and Konfrontasi
Group Captain
Between October and December 1965, a detachment of six Sabres, initially from No. 77 Squadron and later from No. 3 Squadron, was based at Labuan to conduct combat patrols over the Indonesian–Malaysian border on Borneo.[39] In May 1962, in response to communist insurgency in Laos, No. 79 Squadron was re-formed in Singapore utilising No. 78 Wing aircraft and personnel. For the next six years this squadron operated from Ubon Air Base in Thailand and was manned by personnel from No. 78 Wing serving on six-month to one-year rotations. The RAAF was careful to not acknowledge any connection between the two units, however, as Malaysia had a policy of neutrality towards war in South East Asia.[40][41] The squadron was disbanded in July 1968.[42] No. 75 Squadron, equipped with Dassault Mirage III supersonic fighters, relieved No. 3 Squadron at Butterworth in May 1967.[43][44]
Disbandment and re-formation
No. 78 Wing was disbanded in November 1967, and Nos. 75, 77 and 478 Squadrons became independent units under the command of Headquarters RAAF Butterworth.[22] No. 77 Squadron returned to Williamtown in 1969 for conversion to Mirages, and was replaced at Butterworth by the Mirage-equipped No. 3 Squadron. In 1986, No. 79 Squadron was re-formed at Butterworth from No. 3 Squadron, disbanding two years later.[43] No. 75 Squadron redeployed from Butterworth to RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory, in October 1983, and No. 478 Squadron was disbanded the same month.[22][44]
In February 2000, No. 78 Wing re-formed to take charge of all aircrew and technical training on the F/A-18 Hornet and the BAE Hawk 127.[45][46] Headquartered at Williamtown, it comprised No. 76 Squadron at Williamtown and No. 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia, both operating Hawks, and No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (No. 2 OCU) at Williamtown, operating Hornets. Each of these units had previously been part of No. 81 Wing.[47][48] No. 79 Squadron's role was to convert graduates of No. 2 Flying Training School at Pearce to fast jets, No. 76 Squadron's to conduct lead-in fighter courses, and No. 2 OCU's to convert pilots to the Hornet fighter.[49] In February 2002, No. 78 Wing came under the control of the newly established Air Combat Group, formed by merging Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group. The merger expanded the wing's responsibilities, as it took on lead-in training for the General Dynamics F-111Cs of No. 82 Wing.[50] In July 2003 a technical training and simulator unit, No. 278 Squadron, with detachments at RAAF Bases Amberley, Tindal and Pearce, was added to the wing's complement.[46]
As of 2012, No. 78 Wing's strength consisted of Nos. 76 and 79 Squadrons, operating Hawks, and No. 278 Squadron; No. 2 OCU had returned to No. 81 Wing's control.[51][52] No. 79 Squadron continues to provide fast-jet conversion for recently graduated pilots, as well as refresher courses, while No. 76 Squadron conducts introductory fighter courses preparatory to students undertaking conversion to "classic" Hornets at No. 2 OCU or F/A-18F Super Hornets with No. 6 Squadron at Amberley. Both squadrons also fly close support missions for the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy.[53][54]
Notes
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 1–2
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 182–184
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 206–213
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 194
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 227
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 298–299
- ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 123–124
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 453
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", p. 74
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 75–85
- ^ Water, Oboe, p. 73
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 482–488
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 81–83
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 97–99
- ^ a b RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, pp. 44, 68, 77
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 105–108
- ^ Garrisson, Australian Fighter Aces, p. 152
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 117, 147
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Introduction, Bases, Supporting Organisations, pp. 169–171
- ^ a b O'Brien, Always There, pp. 54–55
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 71
- ^ a b c d e f RAAF Historical Section, Maintenance Units, pp. 59–62
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 149–159
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", p. 160
- ^ Wilson, Vampire, Macchi and Iroquois, pp. 42–43
- ^ a b Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 221–223
- ^ Odgers, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 180–182
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 202–203
- ^ a b Eather, Odd Jobs, pp. 173–175
- ^ Newton, Clash of Eagles, p. 111
- ^ a b Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 204–207
- ^ Eather, Odd Jobs, p. 183
- ^ No. 78 Wing Headquarters, "Operations Record Book", pp. 372–373
- ^ a b CAC Sabre at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Fighter Units, pp. 6, 45, 60
- ^ Cooper, Glen Albert at Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
- ^ a b Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 252, 259–260
- ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 251–252
- ^ RAAF Sabres began Borneo patrols at Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 272–273
- ^ Coulthard-Clark, The RAAF in Vietnam, pp. 10–16
- ^ Eather, Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force, p. 93
- ^ a b Dassault Mirage III at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.
- ^ a b Eather, Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force, p. 85
- ^ Significant Organisation Changes since Commencement of DRP in mid-1998 at Department of Defence. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.
- ^ a b Liebert, Simone (17 July 2003). "Cloudy day, bright outlook". Air Force. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ Peacock; Jackson, Jane's World Air Forces 2001, p. 19
- ^ "Australian Defence Force Units and Establishments". Defence Annual Report 1998–99 (PDF). Department of Defence. p. 48. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ^ ANAO, Tactical Fighter Operations, p. 57
- ^ Codey, Rebecca; Bradley, Christine (February 2002). "Set to fly". Air Force News. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ Air Combat Group at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 10 April 2013.
- ^ No. 78 Wing at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 10 April 2013.
- ^ No. 76 Squadron at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 10 April 2013.
- ^ No. 79 Squadron Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 10 April 2013.
References
- No. 78 Wing Headquarters. "Operations Record Book". RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50). National Archives of Australia.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) (2000). Tactical Fighter Operations: Department of Defence (PDF). Canberra: ANAO. ISBN 0-642-44266-5. Archived from the original(PDF) on 19 March 2012.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1995). The RAAF in Vietnam: Australian Air Involvement in the Vietnam War 1962–1975. Sydney: ISBN 1-86373-305-1.
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
- Eather, Steve (1996). Odd Jobs: RAAF Operations in Japan, the Berlin Airlift, Korea, Malaya and Malta, 1946–1960. RAAF Williams, Victoria: ISBN 0-642-23482-5.
- Garrisson, A.D. (1999). Australian Fighter Aces 1914–1953. Fairbairn, Australian Capital Territory: Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-26540-2.
- Newton, Dennis (1996). Clash of Eagles. Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-793-3.
- O'Brien, Graham (2009). Always There: A History of Air Force Combat Support (PDF). Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 978-1-920800-45-1.
- OCLC 11218821.
- Odgers, George (1984). The Royal Australian Air Force: An Illustrated History. Brookvale: Child & Henry. ISBN 0-86777-368-5.
- Peacock, Lindsay; Jackson, Paul (2001). Jane's World Air Forces. Surrey: ISBN 0-7106-1293-1.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 1 – Introduction, Bases, Supporting Organisations. Canberra: ISBN 0-644-42792-2.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 2 – Fighter Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42794-9.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 7 – Maintenance Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42800-7.
- Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42803-1.
- Stephens, Alan (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: ISBN 0-19-555541-4.
- Waters, Gary (1995). Oboe – Air Operations Over Borneo 1945. Canberra: Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-22590-7.
- Wilson, Stewart (1994). Vampire, Macchi and Iroquois in Australian Service. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-07-2.