No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron RAAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1945 1962–1968 1986–1988 1998–current |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Part of | No. 78 Wing |
Current base | RAAF Base Pearce |
Motto(s) | "Born for Action" |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Hawk 127 (2000–current) |
Transport | DHC-4 Caribou (1986–1988) |
No. 79 Squadron is a
The squadron was re-formed in its present incarnation during 1998 and is currently stationed at
History
World War II
No. 79 Squadron was formed at
No. 79 Squadron began moving to
The squadron completed its movement to Goodenough Island on 26 June and began flying air defence
After a period of training, No. 79 Squadron flew its first sweep over Japanese-held territory on 27 November when eight Spitfires were dispatched to Gasmata on New Britain. The next day one of its Spitfires shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" reconnaissance aircraft south of Kitava.[8] As few Japanese attacks were made against Kiriwina, No. 79 Squadron's pilots became restive. The offensive patrols over New Britain improved their morale, however.[12] Another Ki-61 was intercepted and shot down by a Spitfire on 21 December, and a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter was destroyed on the ground at Gasmata seven days later. A Spitfire was lost during a patrol over New Britain on 31 December.[8] During January and February 1944 the squadron conducted offensive sweeps over New Britain, strafed Japanese positions and escorted Allied bombers.[13] On 17 January, eight No. 79 Squadron Spitfires took part in an attack against a Japanese camp near Lindenhafen which involved 73 Australian aircraft; this was the largest RAAF operation of the war up to that time.[14] Two Spitfires were lost during the operations in January and February.[15]
In early 1944 No. 73 Wing was selected to support the US Army's
No. 79 Squadron arrived at
Ubon
In May 1962 the Australian Government decided to deploy a squadron of
The squadron arrived at
Throughout its period at Ubon, No. 79 Squadron formed part of an international force tasked with defending Thailand's air space against intruders.[30] At the start of the deployment, tensions in Thailand were such that the squadron's personnel believed that they were at war.[29] While the situation became more stable from late July 1962, No. 79 Squadron maintained armed aircraft on alert at all times and scrambled Sabres when unidentified aircraft were detected. No air attacks were conducted against Thailand, however, and the unidentified aircraft that were intercepted almost always proved to be from the Central Intelligence Agency-controlled Air America. In January 1965 two Sabres accidentally overflew North Vietnam after becoming lost during a training sortie but returned safely to Ubon.[34]
From early April 1965, Ubon became an important base for United States Air Force (USAF) attacks on North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and No. 79 Squadron became part of an integrated air defence system controlled by the USAF on 25 June. This changed the status of the squadron's presence in Thailand, and RAAF Headquarters assessed that the North Vietnamese would be justified in regarding it as forming part of the air campaign against their country.[35] Due to the threat of counter-attacks on Ubon, the base's ground defences were upgraded during 1966; this included the construction of defensive positions for No. 79 Squadron's aircraft and personnel as well as the deployment of a detachment of RAAF airfield defence guards.[36] While the squadron did not play an active role in the war, it supported the US effort by providing air defence for Ubon and taking part in exercises with USAF aircraft in which the Sabres adopted tactics used by North Vietnamese MiG-17 fighters.[37] In December 1965 the commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces, General Hunter Harris Jr., wrote to the chief of the RAAF, Air Marshal Alister Murdoch, to suggest that No. 79 Squadron join the USAF operations against the Ho Chi Minh trail in southern Laos which were being covertly conducted by Ubon-based aircraft. The Thai Government indicated that it would allow the squadron to be used for this purpose as long as the Australian operations were conducted without a formal agreement or any public announcement.[38] On 2 March 1966 the Australian Cabinet decided to reinforce the Army and RAAF force in South Vietnam, but rejected the option of expanding the scope of RAAF operations in Thailand. This decision was made on the grounds that the expanded force in South Vietnam and existing deployments to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore represented the maximum forces Australia could commit to the region.[39]
By mid-1968, No. 79 Squadron no longer had a clear role at Ubon. The USAF had sufficient fighters based in Thailand to defend the country and was reluctant to use the Australian fighters—which were now regarded as obsolete—to intercept potentially hostile aircraft, as the squadron's rules of engagement did not allow it to pursue contacts that left Thai airspace. As a result, the Australian military's chiefs of staff determined that the RAAF presence in Thailand had outlived its political and military usefulness and decided to withdraw the squadron without replacement. No. 79 Squadron was taken off alert status on 26 July and disbanded at the end of the month.[23][40] On 31 March 2011 it received a battle honour for its deployment to Ubon between May 1962 and August 1968.[41](II)
Butterworth
On 31 March 1986, No. 79 Squadron was re-formed at RAAF Base Butterworth as a temporary measure to cover part of the period while the RAAF's three fighter squadrons were transitioning from Mirage IIIs to F/A-18 Hornets.[23] The squadron inherited all of No. 3 Squadron's twelve Mirage III fighters and most of its personnel; the remainder of No. 3 Squadron returned to Australia to be re-equipped with Hornets. As well as the Mirage IIIs, the squadron operated a single DHC-4 Caribou transport that was also based at Butterworth.[42]
In its new incarnation, No. 79 Squadron continued the air defence and training duties for which No. 3 Squadron had been responsible at Butterworth.[43][44] It participated in routine training exercises in Southeast Asia, which included making regular deployments to Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore to train with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. In May 1987 the squadron deployed to Clarke Air Force Base in the Philippines to participate in the annual Cope Thunder exercise with USAF units.[45] It also exercised with No. 77 Squadron's new F/A-18 Hornets in April 1988 when that unit visited Butterworth.[46] The Caribou transport was used to support Australian Army units in Malaysia and also flew training sorties to neighbouring countries.[37]
By early 1988 both No. 3 and No. 77 Squadrons had successfully converted to the F/A-18, and No. 79 Squadron was no longer required.
Training unit
No. 79 Squadron was re-formed a third time on 1 July 1998 as a training unit located at RAAF Base Pearce near Perth in Western Australia. The squadron was re-established by separating No. 25 Squadron's Permanent Air Force (full-time) component from its Air Force Reserve (part-time reservist) personnel and responsibilities.[51] The squadron initially operated Aermacchi MB-326 aircraft before being re-equipped with Hawk 127 aircraft between 7 December 2000 and 4 March 2001.[52] In 2000 No. 78 Wing was re-formed and assumed command of No. 76 and No. 79 Squadrons.[53] The Hawks experienced serviceability problems during their first 18 months with the squadron, but these were eventually rectified.[54] In October 2003 two No. 79 Squadron Hawks conducted a tour of Australia to belatedly commemorate the unit's 60th anniversary. As part of this tour the aircrew visited Alan Rawlinson at his home at Naracoorte, South Australia, and later conducted a flyover of the town in his honour.[55][56] The squadron made its first overseas deployment in almost twenty years during April 2006 when six Hawks and 52 personnel were dispatched to RMAF Base Butterworth to take part in Exercise Bersama Shield. This was also the first time RAAF Hawks had operated overseas.[57] As of May 2010, No. 79 Squadron was equipped with 15 of the RAAF's 33 Hawks.[58] In 2011, the squadron was organised into a Training Flight, Operations Flight, and Maintenance Flight.[59]
A program to modernise all of the RAAF's Hawks to a similar standard to the
Current role
In its current role No. 79 Squadron's main responsibility is to provide introductory fast jet training to pilots who have recently graduated from No. 2 Flying Training School.[59] During this training, new pilots who have been selected to fly jet aircraft are taught to operate Hawks and provided with initial instruction on jet aircraft combat tactics. In 2004, each of No. 79 Squadron's training courses lasted for twelve weeks.[66] After completing their initial jet aircraft training, pilots transfer to No. 76 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown for advanced instruction before being posted to one of the RAAF's operational conversion units.[67] No. 79 Squadron also provides introductory training on fast jets for RAAF air combat officers who have been selected to serve on board F/A-18F Super Hornets.[68] The squadron trained RAAF personnel selected to serve as navigators on board F-111 strike aircraft until these aircraft were replaced with Super Hornets in 2010.[69][70] No. 79 Squadron also provides refresher training on the Hawk aircraft for experienced fighter pilots.[59]
In addition to its pilot training responsibilities, No. 79 Squadron's Operations Flight provides aircraft to support Navy and Army training exercises.[59][71] These duties are undertaken by experienced pilots who did not successfully complete operational conversion training, and also by new pilots who have completed training with No. 76 Squadron and been posted back to No. 79 Squadron until a place becomes available in an operational conversion course. No. 76 Squadron has a similar Operations Flight.[72][73] Most of No. 79 Squadron's exercises with the Navy take place off the coast of Western Australia, but aircraft are occasionally deployed to Darwin for this task.[74]
Notes
^(I) Coulthard-Clark (1995), p. 13 states that the detachment of Sabres was officially designated No. 79 Squadron on 24 June 1962.
^(II) No. 79 Squadron's battle honour for its service at Ubon was one of several new battle honours issued on 31 March 2011 to mark the 90th anniversary of the RAAF's formation.[41]
References
Citations
- ^ "No. 79 Squadron history". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ Eather (1995), p. 92
- ^ a b c RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 69
- ^ a b Cooper (2011)
- ^ a b c d e Thomas (2009), p. 73
- ^ RAAF Historical Section (1995), pp. 69–70
- ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d e RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 70
- ^ No. 79 Squadron (1943–1945), p. 3
- ^ Thomas (2009), pp. 73–74
- ^ Thomas (2009), p. 74
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 127
- ^ RAAF Historical Section (1995), pp. 70–71
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 130
- ^ a b c d e f g RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 71
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 179
- ^ a b Thomas (2009), p. 76
- ^ Thomas (2009), pp. 76–77
- ^ a b RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 72
- ^ Thomas (2009), p. 84
- ^ Odgers (1968), p. 442
- ^ Odgers (1968), pp. 478–479
- ^ a b c d e Eather (1995), p. 93
- ^ "79 Squadron RAAF". Australian Military Units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ Smith, Skye (11 November 2010). "Recognition for 79SQN's 1940s role". Air Force. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ a b c Stephens (2006), p. 254
- ^ Edwards and Pemberton (1992), pp. 242–243
- ^ a b Trebilco (1997), p. 108
- ^ a b Coulthard-Clark (1995), p. 11
- ^ a b Stephens (2006), p. 255
- ^ Coulthard-Clark (1995), p. 13
- ^ a b Edwards and Pemberton (1992), p. 272
- ^ Frühling (2009), p. 1
- ^ Coulthard-Clark (1995), pp. 14–15
- ^ Stephens (2006), p. 256
- ^ Coulthard-Clark (1995), p. 15
- ^ a b RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 73
- ^ Edwards (1997), p. 92
- ^ Edwards (1997), p. 94
- ^ Stephens (2006), p. 257
- ^ a b Stackpool, Andrew; Solomou, Bill (14 April 2011). "New battle honours unveiled". Air Force. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section (1995), pp. 6, 73
- ^ Air Power Development Centre (2005), p. 2
- ^ RAAF Historical Section (1995), p. 6
- ^ RAAF Historical Section (1995), pp. 73–74
- ^ a b Bomball (1990), p. 110
- ^ Bomball (1990), pp. 90–91
- ^ Bomball (1990), p. 89
- ^ Air Power Development Centre (2005), pp. 1–2
- ^ Bomball (1990), p. 90
- ^ "No 25 (City of Perth) Squadron". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
- ^ Holmes (2005), p. 47
- ^ Liebelt, Simone (17 July 2003). "Cloudy day, bright outlook". Air Force. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Holmes (2005), p. 48
- ^ Innes, Stuart (10 October 2003). "Peter jets in with plenty to celebrate". The Advertiser. p. 25.
- ^ Shand, Jenny (14 October 2003). "Squadron roars home for birthday bash". Geelong Advertiser. p. 6.
- ^ "Hawks make history". Air Force. 20 April 2006. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ Smith, Syke (27 May 2010). "10 years in the air". Air Force. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d "No. 79 Squadron". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 11 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Pittaway (2014), pp. 66–67
- ^ Monk, Shannon (2 June 2016). "Best of west". Air Force. Royal Australian Air Force. p. 17. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "BAE Systems begins RAAF Hawk flightline maintenance". Australian Aviation. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ "BAE Systems' upgraded Hawks take to the sky". Media release. BAE Systems. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Magorian, Peta (10 December 2020). "79SQN Flies its Colours". Air Force. Department of Defence. p. 9. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew (21 February 2022). "RAAF to extend Hawk 127 fleet life". ADBR. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Australian National Audit Office (2004), p. 26
- ^ Sadler (2006), p. 68
- ^ "Air Combat Officer Further Training". Defence Jobs. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ^ Australian National Audit Office (2004), p. 36
- ^ Cornish, Murray (3 December 2010). "F-111 farewell: RAAF's 'pigs' no longer fly". ABC News. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
- ^ Magorian, Peta (27 November 2020). "Historic moment as squadron's colours consecrated". Department of Defence. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Holmes (2005), p. 51
- ^ Australian National Audit Office (2004), p. 28
- ^ Holmes (2005), p. 52
Bibliography
- No. 79 Squadron RAAF (1943–1945). "NAA A9186, 108: No 79 Squadron April 1943 – October 1945 operations record book". RecordSearch. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
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- Frühling, Stephan (2009). A History of Australian Strategic Policy Since 1945. Canberra: Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- Holmes, Tony (April 2005). "Fighter Pilot Nursery". Australian Aviation. No. 215. Fyshwick: Phantom Media. pp. 46–53. ISSN 0813-0876.
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- Sadler, Paul (October 2006). "76 Squadron". Australian Aviation. No. 232. Fyshwick: Phantom Media. pp. 68–73. ISSN 0813-0876.
- Stephens, Alan (2006). The Royal Australian Air Force: A History (Paperback ed.). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-555541-7.
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