No. 81 Wing RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 81 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force
's air superiority wing. Formed during World War II
, it operated in the South West Pacific theatre
, flying P-40 Kittyhawks. Following the end of hostilities, it converted to P-51 Mustangs and was based in Japan as part of the Allied occupational forces. In the 1960s it began operating jets, firstly the CAC Sabre
, and later the Dassault Mirage III
. Detachments of these fighters saw extensive overseas deployment in Thailand and Malaysia. The wing is currently headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown
, New South Wales, and operates three combat squadron
s and an operational conversion unit
flying the F/A-18 Hornet. The Hornets saw action in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, providing fighter escort and close air support
to Coalition forces.
and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre
. Comprising Nos. 76
, 77
and 82 Squadron
s, it joined Nos. 77
and 78 Wings
on Noemfoor
as part of No. 10 Operational Group in September 1944, under the command of Group Captain Gordon Steege
. No. 10 Group was renamed the First Tactical Air Force
(No. 1 TAF) in October; the same month, No. 81 Wing commenced operations with offensive sweeps and ground attacks
against targets in West Papua.
The relegation of No. 1 TAF to areas of operation bypassed by the main Allied thrust towards the Philippines and Japan led to poor morale late in 1944. In December, No. 81 Wing's new commander, Group Captain Wilfred Arthur
, produced a "balance sheet" to demonstrate that the unit's results were not worth the cost in ordnance and casualties, setting in train a series of events that would culminate in the so-called "Morotai Mutiny
" the following year. By January 1945, the number of missions flown by No. 81 Wing had dropped to less than 400, from over 1,000 the previous month. In March, the Kittyhawks carried out some 80 patrols around Noemfoor but encountered enemy activity on less than half of these. No. 81 Wing was slated to take part in Operation Oboe One, the Battle of Tarakan
, in May 1945 but was unable to move from Noemfoor to its new base on Morotai
in time. It fought in Operation Oboe Six, the invasion of Labuan
, from June 1945 and was based on the island when the Pacific War ended in August. During the Labuan operation No. 457 Squadron
, which was equipped with Spitfire
fighters, was attached to No. 81 Wing.
Glen Cooper. Headquartered at Bofu
, a former kamikaze
base, it formed the Australian air contingent of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
in Japan from 1946 until 1949, when the RAAF presence was reduced to No. 77 Squadron alone. The first of the wing's units to arrive in Japan was No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron
(No. 5 ACS) in December 1945, followed by the three flying squadrons in February-March 1946. No. 82 Squadron lost three Mustangs and a de Havilland Mosquito
in bad weather en route to Bofu in March, killing all crew members. The wing's strength was augmented later in 1946 by No. 481 (Maintenance) Squadron and No. 111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit. With no serious resistance to the Allied occupation, the wing's prime operational duty was surveillance patrols. However the RAAF personnel helped maintain law and order, and supervised elections, while No. 5 ACS, in addition to military construction, contributed to rebuilding local infrastructure. Group Captain Brian Eaton
took command of the wing in 1947. No. 82 Squadron disbanded in Japan in October 1948, while No. 76 returned to Australia, later becoming part of a reformed No. 78 Wing when it deployed to Malta in 1952.
The wing was reorganised at RAAF Base Williamtown
, New South Wales in January 1960. Flying CAC Sabre
s, its complement included Nos. 75
and 76 Squadrons, as well as No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
(No. 2 OCU). Eight of the wing's aircraft were detached to Ubon
, Thailand in June 1962, eventually reforming there as No. 79 Squadron
. In September 1964, Nos. 76 and 481 Squadrons were deployed to RAAF Base Darwin
, Northern Territory, as part of Operation Handover, a little-publicised contingency plan put into effect during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
. No. 76 Squadron's Sabres, armed with Sidewinder missiles
, were to defend against possible attack by Indonesian forces following the recent establishment of the Federation of Malaysia. This was the first time since World War II that an RAAF flying squadron was positioned "in harm's way" on Australian territory. The Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing, Group Captain
A.F. Mather, took on the role of Area Air Defence Commander. Although no combat ensued, the experience revealed deficiencies in the defence of Northern Australia and contributed to the decision to maintain a permanent detachment of No. 81 Wing fighters in Darwin, and later at RAAF Base Tindal
.
The wing converted from Sabres to Dassault Mirage III
s during 1964–66, commencing with No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit and concluding with No. 76 Squadron; the last-mentioned disbanded in 1973. No. 75 Squadron was based at RAAF Base Butterworth, Malaysia from 1967 until 1983, when it relocated to Darwin. Following conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet, the unit transferred to Tindal. By this time, in addition to No. 75 Squadron, No. 81 Wing comprised Nos. 3
and 77 Squadrons, based at RAAF Williamtown with No. 2 OCU, all which had converted from the Mirage to the Hornet in 1985–87. For many years part of RAAF Air Command
's Tactical Fighter Group (TFG), the wing became part of Air Combat Group
when TFG merged with Strike Reconnaissance Group in February 2002. The following year, No. 75 Squadron deployed to the Middle East to support the invasion of Iraq
, escorting high-value Coalition aircraft and later providing close air support
to ground troops and air interdiction
against Iraqi forces, the first time the RAAF had delivered bombs in anger since the Vietnam War
.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
's air superiority wing. Formed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it operated in the South West Pacific theatre
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
, flying P-40 Kittyhawks. Following the end of hostilities, it converted to P-51 Mustangs and was based in Japan as part of the Allied occupational forces. In the 1960s it began operating jets, firstly the CAC Sabre
CAC Sabre
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Allward, Maurice. F-86 Sabre. London: Ian Allen, 1978. ISBN 0-71100-860-4.* Curtis, Duncan. North American F-86 Sabre. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-358-9....
, and later the Dassault Mirage III
Dassault Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
. Detachments of these fighters saw extensive overseas deployment in Thailand and Malaysia. The wing is currently headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
, New South Wales, and operates three combat squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s and an operational conversion unit
Operational Conversion Unit
An Operational Conversion Unit is a unit within an air force whose role is to support preparation for the operational missions of a specific aircraft type by providing trained personnel. OCUs teach pilots how to fly an aircraft and which tactics best exploit the performance of their aircraft and...
flying the F/A-18 Hornet. The Hornets saw action in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, providing fighter escort and close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
to Coalition forces.
World War II
No. 81 Wing was established in the latter half of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
. Comprising Nos. 76
No. 76 Squadron RAAF
No. 76 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training squadron. Established in 1942, the squadron operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft and saw combat during World War II. Following the war it formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until it was...
, 77
No. 77 Squadron RAAF
No. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.-History:...
and 82 Squadron
No. 82 Squadron RAAF
No. 82 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in June 1943 and was disbanded in October 1948 after seeing action during World War II and participating in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.-History:...
s, it joined Nos. 77
No. 77 Wing RAAF
No. 77 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force wing of World War II. The unit formed part of No. 10 Operational Group at its establishment in November 1943, when it comprised three squadrons equipped with A-31 Vengeance dive bombers. No. 77 Wing commenced operations in early 1944, flying...
and 78 Wings
No. 78 Wing RAAF
No. 78 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's operational training wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the BAE Hawk 127 lead-in fighter. The wing was formed in 1943 and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
on Noemfoor
Noemfoor
Numfor is one of the Biak Islands in Papua province, Indonesia. It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was major airbase for both sides.-Geography:The island is situated just north of the large Cenderawasih Bay...
as part of No. 10 Operational Group in September 1944, under the command of Group Captain Gordon Steege
Gordon Steege
Air Commodore Gordon Henry Steege DSO, DFC is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force . He became a fighter ace in World War II, credited with eight aerial victories...
. No. 10 Group was renamed the First Tactical Air Force
Australian First Tactical Air Force
The Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force . Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area...
(No. 1 TAF) in October; the same month, No. 81 Wing commenced operations with offensive sweeps and ground attacks
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
against targets in West Papua.
The relegation of No. 1 TAF to areas of operation bypassed by the main Allied thrust towards the Philippines and Japan led to poor morale late in 1944. In December, No. 81 Wing's new commander, Group Captain Wilfred Arthur
Wilfred Arthur
Wilfred Stanley Arthur DSO, DFC was an Australian fighter ace of World War II. He is officially credited with ten aerial victories...
, produced a "balance sheet" to demonstrate that the unit's results were not worth the cost in ordnance and casualties, setting in train a series of events that would culminate in the so-called "Morotai Mutiny
Morotai Mutiny
The "Morotai Mutiny" was an incident in April 1945 involving members of the Australian First Tactical Air Force based on the island of Morotai, in the Dutch East Indies...
" the following year. By January 1945, the number of missions flown by No. 81 Wing had dropped to less than 400, from over 1,000 the previous month. In March, the Kittyhawks carried out some 80 patrols around Noemfoor but encountered enemy activity on less than half of these. No. 81 Wing was slated to take part in Operation Oboe One, the Battle of Tarakan
Battle of Tarakan (1945)
The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. It began with an amphibious landing by Australian forces on 1 May, code-named Operation Oboe One...
, in May 1945 but was unable to move from Noemfoor to its new base on Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
in time. It fought in Operation Oboe Six, the invasion of Labuan
Battle of North Borneo
The Battle of North Borneo took place during the Second World War between Allied and Japanese forces. Part of the wider Borneo campaign of the Pacific War, it was fought between 10 June and 15 August 1945 in North Borneo...
, from June 1945 and was based on the island when the Pacific War ended in August. During the Labuan operation No. 457 Squadron
No. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in England during June 1941 as an Article XV squadron equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters...
, which was equipped with Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
fighters, was attached to No. 81 Wing.
Post-war years
No. 81 Wing began re-equipping with P-51D Mustangs in September 1945, under the leadership of Wing CommanderWing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Glen Cooper. Headquartered at Bofu
Hofu, Yamaguchi
is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan.-History:Hōfu means "the capital of Suō Province".The eastern part of Yamaguchi prefecture was formerly called Suō Province.The city was founded on August 25, 1936...
, a former kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
base, it formed the Australian air contingent of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
in Japan from 1946 until 1949, when the RAAF presence was reduced to No. 77 Squadron alone. The first of the wing's units to arrive in Japan was No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron
No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF
No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force construction squadron. The unit was first formed in July 1942 and served in New Guinea and Borneo during World War II. Following the war it formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until it was...
(No. 5 ACS) in December 1945, followed by the three flying squadrons in February-March 1946. No. 82 Squadron lost three Mustangs and a de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
in bad weather en route to Bofu in March, killing all crew members. The wing's strength was augmented later in 1946 by No. 481 (Maintenance) Squadron and No. 111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit. With no serious resistance to the Allied occupation, the wing's prime operational duty was surveillance patrols. However the RAAF personnel helped maintain law and order, and supervised elections, while No. 5 ACS, in addition to military construction, contributed to rebuilding local infrastructure. Group Captain Brian Eaton
Brian Eaton
Air Vice Marshal Brian Alexander Eaton CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . Born in Tasmania and raised in Victoria, he joined the RAAF in 1936 and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the outbreak of World War II...
took command of the wing in 1947. No. 82 Squadron disbanded in Japan in October 1948, while No. 76 returned to Australia, later becoming part of a reformed No. 78 Wing when it deployed to Malta in 1952.
The wing was reorganised at RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
, New South Wales in January 1960. Flying CAC Sabre
CAC Sabre
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Allward, Maurice. F-86 Sabre. London: Ian Allen, 1978. ISBN 0-71100-860-4.* Curtis, Duncan. North American F-86 Sabre. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-358-9....
s, its complement included Nos. 75
No. 75 Squadron RAAF
No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
and 76 Squadrons, as well as No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force training unit located at RAAF Base Williamtown. 2OCU's main role is to train pilots to operate the F/A-18 Hornet. New RAAF pilots enter 2OCU for training after first qualifying to fly jet fighters in No. 76 Squadron...
(No. 2 OCU). Eight of the wing's aircraft were detached to Ubon
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force facility and is the home of Wing 21 of the RTAF 2nd Air Division. It is located in East-Central Thailand, near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in the Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 305 miles North-East of Bangkok...
, Thailand in June 1962, eventually reforming there as No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
. In September 1964, Nos. 76 and 481 Squadrons were deployed to RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
, Northern Territory, as part of Operation Handover, a little-publicised contingency plan put into effect during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during 1962–1966 was Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia. It is also known by its Indonesian/Malay name Konfrontasi...
. No. 76 Squadron's Sabres, armed with Sidewinder missiles
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
, were to defend against possible attack by Indonesian forces following the recent establishment of the Federation of Malaysia. This was the first time since World War II that an RAAF flying squadron was positioned "in harm's way" on Australian territory. The Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing, Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
A.F. Mather, took on the role of Area Air Defence Commander. Although no combat ensued, the experience revealed deficiencies in the defence of Northern Australia and contributed to the decision to maintain a permanent detachment of No. 81 Wing fighters in Darwin, and later at RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No...
.
The wing converted from Sabres to Dassault Mirage III
Dassault Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
s during 1964–66, commencing with No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit and concluding with No. 76 Squadron; the last-mentioned disbanded in 1973. No. 75 Squadron was based at RAAF Base Butterworth, Malaysia from 1967 until 1983, when it relocated to Darwin. Following conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet, the unit transferred to Tindal. By this time, in addition to No. 75 Squadron, No. 81 Wing comprised Nos. 3
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
and 77 Squadrons, based at RAAF Williamtown with No. 2 OCU, all which had converted from the Mirage to the Hornet in 1985–87. For many years part of RAAF Air Command
RAAF Air Command
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force . It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups , which contain the operational capability of the Air Force...
's Tactical Fighter Group (TFG), the wing became part of Air Combat Group
Air Combat Group RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy...
when TFG merged with Strike Reconnaissance Group in February 2002. The following year, No. 75 Squadron deployed to the Middle East to support the invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, escorting high-value Coalition aircraft and later providing close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
to ground troops and air interdiction
Air interdiction
Air interdiction is the use of aircraft to attack tactical ground targets that are not in close proximity to friendly ground forces. It differs from close air support because it does not directly support ground operations and is not closely coordinated with ground units...
against Iraqi forces, the first time the RAAF had delivered bombs in anger since the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
External links
- No. 81 Wing at Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air ForceThe Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...