No. 75 Squadron RAAF

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75SQN
Service		RAAF
FEG		Air Combat Group
Parent Unit		81 Wing
Role		Air to Air & Ground
Motto		Seek and Strike
Formed		March 4, 1942
Base		RAAF Base Tindal
Aircraft		F/A-18
Callsign		Magpie(Single Ship) Classic(Multiship) Sparrow(Multiship) Condor(Multiship)

No. 75 Squadron is an Australian fighter squadron based at RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was initially formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South-West Pacific during World War Two. The squadron most recently saw action in Iraq in 2003 as part of the Australian contribution to the invasion of Iraq.

[edit] History

[edit] World War Two

No. 75 Squadron was formed at Townsville on 4 March 1942. After a very brief period of training the Squadron deployed to Port Moresby on 21 March where it was the only RAAF fighter squadron based at this critical base before 25 August 1942. During this period the squadron destroyed over 60 Japanese aircraft in air-to-air combat and strafing attacks for a loss of 24 aircraft and 12 pilots.

The squadron was withdrawn back to the mainland on May 3, 1942. After a brief period in Australia for rest and re-equipment, the squadron deployed to Milne Bay on 21 July 1942. With No. 76 Squadron the squadron played a key role in the Australian victory in the Battle of Milne Bay.

After another brief period in Australia, the squadron re-deployed to New Guinea in early 1943. With the decline of Japanese airpower in the region the squadron's primary role gradually shifted to providing close air support to Allied ground troops. In line with this role the squadron regularly moved to new air bases during 1943 and 1944 as the Allied forces advanced along the northern coast of New Guinea. The squadron formed part of the Australian First Tactical Air Force from its creation in October 1944 until the end of the war.

In late 1944 No. 75 Squadron left New Guinea for Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies. From this base the Squadron operated over the eastern Netherlands East Indies. While the squadron's ground crew landed on Tarakan with the invasion force on 1 May 1945, delays in bringing the island's airstrip into operation prevented the Squadron's aircraft from deploying to Tarakan until mid July. From Tarakan the squadron supported the Australian operations at Balikpapan. Following the Japanese surrender No. 75 Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 and, after over 2 years operating the P-51 Mustang, was disbanded in March 1948.

[edit] Cold War

No. 75 Squadron was re-raised at RAAF Base Williamtown on 24 January 1949. The Squadron deployed to Malta in June 1951 and was stationed on the island until returning to Williamtown in January 1955. After re-equipping with the Sabre in 1956 the Squadron regularly deployed to Darwin for exercises with the Royal Air Force.

No. 75 Squadron was re-equipped with the Mirage III in 1965. The Squadron was based at RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia between 1968 and 1981. From 1981 to 1988 the Squadron was based at RAAF Base Darwin, with regular deployments being made to Singapore.

[edit] Recent history

Two F/A-18 Hornets and ground crew from No.75 Squadron in the Middle East during 2003.

In 1988 No. 75 Squadron was re-equipped with the F/A-18 Hornet and moved to the newly completed RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine. The squadron saw action for the first time since 1945 when it was deployed to the Middle East in 2003 as part of the Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During the war the Squadron initially flew escort missions before switching to providing close air support to Coalition ground forces. No. 75 Squadron returned to Australia shortly after the end of the war.

[edit] Primary mission

75SQN provides protection of the air and sea approaches to the Australian mainland.

[edit] Aircraft operated

• P-40 Kittyhawk (1942-1945)
• P-51 Mustang (1946-1948)
• De Havilland Vampire (1949-1955)
• Gloster Meteor (1955-1956?)
• F-86 Sabre (1956?-1965)
• Mirage III (1965-1988)
• F/A-18 Hornet (1988-)

[edit] References

• RAAF Historical Section (1995), Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
• No. 75 Squadron Official Website