Portal:Military of Australia/Units/June

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Members of the Governor-General's Flight in front of the Vice-Regal Avro York aircraft in June 1945
The Governor-General's Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force transport unit. The Governor-General's Flight was formed at RAAF Station Canberra in April 1945. Although the Flight initially only provided transport for the Governor-General of Australia, its role was later expanded to include carrying the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. The Governor-General's Flight was disbanded in July 1947 but was re-raised in July 1948. The Flight was disbanded for a second and final time in October 1950 with the VIP transport role being transferred to No. 36 Squadron.


HMAS Kurumba in 1941
HMAS Kurumba was a oil tanker operated by the Royal Australian Navy from 1919 to 1946. Kurumba was built for the RAN in Britain and was completed in December 1916. She served as part of the Royal Navy's Royal Fleet Auxiliary until March 1919 when she was transferred to the Royal Australian Fleet Auxiliary. Kurumba operated in Australian waters and South-East Asia until being paid off to reserve in June 1928. Kurumba was reactivated in September 1939 and served in Australian waters and the South West Pacific Area during World War II. Following the war she was taken out of service in July 1946 and was sold to a commercial operator in January 1948.


AAAvn Colours
Australian Army Aviation (AAAvn) is a Corps of the Australian Army. The corps was formed on 1 July 1968 and currently operates the Army's fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The Aviation Corps utilises soldiers from various other Army corps. The Royal Australian Corps of Transport trains and provides air dispatchers, while the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers trains aircraft structural fitters, who maintain aircraft life support equipment, and avionics technicians. Members of the Aviation Corps are entitled to wear a sky blue beret.


A No. 8 Squadron Beaufort during an attack on Wewak in 1944
No. 8 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force training squadron of World War I and medium bomber squadron of World War II. The Squadron was first formed in October 1917 as a flying training Squadron responsible for providing replacement pilots for No. 4 Squadron until its disbandment in April 1919. The Squadron was reformed as a bomber-reconnaissance unit in September 1940 and saw action during the Malayan Campaign and New Guinea Campaign. No. 8 Squadron was disbanded in January 1946.


HMAS Barcoo in 1944
HMAS Barcoo was a Royal Australian Navy River class frigate. Barcoo was built at Cockatoo Island in Sydney and was commissioned into the RAN in January 1944. The ship operated in New Guinean waters from March 1944 to March 1945 where she mainly served as a convoy escort. From April 1945 until the end of the war she supported the Australian-led Borneo Campaign. In August 1946 Barcoo was converted to a survey vessel and operated in this role until she was retired in 1949. After a period as a training hulk Barcoo was reactivated as a survey vessel from 1952 to 1956 and again from 1959 to 1964 when she was retired for the final time. Barcoo was sold for scrap in February 1972.


A 2/4th Armoured Regiment Matilda II advancing with Australian infantry on Bougainville in March 1945
The 2/4th Armoured Regiment was an Australian Army armoured regiment of World War II. The Regiment was formed in October 1942 as part of the 3rd Armoured Division from elements of several armoured reconnaissance units. The Regiment became part of the 4th Armoured Brigade in October 1943 and in August 1944 the Regiment was moved to Madang in New Guinea to support Australian infantry units. The Regiment's 'C' Squadron Group supported the 6th Division during the Aitape-Wewak campaign with the remainder of the Regiment supporting II Corps during the Bougainville campaign. The 2/4th Armoured Regiment was disbanded in September 1945.


A USAF C-130 taking off from RAAF Base Darwin in 1999
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin. RAAF Station Darwin was established in June 1940 and hosted a large number of RAAF and United States units during World War II. The base was bombed by Japanese forces many times, beginning with two major air raids on February 19, 1942. Following the war RAAF Base Darwin remained active as an important transit centre for RAAF aircraft travelling to and from Asia. In 1975, during the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, the base was the centre of the largest airlift in Australian history in which the majority of Darwin's inhabitants were evacuated.


HMAS Perth in 1991
The second HMAS Perth (D 38) was a Perth class destroyer operated by the Royal Australian Navy. Perth was built in the United States and was commissioned into the RAN in July 1965. The ship took part in the Vietnam War, completing three deployments to Vietnamese waters between 1967 and 1971. Perth was awarded the United States Navy Unit Commendation and Meritorious Unit Commendation for her service off Vietnam. Although Perth did not make any further operational deployments, she participated in a large number of exercises in the Pacific and Indian Oceans until she was decommissioned in October 1999. The ship was sunk as a dive wreck off Albany, Western Australia in November 2001.


2 RAR's colour patch
The 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) is an Australian Army infantry battalion. 2 RAR was formed as the 66th Battalion in 1945 and was redesignated upon the establishment of the Royal Australian Regiment in 1948. 2 RAR has seen active service during the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation, Vietnam War and in Iraq. 2 RAR has also taken part in peacekeeping operations in Japan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. 2 RAR was linked with 4 RAR between 1973 and 1995 as 2/4 RAR and is currently based at Lavarack Barracks as part of the 3rd Brigade.


A PC-9 from the Roulettes aerobatic display team. The team forms part of the Air Force Training Group, which operates a number of PC-9 training aircraft.
The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Force Training Group is responsible for providing individual training to members of the RAAF. The Group was established as Training Command in September 1953 and is headquartered at RAAF Williams. In July 2006 Training Command was re-formed as the Air Force Training Group under Air Command. The Air Force Training Group commands a number of RAAF units grouped into the RAAF's Air Training Wing and Ground Training Wing as well as the RAAF College and two combat support units.


HMAS Yarra
The first HMAS Yarra was a "River" class torpedo-boat destroyer, and the second ship built for the Commonwealth Naval Forces. She was built in Scotland and was commissioned as a Royal Navy ship for the voyage to Australia in September 1910. On the outbreak of the First World War, Yarra took part in operations against Germany's Pacific colonies, returning to home waters in February 1915. In May 1917, together with the rest of the Australian Destroyer Flotilla, Yarra sailed for the Mediterranean where she operated as a unit of the British 5th Destroyer Flotilla. Following the end of the war Yarra was laid up for disposal and was was eventually sunk in 1929 off Port Jackson.


An honour guard drawn from the 7th Brigade and 3rd Division in 1945
The 7th Brigade is a brigade of the Australian Army. The Brigade was formed in early 1915 and became part of the the 2nd Division when the Division was raised in July 1915. The 7th Brigade saw action on the Western Front and was disbanded following the war. The Brigade was re-raised as a Citizens' Military Forces unit following World War I and was mobilised upon the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941. The 7th Brigade took part in the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942 and later saw action during the Bougainville campaign. The Brigade is currently an integrated formation containing both regular army and army reserve units based in Queensland and forms part of the 1st Division.


The crew of a No. 23 Squadron B-24 with their aircraft in June 1945
No. 23 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Squadron was formed in May 1937 but was renumbered No. 25 Squadron in January 1939. No. 23 Squadron was reformed in February 1939 and served in the maritime patrol role until it was converted to a dive bomber squadron in June 1943. In October 1944 the Squadron was converted to a heavy bomber unit and conducted bombing missions over the Netherlands East Indies from April 1945 until the end of the war. Although the Squadron was redesignated No. 6 Squadron in early 1948, it was reformed as a Citizen Air Force squadron later that year and is currently a non-flying reserve squadron based near Brisbane, Queensland.


HMAS Norman
The second HMAS Norman (M 84) is a Huon class minehunter which currently forms part of the Royal Australian Navy. Norman was built by Australian Defence Industries in Newcastle, New South Wales, launched in May 1999, and commissioned in August 2000. She is based at at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney with the majority of the RAN's mine warfare assets.


Army Recruit Training Centre entrance sign
The Army Recruit Training Centre (ARTC) is an Australian Army base located near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The ARTC was established in 1942 as an Engineer training facility. Following World War II the site became home to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion (1RTB) from 1951 and the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion (2RTB) from 1953. 1RTB conducted training for both conscripts and volunteers trained over 10,000 conscripts during the Vietnam War and remains the Army's main recruit training unit. The ARTC is also home to the Australian Army Band Kapooka and the Army Adventurous Training Wing.


A RAAF work boat alongside a Sunderland flying boat
The Royal Australian Air Force Maritime Section was the branch of the Royal Australian Air Force responsible for manning the service's boats. The RAAF's first boats were obtained in 1921 to support Fairey III seaplanes. The RAAF Maritime Section was massively expanded during World War II and at its peak operated over 600 powered and 700 unpowered craft. Small maritime sections were established at many RAAF bases in Australia and the South West Pacific and were administered by the units they supported. Following the war the RAAF Maritime Section was greatly reduced and the Maritime Section was disbanded in January 1993.


HMAS Cairns
The first HMAS Cairns (J183) was a Bathurst class corvette which formed part of the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. Cairns was built by Walkers Limited at Maryborough in Queensland and was commissioned in May 1942. Cairns served with the British Eastern Fleet from November 1942 to January 1945. Following this, she was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet. HMAS Cairns paid off in January 1946, was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy and renamed Ambon. The ship was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in April 1950 and renamed Bentang.


Australians of the Anzac Mounted Division watering their horses at the foot of Mount Zion in 1918
The Anzac Mounted Division was an Australian and New Zealand mounted infantry (light horse) division of World War I. The Division was formed in March 1916 in Egypt following the Battle of Gallipoli when the Australian and New Zealand mounted regiments returned from fighting as infantry. For the remainder of the war it served in the Middle East, in the Sinai, Palestine and Syria. The Anzac Mounted Division was disbanded following the end of the war.


A member of Transport Flight (Japan) looks out over the demilitarised zone towards Communist positions while on a visit to Australian forces serving on the Korean truce line
Transport Flight (Japan) was a Royal Australian Air Force air transport unit. The Flight was formed in March 1955 at Iwakuni, Japan with a strength of three C-47 Dakotas and one CAC Wirraway. Transport Flight (Japan)'s main duty was to fly a regular service between Japan and South Korea in support of the Commonwealth of Nations military units based there following the end of the Korean War. The Flight flew its last courier flights in June 1956, returned to Australia in July and was disbanded in September.


HMAS Bataan operating off Korea
HMAS Bataan (D-9/D-191/I-91) was a Tribal-class destroyer operated by the Royal Australian Navy. She was built in Sydney and was commissioned in May 1945. Although Bataan commissioned too late in the war to see combat, she was present in Tokyo for the official Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945. Between 1950 and 1952 she completed two deployments to Korean waters where she served in support of United Nations Forces during the Korean War. Bataan paid off in October 1954 ahead of a planned conversion to an anti-submarine escort, but this conversion was cancelled in 1957 and she was sold for scrap in 1958.


Composite image of Royal South Australian Regiment Colours and hat patch
The Royal South Australia Regiment is a reserve regiment of the Australian Army. The Regiment traces its history to early volunteer and citizen militia units from pre-federation Australia and was formed in July 1960 by the amalgamation of three one-battalion infantry regiments. Although the Regiment has reached a peak strength of three battalions, it currently consists of only a single battalion, the 10th/27th Battalion, which forms part of the 9th Brigade.


A group portrait of pilots and observers of No. 31 Squadron in January 1943
No. 31 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The Squadron was formed in August 1942 and was equipped with Bristol Beaufighter aircraft. The Squadron deployed to the Northern Territory in October 1942 and from November 1942 until December 1944 flew ground attack missions against Japanese forces in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). From December 1944 until the end of the war the Squadron continued in the ground attack role from bases in the NEI. No. 31 Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 and was disbanded in July 1946.


HMAS Hobart, prior to her transfer to the RAN
The first HMAS Hobart was a Leander class light cruiser which served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. Hobart was originally built for the Royal Navy as HMS Apollo and commissioned into the RAN in September 1938. She saw action in the Red Sea in 1940 and participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. She was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in July 1943 and did not re-enter service until December 1944. Hobart participated in the amphibious assaults on the Philippines, Borneo, and Wewak and was was present in Tokyo Bay on VP Day. Hobart paid off to reserve after the war and was decommissioned in 1962.


Members of the 2/5th Armoured Regiment with a M3 Grant tank
The 2/5th Armoured Regiment was an Australian Army armoured regiment of World War II. The Regiment was formed in July 1941 as part of the 1st Armoured Division. The Regiment was equipped with Universal Carriers for training purposes until it received M3 Grant medium tanks in May 1942. The Regiment survived the 1st Armoured Division's disbandment in September 1943 and became part of the 4th Armoured Brigade in March 1944. Although the Regiment was selected to deploy to New Guinea and Borneo in 1942 and 1945 respectively, it was replaced by other units on both occasions and was disbanded in September 1945 without seeing action.


A patient being loaded on a No. 1 Air Ambulance Unit aircraft in Scily in September 1943
No. 1 Air Ambulance Unit was a Royal Australian Air Force air ambulance unit of World War II. The Unit was formed in February 1941 at RAAF Base Laverton and left Australia for the Middle East in April 1941. The Unit supported Commonwealth units during the North African Campaign and Tunisia campaign from December 1941 until May 1943. From July 1943 the Unit supported the Allied invasion of Sicily and deployed to Italy in September 1943 to participate in the Italian Campaign. No. 1 Air Ambulance Unit was withdrawn from service in November 1943 and returned to Australia where it was disbanded in June 1944.


HMAS Waterhen
HMAS Waterhen is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy, located in Waverton, Sydney. Waterhen is the parent establishment for the RAN's mine countermeasures forces, and forms part of Fleet Base East. First commissioned in 1962, it was used for a variety of minor warfare vessels, including patrol forces, until a reorganisation in the 1990s saw the RAN's patrol vessels moved to establishments in northern Australia. The Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group, Clearance Diving Team One and the RAN's six Huon class minehunters and several commercially operated support vessels are currently based at Waterhen.


AWAS recruitment poster
The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was the Australian Army's women's service during World War II. The AWAS was formed in August 1941 with the goal of filling non-combat positions so that more male soldiers could be posted to fighting units. During the war a total of 24,026 women enlisted in the AWAS, which reached a peak strength of 20,051 in January 1944. The AWAS was the only non-medical women's service to send personnel overseas, with small numbers of women being posted to New Guinea and Borneo. While all members of the AWAS were demobilised after the war, the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was formed in April 1951 and was not disbanded until 1984 when women were integrated into the Army.


Members of No. 456 Squadron in front of a Mosquito aircraft in 1943
No. 456 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. The Squadron was formed in June 1941 in the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night fighter squadron equipped with Defiant fighters. The Squadron was soon reequipped with Beaufighters and scored its first kill in January 1942. In December 1942 the Squadron was reequipped with Mosquito fighters and began offensive missions over Europe. No. 456 Squadron continued in the fighter and ground attack roles until the end of the European war when it was disbanded in June 1945.


HMQS Gayundah in 1886
HMQS Gayundah was a gunboat operated by the Queensland Maritime Defence Force and the Royal Australian Navy. Gayundah was built in the United Kingdom and was commissioned there in October 1884. She arrived in Brisbane in March 1885 where she served as a training ship until being assigned to reserve duties in 1892. Upon Federation Gayundah became part of the Commonwealth Naval Forces and served as a patrol vessel. Gayundah was decommissioned in 1921 and scrapped in the 1950s.


A Tiger ARH in 2005
The 1st Aviation Regiment is an Australian Army aviation unit and part of the 16th (Aviation) Brigade. The Regiment was formed in April 1966 as the 1st Division Army Aviation Regiment and was redesignated the 1st Aviation Regiment in March 1967. While the Regiment has historically operated a mix of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, it is currently being reequipped with the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter and is in the process of relocating to newly constructed facilities at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.