No. 3 Squadron RAAF

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3 Squadron

Active September 19, 1916 - 1946
1956-
Branch RAAF
Role Air supremacy
Part of Air Combat Group, 81 Wing
Base RAAF Base Williamtown
Motto "Operta Aperta"
Latin:"Secrets Revealed"
Engagements World War I: Western Front
World War II: Western Desert, Syria-Lebanon, Tunisia, Italy
Cold War: Malayan Emergency, Konfrontasi
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 David Blake; Bobby Gibbes
Insignia
Callsign Baron (single aircraft)
Cobra (multi-aircraft)
Apache (multi-aircraft)
Raider (multi-aircraft)
Zulu (multi-aircraft)
Aircraft flown
Fighter F/A-18 Hornet

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 Sydney.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] World War I

No. 3 Squadron was formed at Point Cook, Victoria on 19 September 1916. Shortly afterwards, it moved to England for training, before becoming the first Australian Flying Corps (AFC) unit deployed to France in 1917, equipped with the RE8 two-seat reconnaissance/general purpose aircraft. To avoid confusion with the British No. 3 Squadron RFC, it was known to the British military as "No. 69 Squadron RFC",[1] until well into 1918. This terminology was never accepted by the squadron or the Australian Imperial Force.

The squadron participated in bombing, artillery spotting and reconnaissance missions supporting ANZAC and other British Empire ground forces, and by the end of the War had flown over 10,000 operational hours, shooting down 51 enemy aircraft.[2]

In April 1918, the squadron under Major David Blake, became responsible for the remains of the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen, after he was shot down in its sector. Blake initially believed that one of the squadrons RE8s may have been responsible but later endorsed the theory that an Australian anti-aircraft machine gunner was responsible.

[edit] World War II

No. 3 Squadron ground crew in front of a P-40 in 1942
No. 3 Squadron ground crew in front of a P-40 in 1942

During World War II, the squadron served in the Mediterranean Theatre as part of the Allied Desert Air Force. (later the First Tactical Air Force), supporting the 8th Army.

3 Sqn first saw action over Egypt in late 1940, operating obsolete Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters against the Italian Regia Aeronautica. It briefly converted to Hawker Hurricanes, and then flew P-40 Tomahawks and Kittyhawks during 1941–45, often experiencing intense air battles with the German Luftwaffe. 3 Sqn's longest serving Commanding Officer (CO) during the war was Squadron Leader Bobby Gibbes, whose tour lasted from February 1942 to April 1943.[3]

Its record of 217.5 enemy aircraft destroyed by the end of the war made it the highest-scoring RAAF fighter squadron.[4]

The unit was disbanded after the war and No. 4 Squadron RAAF was renamed No. 3.

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[edit] Cold War

The squadron re-formed on 1 March 1956 at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales. It operated CA-27 Sabres out of Butterworth, Malaya, from 1958 engaging in warlike operations asscociated with the Malayan Emergency and Konfrontasi. The squadron was disbanded in 1967.

As Australian involvement in the Vietnam War intensified, 3 Sqn was reformed and equipped with Mirage IIIO fighters at Wlliamtown in August–September 1967. An acting CO, Wing Commander Vance Drummond, was killed during this period in "2v2" air combat manoeuvres at No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF. Wing Commander Jake Newham (later RAAF Chief of Air Staff) became the CO. No. 3 Squadron's role was fighter ground attack and its aircraft were camouflaged and fitted with a Doppler navigation system and radar with additional ground mapping and terrain avoidance capability.

A photo reconnaissance capability was developed using the Fairchild KA56 panoramic camera and a transportable high speed photoprocessing and interpretation cabin. The role of the squadron included being able to deploy at eight days notice to a bare base and operate there unsupported for 28 days.

The Mirage III was a maintenance intensive aeroplane and tasks such as engine overhauls and radar and instrument repair had to be performed while deployed. As a result there were about 190 personnel in the squadron including four engineer officers and a supply officer. Six C130 aircraft were needed to move the squadron.

Pilots were required to be proficient in both the air to air and air to ground roles including 45 degree dive bombing at night. Once these capabilities had been demonstrated, the Squadron deployed to Butterworth]] in February 1969.

During this period, the aircraft became known as "lizards", in reference to their camouflage paint scheme and low altitude operations. The frill neck lizard was adopted as an informal squadron insignia. With 75 Squadron RAAF, 3 Sqn maintained a detachment at RAF Tengah, Singapore and both squadrons were temporarily based at Tengah for several months while the runway at Butterworth was being resurfaced. HMS Sir Galahad was used to move the Squadron's equipment.

On 29 August 1986, after returning to Australia, 3 Sqn became the first operational RAAF unit to receive F/A-18 Hornets (serial numbers A21-8 and A21-9).

[edit] Post-Cold War

The squadron continues to operate the Hornets from its home base at RAAF Base Williamtown. In February 2002, during the Afghanistan War, elements of 3 Sqn were deployed to Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, to relieve 77 Squadron, providing air defence for the Coalition base there.

3 Sqn personnel also participated in Operation Falconer, 75 Sqn's deployment to the Iraq War during 2003.

[edit] Aircraft operated

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Halley 1988, p. 135.
  2. ^ Stephens, Royal Australian Air Force, pp.9-19
  3. ^ "Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes", Times Online, 1 May 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-20. 
  4. ^ Australian War Memorial 3 Squadron RAAF
Bibliography
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Stephens, Alan. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: Oxford University Press, 2001 (2nd edition 2006). ISBN 0-19555-541-4.

[edit] External links

Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons
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Empire Air Training Scheme squadrons

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Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons

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