No. 78 Wing RAAF

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No. 78 Wing RAAF
No. 78 Wing's crest
No. 78 Wing's crest
Active 1943–1967, 2000–current
Country Australia
Branch Royal Australian Air Force
Role Aircrew training
Part of Air Combat Group
Headquarters RAAF Base Williamtown
Insignia
Callsign REPUBLIC
Aircraft flown
Fighter F/A-18A Hornet
Trainer F/A-18B Hornet
Hawk 127
No. 78 Wing RAAF (2008)
Components No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 76 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron
No. 278 Squadron

No. 78 Wing (78WG) is the Royal Australian Air Force's operational training wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the Hawk 127 lead-in fighter and the F/A-18 Hornet, the latter including both single-seat (F/A-18A) and dual-control (F/A-18B) models.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

78 Wing was established in 1943 at Townsville, Queensland, and operated Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. Comprising Nos. 75, 78 and 80 Squadrons, it formed the fighter contingent of No. 10 Operational Group (renamed First Tactical Air Force in October 1944) along with No. 81 Wing.[1] 78 Wing took part in Operation Reckless, the assault on Hollandia and Aitape, New Guinea, in April 1944.[2] By the middle of the year, the Wing's rate of effort in New Guinea operations was consistently higher than its counterparts in the US Fifth Air Force.[3][4]

The relegation of 1TAF to areas of operations bypassed by the main Allied thrust towards the Philippines and Japan led to poor morale in late 1944 and early 1945. In April 1945, the recently-appointed Officer Commanding 78 Wing, Group Captain Wilfred Arthur, helped bring about the so-called "Morotai Mutiny" in protest at the relegation of 1TAF's fighter squadrons to apparently worthless ground attack missions. A subsequent inquiry cleared the pilots involved, finding their motives in tendering their resignations to be sincere.[5] Arthur remained in command of No. 78 Wing, and led it during the Battle of Tarakan in May 1945.[6]

[edit] Post-War

Vampire jet fighters of No. 78 Wing based at Ħal Far, Malta, 1952
Vampire jet fighters of No. 78 Wing based at Ħal Far, Malta, 1952

In the 1950s, 78 Wing became the first in the RAAF to fully equip with jet aircraft, when it took delivery of Vampire fighters leased from the Royal Air Force in exchange for Australia's commitment to support RAF operations in the Middle East. Comprising Nos. 75 and 76 (Fighter) Squadrons, 378 (Base) Squadron and 478 (Maintenance) Squadron, the Wing was posted to Malta on garrisoning duties, departing Australia in July 1952 and returning in January 1955.[1][7]

Following its tour in the Mediterranean, 78 Wing was based at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales. In 1958 it deployed to RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaya, where it flew CAC Sabres in operations against Communist guerilla forces in the last years of the Emergency. Its combat units consisted of Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons,[8] and remained at Butterworth until the late 1960s. Armed with Sidewinder missiles, the Sabres provided regional air defence during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation from 1963 to 1966.[9]

78 Wing was disbanded in 1967 but reformed at Williamtown in 2000, comprising No. 76 Squadron, No. 79 Squadron, and No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit. In 2003 a technical unit, No. 278 Squadron, with detachments at RAAF Amberley, RAAF Pearce and RAAF Tindal, was added to its complement.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Odgers, The Royal Australian Air Force
  2. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp.206-213
  3. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p.194
  4. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p.227
  5. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp.123-124
  6. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p.453
  7. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp.221-223
  8. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p.250
  9. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp.251-252

[edit] References