No. 82 Wing RAAF

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No. 82 Wing RAAF
Image:82WingRAAF.jpg
No. 82 Wing's crest
Active 1944–current
Branch Royal Australian Air Force
Role Strike/reconnaissance
Part of Air Combat Group
Headquarters RAAF Base Amberley
Motto Find and Destroy
Insignia
Callsign RAMROD
Aircraft flown
Bomber General Dynamics F-111
Reconnaissance Pilatus PC-9
No. 82 Wing RAAF (2008)
Components No. 1 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron
FACDU

No. 82 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's strike and reconnaissance wing. It is currently headquartered at RAAF Amberley, Queensland, and operates the General Dynamics F-111 bomber and Pilatus PC-9 forward air control aircraft.

[edit] History

82 Wing was formed in 1944. Made up of Nos. 12, 21 and 23 Squadrons, it operated B-24 Liberator bombers in the Pacific theatre of World War II.

Shortly after the war the Wing moved to its present location at RAAF Base Amberley, and began converting to Avro Lincoln bombers in 1947. By this time it comprised Nos. 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons.

In 1953, 82 Wing took delivery of the RAAF's first jet bomber, the Canberra. Canberras from 2 Squadron flew missions against Communist guerillas in Malaya in 1958 and saw extensive action in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1971.

Between 1970 and 1973, while awaiting the delayed delivery of F-111 swing-wing strike aircraft, 1 and 6 Squadrons flew leased F-4E Phantoms, while 2 Squadron continued with the Canberra. In 1973 the Wing accepted its first F-111Cs, which it continues to operate through numerous upgrades, augmented in 1994-95 by 15 ex-USAF G models.

2 Squadron was disbanded in 1982, leaving 82 Wing with its current bomber unit complement of 1 and 6 Squadrons. In 2002 the Forward Air Control Development Unit (FACDU), flying Pilatus PC-9s, was added to its strength.

[edit] References

  • No. 82 Wing at RAAF Official Site
  • Air Power Australia
  • Australian Government Publishing Service (1971). The Golden Years: The Royal Australian Air Force 1921-1971