No. 6 Squadron RAAF
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| 6 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | September 1917 |
| Branch | RAAF |
| Role | Training |
| Part of | 82 Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Amberley |
| Motto | "Nous Reviendrons" |
| Aircraft | F-111 |
No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron.
[edit] History
The Squadron was first formed in 1917 in Yatesbury, England[1] and currently operates F-111 aircraft from RAAF Base Amberley.
The Squadron served as a training unit based in England during the First World War and saw combat as a light bomber squadron in the Second World War.
No. 6 Squadron is currently responsible for training F-111 air crew and to maintain F-111 operational capability. Upon completing their training, air crew are posted to No. 1 Squadron.
No. 6 Squadron was formed at Parkhouse, England, on 15 June 1917 as a part of the Australian Flying Corps. It was established as a training squadron for the four operational squadrons on the Western Front, which had outstripped the ability of the Army's Central Flying School at Point Cook to supply trained airmen. It was originally identified as No. 30 (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, but was renamed, along with all of the Australian squadrons, in January 1918. The squadron's principal role during World War I was to prepare personnel for service with what was at first No. 68 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, and subsequently No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, which was operating with British forces over the Western Front. The squadron relocated several times within the UK until it was disbanded in March 1919.
No. 6 Squadron was reformed on 1 January 1939. With the outbreak of World War II, No. 6 Squadron began flying anti-submarine and general reconnaissance patrols off the east coast of Australia with Avro Anson aircraft and then, from April 1940, Lockheed Hudson aircraft based at RAAF Base Richmond.
In August 1942, No. 6 Squadron Hudsons deployed to Milne Bay to provide reconnaissance and bomber support in defence of the Australian garrison. During the Japanese invasion of Milne Bay, No. 6 Squadron crews flew constant bombing and strafing missions against troop positions, landing barges and ships. These attacks, which complemented those of two RAAF Kittyhawk squadrons, were particularly damaging and resulted in considerable losses to the enemy. Based at Port Moresby, the Hudsons also began to drop vital supplies to Australian troops fighting their way along the infamous Kokoda Trail. Although not an ideal aircraft for this task, tonnes of supplies were delivered under extremely hazardous conditions. By November 1942, the entire unit was based at Milne Bay, from where reconnaissance and attack missions continued.
In August 1943 the Australian-built Beaufort replaced the Hudsons. In November 1943 No. 6 Squadron moved to Goodenough Island, where many night strikes against the Japanese citadel at Rabaul were flown. In December 1944 the squadron moved to Dobodura on the New Guinea mainland to fly strikes and supply-dropping missions in support of Australian troops throughout New Guinea. After returning to Australian at the end of the war, No. 6 Squadron disbanded at Kingaroy, Queensland, in late 1945 after over six years continuous operational service, including nearly 4000 operational sorties.
On 23 February 1948, No. 6 Squadron was reformed at Amberley, Queensland, where it has remained to this day as part of No. 82 Wing. Equipped with Lincoln bombers, 6 Squadron provided training for No. 1 and 2 Squadron's aircrews throughout the 1950's. During this period, the Lincolns participated in the British atomic bomb tests at Maralinga, before being replaced with Canberra jet bombers in 1955.
From 1970 until 1972, No. 6 Squadron operated F-4 Phantoms on lease from the United States Air Force, which were in turn replaced by General Dynamics F-111's in 1973.
From 1982 until 1987, No. 6 Squadron also operated Learjets in the photo survey role.
On June 29 1993, 15 surplus F-111G aircraft were purchased from the USAF. One F-111G was recovered from AMARC (A8-272) which was famously named "The Boneyard Wrangler". In September 2007, the last F-111G in RAAF service was retired.
Today, No. 6 Squadron continues to operate and maintain the F-111C aircraft as a formidable part of Australia's air combat capability. From the canvas-and-wood aircraft of World War I through to the swing-wing F-111 aircraft of today, No. 6 Squadron has continued to play a pre-eminent role in the defence of Australia.
No. 6 Squadron Battle Honours
Pacific 1941–45 New Guinea 1942–44 Moresby 1942 Milne Bay Bismark Sea New Britain 1943
[edit] References
| Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons | |
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| Main series
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| Empire Air Training Scheme squadrons
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| Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons |
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