No. 75 Squadron RAAF

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

75SQN
Image:Raaf_75sqn.jpg
Active March 4, 1942 – current
Branch RAAF
Role Air to Air & Ground
Part of 81 Wing, Air Combat Group
Garrison/HQ RAAF Base Tindal
Motto Seek and Strike
Insignia
Callsign MAGPIE (Single ship)
CLASSIC (Multiship)
SPARROW (Multiship)
CONDOR (Multiship)
Aircraft flown
Fighter F/A-18 Hornet

No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. It was most recently in action in Iraq in 2003 as part of the Australian contribution to the invasion of Iraq.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

No. 75 Squadron was formed at Townsville on 4 March 1942. After a very brief period of training the Squadron deployed to Port Moresby on 21 March where it was the only RAAF fighter squadron located at this critical base before 25 August 1942. During this period it destroyed over 60 Japanese aircraft in air-to-air combat and strafing attacks for a loss of 24 aircraft and 12 pilots.

The Squadron was withdrawn to the mainland on May 3, 1942. After a short time in Australia for rest and re-equipment, the squadron deployed to Milne Bay on 21 July 1942. With No. 76 Squadron, it played a key role in the Australian victory in the Battle of Milne Bay.

After another brief period in Australia, No. 75 Squadron re-deployed to New Guinea in early 1943. With the decline of Japanese air power in the region the Squadron's primary role gradually shifted to providing close air support to Allied ground troops. In line with this role it regularly moved to new air bases during 1943 and 1944 as the Allied forces advanced along the northern coast of New Guinea. The Squadron formed part of the Australian First Tactical Air Force from its creation in October 1944 until the end of the war.

In late 1944, No. 75 Squadron left New Guinea for Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies. From this base it operated over the eastern Netherlands East Indies. While the Squadron's ground crew landed on Tarakan with the invasion force on 1 May 1945, delays in bringing the island's airstrip into operation prevented its aircraft from deploying there until mid-July. From Tarakan the Squadron supported the Australian operations at Balikpapan. Following the Japanese surrender, No. 75 Squadron returned to Australia in December 1945 and, after over 2 years operating the P-51 Mustang, was disbanded in March 1948.

[edit] Cold War

No. 75 Squadron was reformed at RAAF Base Williamtown on 24 January 1949. It deployed to Malta in July 1952 and was stationed on the island until returning to Williamtown in January 1955. After re-equipping with the CAC Sabre in 1956 the Squadron regularly deployed to Darwin for exercises with the Royal Air Force.

No. 75 Squadron was re-equipped with the Mirage III in 1965. The Squadron was based at RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia between 1968 and 1983. From 1983 to 1988 the Squadron was based at RAAF Base Darwin, with regular deployments to Singapore.

In 1981, No.75 Squadron, along with crews and aircraft from 3 Squadron, were the first units to participate in Cope Thunder at the USAF Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

[edit] Recent history

In 1988, No. 75 Squadron was re-equipped with the F/A-18 Hornet and moved to the newly completed RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine. The Squadron saw action for the first time since 1945 when it was deployed to the Middle East in 2003 as part of the Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During the war it initially flew escort missions before switching to providing close air support to Coalition ground forces. No. 75 Squadron returned to Australia shortly after the end of the war.

[edit] Aircraft operated

A No. 75 Squadron F/A-18 Hornet during the squadron's deployment to Red Flag - Alaska in early 2008
A No. 75 Squadron F/A-18 Hornet during the squadron's deployment to Red Flag - Alaska in early 2008

[edit] References

  • No. 75 Squadron Official Website
  • RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra.
  • Stephens, Alan [2001] (2006). The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195555414. 


Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons
Main series

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 60 66 67 71 73 75 76 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 92 93 94 99 100 102 107 292
Empire Air Training Scheme squadrons

450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 466 467
Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons

No. 18 (NEI) No. 119 (NEI) No. 120 (NEI)