wing raaf wing royal_australian_air_force raaf wing world war formed february port wing initially comprised attack squadrons flying took new_guinea campaign mid year reorganised fighter squadrons operating form saw action campaigns wing disbanded los august beginning squadrons absorbed raaf wings later australian tactical air force history new_guinea campaign formed february wing consisted squadron flying squadron squadron based port wing control raaf premier fighting unit purpose act mobile strike force support advancing allied troops march wing units participated decisive aerial engagement according general resulted ships japanese convoy sunk engagement squadron struck airfield prevent japanese fighters taking intercept allied bombers took actual assault convoy launched low level cannon machine gun attacks japanese ships suppress anti aircraft fire prior bombing runs flight lieutenant boston pilots attacked awarded posthumous victoria_cross pressing home bombing missions later month spite severe damage aircraft having earlier led wing commander june wing command group captain month established headquarters wing reorganised fighter formation consisting squadron flying squadron squadron providing local air defence fighter escort australian bombers armed general purpose bombs engage ground attack missions practice employed commonwealth forces mediterranean august wing transferred group combat formation wing took responsibility transport delays meant squadron remained place wing taken squadron arrived australia november equipped campaigns wing commander assumed command wing october minimal offensive air activity japanese meant squadron saw relatively little action contrast wing ground attack capability fully engaged build december launched series attacks airfield fuel day allied landings patrolled beaches remained case strikes japanese raiders came january wing accompanied largest raids mounted raaf time involving aircraft attacking enemy camps depots group contribution campaign wing took garrison duties los commencing march complement combat squadrons nos squadrons supported operational base unit mobile fighter sector medical clearing station total ground staff numbering approximately fighters primary duty providing air cover allied shipping carried bomber escort ground attack anti shipping missions region mid april wing escorted largest allied convoy south west pacific date ships carrying personnel completing garrison work june wing disbanded los august combat units eventually transferred formations later renamed australian nos squadrons joined unit squadron wing command squadron withdrawn darwin november equip new joining wing returning pacific march
No. 73 Wing RAAF