wing raaf wing wing responsible operating multi role fighters royal_australian_air_force raaf headquartered raaf base new_south_wales wing comprises combat units nos squadrons based squadron based operational conversion unit wing headquarters oversees squadron training air air combat air ground tactics support australian_army tasked offensive defensive counter air operations deployed provided local air defence iraq saw action flying fighter escort close air support missions concert coalition forces employed patrol high profile events australia including visits foreign dignitaries acted support operations formed april wing comprised flying units nos squadrons operating fighters theatre world war following end hostilities wing converted based japan allied forces disbanded november formed january complement included nos squadrons operational conversion unit operating sabre jets deployed guard possible attack indonesian forces malaysia wing converted fighters disbanding december formed february operate wing controlled nos later squadrons flying lead fighters transferred wing history world war established victoria april wing operated fighters theatre world war group captain set headquarters august squadrons formation joined nos wings september group renamed tactical air force october month wing undertook offensive sweeps ground attacks targets november nos squadrons dive bombed japanese airfields wing flew sorties october november dropping pounds bombs loss aircraft pilots areas operation bypassed main allied thrust philippines japan led poor morale december wing new commander group captain produced balance sheet demonstrate formation combat results worth cost ordnance casualties setting train events called mutiny following year january number missions flown wing dropped previous month march carried patrols encountered enemy activity half wing slated operation invasion unable time new base dutch_east_indies squadron played battle undertaking patrols convoy escort following month wing flew close support missions operation invasion addition squadrons wing order battle included squadron flying repair unit detachment seven total personnel commander group captain wing provided squadrons support operation assault june airfield operate ready time wing based pacific war ended august calls soon came serve formation proposed commonwealth occupation forces japan personnel volunteered allied occupation japan wing began september maintenance squadron formed december elements units based base squadron established january utilised personnel equipment wing specialist units including operational base unit airfield defence squadron base squadron administrative logistical unit intended wing self supporting mobile leadership wing commander wing subsequently transferred new headquarters base formed australian air contingent japan raaf presence reduced units arrive japan december followed flying squadrons march squadron lost escorting bad weather route killing crew members wing strength augmented nos squadrons later making journey japan wing mascot flying officer later flight lieutenant small yellow dog combat seasoned veteran hours operational flying credit japanese offered resistance allied occupation wing prime operational duty surveillance patrols raaf personnel helped maintain law order supervised elections addition military construction contributed rebuilding local infrastructure generally maintained peacetime training regime late squadron providing technical support squadrons including britain new_zealand india raaf contingent group captain took command wing cooper september wing transferred april month federal government determined reduce australia contribution formation retaining squadron japan nos squadrons disbanded october subsequently emerging joining wing deployed malta wing headquarters squadron disbanded november followed january detachments squadron remained squadron new organisation called eventually disbanding february april respectively squadron personnel preparing return australia june placed standby action korean war broken unit began flying missions korea week later later formations january wing established new_south_wales flying complement included nos squadrons operational conversion unit formed maintenance squadron september nos squadrons deployed little publicised plan effect indonesia malaysia squadron armed missiles defend possible attack indonesian forces following recent establishment time world war raaf flying squadron positioned harm way australian territory squadron effectively action pending conversion deployment meant practically entire mainland fighter force committed north officer commanding wing group captain took role commander combat ensued interception canberra bomber operational conversion unit experience reveal deficiencies defence contributed decision maintain permanent detachment wing fighters darwin later wing converted commencing concluding squadron mentioned disbanded wing disbanded december squadron based raaf base malaysia relocated darwin following conversion transferred owing remote location largest squadron employing extensive maintenance section ensure readiness wing formed february squadron flying units consisted nos squadrons based converted mentioned prime operator seat trainers having continued perform fighter maintenance 1960s 70s squadron disbanded january formed day wing wing parent organisation consisted squadrons wing augmented nos squadrons operating lead fighters based raaf base western_australia employed forward air control july wing reorganised wing incorporating newly formed squadron weapon systems field training flight wing transferred functions wing flying squadrons july disbanding october year squadron split operated formed squadron wing established operational training formation taking nos squadrons returned control wing squadron flew previously operated squadron role subsequently assigned newly formed detachment wing consisting squadron squadron prepared support operations september february required following september attacks squadrons deployed air defence base combat ensued planes returned year squadron undertook combat air patrols connection queensland wing new merged february following year squadron deployed middle_east support invasion iraq escorting high value coalition aircraft later providing close air support ground troops air iraqi forces time raaf delivered bombs anger vietnam war led wing commander officer commanding wing commander subsequently air commander australia continued play air defence role securing high profile events australia including commonwealth games melbourne meeting sydney visit president barack_obama
No. 81 Wing RAAF