wing raaf wing royal_australian_air_force raaf wing operated world war initially based headquarters transferred darwin september control units nos squadrons prime task squadrons theatre conducted operations far philippines china wing flew bombing patrol transport missions dropped millions propaganda closing months war wing headquarters disbanded november history wing headquarters established queensland january moved mid month led wing commander transferred darwin september coordinate control operations nos squadrons squadrons equipped flying boats nicknamed black cats based wing headquarters formed darwin august operating darwin march missions carried raaf past year credited successfully disrupting enemy shipping smaller operating hours conventional bombing considered profitable wing squadrons work relatively slow susceptible enemy fighter attack loss rate sorties addition flying squadrons wing controlled units located darwin squadron based bay squadrons expected carry total missions month darwin weeks operation september accomplished mining targets java october able use recently liberated island forward base operations december squadron augmented squadron based new south wales mined manila bay japanese shipping supporting allied landing taking place day flying successfully dropped mines heavily defended target area loss number returned base limit fuel reserves early weather darwin reduced number missions flown wing night april kept watch japanese cruiser subsequently struck allied bombers sunk submarines month mined hong_kong harbour targets coast mainland china flying sixteen hours mission undertook raaf northerly operation pacific war month leader squadron took command wing june reinforced detachment squadron wing flew mining bombing missions support forthcoming operation concentrated mining approaches harbour bombed airfields java concert raaf combined lead raid japanese airfields threaten cases bombing target clock night day allies decision raaf operations areas south china june onwards number worthwhile targets reduced sorties month number carried wing missions war took place july final months japanese surrender delivered propaganda dutch_east_indies dropping million june wing squadrons remained darwin immediate aftermath war conducting routine patrols transporting supplies medicine prisoners war assisting australian personnel november reorganisation raaf units darwin wing headquarters given orders non operational november officially dissolved days later squadron disbanded month nos squadrons transferred disbanded
No. 76 Wing RAAF