No. 78 Wing RAAF
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| 78WG | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Service | RAAF | ||
| Parent Unit | Air Combat Group | ||
| Role | Fast Jet Training | ||
| Motto | Fight | ||
| Headquarters | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
| Callsign | REPUBLIC | ||
| Units | |||
| 76 Squadron | |||
| 79 Squadron | |||
| 278 Squadron | |||
| 2OCU | |||
No. 78 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's Fast Jet Training Wing. It is currently headquartered at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the Hawk 127 lead-in fighter and the F/A-18 Hornet, the latter including both single-seat (F/A-18A) and dual-control (F/A-18B) models.
[edit] History
78 Wing was formed in 1943 at Townsville, Queensland, and operated Kittyhawk fighters in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
After the war it was the first Wing in the RAAF to equip with jet aircraft, when it took delivery of Vampire fighters.
In 1958 it relocated from Williamtown to RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia, where it flew F-86 Sabres and supported operations against Communist guerilla forces. The Wing at that time consisted of 3 Squadron and 77 Squadron.
78 Wing was disbanded in 1967 but reformed at Williamtown in 2000, comprising 76 Squadron, 79 Squadron, and 2 Operation Conversion Unit.
