No. 79 Squadron RAAF
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| 79SQN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Service | RAAF | ||
| FEG | Air Combat Group | ||
| Parent Unit | 78 Wing | ||
| Role | Introductory Fast Jet Training | ||
| Motto | Born for Action | ||
| Formed | April 1943 | ||
| Base | RAAF Base Pearce | ||
| Aircraft | BAe Hawk 127 | ||
| Callsign | PHOENIX | ||
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1943 and currently operates Hawk 127 aircraft from RAAF Base Pearce.
[edit] History
Flying Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, the Squadron saw combat as a fighter squadron in the Second World War. Operating from bases in New Guinea the squadron mainly operated in the ground attack role due to the limited Japanese air strength in the region. The Squadron operated from Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies from early 1945 and was disbanded there in November 1945.
In June 1962 No. 79 Squadron was re-formed at Ubon in Thailand. Equipped with Sabre fighters the squadron provided air defence for the important Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base and exercised with US fighters. No. 79 Squadron did not, however, fly any operations over nearby Cambodia, South Vietnam or Laos. The Squadron re-deployed to Butterworth in Malaysia in July 1968 where it was disbanded.
No. 79 Squadron was re-formed at Butterworth in March 1986. Equipped with Mirage III aircraft previously operated by No. 3 Squadron and a single DHC-4 Caribou, the Squadron maintained the Australian fighter force in Malaysia following No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron's return to Australia to re-equip with the F/A-18. The Squadron was again disbanded at Butterworth in June 1988.
In 1998 No. 79 Squadron was re-formed at RAAF Base Pearce to provide introductory jet aircraft training to RAAF pilots. The Squadron initially operated Aermacchi MB-326 aircraft before being re-equipped with Hawk 127 aircraft in 2000. Upon completing their introductory jet aircraft training pilots are posted to No. 76 Squadron for initial training in jet aircraft flying tactics.
[edit] Aircraft operated
- Supermarine Spitfire (1943-1945)
- F-86 Sabre (1962-1968)
- Mirage III (1986-1988)
- DHC-4 Caribou (1986-1988)
- Aermacchi MB-326 (1998-2000)
- Hawk 127 (2000- )
[edit] References
- RAAF Historical Section (1995), Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
- RAAF Museum 79 Squadron
- No. 79 Squadron Official Website
| Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons | |
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| RAAF Units Under Australian Operational Control
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| RAAF Units Under RAF Operational Control During WWII
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| Joint RAAF-Netherlands East Indies Squadrons |
