The
Squadrons History At the out brake of WW2, No 2 squadron with its Arvo Anions conducted Coastal patrols and convoy escorts to the Middle East then in 1941 deployed to the Dutch East Indies to perform reconnaissance and bombing operations against the advancing Japanese forces. Despite heavy losses to enemy fighters and attacks on there own bases successfully continued there operations until the end of the war for which No 2 squadron was awarded a United States presidential unit citation. In
1967 No 2 squadron commenced operations in
Vietnam. Quickly establishing itself as the most
effective bomber squadron in Vietnam. After
flying all most 
F/A-18A&B
Although 2OCU
is primarily a training unit its capability makes
it comparable with any operational fighter
unit. As such 2OCU is frequently tasked with
operational evaluations and participates in joint
and single Service exercise and RAAF displays.
No 3 Squadron is one of the two main air to air squadrons of the RAAF the other being 75 Squadron based at Tindal. These two squadrons are Australia's front line of defence and both hone there skills on a daily basis to use the Hornet in a roll it excels at, air combat. The
Squadrons History In WW2 No 3 squadron again saw action in Egypt and in the invasion of Sicily became the first allied squadron to be based on an enemy homeland. By the end of the war No 3 squadron was the highest scoring Commonwealth fighter squadron with a total of 217.5 victories in air combat. After WW2 ended No 3 squadron spent an almost continuous 30 years stationed at Butterworth in Malaysia operating Sabers then Mirage III aircraft. In 1986 the squadron moved to Williamtown and became the first operational squadron with the Hornets. From February 2002 as port of Australia's comitment to the fight against terrorism 3 squadron started a three month deploment to the US air base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean returning home 21-5-2002.
No 77 Squadron is a true multi-role squadron whose main role is ground attack work. Here the pilots are trained to use the Hornet in its ground attack role. A role which the hornet is quiet capable of doing but does lack the payload and range of a dedicated mud mover like the RAAF's F-111's from Amberley. The squadrons secondary role is air defence a role that the Hornet is much happier doing. The
Squadrons History In July 1951 No 77 squadron saw there role change to ground attack with the arrival of the Meteor jet. In November 1954 the squadron was relocated to Williamtown for three years in which period they received the Avon-Saber. The squadron then moved to Butterworth in Malaysia untill 1969 when they where relocated back to Williamtown. In mid 1970 the squadron was re-equipped with the Dassault Mirage III which they operated until being replaced by the F/A-18 in the late 1980's.
No 76 squadron is one of Australia's most famous fighting squadrons having distinguished itself during WW2 as a premier fighter squadron. Reformed at Williamtown on the 1st January 1989, No 76 squadrons operational role changed to introductory fighter training useing the Aermacchi MB.326H. In late 2000 No 76 squadron started to receive BAe systems Hawk 127's to replace the Macchi's, a move which is shore to improve the quality of pilots graduating from this squadron to the Hornets or F-111 squadrons. The
Squadrons History After the war No 76 squadron was re-equipped with Mustangs and deployed to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth occupation force. Returning to Australia in 1948 the squadron converted to Vampire jets before deploying to Malta in 1952 to join NATO forces in the Mediterranean area. From 1960 No 76 squadron was based at Williamtown and in 1966 converted to the supersonic Mirage III. In 1989 the squadron lost its fighter role when its Mirages where replaced by the Aermacchi. In late 2000 76 Squadron started to receive the new Hawk 127 or LIF ( lead in fighter ) as it is commonly called. The final Hawk was delivered in October 2001 starting a new era in RAAF fighter training. All information on this page was collected from various sources of the RAAF. Full Squadron histories can be found on the Official RAAF Home page.
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No 2 squadron was formed in September 1916 at
Kantara Egypt and after initial training in
England began combat operations over the Western
Front in October 1917. No 2 squadrons first aerial
victory was claimed by Lieutenant Huxley on the
22 November 1917 shooting down an Albatross scout
plane. From 1917 till the end of the war the
squadron worked in close co-operation with No 4
squadron inflicting heavy losses on the Germans. 
Operational conversion unit trains graduates from
No 76 Squadron in the art of flying the Hornet.
Once a pilot graduates from this unit they will
have all the skills required to fly the Hornet
and will move on to one of the three main Hornet
Squadrons (No 3 and 77 squadrons based at
Williamtown or 75 squadron based at Tindall,
Northern Territory) where they will continue to
learn the skills required of them to be first
class fighter pilots. 
No 3 Squadron is Australia's oldest and most
illustrious fighter squadron. Formed during WW1 in
Egypt on the 19th September 1916. The squadron
also saw action in the Middle East, England
and was the first Australian flying Corp's
squadron to move to France. By the end of the WW1
No 3 squadron had flown over 10,000 operational
hours in support of allied forces. 
No 77 squadron was formed in Perth on the 16th
March 1942 flying Kittyhawk aircraft. On the 12th
August 1942 they moved to Darwin then on the 21
February 1943 amidst a Japanese air raid were
relocated to Milne Bay, New Guinea. As the war
expanded through the Pacific 77 squadron also
saw action at Goodenough Island,
Nadab, Kiriwina, Momote, Noemfoor, Morotai
and Labvan in 1945. At the end of WW2 the
squadron became part of the British Commonwealth
occupation force in Japan untill the 25th June
1950 when the squadron was called on by the
United Nations for operations in Korea at which
stage the squadron was flying Mustang fighters. 
Formed in Queensland in March 1942 and flying
kittyhawks No 76 Squadron was deployed to Milne
Bay to confront the advancing Japanese on the
24th August that same year. The proceeding battle
was one of the most significant in the South West
Pacific region culminating in the first land
defeat of the Japanese forces in the war. After
playing a vital role in this Australia victory
No 76 squadron re-grouped at Potshot in Western
Australia in 1943. In may 1943 No 76 squadron
returned to combat operations with a succession
of moves from Pacific Island bases starting
at Goodenough Island north of New Guinea and
ending in Labuan in support of the invasion of
Borneo. 
