Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF began in March 1914 as the Australian Flying Corps and became a fully independent air force in March 1921. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th centuries major conflicts including both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. More recently the RAAF participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

History

World War I

Soon after the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Australian Flying Corps sent aircraft to assist in capturing German colonies in what is now north-west New Guinea. These colonies surrendered quickly however, before the planes were even unpacked. The first operational flights did not occur until May 27, 1915, when the Mesopotamian Half Flight was called upon to assist the Indian Army in protecting British oil interests in what is now Iraq. The Corps later saw action in Egypt, Palestine and on the Western Front throughout the remainder of World War I. By the end of the war, four squadrons had seen active service.

Related Topics:
World War I - 1914 - New Guinea - May 27 - 1915 - Mesopotamian Half Flight - Indian Army - Iraq - Egypt - Palestine

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World War II

In 1939, just after the start of World War II, Australia joined the Empire Air Training Scheme, under which flight crews received basic training in Australia before travelling to Canada for advanced training. A total of 19 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in the Britain, and/or with the Desert Air Force, in North Africa and the Mediterranean. With British manufacturing targeted by the Luftwaffe, the Australian government created the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) to supply Commonwealth air forces and the RAAF was eventually provided with large numbers of locally-built versions of British designs like the DAP Beaufort torpedo bomber.

Related Topics:
1939 - World War II - Empire Air Training Scheme - Canada - Britain - Desert Air Force - North Africa - Mediterranean - Luftwaffe - Department of Aircraft Production - DAP Beaufort - Torpedo bomber

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In the European Theatre of World War II, RAAF personnel were especially notable in RAF Bomber Command: they represented two percent of all RAAF personnel during the war, but accounted for 23% of the total number killed in action. This statistic is further illustrated by the fact that No. 460 Squadron RAAF, mostly flying Avro Lancasters, had an official establishment of about 200 aircrew and yet had 1,018 combat deaths. The squadron was therefore effectively wiped out five times over.

Related Topics:
European Theatre of World War II - RAF Bomber Command - No. 460 Squadron RAAF - Avro Lancaster

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The beginning of the Pacific War — and the rapid advance of Japanese forces — threatened the Australian mainland for the first time. The RAAF was quite unprepared for the emergency, and initially had negligible forces available for service in the Pacific. The devastating air raids on Darwin on February 19 1942 drove the point home. Some RAAF squadrons were transferred from the northern hemisphere — although a substantial number remained there until the end of the war. Shortages of fighter and ground attack planes led to the acquisition of US-built P-40 Kittyhawks and the rapid design and manufacture of the first Australian fighter, the CAC Boomerang. RAAF Kittyhawks came to play a crucial role in the New Guinea and Solomon Islands campaigns, especially in operations like the Battle of Milne Bay.

Related Topics:
Pacific War - Japan - Air raids on Darwin - February 19 - 1942 - Northern hemisphere - Ground attack - US - P-40 - CAC Boomerang - New Guinea - Solomon Islands - Battle of Milne Bay

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In the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, imported Bristol Beaufighters proved to be highly effective ground attack and maritime strike aircraft. Beaufighters were later made locally by the DAP. Although it was much bigger than Japanese fighters, the Beaufighter had the speed to outrun them.

Related Topics:
Battle of the Bismarck Sea - Bristol Beaufighter

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The RAAF's heavy bomber force was predominantly comprised of 287 B-24 Liberators, which could bomb Japanese targets as far away as Borneo and the Philippines from airfields in Australia and New Guinea.

Related Topics:
Heavy bomber - B-24 Liberator - Borneo - Philippines

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By late 1945, the RAAF had received or ordered about 500 P-51 Mustangs, for fighter/ground attack purposes. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation initially assembled US-made Mustangs, but later manufactured most of those used. The RAAF's main operational formation, the First Tactical Air Force, comprised more than 18,000 personnel and 20 squadrons; it had taken part in the Philippines and Borneo campaigns and was scheduled to participate in the invasion of the Japanese mainland, Operation Downfall. So too were the RAAF bomber squadrons in Europe, as part of the proposed Tiger Force. However, the war was brought to a sudden end by the US nuclear attacks on Japan. As a result of the Empire Air Training Scheme, about 20,000 Australian personnel had served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during World War II. A total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 11,061 were killed in action.

Related Topics:
1945 - P-51 - Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation - First Tactical Air Force - Philippines - Borneo - Operation Downfall - Tiger Force - Nuclear attack

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Post War Service

In the Korean War, Mustangs from No. 77 Squadron (77 Sqn), stationed in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, were among the first United Nations aircraft to be deployed, in ground support, combat air patrol, and escort missions. When the UN planes were confronted by MiG-15 jet fighters, 77 Sqn acquired Gloster Meteors, which enabled some success against the Soviet pilots flying for North Korea. However the MiGs were superior aircraft and the Meteors were relegated to ground support missions, as the North Koreans gained experience. The air force also operated transport aircraft during the conflict.

Related Topics:
Korean War - British Commonwealth Occupation Force - United Nations - MiG-15 - Gloster Meteor - Soviet - North Korea

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During the Vietnam War, from 1966-72, the RAAF contributed squadrons of UH-1 Iroquois helicopters and English Electric Canberra bombers. The Canberras flew a large number of bombing sorties. Two were lost, one to a surface to air missile, although both crews were rescued. RAAF transport aircraft also supported anti-communist ground forces.

Related Topics:
Vietnam War - 1966 - 72 - UH-1 Iroquois - English Electric Canberra - Sortie - Surface to air missile - Anti-communist

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Military airlifts were conducted for a number of purposes in the intervening decades, such as the peacekeeping operations in East Timor from 1999. Australia's combat aircraft were not used again in anger until the Iraq War in 2003, when F/A-18's were used in bombing missions, as well as combat air patrol missions. A veil of secrecy surrounds the details of their actions during this conflict, with some commentators complaining that this is politically-motivated. (See Operation Falconer for more details.)

Related Topics:
East Timor - 1999 - Iraq War - 2003 - Operation Falconer

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