2 Squadron RAAF Canberra over the combat zone during the Vietnam War in 1970. 4 Squadron returned to Australia on 14 November 1945 and was again based at Canberra. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, which had been formed in June 1942. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron responsible for training forward air controllers. No 4 Squadron Does anyone know anything information about combat controller's in No 4 squadron. The unit has served with distinction during the Great War, the Second World War, and more recently in the War in Afghanistan. Aircraft - Locations-Group and Duty - Books. RAAF 4 Squadron welcomes first Pilatus PC-21 aircraft Taking training to new heights, Air Force Number 4 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown has today welcomed its first three Pilatus PC-21 aircraft to their new home. 77 Squadron in Korea, he flew Gloster Meteor jet fighters and earned the US Air Medal for his combat skills. 76 Squadron was re-formed in its present incarnation in 1989 and is currently stationed at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, where it operates Hawk 127 jet training aircraft. 76 Squadron. 4 Squadron will accompany special forces patrols in order to accurately direct air strikes. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron composed of the air force special forces Combat Controllers, aircrew who operate the Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and instructors for the Australian Defence Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) course. 28 Squadron operates the RAAF s hot air balloons Active since 1984 Branch It comprises Nos. Army co-operation squadron, based around Port Moresby at Berry (1943-44), Nadzab (1944-45) or smaller satellite airstrips. It was disbanded in April 1944, handing Williamtown over to No. Following the end of hostilities it re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until disbanding in 1948. Access to over 650 digitised files of RAAF Operations Record Books ORBs and Unit History Sheets on RAAF Units ... 4 Squadron Malvern 5 Squadron Brighton 6 Squadron Essendon 7 Squadron Geelong 8 Squadron Mildura: 2 Wing Air Training Corps, NSW . A new era for JTAC training". Established in 1916, it was one of four combat squadrons of the Australian Flying Corps during World War I, and operated on the Western Front in France before being disbanded in 1919. It was formed at Williamtown, New South Wales, in October 1942 to train pilots and wireless air gunners to operate Vultee Vengeance dive bombers. 4 Squadron RAAF: Celebrating A Centenary 1916 – 2016. by Matt Savage. It was disbanded after the war in mid-1919, but re-raised in 1937 and 1940. Initial squadrons shown below. The squadron was first formed in October 1917 and was disbanded in January 1946 after seeing action during the Pacific War. 4 Squadron Boomerang fighter and ground crew in 1943, McLaughlin, Andrew (2009). 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) general reserve squadron. 2 FTS, having the previous year begun replacing the Vampires with Macchi MB-326Hs. [10] It also operated six Piper Cubs as liaison aircraft during these campaigns. It supported the 9th Division's campaign in North Borneo and the 7th Division's landing at Balikpapan. No. 4 Squadron was re-formed on 3 July 2009 at RAAF Base Williamtown to train forward air controllers. No. The unit operates a fleet of Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainers. 4 Squadron Wirraway piloted by Pilot Officer John Archer shot down an A6M Zero. 79 Squadron and undertaking initial fighter combat instruction at No. No. Low This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale. L ive on YouTube: Royal Australian Air Force – No. 4 Squadron claimed more "kills" than any other AFC unit: 199 enemy aircraft destroyed. [32], After the war, No. As the war progressed, the squadron also took part in the Huon Peninsula, New Britain and Borneo campaigns. [20] Shortly after its formation the squadron departed for Britain, arriving at Castle Bromwich for further training in March 1917. No. Headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the wing comprises three combat units, Nos. 1 SFTS was disbanded in late 1944, when there was no further requirement to train Australian aircrew for service in Europe. At this time it op­er­ated Catali­nas again, un­der­tak­ing search and res­cue and courier tasks. [16] The Forward Air Control Development Unit (FACDU), which operated Pilatus PC-9s, was merged into the new unit, along with the RAAF's special tactics project team. No.4 Squadron (S.A.A.F.) [22], Members of the unit included Captain Harry Cobby, the AFC's leading ace of the war, credited with destroying 29 aircraft and observation balloons, and Captain George Jones, who shot down seven aircraft and later served as the RAAF's Chief of the Air Staff for ten years. [30] The squadron continued to support Australian, US Army and US Marine Corps units in New Guinea and New Britain until March 1945 when it deployed to Morotai and then to the island of Labuan to support Australian ground forces in the Borneo campaign. No. The Macchis were themselves replaced by the PC-9 beginning in 1989. B-25D from No. It was reorganised as a fighter conversion unit flying P-51 Mustangs and CAC Wirraways in February 1946, and disbanded in July 1947. Established in 1942, it operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft in the South West Pacific theatre during World War II. Until the end of the war the squadron operated in the army co-operation role, providing ground forces with artillery observation, reconnaissance and close air support. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps", "New Air Force Capability at Williamtown", Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons, No. Moved to … [23], Following the armistice, No. [4], B Flight is the Combat Control Team (CCT), composed of Combat Controllers responsible for reconnaissance, joint terminal attack control and advanced force operations, doing so either as part of a larger advanced force (supporting the SASR or Commandos from the 1st or 2nd Commando Regiment), or independently. (Out of Control), "Driven Down" and "Balloons Destroyed". 4 Squadron has operated the following aircraft: [34] [40]. 81 Wing's operational Hornet units, No. [9] [10] Combat Controllers served continuously with the SOTG from 2008 rotating controllers at each SOTG rotation until withdrawal. PREMIERE No. 396 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing RAAF, Forward Air Control Development Unit RAAF, Target Towing and Special Duties Flight RAAF, List of Royal Australian Air Force groups, List of Royal Australian Air Force aircraft squadrons, List of Royal Australian Air Force independent aircraft flights, Air force ground forces and special forces, B Flight Combat Control Team (CCT), No. Once qualified on the F/A-18, they are posted to one of No. 4 Squadron remained in Europe and was based in Cologne, Germany, as part of the British Army of Occupation. Barnes, Norman, The RAAF and the flying squadrons(St Leonards, N.S.W : Allen & Unwin, 2000) Graham, Cec, Co-operate to conquer : activities of No. 4 Squadron – Exercise Havoc Drop. It was formed at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in October 1942 to train pilots and navigators for service in World War II. [24], The squadron's initial task in New Guinea was to support the American and Australian forces in the Battle of Buna-Gona. In the mid-1960s, it was re-formed as a helicopter squadron, before being disbanded in December 1989, when it was used to form the Australian Defence Force Helicopter Training School. Serny, France, November 1918. On 26 December 1942, a No. They have also been employed to patrol high-profile events in Australia, including the Commonwealth Games and visits by foreign dignitaries. The aircraft was later salvaged and flew with No. Re-numbered No. The squadron was previously a fighter and army co-operation unit active in both World War I and World War II. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy its combat aircraft. 4 Squadron ceased to exist, having been re-numbered No. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. 3 Squadron. [9], C Flight delivers the ADF Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) course as well as the ongoing accreditation of graduates. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Combat Controllers from No. 5 Operational Training Unit was an operational training unit (OTU) of the Royal Australian Air Force. RAAF 4 Squadron welcomes first Pilatus PC-21 aircraft Taking training to new heights, Air Force Number 4 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown has today welcomed its first three Pilatus PC-21 aircraft to their new home. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. After returning to Australia he converted to CAC Sabre jets and in December 1961 became a flight commander with No. [7][8] On 31 January 1943, the squadron sent one of its flights to Wau, where it participated in the Battle of Wau. No.4 Squadron was formed at Richmond on 17 June 1940. Combat controllers of No. The squadrons listed are: No. It returned to Australia in March 1919 and was disbanded in Melbourne in June. [8] No. 8 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force flying training squadron of World War I and medium bomber squadron of World War II. Coming under the control of Air Combat Group, the wing operates F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole fighters and Pilatus PC-9 forward air control aircraft. 4 Squadron was re-equipped with CAC Boomerang fighter aircraft,[9] to be operated in a tactical reconnaissance role. [12] After completing training on its new aircraft, the squadron provided a firepower demonstration for Royal Military College, Duntroon cadets during an exercise at Braidwood in September 1947. He initially saw service in the New Zealand military, but joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1949 and graduated as a sergeant pilot in 1951. 35 Squadron, operating Aliena C-27J Spartan transport Aircraft; No. No. Formed in the mid-1930s as a unit of the part-time Citizen Air Force (CAF), it was mobilised for service during World War II, when it saw action against the Japanese as a fighter unit in the Malayan campaign, a dive bomber unit in the New Guinea campaign, and a heavy bomber unit in the Borneo campaign. No. RAAF Number 4 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown has welcomed its first three Pilatus PC-21 aircraft to their new home. [31] Casualties during the war amounted to 37 personnel killed. 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