No. 82 Wing RAAF
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| 82WG | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Service | RAAF | ||
| Parent Unit | Air Combat Group | ||
| Role | Strike & Reconnaissance | ||
| Motto | Find and Destroy | ||
| Headquarters | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
| Callsign | RAMROD | ||
| Units | |||
| 1 Squadron | |||
| 6 Squadron | |||
| FACDU | |||
No. 82 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's Strike and Reconnaissance Wing. It is currently headquartered at RAAF Amberley, Queensland, and operates the F-111 bomber and Pilatus PC-9 Forward Air Control aircraft.
[edit] History
82 Wing was formed in 1944, made up of 12, 21 and 23 Squadrons, operating B-24 Liberator bombers in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
Shortly after the war it moved to its present location at RAAF Amberley and began converting to Avro Lincoln bombers in 1947. By this time the Wing comprised 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons.
In 1953, 82 Wing took delivery of the RAAF's first jet bomber, the Canberra. Canberras from 2 Squadron flew missions against Communist guerillas in Malaysia in 1958 and saw extensive action in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1971.
Between 1970 and 1973, while awaiting the delayed delivery of F-111 swing-wing strike aircraft, 1 and 6 Squadrons flew leased F-4E Phantoms, while 2 Squadron continued with the Canberra. In 1973 the Wing accepted its first F-111Cs, which it continues to operate through numerous upgrades, augmented in 1994-95 by 15 ex-USAF G models.
2 Squadron was disbanded in 1982, leaving 82 Wing with its current bomber unit complement of 1 and 6 Squadrons. In 2002 the Forward Air Control Development Unit (FACDU), flying Pilatus PC-9s, was added to its strength.
[edit] References
- Air Power Australia
- Australian Government Publishing Service (1971). The Golden Years: The Royal Australian Air Force 1921-1971
