75 Squadron

Formed in Queensland in March 1942, 75 Squadron’s (SQN) first operational deployment was to New Guinea following just one weeks training on their new aircraft. There, the unit destroyed thirteen Japanese aircraft during its the first two days of operations.

After six continuous weeks of combat, the Squadron was relieved and returned to Australia, by which time only a single aircraft remained serviceable. In just 44 days, the Squadron’s heroic defence of Port Moresby saw 34 enemy aircraft destroyed and a further 44 damaged. However, the unit paid a heavy price, with 12 pilots killed and many more wounded.

A replenished 75SQN returned to New Guinea in August of the same year and joined with 76SQN in the epic defence of Milne Bay. In the most desperate fighting, aircraft engaged the enemy before their undercarriages had even retracted. After playing its part in the first defeat of Japanese ground forces in the Pacific War, 75SQN - operating from a succession of air bases - continued to attack Japanese garrisons for the duration of the War.

The unit was disbanded after the War, but was reformed in January 1949 when 75SQN personnel were deployed to operate Royal Air Force (RAF) Vampire jet fighters in defence of the Mediterranean island of Malta during the early years of the Cold War. After the Squadron's return to Australia in 1955, the Vampires were replaced by the Australian-built Avon Sabre, which was in turn replaced by the supersonic Mirage in August 1965.

In 1967, 75SQN deployed to Malaysia, where the unit remained until its return to Darwin, Australia in 1983. The unit was re-equipped with F/A-18 Hornets in May 1988, and moved to its present location at Tindal in the Northern Territory.

In Feburary 2003, 75SQN deployed 14 Hornets to the Middle East in support of Operation Falconer, Australia’s contribution to the war in Iraq. This operation was the first time that Australian fighter aircraft had been tasked to conduct offensive operations against another force since the Korean War. By the cessation of hostilities on 3 May 2003, the RAAF Hornet detachment had successfully conducted more than 160 combat missions in a complex and dangerous air environment, primarily in support of coalition units operating in the south of Iraq.

The unit returned to Australia following the cessation of major hostilities in May 2003 after acquitting itself superbly. Upon their return, the personnel of 75SQN were awarded a special meritorious unit citation at a ceremony at RAAF Base Tindal.

Content based on information contained at http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/raaf-sqns.htm and http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/organisation/info_on/units/index.htm

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