No. 81 Wing is responsible for operating the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multi-role fighters of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, the wing comprises three combat units, Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons based at Williamtown and No. 75 Squadron at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, as well as an operational conversion unit at Williamtown.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/About_us/Structure_of_the_RAAF/Air_Command/Air_Combat_Group/No._81_Wing_/?RAAF-UInnSuKVCZ/AuQLnytaHcdNP6c14SIt0 No. 81 Wing] at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/Bases/New_South_Wales/RAAF_Base_Williamtown/?RAAF-hGKolBgcjFzkAjuJv83Grq59BEM+C152 RAAF Base Williamtown] at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/Bases/Northern_Territory/RAAF_Base_Tindal/?RAAF-hHBYVzFK6EsZI++TiITQwfB6YNnQZ/Lc RAAF Base Tindal] at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 26 March 2013. No. 81 Wing headquarters oversees squadron training in air-to-air and air-to-ground tactics, and support for the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy.{{cite magazine|last=Frawley|first=Gerard|title=3SQN: Tip of the Spear|magazine=Australian Aviation|date=April 2010|number=270|pages=42–49}} Tasked with offensive and defensive counter-air operations, the Hornets have been deployed to Diego Garcia in 2001–02, when they provided local air defence, to Iraq in 2003, when they saw action flying fighter escort and close air support missions in concert with Coalition forces, and to the Middle East in 2015–16, when they undertook strike operations during the military intervention against ISIL. They have also been employed to patrol high-profile events in Australia, including the Commonwealth Games and visits by foreign dignitaries.

Formed in April 1944, No. 81 Wing comprised three flying units, Nos. 76, 77 and 82 Squadrons, operating P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. Following the end of hostilities, the wing converted to P-51 Mustangs and was based in Japan as part of the Allied occupational forces; it disbanded there in November 1948. Re-formed at Williamtown in January 1961, its complement included Nos. 75 and 76 Squadrons, and No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, operating CAC Sabre jets. The Sabres were deployed to RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory, in 1964 to guard against possible attack by Indonesian forces during the Konfrontasi with Malaysia. No. 81 Wing converted to Dassault Mirage III supersonic fighters before disbanding in December 1966. It was re-formed again at Williamtown in February 1987, to operate the Hornet. The wing also controlled Nos. 25 (later 79) and 76 Squadrons, flying Macchi lead-in fighters, until they were transferred to No. 78 Wing in 2000.

History

=World War II=

Established at Ballarat, Victoria, on 12 April 1944, No. 81 Wing operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. Group Captain Gordon Steege set up headquarters on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands on 30 August. Comprising Nos. 76, 77 and 82 Squadrons, the formation joined Nos. 77 and 78 Wings on Noemfoor as part of No. 10 Operational Group in September 1944.{{cite magazine|title=81WG: then and now|magazine=RAAF News |volume=36 |issue=6|date=July 1994|page=15}}Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/15.pdf Air War Against Japan, p. 249] No. 10 Group was renamed the First Tactical Air Force (No. 1 TAF) in October.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/17.pdf Air War Against Japan, pp. 298–299] The same month, No. 81 Wing undertook offensive sweeps and ground attacks against targets in West Papua.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/18.pdf Air War Against Japan, pp. 304, 307–308] In November, Nos. 77 and 82 Squadrons dive bombed Japanese airfields on Halmahera.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/18.pdf Air War Against Japan, p. 312]

File:P02874.256Kittyhawk1944.jpg

The wing's aircraft flew 1,125 sorties in October and November, dropping over {{convert|400000|lb|kg}} of bombs, for the loss of 15 Kittyhawks and 11 pilots. The relegation of No. 1 TAF to areas of operation bypassed by the main Allied thrust towards the Philippines and Japan led to poor morale. In December 1944, No. 81 Wing's new commander, Group Captain Wilfred Arthur, produced a "balance sheet" to demonstrate that the formation's combat results were not worth the cost in ordnance and casualties, setting in train events that would culminate in the so-called "Morotai Mutiny" the following year.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/23.pdf Air War Against Japan, pp. 386–390]Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/26.pdf Air War Against Japan, pp. 443–450] By January 1945, the number of missions flown by No. 81 Wing had dropped to less than 400, from over 1,000 the previous month. In March, the Kittyhawks carried out some 80 patrols around Noemfoor but encountered enemy activity on less than half of these.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/24.pdf Air War Against Japan, p. 398]

No. 81 Wing was slated to take part in Operation Oboe One, the invasion of Tarakan, in May 1945 but was unable to move in time from Noemfoor to its new base on Morotai in the Dutch East Indies; only No. 76 Squadron played any part in the battle, undertaking patrols and convoy escort.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/27.pdf Air War Against Japan, p. 453]Waters, Oboe, p. 71 The following month, No. 81 Wing flew close support missions for the Australian 9th Division in Operation Oboe Six, the invasion of Labuan.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/28.pdf Air War Against Japan, pp. 466–473] Along with its three Kittyhawk squadrons, the wing's order of battle included No. 457 Squadron flying Spitfires, No. 25 Air Stores Park, No. 24 Medical Clearing Station, No. 22 Repair and Servicing Unit, No. 9 Repair and Servicing Unit Detachment, No. 111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit, and seven Radar Stations—a total of over 2,000 personnel.Waters, Oboe, pp. 76, 110 Its commander on Morotai and Labuan was Group Captain Ian McLachlan.[http://www.awm.gov.au/units/people_1077819.asp Air Vice Marshal Ian Dougald McLachlan] at Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 26 March 2013. No. 81 Wing was to have provided two squadrons in support of Operation Oboe Two, the assault on Balikpapan, in June but Tarakan airfield, from which it was to operate, was not ready in time.Odgers, [http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/27/chapters/29.pdf Air War Against Japan, p. 482] The wing was still based on Labuan when the Pacific War ended in August 1945. Calls soon came to serve with the formation as part of the proposed Commonwealth occupation forces in Japan, and many personnel volunteered to do so.Odgers, [http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070415--1-.PDF Air War Against Japan, pp. 495–496]

=Allied occupation of Japan=

File:OG3829.jpg

The wing began re-equipping with P-51D Mustangs at Labuan in September 1945. No. 481 (Maintenance) Squadron was formed in December from elements of No. 22 Repair and Servicing Unit, No. 25 Air Stores Park, and other units based on Labuan.RAAF Historical Section, Units of the Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 63–65{{cite magazine|magazine=RAAF News |volume=37 |issue=6|date=July 1995|page=21|title=481WG to celebrate its 50th}} No. 381 (Base) Squadron, established in January 1946, also utilised personnel and equipment from No. 81 Wing's specialist units at Labuan, including No. 47 Operational Base Unit, No. 24 Medical Clearing Station, No. 25 Air Stores Park and No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron. RAAF base squadrons were administrative and logistical units, intended to make their wings self-supporting and mobile for potential deployment.O'Brien, Always There, pp. 54–55Stephens, Going Solo, p. 71

Under the leadership of Wing Commander Glen Cooper, No. 81 Wing subsequently transferred to new headquarters at Bofu, a former kamikaze base, where it formed the Australian air contingent of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan until 1948, when the RAAF presence was reduced. The first of its units to arrive in Japan had been No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (No. 5 ACS) in December 1945, followed by the three flying squadrons in March 1946. No. 82 Squadron lost three Mustangs and an escorting de Havilland Mosquito in bad weather en route to Bofu, killing all crew members.Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 213–216 The wing's strength was augmented by Nos. 381 and 481 Squadrons, and later No. 111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit (No. 111 MFCU).Mordike, The Post-War Years, p. 58 Also making the journey to Japan was the wing's mascot, Flying Officer (later Flight Lieutenant) Raleigh, "a small yellow dog and combat-seasoned veteran with over 40 hours operational flying to his credit".Eather, Odd Jobs, pp. 4–5

As the Japanese offered no serious resistance to the Allied occupation, No. 81 Wing's prime operational duty was surveillance patrols. The RAAF personnel also helped maintain law and order, and supervised elections, while No. 5 ACS, as well as undertaking military construction, contributed to rebuilding local infrastructure. Otherwise they generally maintained a peacetime training regime.Mordike, The Post-War Years, p. 67 By late 1946, No. 381 Squadron was providing technical support to all BCOF squadrons, including five from Britain, New Zealand and India, as well as to the RAAF contingent.O'Brien, Always There, p. 56 Group Captain Brian Eaton took over command of No. 81 Wing from Cooper in September 1947.Stephens, Going Solo, p. 217 The wing transferred to Iwakuni in April 1948, the same month that the Federal government determined to reduce Australia's contribution to BCOF and disband the formation, retaining only No. 77 Squadron in Japan.[http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/HistoryRecord/HistoryRecordDetail.aspx?rid=176 Occupation air group arrived in Japan] at Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved on 29 March 2013. Nos. 76 and 82 Squadrons disbanded in October, the former subsequently re-emerging and joining No. 78 Wing when it deployed to Malta in 1952.Eather, Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force, pp. 86–88,94–95Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 221–223 No. 81 Wing headquarters and No. 481 Squadron were disbanded in November 1948, followed by No. 111 MFCU in January 1949. Detachments of No. 381 Squadron and No. 5 ACS remained with No. 77 Squadron under the aegis of a new organisation called RAAF Component, eventually disbanding in February and April 1950, respectively.[http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/HistoryRecord/HistoryRecordDetail.aspx?rid=129 RAAF garrison in Japan downgraded] at Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved on 6 April 2013. No. 77 Squadron personnel were preparing to return to Australia when, on 25 June 1950, they were placed on standby for action in the Korean War, which had just broken out; the unit began flying missions over Korea a week later.Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 222–225

=Re-establishment and ''Konfrontasi''=

File:AvonSabre.JPG

In January 1961, No. 81 Wing was re-established at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales. Flying CAC Sabres, its complement included Nos. 75 and 76 Squadrons, as well as No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (No. 2 OCU) and a re-formed No. 481 Squadron.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A94.htm CAC Sabre] at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 30 November 2010. In September 1964, Nos. 76 and 481 Squadrons deployed to RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory, as part of Operation Handover, a little-publicised contingency plan put into effect during the Konfrontasi between Indonesia and Malaysia. No. 76 Squadron's Sabres, armed with Sidewinder missiles, were to defend against possible attack by Indonesian forces following the recent establishment of the Federation of Malaysia. This was the first time since World War II that an RAAF flying squadron was positioned "in harm's way" on Australian soil. As No. 75 Squadron was effectively out of action pending conversion to the Dassault Mirage III, the deployment meant that practically the entire mainland fighter force had been committed to the north. The Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing, Group Captain A.F. Mather, took on the role of Area Air Defence Commander. No combat ensued, the Sabres' only interception being a Canberra bomber of No. 1 Operational Conversion Unit, but the experience did reveal deficiencies in the defence of Northern Australia and contributed to the decision to maintain a permanent detachment of No. 81 Wing fighters in Darwin, and later at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory.[http://www.awm.gov.au/journal/j37/darwin.htm "Operation Handover" – Darwin, September 1964] at Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 30 November 2010.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4502/history/story01.htm|title=Fighters Ready to Confront Threat|magazine=Air Force News |volume=45 |issue=2|date=27 February 2003|access-date=4 May 2013}}

The wing converted from Sabres to Mirages between 1964 and 1966, commencing with No. 2 OCU and concluding with No. 76 Squadron; the last-mentioned disbanded in 1973.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series3/A3.htm Dassault Mirage III] at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 30 November 2010. No. 81 Wing itself disbanded at Williamtown in December 1966. No. 75 Squadron was based at RAAF Base Butterworth, Malaysia, from 1967 until 1983, when it relocated to Darwin. Following conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1988, it transferred to Tindal.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series3/A21.htm F/A-18 Hornet] at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 30 November 2010. Owing to its remote location, it became the largest Hornet squadron, employing an extensive maintenance section to ensure readiness.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/units/75sqn.htm No 75 Squadron] at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.

=Current establishment and Middle East deployments=

No. 81 Wing re-formed at Williamtown on 2 February 1987. Along with No. 75 Squadron at Tindal, its flying units consisted of Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons based at Williamtown with No. 2 OCU, all of which had converted from the Mirage to the Hornet between 1985 and 1987, the last-mentioned being the prime operator of the two-seat F/A-18B trainers. Having continued to perform fighter maintenance through the 1960s and '70s, No. 481 Squadron disbanded on 31 January 1987. It re-formed the next day as No. 481 Wing under No. 81 Wing's parent organisation, Tactical Fighter Group (TFG), and consisted of two squadrons, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Williamtown (AMSWLM) and Aircraft Equipment Maintenance Squadron Williamtown (AEMSWLM).RAAF Historical Section, Units of the Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 116–117Odgers, Air Force Australia, p. 192 By 1996, No. 81 Wing had been augmented by Nos. 25 and 76 Squadrons, operating Macchi MB-326 lead-in fighters, the former based at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia, and the latter at Williamtown, where it also employed Pilatus PC-9s for forward air control (FAC).Odgers, Air Force Australia, pp. 196–197, 204 On 1 July 1996, No. 481 Wing was reorganised as No. 402 Wing, incorporating a newly re-formed No. 481 Squadron as well as Weapon Systems Support Flight and Field Training Flight. No. 402 Wing transferred its functions to No. 81 Wing's flying squadrons on 31 July 1998 before disbanding in October.{{cite magazine|title=Round the traps...|magazine=Air Force News |volume=40 |issue=8|date=September 1998|page=23}} The same year, No. 25 Squadron was split, its Macchis now being operated by a re-formed No. 79 Squadron.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/units/25sqn.htm No 25 Squadron] at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 1 May 2013. No. 78 Wing was re-established in 2000 as an operational training formation, taking over Nos. 76 and 79 Squadrons, and No. 2 OCU.{{cite magazine|last=Liebert|first=Simone|title=Cloudy day, bright outlook|magazine=Air Force|url= http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4512/topstories/story02.htm|date=17 July 2003|access-date=28 March 2011}}Peacock; Jackson, Jane's World Air Forces 2001, p. 19 By 2007, No. 2 OCU had returned to the control of No. 81 Wing.{{cite book|title=Defence Annual Report 2006–07|chapter=ADF Units and Establishments|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/06-07/dar/2006-2007_Defence_dar_online02.pdf|publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=1 May 2013|pages=429–430}}

File:Three RAAF FA-18 Hornets in formation after refueling.jpg

From 2000 to 2003, No. 77 Squadron flew the FAC PC-9s previously operated by No. 76 Squadron; this role was subsequently assigned to the newly formed Forward Air Control Development Unit.[http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/units/77sqn.htm No 77 Squadron] at RAAF Museum. Retrieved on 26 March 2013. A detachment of No. 81 Wing, consisting of Hornets from No. 75 Squadron and PC-9s from No. 77 Squadron, was prepared to support INTERFET operations in East Timor between September 1999 and February 2000, but was not required.[http://www.awm.gov.au/units/east_timor/raaf/ RAAF units in East Timor] at Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 26 March 2013Wilson, Warden to Tanager, p. 32 Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, Hornets from both No. 3 and No. 77 Squadrons were deployed for air defence at the USAF base on Diego Garcia; no combat ensued and the planes returned in May 2002.McLaughlin, "20 Years of RAAF Hornets" That year, Hornets from No. 75 Squadron undertook combat air patrols in connection with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Queensland.McPhedran, Air Force, p. 160

No. 81 Wing became part of RAAF Air Command's new Air Combat Group when TFG merged with Strike Reconnaissance Group in February 2002.{{cite magazine|author1=Codey, Rebecca |author2=Bradley, Christine |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/EDITIONS/4402/story01.htm |title=Set to fly|magazine= Air Force News|date=February 2002|access-date= 1 May 2013}} The following year, 14 Hornets from No. 75 Squadron deployed to the Middle East to support the invasion of Iraq, escorting high-value Coalition aircraft and later providing close air support to ground troops and air interdiction against Iraqi forces, the first time the RAAF had delivered bombs in anger since the Vietnam War.[http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/lessons.pdf The War in Iraq: ADF Operations in the Middle East in 2003, pp. 26–28] at Department of Defence. Retrieved on 2 December 2010. The Hornets were led by Wing Commander Mel Hupfeld, who became Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing in 2006–07, Commander Air Combat Group in 2009–12, and subsequently Air Commander Australia.McPhedran, Air Force, pp. 115, 152[http://www.airforce.gov.au/Our_People/Our_Leaders/Air_Commander_Australia/?RAAF-NobGotDDyuO+rDXqTQ/8ce4kHNl59b+g Air Commander Australia] at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 1 April 2013. The Hornets have also continued to play an air defence role in securing high-profile events in Australia, including the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the 2007 APEC meeting in Sydney, and the 2011 visit by US President Barack Obama.{{cite news|last=Gardiner|first=Kris|title=Safe and secure|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4917/centrepiece.htm|access-date=1 May 2013|newspaper=Air Force|date=20 September 2007}}{{cite news|title=Parts of Darwin Harbour to close for Obama visit|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-14/f18-hornets-deployed-for-obama-visit/3663310|access-date=1 May 2013|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=16 November 2011}} In March 2015, six F/A-18As from No. 75 Squadron deployed to the Middle East under Operation Okra, as part of the military intervention against ISIL. The aircraft replaced a detachment of six F/A-18F Super Hornets from No. 1 Squadron; the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, announced that each of the "classic" Hornet squadrons would rotate through the region for combat operations every six months before the Super Hornets returned, for the duration of the deployment.{{cite news|title=RAAF's 75SQN takes over Okra operations|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/03/raafs-75sqn-takes-over-okra-operations/|access-date=12 September 2016|work=Australian Aviation|date=30 March 2015}} No. 77 Squadron took over from No. 75 Squadron in September 2015, and handed over to the next rotation from No. 3 Squadron in April 2016.{{cite magazine|last=Stevenson|first=Chloe|url=http://airforcenews.realviewdigital.com/?iid=136590#folio=4|title=Two say farewell to Tindal|magazine=Air Force|volume=58|issue=1|date=11 February 2016|page=4|access-date=12 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://video.defence.gov.au/play/8wbWJyMjE6Eb1i65MZ1wbGoHsj_8n5MH#|title=77 SQN Completes strike rotation in the Middle East|publisher=Department of Defence|date=12 April 2016|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505042247/http://video.defence.gov.au/play/8wbWJyMjE6Eb1i65MZ1wbGoHsj_8n5MH|url-status=dead}}

Notes

References

{{Cite book|last=Eather| first=Steve| year=1996| title=Odd Jobs: RAAF Operations in Japan, the Berlin Airlift, Korea, Malaya and Malta, 1946–1960|location=RAAF Williams, Victoria| publisher=RAAF Museum |url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/Publications/Details/237/Odd-Jobs---RAAF-Operations-in-Japan-The-Berlin-Airlift-Korea-Malaya-and-Malta-1946-1970.aspx|isbn=0-642-23482-5}}
{{cite magazine|last=McLaughlin|first=Andrew|title=20 Years of RAAF Hornets|magazine=Australian Aviation|date=March 2005|number=214|pages=52–58|issn=0813-0876}}
{{cite book|last=McPhedran| first=Ian|author-link=Ian McPhedran|year=2011| title=Air Force: Inside the New Era of Australian Air Power| location= Sydney| publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-7322-9025-2}}
{{cite book|editor-last=Mordike| editor-first=John |year=1997|title=The Post-War Years 1945–1954: The Proceedings of the 1996 RAAF History Conference|location=Canberra| publisher=Air Power Studies Centre|url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/Publications/Details/203/RAAF-History-Conference-1996-The-Post-War-Years-19451954.aspx|isbn=0-642-26501-1}}
{{cite book|last=O'Brien|first=Graham|title=Always There: A History of Air Force Combat Support|year=2009|publisher=Air Power Development Centre|location=Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory|isbn=978-1-920800-45-1 |url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/admin/productfiles/publication/materials/390/always%20there1.pdf}}
{{cite book|last=Odgers | first=George |author-link=George Odgers|orig-year=1957| year=1968| title=Australia in the War of 1939–1945: Series Three (Air) Volume II – Air War Against Japan 1943–1945 | location=Canberra| publisher=Australian War Memorial| url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070210/}}
{{cite book|last=Odgers | first=George |orig-year=1984| year=1996| title=Air Force Australia | location=Frenchs Forest, New South Wales| publisher=National Book Distributors| isbn=1-86436-081-X}}
{{Cite book|author=RAAF Historical Section|year=1995|title=Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 7: Maintenance Units|location=Canberra| publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service|isbn=0-644-42800-7}}
{{cite book|last=Stephens| first=Alan| year=1995| title=Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971|location=Canberra|publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service|url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/Publications/Details/214/Going-Solo-The-Royal-Australian-Air-Force-19461971.aspx|isbn=0-644-42803-1}}
{{cite book|last=Stephens| first=Alan|orig-year=2001|year=2006| title=The Royal Australian Air Force: A History| location=London| publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0-19-555541-4}}
{{cite book|last=Waters|first=Gary|title=Oboe – Air Operations Over Borneo 1945|year=1995|publisher=Air Power Studies Centre|isbn=0-642-22590-7|url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/Publications/Details/216/OBOE---Air-Operations-Over-Borneo-1945.aspx|location=Canberra}}
{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=David |year=2003 |title=Warden to Tanager: RAAF Operations in East Timor |location=Maryborough, Queensland|publisher=Banner Books |isbn=1-875593-26-8}}

{{Military units and formations of the Royal Australian Air Force}}

Category:British Commonwealth Occupation Force

No. 81 Wing RAAF