No. 81 Wing RAAF

No. 81 Wing RAAF
No. 81 Wing's crest
Active	1944–48 1961–66 1987–current
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Offensive and defensive counter-air
Part of	Air Combat Group
Headquarters	RAAF Base Williamtown
Motto(s)	Prepared to Fight
Engagements	World War II South West Pacific theatre Battle of North Borneo Occupation of Japan Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Commanders
Notable commanders	Gordon Steege (1944) Wilfred Arthur (1944–45) Ian McLachlan (1945) Glen Cooper (1945–47) Brian Eaton (1947–48) Mel Hupfeld (2006–07)
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-35A Lightning II

Military unit

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.^[1][2][3] 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.^[4] Tasked with offensive and defensive counter-air operations,^[1] 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.