No. 9 Operational Group RAAF

No. 9 Operational Group RAAF
Personnel of No. 30 Squadron, part of No. 73 Wing, No. 9 Operational Group, with a Beaufighter in New Guinea, 1943
Active	1942–44
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Fighter; ground attack
Size	Two combat wings
Engagements	World War II New Guinea campaign Battle of the Bismarck Sea Bombing of Rabaul New Britain campaign Battle of Arawe
Commanders
Notable commanders	Bill Garing (1942–43) Joe Hewitt (1943) Frank Lukis (1943–44)
Aircraft flown
Attack	Beaufort; Beaufighter
Bomber	Hudson; Boston
Fighter	Kittyhawk

No. 9 Operational Group was a major Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) formation providing fighter, ground-attack and anti-shipping support to the Allies in the South West Pacific theatre during World War II. Established in September 1942, it acted as a mobile striking force independent of the RAAF's static area commands. As the war in the Pacific progressed, No. 9 Operational Group itself developed into an area command called Northern Command, responsible for garrisoning New Guinea.