Post by Gator on Feb 12, 2019 15:50:35 GMT -5
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), formed March 1921, is the aerial warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force. It directly continues the traditions of the second oldest Air Force in the world, the Australian Flying Corps (AFC), formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF provides support across a spectrum of operations such as air superiority, precision strikes, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, air mobility, and humanitarian support.
It has also taken part in many of the 20th century’s major conflicts, including the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During WW II, a total of 17 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in Britain, and/or with the Desert Air Force located in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Thousands of Australians also served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during the Second World War. By the time the war ended, a total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 10,562 were killed in action. During the Vietnam War, from 1964–72, the RAAF contributed Caribou STOL transport aircraft as part of the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, later redesignated No. 35 Squadron RAAF, UH-1 Iroquois helicopters from No. 9 Squadron RAAF, and English Electric Canberra bombers from No. 2 Squadron RAAF.
More recently, the RAAF participated in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the War in Afghanistan, and is now taking part in the 2014 Military Intervention In Iraq. As of June 2011, the RAAF has 14,573 permanent full-time personnel and 2,800 part-time active reserve personnel.
It has also taken part in many of the 20th century’s major conflicts, including the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During WW II, a total of 17 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in Britain, and/or with the Desert Air Force located in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Thousands of Australians also served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during the Second World War. By the time the war ended, a total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 10,562 were killed in action. During the Vietnam War, from 1964–72, the RAAF contributed Caribou STOL transport aircraft as part of the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, later redesignated No. 35 Squadron RAAF, UH-1 Iroquois helicopters from No. 9 Squadron RAAF, and English Electric Canberra bombers from No. 2 Squadron RAAF.
More recently, the RAAF participated in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the War in Afghanistan, and is now taking part in the 2014 Military Intervention In Iraq. As of June 2011, the RAAF has 14,573 permanent full-time personnel and 2,800 part-time active reserve personnel.