No. 6 Squadron

  No. 6 Squadron's role

No. 6 Squadron operates the F-111G in land and maritime strike roles. The squadron also operates the AUP variant of the F-111C, in conjunction with the F-111G, for conversion training of all strike/reconnaissance aircrew to the F-111.

No. 6 Squadron regularly participates in goodwill activities. These include air shows and annual participation in Brisbane's Riverfire Festival. The squadron gained worldwide fame demonstrating the dump-and-burn at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Aircraft operated

F-111 Strike Aircraft

What work is undertaken?

To fulfil our roles the squadron operates the F-111 and is organised into three flights - Training Flight, Operations Flight and Maintenance Flight.

A Flight

The function of A Flight is to graduate Pilots and Navigators who can operate the F-111 strike aircraft in its primary roles of long-range interdiction and precision strike. The F-111 Operational Conversion (OPCON) course is for pilots who have completed basic flying training and Introductory Fighter Course. The navigators have also conducted Introductory Strike Navigator Course in addition to Basic Navigator course prior to arriving at A Flight. The F-111 Operational Conversion course takes 20 weeks and consists of 60 flying hours on both the F-111C and F-111G in addition to 40 F-111 simulator hours. A Flight is also responsible for refresher training for aircrew returning to the F-111.

B Flight

B Flight's primary function is to conduct post-graduate F-111C courses, including the Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) and Operational Upgrade (OPUP) courses.

The Fighter Combat Instructor course provides experienced F-111 aircrew with extensive post-graduate training in all F-111 combat-related roles. The Operational Upgrade course is designed to take recently graduated F-111C aircrew from Training Flight's Operational Conversion Course and make them combat ready (F-111C C Category Strike). Operational Upgrade exposes students to, and makes them proficient in, all of the F-111C's tactical roles. At the successful completion of Operational Upgrade, the new C Category aircrew are then posted to No 1 Squadron.

B Flight's secondary function is to manage the squadron's operational flying commitments as tasked by 82 Wing, such as participation in major domestic and international exercises.

Maintenance Flight

Maintenance Flight is responsible for the provision of logistic and maintenance support for F-111s at RAAF Base Amberley. Maintenance Flight provides this support in the following areas:

• operate flight line
• conduct operational maintenance and limited routine services
• supply spares and consumables.

History

No. 6 Squadron was formed at Parkhouse, England, on 15 June 1917 as a part of the Australian Flying Corps. It was established as a training squadron for the four operational squadrons on the Western Front, which had outstripped the ability of the Army's Central Flying School at Point Cook to supply trained airmen. It was originally identified as No. 30 (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, but was renamed, along with all of the Australian squadrons, in January 1918. The squadron's principal role during World War I was to prepare personnel for service with what was at first No. 68 (Australian) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, and subsequently No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, which was operating with British forces over the Western Front. The squadron relocated several times within the UK until it was disbanded in March 1919.

No. 6 Squadron was reformed on 1 January 1939. With the outbreak of World War II, No. 6 Squadron began flying anti-submarine and general reconnaissance patrols off the east coast of Australia with Avro Anson aircraft and then, from April 1940, Lockheed Hudson aircraft based at RAAF Base Richmond.

In August 1942, No. 6 Squadron Hudsons deployed to Milne Bay to provide reconnaissance and bomber support in defence of the Australian garrison. During the Japanese invasion of Milne Bay, No. 6 Squadron crews flew constant bombing and strafing missions against troop positions, landing barges and ships. These attacks, which complemented those of two RAAF Kittyhawk squadrons, were particularly damaging and resulted in considerable losses to the enemy. Based at Port Moresby, the Hudsons also began to drop vital supplies to Australian troops fighting their way along the infamous Kokoda Trail. Although not an ideal aircraft for this task, tonnes of supplies were delivered under extremely hazardous conditions. By November 1942, the entire unit was based at Milne Bay, from where reconnaissance and attack missions continued.

In August 1943 the Australian-built Beaufort replaced the Hudsons. In November 1943 No. 6 Squadron moved to Goodenough Island, where many night strikes against the Japanese citadel at Rabaul were flown. In December 1944 the squadron moved to Dobodura on the New Guinea mainland to fly strikes and supply-dropping missions in support of Australian troops throughout New Guinea. After returning to Australian at the end of the war, No. 6 Squadron disbanded at Kingaroy, Queensland, in late 1945 after over six years continuous operational service, including nearly 4000 operational sorties.

On 23 February 1948, No. 6 Squadron was reformed at Amberley, Queensland, where it has remained to this day as part of No. 82 Wing. Equipped with Lincoln bombers, 6 Squadron provided training for No. 1 and 2 Squadron's aircrews throughout the 1950's. During this period, the Lincolns participated in the British atomic bomb tests at Maralinga, before being replaced with Canberra jet bombers in 1955.

From 1970 until 1972, No. 6 Squadron operated F-4 Phantoms on lease from the United States Air Force, which were in turn replaced by General Dynamics F-111's in 1973.

From 1982 until 1987, No. 6 Squadron also operated Learjets in the photo survey role.

Today, No. 6 Squadron continues to operate and maintain both the F-111C and F-111G aircraft as a formidable part of Australia's air combat capability. From the canvas-and-wood aircraft of World War I through to the swing-wing F-111 aircraft of today, No. 6 Squadron has continued to play a pre-eminent role in the defence of Australia.

No. 6 Squadron Battle Honours

• Pacific 1941–45
• New Guinea 1942–44
• Moresby 1942
• Milne Bay
• Bismark Sea
• New Britain 1943

No. 6 Squadron is located at RAAF Base Amberley, outside Ipswich, Queensland.

You can write to No. 6 Squadron at:

No. 6 Squadron
RAAF Base Amberley
Amberley QLD 4305

RAAF Base Amberley swtichboard: (07) 5461 1111
General enquiries - Orderly Room: (07) 5461 1409
Fax: (07) 5461 1410