No. 3 Squadron RAAF
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No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.
History
The Squadron has seen combat in the First World War and Second World War.After the declaration of war by Italy in 1940, the squadron was deployed to middle East under Royal Air Force command, and remained in the Mediterranean theatre till the end of the war. At first it was equipped with Gloster Gladiator, but by 1941 received the more modern Hawker Hurricane. It fought in Egypt, Libya as well as in Syria. Later in 1941 it flew the US built Curtiss Tomahawk. During the famous battle of El-Alamein it had the later Kittyhawk and was part of No. 239 RAF Wing, along with No. 450 RAAF squadron. After the invasion of Italy, the Wing was transferred there. In late 1944 the squadron was equipped with North American Mustang till the end of the war.
A detachment from the squadron provided air defence to Diego Garcia during the US-lead invasion of Afghanistan.
| Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons | |
|---|---|
| RAAF Units Under Australian Operational Control 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 60 66 67 71 73 75 76 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 92 93 94 99 100 102 107 292 | |
| RAAF Units Under RAF Operational Control During WWII 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 466 467 | |
| Joint RAAF-Netherlands East Indies Squadrons No. 18 (NEI) No. 119 (NEI) No. 120 (NEI) |
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