Fighter of the RAAF

and

(Australian Flying Corps 1913 - 1920)

Introduction


The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the worlds second oldest Air Force, only the British Royal Air Force (RAF) being older. The history of the RAAF began in March 1914 with the formation of the, Army based, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) at Point Cook Victoria . The RAAF evolved out of the Great War's, AFC, to became a fully independent air force on 31 March 1921, with approval to use the ‘Royal' prefix granted on 13 August of the same year. At that time the RAAF comprised of 21 Officers, 128 Airmen and 153 aircraft (which included 127 of 128 ‘gift' aircraft from the British Government).The RAAF's motto is the Latin phrase Per Ardua ad Astra, which means "Through Adversity to the Stars"

By September 1939 when the Second World War was declared, there were 310 Officers and 3,179 Airmen in the RAAF, operating 246 largely obsolete aircraft. In the next six years a total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 11,061 were killed in action. After the collapse of Nazi Germany and when the armistice with Japan was signed on 15 August 1945, the RAAF had a total strength of 131,662 personnel and 3,187 front line aircraft along with another 3000 training, transport and ancillary aircraft. Thus the RAAF found itself in the surprising position of being the worlds fourth largest Air Force. This was after the mega Air Forces - USAAF (USA), RAF (UK) and the Soviet Air Force (USSR).

The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts including both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and more recently participating in the war in Iraq . The RAAF has also been involved in numerous peacekeeping and other humanitarian operations including Somalia , Rwanda , Cambodia , Bougainville, Irian Jaya , Papua New Guinea , East Timor and Indonesian Tsunami relief.

Today the RAAF is respected around the world as a small but highly professional Air Force, capable projection of Australian Air Power in all our areas of interest. Air Force employs about 13,500 men and women, supported by 2,800 Air Force Reservists and 900 civilian public servants, at 11 major bases across Australia.

A Fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft and keep control of the skys, as opposed to a Bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets. Fighters are comparatively small, fast, and maneuverable and armed with wepons (from crude World War One machine guns to World War Two cannon and todays long range highly accurate misiles). Fighter aircraft are the primary means by which armed forces gain air superiority. Since at earlies dogfights of World War One, air superiority has evolved to be a crucial component of victory in modern warfare.

Fighter World Williamtown was set up to highlight Fighter Aircraft in general and the many Fighters that have served Australia throughout the last 90 years.

 

 

The RAAF Serial Number system .

A distinctive numbering system was adopted by the RAAF Air Board in 1921, the year the Service was created. All aircraft types since that year have been allotted the code letter 'A' followed by a number 1 to 100, E.g. A21 for the F/A-18 Hornet. The RAAF is into its third Series.