Aviation Center Australia

Battle of Long Tan 1966

L: 242mm  W: 60mm  H: 60mm

There were 766 Bell UH-1C helicopters built in several equipment modified variants. One was the "Frog" equipped with side-mounted XM-158 twin rocket pods each holding seven 2.75 inch rockets. The "M-5" fitted the gunship with a nose turret mounting an M-75 40 mm automatic anti-personnel grenade launcher that held 300 anti-personnel grenades. The crews referred to these as "Chunkers" because of the sound when the grenades were fired. The infamous "Shark" gunships were created in 1966 when permission was granted to use the fearsome looking "Tiger Mouth" on the front of the Hueys.

RAAF A2-1020 is an UH-1B Iroquois that was delivered to No 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra on December 12, 1962. A2-1020 joined No 9 Squadron at Vung Tau Vietnam in mid-1966 where it was used for medevac, troop insertion as well as extractions and re-supply. On August 17-18 1966 Australian troops were surrounded by overwhelming numbers of enemy troops. As night was falling they were running low on ammunition and the only method of re-supply was by helicopter. During a tropical storm and at tree-top level A2-1020 and A2-1022 managed to fly over enemy troops and find a smoke flare placed by the Australian troops. The 2 helicopters off-loaded their 520 kg of ammunition and successfully returned to base. This ammunition made it possible for the Australian troops to hold on until an artillery barrage and armoured vehicles arrived, driving the enemy soldiers into a retreat. A2-1020 is now on display at the RAAF Museum in Point Cook, near Melbourne.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.

The Australian Flying Corps was formed in 1912 and the AFC No. 3 Squadron was formed in 1916. In 1921 it became the RAAF, an independent branch of the Australian Defence Force. No. 3 Squadron of the 81st Wing is located at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales. The RAAF purchased 57 F/A-18A fighters and 18 F/A-18B two-seaters with delivery beginning in October 1984 and completed in early 1990. Aircraft A21-13 received the special paint scheme to mark the 90th Anniversary of No. 3 Squadron in 2006.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.

In an effort to protect Libyan citizens that want to put an end to the autocrat Muammar Gaddafi rule and are being shot and killed by the Libyan Army a coalition of NATO countries have implemented a no-fly zone over the country. As part of the coalition Canada sent 6 of its CF-188 fighters to assist. One of the 6 CF-188 aircraft was 188769 c/n 0485/A400 that joined the Canadian Armed Forces on September 24, 1986 as the equivalent to an F-18A-20-MC.

The USAF developed a requirement for a new air superiority fighter to replace the F-15 Eagle. Two proposals were submitted with the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor being selected as the new Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF). The aircraft is constructed using 39% titanium, 24% composite material, 16% aluminum and 1% thermoplastic by weight. All these components contribute to the F-22 being a light weight, extremely maneuverable, extremely fast aircraft that uses stealth technology. The F-22 is also capable of ground attack, electronic warfare and signals intelligence.


On September 26, 2003 the first operational F-22 Raptor # 01-4018 was delivered to the USAF. Raptor 18 is assigned to the 43rd FS stationed at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Deactivated in 1994 the 43rd FS was re-activated on October 25, 2002 and was assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing, Air Education and Training Command. There role will be to provide air dominance training for the F-22 Raptor. The 43rd can trace its beginnings back to the 43rd Provisional Squadron of 1917.

October 1975 saw delivery of the first USAF A-10a and deployment in March 1976. Built specifically for close ground support the pilot is protected by titanium armor while being covered by a bubble canopy giving a commanding view. The Warthog has everything needed to survive, dual engines; self-sealing fuel cells; redundant flight control systems protected by titanium armor; a 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun; a wide array of bombs and missiles. This plane packs a heavy punch and can stay on scene a long time to deliver. In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7 percent, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90 percent of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles and were vital assets during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Noble Anvil.


On October 1, 1981 as part of Alaska Air Command the 343rd Composite Wing replaced the 5010th as the host unit for Eielson AFB, situated 26 miles north of Fairbanks Alaska. Eielson AFB was named in honor of the polar pilot Carl B. Eielson. On June 4, 1984 the unit was re-designated 343rd TFW. The operational squadron of the 343rd was the 18th TFS “Ice Hawgs” flying the Fairchild-Republic A-10A Warthog. In 1991 the 18th TFS transitioned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. In June 1991 the Pacific Air Force’s flying training exercise Cope Thunder was held at Eielson AFB due to the fact that Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted forcing the move from Clark AFB. The move was made permanent and in 1993 the 343rd was inactivated and personnel and equipment were transferred to the 354th FW.

The GR.7 series is part of the second generation of Harriers and replaced the older GR. 3. This variant is quite similar to the American designed AV-8B but is built under license and equipped with RAF specific navigation and defense systems and added under-wing pylons. The GR.7 is capable of carrying twice the load of the GR.3 or the same load twice as far. The GR.7 first flew in 1989 and entered service in 1990. Of the 96 GR.7 Harriers belonging to the RAF 62 originally were GR.5s that were upgraded to GR.7s.



RAF No. 3 Squadron was formed on May 13, 1912 and was the first RAF squadron to receive the new flying machines. The squadron’s first encounter with the Harrier was in early 1970 when they received GR.1’s. In 1977 No.3 Squadron were stationed at RAF Station Gütersloh, West Germany where they acquired the GR. 3 and the GR. 5. In 1992 No. 3 Squadron moved to RAF Station Laarburch, on the German border with the Netherlands, now flying the GR.7 Harrier. In 1997 they returned to RAF Station Cottesmore.

The GR.9 Harrier came into service in October 2006 and is a very updated improvement on the GR.7. The GR.9 is capable of a wider range of advanced precision weaponry, new communications along with upgraded airframes.

General Background

The Mitsubishi F-1 is a single-seat attack aircraft that evolved from the Mitsubishi T-2 supersonic jet trainer. Its primary task in the Japanese Self Defense Force is anti-shipping with an air-to-air capability. The F-1 entered service in April 1978 and production ended in March 1987. 160 aircraft were planned, but only 77 were built. The F-1 had several upgrades to extend its service life. The F-1 has slowly been replaced by the Mitsubishi F-2 and upgraded F-4EJ "Kai" Phantom II's. In 2006 six F-1's were retired.


The 3 Kokudan (wing) is made up of two Hikotais (Squadrons), 3 Hikotai and 8 Hikotai. Both are assigned to Misawa Air Base in northern portion of the island of Honshu. The Mitsubishi F-1 first flew in November 1976 and very soon after equipped several squadrons. In 1983 JASDF squadrons began to use individual markings so the 8 Hikotai of 3 Kokudan chose the Black Panther (Kurohyou) as well as using “Black Panthers” as their name. A Black Panther is usually found on the aircraft tail and just behind the cockpit.

The Bristol Beaufighter was designed as a two-seat long-range fighter. To speed up production many parts of the older Bristol Beaufort were used. The tail, landing gear and wings of the Beaufort were transplanted to the Beaufighter and most units were equipped with airborne radar located in the nose for night-fighting. The Mk. IF was the initial production and fitted with four 20 mm cannons in the nose along with six 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings. The Beaufighter TF Mk.X was the last major version with 2,231 built.


No. 455 Squadron RAAF was formed on May 23, 1941 in Williamtown, NSW. Late in 1943 Bristol Beaufighters replaced the aging Hampdens so RAAF 455 Sqn stationed along side the RNZAF 489 Sqn were formed into a strike force and developed new tactics. This force was known as the ANZAC Wing and moved to Langham on April 12, 1944.. From this base the ANZAC Wing conducted operations in an effort to clear the English Channel of German vessels in preparation for D-Day and during the D-Day landings. A photograph was taken of Beaufighter UB-E NE548 firing a salvo of rockets has become the iconic photo of a T.F.X or perhaps of any Beaufighter.

The Nakajima B5N1 first flew in January 1937. It was quite unique for a carrier-aircraft with its low mono wing that folded for storage and wide-track inward folding retractable landing gear. The new Kates were far superior to its competition, the TBD Devastator and the Fairey Swordfish however it did have its shortcomings. It was very poorly armed for self defense and required A5M escort protection. Also the crew and fuel tanks had no protection. The B5N1 was replaced by the improved B5N2.

The Japanese aircraft carrier Zuiho (瑞鳳, "fortunate phoenix") originally was a high-speed oiler. The ship was converted to a carrier, renamed and given a complement of 16 Mitsubishi A5M Claude and 15 Nakajima B5N1 Kate. The Battle of Leyte Gulf took place from October 23 – 26 1944. As part of a small Japanese force that was sacrificed to lure some of the U.S. fleet away from the main Japanese battleship fleet the Zuiho was sunk on October 25, 1942.