Aviation Center Australia

The F-4 Phantom II first entered US Military service in 1960. It was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy but by 1963 it was adopted as the US Air Force primary fighter-bomber. Despite the size and weight of this Cold War icon the F-4 broke 15 world records and continued to hold five of them until 1975.

Produced from 1960 to 1981 there were 5,195 Phantom IIs manufactured. Eleven countries other than the USA had the Phantom II in their inventory.

 

Due to the delay of delivery of the F-111, 24 F-4Es were leased to Australia Air Force under the Peace Reef programme in 1970. The F-4Es served with N0. 1 and No.6 Squadrons based at RAAF Base Amberley.

In 1972 United States offered to sell the least aircrafts to Australia but the offer was turned down due to economic reasons. During its service, the F-4 Phantom was highly praised by the aircrews.

The Bristol Beaufighter was developed in about 8 months by using sections from the earlier designed Bristol Beaufort. It was given more powerful engines and a variety of modifications making the aircraft capable of many tasks. It was a night fighter, fighter bomber and torpedo bomber performing anti-shipping duty as well as ground attack and long range interdiction. The different variants, 14 in all, were capable of carrying bombs, torpedoes, rockets, canons and machine guns. The Beaufighter was operated by 11 countries.

 

The 93rd Squadron was formed on January 22 1945 without an official name or motto. So unofficially it became the “Green Ghost Squadron” and the unofficial motto was “Spookus Sneakinus”. Mid 1945 the squadron transferred to an island off Borneo called Labuan. Their task was to disrupt Japanese shipping and airfields. In August 1945 the squadron was tasked with destroying a Japanese oil tanker. The ship was destroyed but turned out to be the 800 ton private yacht of the Rajah of Sarawak. The 93rd Squadron was disbanded on 22 August 1946.