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The Royal Australian Air Force ('''RAAF''') is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force . The RAAF began in March 1914 as the '''Australian Flying Corps''' and became a fully independent air force in March 1921 . The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts including both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. More recently the RAAF participated in the 2003 Invasion Of Iraq . The motto on the RAAF's coat of arms, "Per Ardua ad Astra" is the same as that of the British Royal Air Force and translates from Latin to, "Through Adversity to the Stars". HISTORY World War I Soon after the outbreak of World War I in 1914 , the Australian Flying Corps sent aircraft to assist in capturing German colonies in what is now north-west New Guinea . These colonies surrendered quickly however, before the planes were even unpacked. The first operational flights did not occur until May 27 , 1915 , when the Mesopotamian Half Flight was called upon to assist the Indian Army in protecting British oil interests in what is now Iraq . The Corps later saw action in Egypt , Palestine and on the Western Front throughout the remainder of World War I . By the end of the war, four squadrons had seen active service. World War II In 1939 , just after the start of World War II , Australia joined the Empire Air Training Scheme , under which flight crews received basic training in Australia before travelling to Canada for advanced training. A total of 19 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in Britain , and/or with the Desert Air Force , in North Africa and the Mediterranean . With British manufacturing targeted by the '' Luftwaffe '', the Australian government created the Department Of Aircraft Production (DAP) to supply Commonwealth air forces and the RAAF was eventually provided with large numbers of locally-built versions of British designs like the DAP Beaufort Torpedo Bomber . In the , mostly flying Avro Lancaster s, had an official establishment of about 200 aircrew and yet had 1,018 combat deaths. The squadron was therefore effectively wiped out five times over. The beginning of the Pacific War — and the rapid advance of Japan ese forces — threatened the Australian mainland for the first time. The RAAF was quite unprepared for the emergency, and initially had negligible forces available for service in the Pacific. The devastating Air Raids On Darwin on February 19 1942 drove the point home. Some RAAF squadrons were transferred from the Northern Hemisphere — although a substantial number remained there until the end of the war. Shortages of fighter and Ground Attack planes led to the acquisition of US -built P-40 Kittyhawks and the rapid design and manufacture of the first Australian fighter, the CAC Boomerang . RAAF Kittyhawks came to play a crucial role in the New Guinea and Solomon Islands campaigns, especially in operations like the Battle Of Milne Bay . In the Battle Of The Bismarck Sea , imported Bristol Beaufighter s proved to be highly effective ground attack and maritime strike aircraft. Beaufighters were later made locally by the DAP. Although it was much bigger than Japanese fighters, the Beaufighter had the speed to outrun them. The RAAF's Heavy Bomber force was predominantly comprised of 287 B-24 Liberator s, which could bomb Japanese targets as far away as Borneo and the Philippines from airfields in Australia and New Guinea. By late 1945 , the RAAF had received or ordered about 500 P-51 Mustangs, for fighter/ground attack purposes. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation initially assembled US-made Mustangs, but later manufactured most of those used. The RAAF's main operational formation, the First Tactical Air Force , comprised more than 18,000 personnel and 20 squadrons; it had taken part in the Philippines and Borneo campaigns and was scheduled to participate in the invasion of the Japanese mainland, Operation Downfall . So too were the RAAF bomber squadrons in Europe, as part of the proposed Tiger Force . However, the war was brought to a sudden end by the US Nuclear Attack s on Japan. As a result of the Empire Air Training Scheme, about 20,000 Australian personnel had served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during World War II. A total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 11,061 were killed in action. Post War Service In the Korean War , Mustangs from No. 77 Squadron (77 Sqn), stationed in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force , were among the first United Nations aircraft to be deployed, in ground support, combat air patrol, and escort missions. When the UN planes were confronted by MiG-15 jet fighters, 77 Sqn acquired Gloster Meteor s, which enabled some success against the Soviet pilots flying for North Korea . However the MiGs were superior aircraft and the Meteors were relegated to ground support missions, as the North Koreans gained experience. The air force also operated transport aircraft during the conflict. During the Vietnam War , from 1966 - 72 , the RAAF contributed squadrons of Caribou STOL transport aircraft ( No. 35 Squadron ), UH-1 Iroquois helicopters ( No. 9 Squadron ) and English Electric Canberra bombers ( No. 2 Squadron ). The Canberras flew a large number of bombing Sortie s. Two were lost, one to a Surface To Air Missile , although both crews were rescued. RAAF transport aircraft also supported Anti-communist ground forces. The UH-1 helicopters were used in many roles including Dustoff (medical Evacuation) and Bushranger Gunships for armed support. Military airlifts were conducted for a number of purposes in the intervening decades, such as the peacekeeping operations in East Timor from 1999 . Australia's combat aircraft were not used again in anger until the Iraq War in 2003 , when F/A-18s from No. 75 Squadron operated in the escort and ground attack roles. CURRENT STRENGTH Aircraft As of 2005, the following aircraft are operated by the RAAF:
Flying Squadrons
FUTURE EQUIPMENT , with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo , a symbol of Australia.]] This list include aircraft on order or a requirement which has been identified.
:In June . :In May 2005, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced that a final commitment to purchase the JSF would not be made until 2008, replacing an earlier cutoff date in 2006. Preliminary consideration was also being given to switching some of the purchase to the STOVL version, to operate off the Royal Australian Navy 's projected helicopter assault ships, effectively turning them into miniature Aircraft Carrier s.
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