No. 6 Squadron RAAF

No. 6 Squadron RAAF
RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet of No. 1 Squadron, the RAAFs only other Super Hornet squadron.
Active	1917–19 1939–45 1948–current
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Training (1917–19) Bomber (1939–45) Training (1948–current)
Part of	No. 82 Wing
Garrison/HQ	RAAF Base Amberley
Motto(s)	Nous Reviendrons ("We Shall Return")
Engagements	World War I World War II
Battle honours	Moresby 1942 New Britain 1943
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colin Hannah (1942–43) Ray Funnell (1972–75) Geoff Shepherd (1991–93)
Aircraft flown
Attack	F-4 Phantom II (1970–72) F/A-18F Super Hornet (2011–16)
Bomber	Hudson (1940–43) Beaufort (1943–45) Lincoln (1948–55) Canberra (1955–70) F-111 (1973–2010)
Electronic warfare	EA-18G Growler (2017–)
Patrol	Anson (1939–40)
Reconnaissance	Learjet (1982–87)

No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) training and bomber squadron. It was formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. The squadron was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939. It subsequently saw combat as a light bomber and maritime patrol squadron during World War II, and took part in the New Guinea Campaign and New Britain Campaign before being disbanded after the war.

The squadron was re-raised in 1948 as the RAAF's bomber operational conversion unit. It has primarily served in this capacity since that time, though it has also maintained a secondary strike capability and was also tasked with reconnaissance duties between 1979 and 1993. No. 6 Squadron is currently based at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, and has been most recently equipped with Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft between January 2011 and December 2016. The squadron is currently awaiting the arrival of Boeing EA-18G Growlers in 2017.

No. 6 Squadron was formed at Parkhouse, England, on 15 June 1917 as a flying training unit of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). The unit was initially designated No. 30 (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and its role was to train fighter pilots for service with No. 2 Squadron of the AFC (which was designated No. 68 (Australian) Squadron RFC at the time) on the Western Front.

The squadron moved to Shawbury the day after it was formed and then to Ternhill on 29 June. On 1 September it became part of the 1st Training Wing when that unit was established to command the four AFC training squadrons in England (the others being No. 5, No. 7 and No. 8 Squadrons). In January 1918 the squadron was redesignated No. 6 Squadron AFC; the other AFC units were also renamed at this time. No. 6 Squadron moved to Minchinhampton on 25 February. The squadron used several different types of aircraft to train pilots, including the Bristol Scout D, Sopwith 1½ Strutter, Sopwith Pup, Avro 504, Airco DH.5, Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 and Sopwith Camel. While most of these aircraft types were outdated and suitable only for elementary flight training, the S.E.5s, Sopwith Pups and Sopwith Camels were up to date and in service with combat units in France.