No. 76 Squadron RAAF

No. 76 Squadron RAAF
No. 76 Squadron's crest
Active	1942–48 1949–55 1960–73 1989–current
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Part of	No. 78 Wing, Air Combat Group
Current base	RAAF Base Williamtown
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Peter Jeffrey (1942) Peter Turnbull (1942) Keith Truscott (1942–43)
Aircraft flown
Fighter	P-40 Kittyhawk (1942–45) P-51 Mustang 1945–51) de Havilland Vampire (1951–55, 1960–61) CAC Sabre (1961–68) Dassault Mirage III (1968–73)
Reconnaissance	CAC Winjeel (1989–95) Pilatus PC-9 (1995–2002)
Trainer	Aermacchi MB-326 (1989–2000) Hawk 127 (2000–current)

No. 76 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight training squadron. Established in 1942, it operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft in the South West Pacific theatre during World War II. Following the end of hostilities it re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until disbanding in 1948. The squadron was re-formed in 1949 and three years later transferred to Malta, where it operated de Havilland Vampire jet fighters on garrison duty until again disbanding in 1955. It was reactivated in 1960 and operated CAC Sabre and Dassault Mirage III fighters in Australia until 1973. No. 76 Squadron was re-formed in its present incarnation in 1989 and is currently stationed at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, where it operates Hawk 127 jet training aircraft.

No. 76 Squadron was formed at Archerfield Airport, Queensland, on 14 March 1942 as the RAAF's second squadron equipped with P-40E Kittyhawk fighters (the first being No. 75 Squadron). Led by Squadron Leader Peter Jeffrey, it moved to Weir Strip near Townsville in mid-April to continue training. During April seven of No. 76 Squadron's P-40s were ferried to Port Moresby and handed over to No. 75 Squadron, which was suffering heavy losses while defending the town from Japanese air attacks. On 1 and 13 May No. 76 Squadron Kittyhawks were scrambled to intercept Japanese aircraft near Townsville but did not make contact with the intruders. The squadron completed its training in June, by which time it had received its full complement of 24 fighters and 38 pilots.