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No. 77 Squadron RAAF facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
No 77 Sqn RAAF pilots Feb 2010
Pilots of No. 77 Squadron in their F/A-18 Hornets, 2010

No. 77 Squadron is a squadron in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It flies out of RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of No. 81 Wing and has F18 Hornet fighters.

The squadron started at RAAF Pearce in Western Australia in 1942 during the Second World War, and fought in the Pacific Theatre with P40 Kittyhawks. After the war it got new P51 Mustangs and went to Japan.

In 1950 it went to Korea to support the United Nations against North Korea. It got Meteor jets there and shot down five MiG 15s and 5,000 buildings and vehicles.

When they went back to Australia in 1956 they got new Sabre jets. In 1958 they went to Malaya to help the Commonwealth there. They stayed there, looking after the country until 1969. Then they went back to Williamtown and got new Mirage jets, then F18 Hornets in 1987. It went to Afghanistan in 2001 and again in 2015. In 2021 it will get F35 Lightning fighters.

Jobs and planes

The squadron has F18 Hornets which they got in 1987. They look after an area of sky in New South Wales.

Images for kids

  • 77 Sqn RAAF pilots & Kittyhawk (AWM NWA0019)

    Pilots of B Flight, No. 77 Squadron, including Flying Officer John Gorton (back row, fourth from left) with a P-40 Kittyhawk in the Northern Territory, January 1943

  • No. 77 Squadron Kittyhawk 1943 (AWM P01370.011)

    No. 77 Squadron Kittyhawks at Milne Bay, 1943

  • F-51Ds 77 Sqn RAAF at Iwakuni c1950

    No. 77 Squadron P-51 Mustang fighters undergoing maintenance at Iwakuni, Japan, c. 1950

  • Lou Spence of 77 Sqn RAAF (AWM JK1019)

    Wing Commander Lou Spence, commanding No. 77 Squadron, prior to a mission over Korea, August 1950

  • No. 77 Sqn RAAF in Korea (AWM JK0024) (cropped)

    Squadron Leader Dick Cresswell (centre), on his third tour commanding No. 77 Squadron, briefs Meteor pilots at Kimpo prior to a mission over North Korea, August 1951

  • No. 77 Sqn RAAF Meteor in Korea (AWM JK0072)

    No. 77 Squadron Meteor at Kimpo preparing for a bomber escort mission over North Korea, 1951

  • 77 Sqn (AWM JK1025)

    No. 77 Squadron pilots and their Meteors at Kunsan, South Korea, June 1954. The nose section of aircraft A77-368 later went on display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

  • Sabre Mk32s RAAF in Thailand early 1960s

    RAAF Sabres in Thailand, c. 1962

  • Two Mirage III of the Royal Australian Air Force

    No. 77 Squadron Mirages, September 1984

  • A21-49 YMAV 20130227 8642 (13102507125)

    No. 77 Squadron F/A-18 Hornet in 70th anniversary livery at the Avalon Airshow, Avalon, Victoria, 2013

  • No. 77 Squadron Meteors in flight 1952 (AWM JK0242 cropped)

    No. 77 Squadron Meteors over Iwakuni, Japan, 1952

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