No. 3 Squadron

No. 3 Squadron is one of only three currently-serving operational squadrons of the RAAF which traces its history back to WW1.

No. 3 Squadron was formed at Point Cook, Victoria, in 1916 and was the first Australian Flying Corps squadron to reach the Western Front (France/Belgium) on 9 September 1917 as an armed reconnaissance unit, flying RAF RE-8 aircraft.

As a regular RAAF squadron, No. 3 was sent to the Middle East early in WW2. Initially flying Lysander aircraft and Gladiators, they saw action as an army co-operation unit in the first Libyan campaign. Re-equipped with Hurricane and Tomahawk/Kittyhawk fighters, the squadron fought in the Syrian campaign in 1941 and finished the war four years later in Italy, flying P51 Mustangs.

The squadron is credited with 195.6 air-to-air victories and dropped over 8 million pounds of bombs.

In late 1958 No. 3 Squadron, the first to be equipped with the new Australian Avon Sabre jet fighters joined he Commonwealth Strategic Reserve in Butterworth Malaya, taking part in strikes against Communist terrorists.

After returning home to re-equip with the new French Mirage jet, the squadron return to Butterwoth in 1969 where it served until 1986.

It once again returned to RAAF Base, Williamtown in NSW, to re-equip with the F/A-18 Hornet fighter.

At present date (2011) No. 3 Squadron remains one of lthe RAAF’s premier units and is the longest continuously serving RAAF squadrons.

The replica WW2 Battle Pennant, the framed history of No. 3 Squadron and plaque will be on permanent display at the headquarters of the RAAFA, Pine Rivers, Qld Division in Ogg Road, Murrumba Downs.