No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit (114MCRU) is a Royal Australian Air Force
radar unit. 114 MCRU is currently the RAAF's only easily deployable radar unit and regularly deploys into the field from its home base at RAAF Base Darwin
during military exercises.
114MCRU was formed as 14 (Mobile) Fighter Sector Headquarters at Camden, New South Wales
on 23 May 1943. In June 1943 the unit was deployed to Goodenough Island
and became operational there on 27 June where it was responsible for providing air defence protection for the Kiriwina area. In March 1944 the unit was redeployed from Goodenough Island to Los Negros
and was renamed 114 Mobile Fighter Control Unit (114MFCU). In January 1945 114MFCU was withdrawn to Brisbane, Australia and began preparations to participate in the Australian-led liberation of Tarakan
. 114MFCU arrived off Tarakan with the main invasion force and became operational on the island on 5 May 1945, four days after the landing. 114MFCU was rapidly reduced in size following the end of the war and returned to Australia in December 1945 where it remained operational until being disbanded on 1 April 1948.
114MFCU was reactivated in late 1955 and was renamed No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit on 12 March 1956. 114MCRU moved to RAAF Base Butterworth
in Malaya
in mid-1958 and remained there as part of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve until being disbanded on 31 October 1966. 114MCRU was reactivated again at RAAF Base Amberley
on 1 April 1968 and was based there until being relocated to RAAF Base Darwin
during the 1990s.
Since August 2007, a detachement of No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit (MCRU), has been on active service at Kandahar Airfield
in southern Afghanistan
. Approximately 75 personnel are deployed
with the TPS 77 radar assigned with the responsibility to coordinate coalition combat air operations.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
radar unit. 114 MCRU is currently the RAAF's only easily deployable radar unit and regularly deploys into the field from its home base at RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
during military exercises.
History
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
on 23 May 1943. In June 1943 the unit was deployed to Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island
Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea is the westernmost of the three large islands of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies to the east of mainland New Guinea and south west of the Trobriand Islands.It should not be confused with Goodenough's Island...
and became operational there on 27 June where it was responsible for providing air defence protection for the Kiriwina area. In March 1944 the unit was redeployed from Goodenough Island to Los Negros
Los Negros
Los Negros was a criminal organization that was once the armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel and after a switch of alliances, became the armed wing of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel. On 2010 it went independent and had been contesting the control of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel. It was then the criminal...
and was renamed 114 Mobile Fighter Control Unit (114MFCU). In January 1945 114MFCU was withdrawn to Brisbane, Australia and began preparations to participate in the Australian-led liberation of Tarakan
Battle of Tarakan (1945)
The Battle of Tarakan was the first stage in the Borneo campaign of 1945. It began with an amphibious landing by Australian forces on 1 May, code-named Operation Oboe One...
. 114MFCU arrived off Tarakan with the main invasion force and became operational on the island on 5 May 1945, four days after the landing. 114MFCU was rapidly reduced in size following the end of the war and returned to Australia in December 1945 where it remained operational until being disbanded on 1 April 1948.
114MFCU was reactivated in late 1955 and was renamed No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit on 12 March 1956. 114MCRU moved to RAAF Base Butterworth
RAAF Base Butterworth
RMAF Butterworth is an Air Force Station of the Royal Malaysian Air Force situated near the town of Butterworth in the state of Penang, directly opposite the island itself.-RAF Butterworth:...
in Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
in mid-1958 and remained there as part of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve until being disbanded on 31 October 1966. 114MCRU was reactivated again at RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
on 1 April 1968 and was based there until being relocated to RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
during the 1990s.
Since August 2007, a detachement of No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit (MCRU), has been on active service at Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar International Airport is located 10 miles south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program. It may have been intended to be used as a possible U.S...
in southern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Approximately 75 personnel are deployed
with the TPS 77 radar assigned with the responsibility to coordinate coalition combat air operations.