No. 44 Wing RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 44 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) wing
responsible for providing air traffic control
services to the Australian Defence Force
. It directly commands two squadrons which in turn command 11 air traffic control flights located across the country at nine RAAF bases, HMAS Albatross (Naval Air Station)
and Oakey Army Aviation Centre
. The wing was first formed in December 1942 during World War II
and was disbanded in August 1944. It was re-raised in its current role in November 2000. For more information on No. 44 Wing's role in military and civil air traffic control, see Australian Air Traffic Control
.
No. 44 Wing was formed on 14 December 1942 in Adelaide River, Northern Territory
(100 km south of Darwin
). It consisted of 24 radar
sites throughout the top end, acting as an early warning system for Japanese air raids
. It was disbanded on 22 August 1944.
In November 2000, No. 44 Wing was reformed as a dedicated Air Traffic Control wing, with headquarters at RAAF Base Williamtown
. As well has providing air traffic control in Australian airspace, detachments from the wing have been deployed outside Australia on a number of occasions. As at 2008, No. 44 Wing detachments have been deployed to Sudan, East Timor, Iraq/Middle East, Solomon Islands and Indonesia.
In August 2008 it was reported that No. 44 Wing has 237 air traffic controllers and was below its target strength and having difficulty retaining controllers. As a result, the RAAF was unable to monitor the movements of all its planes.
In April 2010 RAAF Air Traffic Controllers Officers (commonly known as ATCO's) were renamed Joint Battlefield Airspace Controllers (JBAC) to more accurately reflect their role; encompassing both domestic ATC as well as their tactical role providing airspace coordination and control in military operations. Along with the name change all JBACs were issued with their qualification badge.
On 16 February 2011 No. 452 Squadron
and No. 453 Squadron
were re-raised as subordinate units of No. 44 Wing. The two squadrons will command the existing RAAF air traffic control detachments at Australian Defence Force-run airports, freeing No. 44 Wing Headquarters to focus on higher-level tasks.
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...
(RAAF) wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
responsible for providing air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
services to the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
. It directly commands two squadrons which in turn command 11 air traffic control flights located across the country at nine RAAF bases, HMAS Albatross (Naval Air Station)
HMAS Albatross (air station)
HMAS Albatross, also known as Naval Air Station Nowra , is an airfield operated by the Royal Australian Navy , in support of the RAN's aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm...
and Oakey Army Aviation Centre
Oakey Army Aviation Centre
Oakey Army Aviation Centre is situated approximately 3 km from the town centre of Oakey in Queensland, Australia. It provides a training establishment for Australian Army Aviation, and also hosts a Singapore Armed Forces Helicopter Squadron, namely the 126 Squadron.-History:The base has a...
. The wing was first formed in December 1942 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was disbanded in August 1944. It was re-raised in its current role in November 2000. For more information on No. 44 Wing's role in military and civil air traffic control, see Australian Air Traffic Control
Australian air traffic control
Air traffic control in Australia is provided by two different agencies, one civilian and one military. The civilian provider is Airservices Australia, which controls civilian airfields and airspace. The military provider is the Royal Australian Air Force, which controls military airfields and...
.
History
Adelaide River, Northern Territory
Adelaide River is a town where the Stuart Highway crosses the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory of Australia, upstream of the Adelaide and Mary River Floodplains Important Bird Area. At the 2006 census, Adelaide River had a population of 190...
(100 km south of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
). It consisted of 24 radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
sites throughout the top end, acting as an early warning system for Japanese air raids
Japanese air attacks on Australia, 1942-43
Between February 1942 and November 1943, during the Pacific War, the Australian mainland, domestic airspace, offshore islands and coastal shipping were attacked at least 97 times by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force...
. It was disbanded on 22 August 1944.
In November 2000, No. 44 Wing was reformed as a dedicated Air Traffic Control wing, with headquarters at RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
. As well has providing air traffic control in Australian airspace, detachments from the wing have been deployed outside Australia on a number of occasions. As at 2008, No. 44 Wing detachments have been deployed to Sudan, East Timor, Iraq/Middle East, Solomon Islands and Indonesia.
In August 2008 it was reported that No. 44 Wing has 237 air traffic controllers and was below its target strength and having difficulty retaining controllers. As a result, the RAAF was unable to monitor the movements of all its planes.
In April 2010 RAAF Air Traffic Controllers Officers (commonly known as ATCO's) were renamed Joint Battlefield Airspace Controllers (JBAC) to more accurately reflect their role; encompassing both domestic ATC as well as their tactical role providing airspace coordination and control in military operations. Along with the name change all JBACs were issued with their qualification badge.
On 16 February 2011 No. 452 Squadron
No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
and No. 453 Squadron
No. 453 Squadron RAAF
No. 453 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was first was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941 during World War II and was disbanded in March 1942 after suffering heavy losses in combat during the Battle of Malaya...
were re-raised as subordinate units of No. 44 Wing. The two squadrons will command the existing RAAF air traffic control detachments at Australian Defence Force-run airports, freeing No. 44 Wing Headquarters to focus on higher-level tasks.