#1676 76 Sqn Hawk Mk127 print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1676 - A27-15, Hawk Mk127, 76 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown.
On 14 March, 1942, No. 76 Squadron was formed at Archerfield, Queensland, with P40E ‘Kittyhawks’. The name ‘Kittyhawk I’ was assigned by the RAF to the export version of the Curtiss ‘Hawk’ 87A-1. The Squadron won honours in battle at Milne Bay, Darwin, New Britain, Dutch New Guinea, Morotai, Borneo and the Pacific. No. 76 Squadron was re-equipped with P51 ‘Mustangs’ and based at Iwakuni, Japan until being disbanded on 29 October, 1948. On 27 January, 1949, the Squadron was reformed at Williamtown, NSW. From 28 July, 1950, to 16 March, 1955, No. 76 Squadron was stationed in Malta. It re-equipped with de Havilland ‘Vampires’ and Gloster ‘Meteors’ during that time. The Squadron was then disbanded for nearly five years, before reforming on 11 January, 1960, at Williamtown, NSW with Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation ‘Avon-Sabres’. The ‘Sabre’ gained public recognition while performing as part of ‘The Black Panther’ aerobatic team of No. 76 Squadron. In 1968 the Sabres were replaced with the Dassault ‘Mirage’ IIIO. In 1973 the Squadron was again disbanded. On 1 January, 1989, No. 76 Squadron was reformed at Williamtown, NSW with Aermacchi MB326H ‘Macchis’, and Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA25 ‘Winjeels’. In 1995 Pilatus PC-9s replaced the Winjeels. The PC-9 operations were subsequently transferred out of No. 76 Squadron. In late 2000, the Macchis were replaced by Hawk 127s, becoming the only aircraft operated by No. 76 Squadron.