After World War I, the men and the machines of the Australian Flying Corps were slowly demobilised after their overseas service in France and the Middle East. The AFC became the Australian Air Corps and it wasnt until August of 1921 that the Royal Australian Air Force came into being under the leadership of Australian aces of the Great War such as Williams, Cobby, Cole and McCloughry. At the time the RAAF was the second independant Air Force in the world.
During the 1930's as tensions gre around the globe, Australia foresaw supply problems of aircraft from Britain and cultivated a relationship with the USA in supplying of planes. To ensure Australian security in the area, the Commonwealth Aircraft Factories began with another veteran of the Great War, Sir Lawrence Wackett as the lead designer. From these factories came the tough and stubby CAC Boomerang and many other designs such as the Woomera and the 500mph fighter, the CA-15. Numerous other aircraft were built under license in the factories of CAC such as the Beaufort, the Beaufighter and the Mustang.
At the outbreak of hostilites there were 450 RAAF men serving in the RAF under short term exchange commisions. Of these, 37 participated as pilots in the Battle of Britain, and many more were in action for the RAF and RAAF in North Africa and the Mediterrainian. 3 Sqn RAAF was the top scoring Allied Squadron of the Desert Campaign. RAAF pilots flew in Europe and North Africa in Bomber Command and Coastal command as well. By 1941 Australia was supplying large numbers of trained aircrew to RAAF, RAF, RCAF and RNZAF squadrons via the Empire Air Training Scheme. So many that 17 RAAF squadrons were formed in Europe and North Africa from these trainees.
The Japanese on December 7th attacked the US Navy in Pearl Harbour while simultaneously attacking the east coast of Malaya in a large and fast offensive. Four Australian squadrons and one New Zealand squadrons was defending the area in Buffaloes and Hudsons. The Japanese Air Force outnumbered the Australians and New Zealanders greatly and despite brave effortson the part of the pilots and ground crews, the squadrons were forced back through the Dutch East Indies to Australia and New Zealand. In February of 1942, 24 Sqn RAAF was the sole squadron defending Rabaul when the Japanese attacked. Equipped with Hudsons and Wirrawys, their squadron strength was stripped to two aircraft in the space of 24 hours.
By March of 1942 most of Papua New Guinea was in Japanese hands and the Japanese Army was preparing to make a push across the Owen Stanley Ranges to Port Moresby to cut Australia of from the allies. During this period, 75 Sqn RAAF was the sole fighter squadron in New Guinea and in the space of 44 days held out keeping the Japanese from taking Air Superiority in the area. This was a first for the allies. During the same period RAAF " Whispering Death " Beaufighter squadrons attacked Japanese airbases and installations in New Guinea. Soon after the Battle for the Kokoda Track began and the RAAF supported the defense of the track with several squadrons, including 30, 75, 76 and 4 Sqn flying in the dangerous role of coordination and Army Coop for which they were awarded a Presidential Citation from the US.
In August of 1942 the Japanese attempted an amphibious landing at Milne Bay, which was to be the southernmost point the Japanese achieved. The Australian Troops were supported by 75 and 76 Sqn in their P40's and later Hudson bombers and Bristol Beaufighters of 6, 32 and 30 Sqns. The attack was beaten back and the RAAF enjoyed Air Superiority to a large extent with the Japanese disembarking at night to avoid the RAAF aircraft. It was the first time a Japanese amphibious assault had been pushed back to the sea and it was the first time the allies held air superiority for any length of time.
After Kokoda, Guadlacanal, Coral Sea the Japanese attempted to reinforce their garrisons at Lae and Samalalu by sending a troop convoy from Lae. The RAAF and USAAF combined to clear the skies of Japanese aircraft and then attack the ships via the new technique of skip bombing. The US Fifth Air Force attacked with B25's and A20 Havocs , while 22 Sqn RAAF skip bombed as RAAF Beaufighters strafed the ships. RAAF Catalina's of 11 Sqn had shadowed the convoy and Beauforts of the RAAF had led a torpedo attack against the convoy. Of the 16 ships which left Lae, 12 were sunk, including all the transports. Two weeks later F. Lt W.E Newton of 22 RAAF was to win a posthumous VC.
From that point on the allies dominated the airspace over New Guinea and attacks were made form Northern Australia, Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Goodenough Island, Dutch East Indies, Rabaul, Aitape, Morotai and Borneo. The Australian Forces were predominantly involved in the mopping up operations of the South Pacific as the Americans island hopped their way to Tokyo. Subsequently in the latter part of the war the Australians saw less and less Japanese aircraft and by 1945 several high ranking aces of the RAAF protested with the threat of resignation at the tiny role the RAAF was taking in the war. When hostilities ended three squadrons were sent to Japan as part of the Occupational Forces. 77 Sqn was to reamin there and be the first non-US force to take part in the Korean Conflict.
At wars end the RAAF was the fourth largest Air Force in the world, behind the US, UK and Russian Air Forces. At the RAAF's peak it comprised over 8000 aircraft spread across three theatres. Wartime enlistments totalled over 216000 men and women of which over 10000 were killed and over 3000 wounded.