Tactical Transport Group RAAF

Tactical Transport Group
Active1988–1989
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force

Tactical Transport Group was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) group. It was established on 1 June 1988 as part of a broad-ranging reform of the RAAF's organisation.[1]

The group commanded the RAAF units which were primarily responsible for providing tactical airlift for the Australian Army. These included No. 5 Squadron with Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters, No. 9 Squadron, which was equipped with Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk helicopters, No. 12 Squadron with Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters, No. 35 Squadron which operated both Iroquois helicopters and de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou fixed-wing aircraft and No. 38 Squadron which also operated Caribous.[2][3]

At the time that Tactical Transport Group was formed the RAAF was in the process of preparing to transfer its helicopters to the Army. This change took place over 1989. No. 9 Squadron was disbanded on 14 February that year, with its helicopters and personnel becoming the 5th Aviation Regiment.[4] No. 12 Squadron's Chinooks were withdrawn from service on 30 June and the squadron was disbanded on 25 August.[5] On 5 December No. 35 Squadron transferred its Iroquois to the Army.[6] No. 5 Squadron's Iroquois were also transferred to the Army during 1989, and the unit was absorbed into the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School on 9 December.[7][8]

The Tactical Transport Group was disbanded in February 1991. The two squadrons equipped with Caribous became part of the Air Lift Group.[1]

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b Weston, Brian (14 February 2018). "Combat Power through Organisation Part 4: Evolving the FEG". Williams Foundation. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  2. ^ Weston, Brian (11 February 2018). "Combat Power through Organisation Part 3: Function over geography". Williams Foundation. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. ^ Eather 1995, p. 151.
  4. ^ Eather 1995, p. 40.
  5. ^ Eather 1995, p. 49.
  6. ^ Eather 1995, p. 72.
  7. ^ Eather 1995, p. 31.
  8. ^ Odgers 1989, p. 198.
Works consulted
  • Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
  • Odgers, George (1989). The RAAF: An Illustrated History. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Child & Associates. ISBN 0867771399.