page_title: Australian First Tactical Air Force
section_title: Order of battle
hierarchical_section_title: Australian First Tactical Air Force / Order of battle
caption_attribution_description: English: AWM Caption: CURTISS KITTYHAWK FIGHTERS OF NO. 78 SQUADRON AT NOEMFOOR IN LATE 1944. NOTE WHITE TAIL UNITS. NOTE ALSO "HOT STUFF" ON ENGINE COWLING OF AIRCRAFT NEAREST CAMERA.
context_page_description: The Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force. Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area. One of several Allied tactical air forces formed during World War II, it evolved from the RAAF's No. 10 Operational Group, established a year earlier. Following action in the assaults on Aitape and Noemfoor, the group was renamed the First Tactical Air Force to better reflect its size and role. It was beset with morale and leadership issues in early 1945, but recovered to take part in the battles of Tarakan, North Borneo, and Balikpapan. Reaching its peak strength of over 25,000 personnel in July 1945, No. 1 TAF's squadrons operated such aircraft as the P-40 Kittyhawk, Supermarine Spitfire, Bristol Beaufighter, and B-24 Liberator. The formation remained active following the end of hostilities in the Pacific until it was disbanded on 24 July 1946.
context_section_description: Upon its establishment on 25 October 1944, No. 1 TAF consisted of:
  Headquarters No. 1 Tactical Air Force
  No. 77 (Attack) Wing
  No. 22 Squadron (Beaufighter)
  No. 30 Squadron (Beaufighter)
  No. 78 (Fighter) Wing
  No. 75 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  No. 78 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  No. 80 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  No. 81 (Fighter) Wing
  No. 76 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  No. 77 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  No. 82 Squadron (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  No. 61 (Airfield Construction) Wing
  No. 3 Airfield Construction Squadron
  No. 14 Airfield Construction Squadron
  No. 62 (Airfield Construction) Wing
  No. 4 Airfield Construction Squadron
  No. 5 Airfield Construction Squadron
  The following units joined No. 1 TAF shortly after it was established:
  No. 80 (Fighter) Wing
  No. 79 Squadron (Spitfire)
  No. 452 Squadron (Spitfire)
  No. 457 Squadron (Spitfire)
  No. 31 Squadron (Beaufighter) under No. 77 Wing
caption: No. 78 Squadron Kittyhawks, Noemfoor, 1944
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