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The RAAF’s historic Number 12 Squadron has been re-established at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.
The squadron has been returned to service to improve Australia’s maritime surveillance capability and coincide with the arrival of Australia’s thirteenth P-8A Poseidon aircraft. A final aircraft is scheduled to arrive next year.
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“Number 12 Squadron has played a proud role in the history of our Air Force and the defence of our nation, a role it will continue from today,” according to Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, speaking to the ABC this week.
The historic Number 12 Squadron was originally formed in 1939 as a Royal Australian Air Force general purpose, bomber and transport squadron. Its members saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II while conducting maritime patrols off northern Australia in the early 1940s and were based at Merauke in western New Guinea from November 1943 to July 1944 before operating as a heavy bomber unit from February 1945 until the end of the war.
The squadron was previously reformed in 1973 to operate transport helicopters before being eventually disbanded in 1989.
Earlier this month, the RAAF deployed a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and its crew to Japan under Operation Argos.
Operating from Kadena Air Base, that aircraft will undertake coordinated surveillance missions to deter and disrupt illegal maritime activity by monitoring and recording ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods at sea.
The aircraft is deployed to support the enforcement of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea.
Since 2006, the UNSC has passed nearly a dozen resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea for developing nuclear weapons and related activities.
“Through Operation Argos, the Australian Defence Force continues to play a vital role in maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, working alongside our international partners to enforce UNSC sanctions,” Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones said.
“Australia remains committed to enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea until it takes concrete steps towards denuclearisation.
“Our deployment reinforces Australia’s strong commitment to uphold international law and support the rules-based global order.”
