No. 76 Wing RAAF

No. 76 Wing RAAF
Catalinas of No. 20 Squadron (foreground) and No. 42 Squadron (background)
Active	1944–1945
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Minelaying
Size	Three flying squadrons
Part of	North-Western Area Command
Engagements	World War II North-Western Area campaign Philippines campaign Borneo campaign Battle of North Borneo Battle of Balikpapan
Aircraft flown
Patrol	PBY Catalina

No. 76 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wing that operated during World War II. Initially based in Far North Queensland, its headquarters transferred to Darwin, Northern Territory, in September 1944 to take control of three PBY Catalina units: Nos. 20, 42, and 43 Squadrons. The prime task of these squadrons was minelaying in the South West Pacific theatre, and they conducted these operations as far afield as Java, Borneo, the Philippines, and China. As well as minelaying, No. 76 Wing's Catalinas flew bombing, patrol, and transport missions, and dropped millions of propaganda leaflets in the closing months of the war. The wing headquarters disbanded in November 1945.