The first formalised British Commonwealth air dispatch capability dates from the New Guinea campaign of World War II.
"As far as research has resolved, the first airdrops in the New Guinea campaign took place on the 28th of July 1942 at Efogi and Kagi during the withdrawal to Kokoda.
At that time duties of 55 Company RASC (AD) included the resupplying by air of the Commonwealth Brigade in their operations against the communist guerrillas.
On returning to Australia the Regular Army section carried out extensive parachute training plus logistic support force supply path finding duties.
Both ARA sections were then sent to Singapore in May 1962 for international exercise "Trumpeter", this was followed by heavy drop training at the Far East School of Land / Air Warfare.
[1] During the period 1964 to 1965 with the Indonesian Confrontation on the Papua New Guinea border, AD sections were positioned in PNG for air dispatch duties.
were used as enemy for the final shake out exercise for 5 RAR in February to March 1966, prior to departure for South Vietnam.
On 12 May 1967 the unit was renamed 176 AD Company and was relocated from Vung Tau to Nui Dat, where it remained until the last air dispatcher returned to Australia on 27 February 1972.