Established in 1942, it operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft in the South West Pacific theatre during World War II.

Following the end of hostilities it re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs and formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until disbanding in 1948.

The squadron was re-formed in 1949 and three years later transferred to Malta, where it operated de Havilland Vampire jet fighters on garrison duty until again disbanding in 1955.

76 Squadron was re-formed in its present incarnation in 1989 and is currently stationed at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, where it operates Hawk 127 jet training aircraft.

Led by Squadron Leader Peter Jeffrey, it moved to Weir Strip near Townsville in mid-April to continue training.

The squadron completed its training in June, by which time it had received its full complement of 24 fighters and 38 pilots.

Its advance party left Townsville for its new base at Milne Bay early in the month, and the fighters departed on 19 July.

Conditions at Milne Bay were extremely difficult as the squadron's airfield was not finished, living and maintenance facilities were almost non-existent and high rainfall meant that any aircraft which ran off the runways and taxiways became bogged in mud.

While this attack damaged several ships, the force continued on and landed troops at Milne Bay on the night of 25/26 August.

On 28 August the Kittyhawks were withdrawn to Port Moresby when the Japanese troops came close to their airstrips, but they returned to Milne Bay the next day.

76 Squadrons supported the Allied counter-offensive at Milne Bay which ended with the remaining Japanese troops being evacuated in early September.

[4][5] Following the battle Lieutenant General Sydney Rowell, the commander of New Guinea Force, stated that the attacks made by the two squadrons on the day of the Japanese landing were "the decisive factor" in the Allied victory.

76 Squadron completed its movement to Strauss Airfield south of Darwin in early October and became part of the force responsible for defending the area against Japanese air raids on military facilities and Allied shipping.

[5] The squadron's flying effort increased in November and December and in January 1943 it was scrambled to intercept several Japanese raids.

On 27 April the squadron received orders to move to Bankstown Airport in Sydney to be reequipped with more advanced P-40M Kittyhawks.

[11] The squadron took delivery of 24 P-40Ms on 8 May and after a period of training was deployed to Goodenough Island in late June 1943, where it became part of No.

9 Operational Group, which was a mobile formation tasked with supporting Allied offensives in New Guinea and nearby islands.

76 Squadron was continuously in action until the end of the war and was mainly employed in fighter sweeps and ground attack missions as few Japanese aircraft were encountered.

On 17 January it took part in an attack on a Japanese camp near Lindenhafen, New Britain which involved 73 aircraft and was the largest RAAF operation to that point in the war.

The squadron subsequently provided fighter cover and close air support for the Allied forces in the area alongside the rest of No.

10 Group attacked Japanese positions in western New Guinea and the eastern islands of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) to support the United States landing at Leyte in the Philippines.

[20] The squadron remained at Noemfoor until April 1945 when it moved forward to Morotai in the NEI ahead of participating in the Australian-led Borneo Campaign.

81 Wing was selected to form the main body of the RAAF's contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan.

76 Squadron moved to Iwakuni where it was disbanded on 29 October 1948 as part of a reduction in the RAAF strength in Japan.

78 Wing and deploy it to Malta where it would form part of a British force which sought to counter Soviet-influence in the Middle East.

In addition, the wing participated in a royal review to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

78 Wing moved to the RAF station at Ta' Qali in June 1953 where it remained until it returned to Australia in late December 1954.

[29] The squadron later formed two aerobatic teams called the Red Diamonds and Black Panthers which took part in air shows and other public events.

[29] It continued to use its Mirage IIIs for air defence and ground attack roles until the squadron was disbanded on 24 August 1973 as part of a reduction in the size of the RAAF following Australia's withdrawal from the Vietnam War.

76 Squadron was formed again at Williamtown as a training unit equipped with Aermacchi MB-326 jets and CAC Winjeel forward air control aircraft.