The RAAF Washington Flying Unit was formed at McClellan Air Force Base, California on 31 March 1973 under the command of Group Captain John Newham.

[2] Following their arrival in the United States, the Australian airmen were provided with training on the F-111 by General Dynamics.

Once this was completed, they ferried F-111s from the company's facilities at Fort Worth to McClellan Air Force Base.

[1] Once this flight was completed and all twelve F-111Cs had arrived in Australia, the Washington Flying Unit was disbanded on 26 July 1973.

[3] The RAAF's other twelve F-111Cs were ferried to Australia in two flights later that year, which arrived at Amberley on 28 September and 4 December.