Editing Royal Australian Air Force (section)

==== Postwar ====
[[File:Two Mirage III of the Royal Australian Air Force 1.JPEG|thumb|Two RAAF [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage III]] fighters in 1980]]
During the [[Berlin Airlift]], in 1948–49, the [[RAAF Squadron Berlin Air Lift]] aided the international effort to fly in supplies to the stricken city; two RAF [[Avro York]] aircraft were also crewed by RAAF personnel. Although a small part of the operation, the RAAF contribution was significant, flying 2,062 sorties and carrying 7,030 tons of freight and 6,964 passengers.<ref>Eather 1996, p. 38.</ref>

In the [[Korean War]], from 1950 to 1953, North American Mustangs from [[No. 77 Squadron RAAF]], stationed in Japan with the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]], were among the first United Nations aircraft to be deployed, in ground support, combat air patrol, and escort missions. When the UN planes were confronted by North Korean [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]] jet fighters, 77 Sqn acquired [[Gloster Meteor]] jets, however the MiGs remained superior and the Meteors were relegated to ground support missions as the North Koreans gained experience. The air force also operated transport aircraft during the conflict. No. 77 Squadron flew 18,872 sorties, claiming the destruction of 3,700 buildings, 1,408 vehicles, 16 bridges, 98 railway carriages and an unknown number of enemy personnel. Three MiG-15s were confirmed destroyed, and two others probably destroyed. RAAF casualties included 41 killed and seven captured; 66 aircraft&nbsp;– 22 Mustangs and 44 Meteors&nbsp;– were lost.<ref>Eather 1996, p. 162.</ref>

In July 1952, [[No. 78 Wing RAAF]] was deployed to [[Malta]] in the Mediterranean where it formed part of a British force which sought to counter the Soviet Union's influence in the Middle East as part of Australia's Cold War commitments. Consisting of No. 75 and 76 Squadrons equipped with [[de Havilland Vampire]] jet fighters, the wing provided an air garrison for the island for the next two and half years, returning to Australia in late 1954.<ref>Eather 1996, pp. 172–183</ref>

In 1953, a [[Royal Air Force]] officer, Air Marshal Sir [[Donald Hardman]], was brought out to Australia to become Chief of the Air Staff.<ref>Millar 1969, pp. 114–115.</ref> He reorganised the RAAF into three commands: [[RAAF Home Command|Home Command]], [[RAAF Maintenance Command|Maintenance Command]], and [[RAAF Training Command|Training Command]]. Five years later, Home Command was renamed [[RAAF Operational Command|Operational Command]], and Training Command and Maintenance Command were amalgamated to form [[RAAF Support Command|Support Command]].<ref>Dennis et al. 2008, pp. 150–151.</ref>