| No. 71 Wing RAAF | |
|---|---|
 Tactical reconnaissance crews of No. 71 Wing being briefed at Tadji Airstrip in New Guinea, June 1945 | |
| Active | 1943–46 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Attack |
| Size | Four–five flying squadrons |
| Part of | No. 9 Group (1943–44) No. 10 Group (1944) Northern Command (1944–45) |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Ian McLachlan (1943) Blake Pelly (1943–44) Colin Hannah (1944) Val Hancock (1945) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Beaufort; Beaufighter |
| Fighter | P-40 Kittyhawk |
No. 71 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wing of World War II. It was formed in February 1943 at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, as part of No. 9 Operational Group. The wing initially comprised two squadrons of P-40 Kittyhawks, one of Lockheed Hudsons, and one of Bristol Beauforts. The wing's mainstay soon became the Beaufort, which eventually equipped five squadrons attached to the formation. No. 71 Wing took part in the New Guinea campaign under the auspices of No. 9 Group, before transferring to No. 10 Operational Group for the Western New Guinea campaign during 1944. It then returned to the control of Northern Command (formerly No. 9 Group) to support Australian ground forces in the Aitape–Wewak campaign, and completed its final combat mission only hours before the Japanese surrender in August 1945. No. 71 Wing remained in New Guinea following the war and was disbanded in January 1946.