No. 90 Wing RAAF

No. 90 Wing RAAF
Three air force officers in light-coloured summer uniforms, one seated at a desk and the others standing beside him
RAAF officers at No. 90 Wing headquarters, Malaya, c. 1950
Active1950–52
CountryAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force
TypeComposite wing
SizeTwo flying squadrons
HeadquartersChangi, Singapore
EngagementsMalayan Emergency
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Frank Headlam (1950–51)
Aircraft flown
BomberAvro Lincoln
TransportC-47 Dakota

No. 90 (Composite) Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) wing that operated during the early years of the Malayan Emergency. Its purpose was to serve as an umbrella organisation for the RAAF units deployed in the conflict, No. 1 (Bomber) Squadron, flying Avro Lincolns, and No. 38 (Transport) Squadron, flying Douglas C-47 Dakotas. The wing was established in July 1950 and headquartered at Changi, on the east coast of Singapore. No. 1 Squadron operated from Tengah, in Singapore's west. No. 38 Squadron was based at Changi and, from April 1951 to February 1952, at Kuala Lumpur in central Malaya. The Lincolns generally conducted area bombing missions, as well as precision strikes, to harass communist insurgents. The Dakotas were tasked with airlifting cargo, VIPs, troops and casualties, as well as courier flights and supply drops. Following No. 38 Squadron's departure in December 1952, No. 90 Wing was disbanded, leaving No. 1 Squadron to carry on as the sole RAAF unit in the Malayan air campaign until its withdrawal to Australia in July 1958.