From 1984 the Australian Air Force equipped three squadrons with the multi-purpose combat aircraft. One of these squadrons is the 77 Squadron in Williamstown, which was hurriedly set up in 1942 to counter the impending advance of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia and repel attacks on the Australian continent. For the 77th anniversary, this Hornet received a special paint based on the season colors. An oriental lion, the heraldic animal of unity, is emblazoned on the inside of the two vertical tails. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet Designed as a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk and the A-7 Corsair II and as a complement to the F-14 Tomcat, the F/A-18 first flew on November 18, 1978. Perhaps best known as the aircraft of the US Navy's Blue Angels, this carrier-capable, supersonic, all-weather fighter has many roles, including fighter escort, fleet air defense and close air support. The F/A-18 is a versatile aircraft: it can operate from carriers or land bases and a single switch converts it from fighter to strike mode. During Operation Desert Storm, the F/A-18 proved that, on a single mission, one aircraft could serve as both fighter and a bomber.