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  • 1940-1949

The origins of the Royal Australian Air Force extend back to the early days of aviation, and we have made important contributions to defence and peacekeeping initiatives across the globe ever since.

1940-1949

Air Force Nursing service established

Formation of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force

Bombing of Darwin

Australia's first Indigenous fighter pilot

Introduction of helicopters to Air Force

Hudsons over Singapore
Display Date
15 Oct 1940

Establishment of RAAF Base Townsville

In 1939, Townsville City Council transferred the city airport to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). RAAF Base Townsville was formed on 15 October 1940 and has a long and proud association with the people of North Queensland.

RAAF Base Townsville
15 Oct 1940

Establishment of RAAF Base Townsville

In 1939, Townsville City Council transferred the city airport to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). RAAF Base Townsville was formed on 15 October 1940 and has a long and proud association with the people of North Queensland.

Along with RAAF Base Darwin, RAAF Base Townsville is one of northern Australia's primary Defence installations, supported by the motto ‘Guarding the North’.

In 1942, RAAF Base Townsville played a critical role in the Battle of the Coral Sea and at one point was one of the largest US Air Force bases outside of the United States.

The Base is strategically important as it is often used as a staging or stepping-off point for forces being deployed on military operations, including Australian humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts. It also provides an important role in training future pilots and hosts a number of exercises during the year.

RAAF Base Townsville is home to a large number of units including:

  • No 383 Squadron - contingency response
  • No 452 Squadron Townsville Flight - air traffic control
  • No 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron - airbase operations
  • Combat Survival Training School - evasion and escape training
  • Army's No 5 Aviation Regiment
  • 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Townsville
  • No 2 Security Squadron detachment Townsville

RAAF Base Townsville is used as a mounting base for Army’s Townsville-based 3rd Brigade and as a training base for Air Force’s Air Combat Group and Air Mobility Group. It may also be used as a mounting base or forward operating base for Air Force operations and Naval Support operations in the Coral Sea.

HQ RAAF Base Townsville is also directly responsible for personnel and ADF assets located at RAAF Base Scherger.

RAAF Base Scherger is one of the Royal Australian Air Force's three 'bare bases', completing a chain of bases across Australia’s 'top end'. It was officially opened by then Prime Minister John Howard on 5 August 1998.

The base is located 26 kilometers east of Weipa on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.  The base has facilities to cater for 400 personnel in fixed accommodation, 1,000 personnel in tent lines and about 40 aircraft. During peacetime, RAAF Base Scherger hosts on average, one major exercise per year in which the base is fully activated through the arrival of RAAF units based elsewhere in Australia. Minimal facilities and infrastructure have been established to support military deployments and exercises. RAAF Base Scherger consists of a 3,050 m long runway with a parallel taxiway and one oblique taxiway which can also be used as an emergency runway.

Video & Images

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https://youtu.be/yzpO6DyzjXU
RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville
Display Date
09 Jan 1942

Longest WWII sea reconnaissance mission undertaken by RAAF land-based aircraft

A Lockheed Hudson Mk IV bomber flew 2260 kilometres to carry out an armed photographic reconnaissance of Japanese forces in the Truk Islands.

The reconnaissance of Truk by Flight Lieutenant Yeowart and crew in a specially fitted Hudson MK IV of no. 6 squadron RAAF
09 Jan 1942

Longest WWII sea reconnaissance mission undertaken by RAAF land-based aircraft

A Lockheed Hudson Mk IV bomber from No 6 Squadron took off from Kavieng, New Britain, before 6 am to carry out an armed photographic reconnaissance of Japanese forces in the Truk Islands to the north. Arriving over the target, the pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Robert Yeowart, spent 25 minutes making two passes to photograph Toll Harbour and an island airfield, dodging anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters sent up to intercept him. Returning first to Kavieng, the Hudson flew on to Rabaul and, after a brief stopover, returned to Townsville on 10 January. The 2260 kilometres flown during the mission made this the longest sea reconnaissance undertaken by the RAAF in a land-based aircraft. The enemy shipping and aircraft observed at Truk confirmed expectations that New Ireland and New Britain would soon be attacked.

Video & Images

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The reconnaissance of Truk by Flight Lieutenant Yeowart and crew in a specially fitted Hudson MK IV of no. 6 squadron RAAF
Lockheed Hudson Recon of Japanese forces
Display Date
21 Mar 1942

Arrival of No 75 Squadron at Port Moresby

No 75 Squadron – formed at Townsville, Queensland, only 17 days earlier—arrived at Port Moresby. Japanese aircraft had been subjecting the town and its surrounding defence installations to air attacks since early February.

Four of the No. 75 Squadron pilots on duty in Port Morseby
21 Mar 1942

Arrival of No 75 Squadron at Port Moresby

No 75 Squadron – formed at Townsville, Queensland, only 17 days earlier—arrived at Port Moresby. Japanese aircraft had been subjecting the town and its surrounding defence installations to air attacks since early February. The squadron began fending off the Japanese by launching its P-40 Kittyhawk fighters on an attack of its own against Lae the very next day, in a highly successful operation that destroyed 12 enemy aircraft on the ground and damaged another five. No 75 Squadron continued an unequal fight against superior Japanese numbers alone until the end of April, when US units equipped with Airacobras began to arrive. Just two serviceable Kittyhawks were left to return to Australia on 9–10 May. During No 75 Squadron’s epic six weeks in action, it claimed 35 enemy aircraft destroyed and 58 damaged, for the loss of 12 of its own pilots.

Video & Images

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Four of the No. 75 Squadron pilots on duty in Port Morseby
75 Squadron at Port Moresby
Squadron Leader L. Jackson, Commanding Officer of No. 75 Squadron
Squadron Leader L. Jackson, Commanding Officer of No. 75 Squadron
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