Our Journey

A British-designed Avro 504K trainer became the first aircraft built in Australia for the RAAF. The machine was handed over at Mascot, Sydney, by the Australian Aircraft & Engineering Company (AA&ECo.).

The NA-16-1A, undertook its maiden flight in Australia at Laverton. The aircraft was received in Australia in early August, to serve as a template for local production under licence. It was actually the second aircraft, often known as the NA-33, which went into production with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation as the Wirraway (an Aboriginal word meaning "challenge"). Although only an advanced trainer, orders for the Wirraway eventually ran to 755 aircraft, making this a key element in the development of Australian industry. The locally-produced model flew for the first time on 27 March 1939, and when war began the RAAF had its first seven on strength.

A detachment of two officers and 183 airmen sailed from Australia, bound for England. On arrival the detachment joined a group from No 10 Squadron, RAAF, comprising eight officers and 13 airmen, which had earlier been sent to take delivery of new Sunderland flying boats and fly them out to Australia. The two groups now formed a complete squadron and thus became the first air force unit of any British Dominion to be on active service.

Shortly before 8.30 am, a Sunderland flying boat captained by Squadron Leader Charles Pearce surprised a surfaced U-boat off the coast of Portugal. Pearce immediately attacked, but the enemy boat began to dive and was already at periscope depth before the Sunderland delivered six 250-pound bombs––one of which landed 20 feet (6 metres) ahead of the U-boat’s track. A large patch of oil was sighted soon afterwards, accompanied by a steady stream of bubbles, but although the aircraft stayed over the area for more than three hours it became apparent that the enemy boat had escaped with only superficial damage. The Distinguished Flying Cross which Pearce received in late July was the first awarded to a RAAF member since the Service was formed.
 

When Allied forces invaded France under Operation Overlord, seven squadrons regarded as ‘Australian’ under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme Agreement took part in attacks on the Normandy beaches and surrounding areas. Lancaster bombers of 460 Squadron attacked two towns adjacent to the westernmost beach, codenamed Utah, while 463 and 467 Squadrons struck at gun emplacements covering the adjoining Omaha beach. Halifax bombers from 466 Squadron hit a German battery in the same area. Spitfires of 453 Squadron flew 43 sorties in support of the landing forces on the first day, while Mosquito night fighters of 456 and 464 struck at enemy rail and road communications, bridges and enemy troop convoys on the nights of 5/6 June and 6/7 June. Another three ‘Australian’ squadrons Nos 10, 461 and 455 also participated in anti-submarine and anti-ship strike operations that prevented the German Navy from interfering with Allied plans.

An ex-RAF Gloster Meteor F.3 took off from Laverton, Victoria, on the first test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia. It was flown by Squadron Leader Derek (‘Jell’) Cuming, who earlier that year became the first RAAF officer to complete the Empire Test Pilots course. The Meteor had been received at No 1 Aircraft Depot the previous month and was provided on loan by the British War Ministry to enable the RAAF to gain experience in operating a radical new type. Two days later the aircraft was taken on RAAF strength with the tail number A77-1 and allotted to No 1 Aircraft Performance Unit for trials. Australia did eventually acquire the Meteor for squadron service, but only in 1951. By that time the de Havilland Vampire had already become, in 1949, the first jet acquired in numbers for the RAAF.

The Air Force entered the helicopter age when its first rotary wing aircraft, a Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly, was test-flown at Laverton RAAF, Victoria. Citizen Air Force squadrons based in Sydney and Brisbane operated the helicopters.

Two Gloster Meteor Mk8 jets of No 77 Squadron, flown by Sergeants George Hale and David Irlam, were conducting a road reconnaissance over North Korea near Sinmak when Hale saw what he thought was a lone MiG-15. It was only as he dived into the attack that he realised he was opposed by three enemy aircraft. In the ensuing dogfight, Hale’s cannon fire sent one MiG down on its back, belching black smoke and shedding bits of fuselage as it dropped from view. Immediately confronted by another pair of MiGs, he scored hits on one of these also and saw it trailing white smoke as it climbed away from him. Having expended all his ammunition, Hale broke off contact. This was the last time that 77 Squadron aircraft engaged in aerial combat in Korea, and indeed the last time that any RAAF unit has been involved in air-to-air fighting since.

The first version of the F-86 Sabre produced by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, the CA-27 Sabre 30, was handed over to the Air Force at a formal ceremony at Laverton. It was Australia’s first swept-wing aircraft, the first with powered flight controls, and the first capable of supersonic speed.

The last ten De Havilland Tiger Moth biplane trainers in service with the RAAF were flown in a group from Point Cook to Tocumwal, on the Murray River, where they were to be put up for sale to private owners. Australia's air force had been the first in the world to adopt the Moth type for training purposes. It purchased its first Gypsy Moths in 1927, before even the RAF acquired them. At the height of their use, during World War II, the RAAF operated over 860 of these aircraft, including 732 delivered from De Havilland’s factory at Bankstown, Sydney. With the departure of the last Moths from Point Cook, the RAAF bid farewell to the biplane age.

The first C-130A Hercules touched down at Richmond airbase on delivery from the United States, beginning a new era in RAAF airlift which lasted more than half a century. A total of five aircraft arrived under command of Wing Commander Ian Olorenshaw, who captained the first machine to touch down. Although a formal ceremony had been held on 6 November at the Lockheed factory in Marietta, Georgia, at which the aircraft were handed over to Australia’s Ambassador to the US, Howard Beale, a further ceremony was arranged at which the recently retired Vice-President of Lockheed represented the company. In receiving its first Hercules just two years after the US Air Force accepted its first aircraft of this type, the RAAF became the first international operator. In later years, the RAAF also became the only country (apart from the US) which has flown four generations of this one type.

Selected to replace the Avon Sabre as the RAAF's fighter aircraft in 1960, the Mirage entered service in 1965 and was the first aircraft in RAAF service capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. The first Australian-assembled Mirage flew at Avalon airfield in March 1963, and this and the following 48 aircraft were built as Mirage IIIO(F) interceptors. Following aircraft A3-50, production switched to the Mirage IIIO(A) ground attack aircraft with slightly different equipment for this role. In June 1969, the IIIO(F) aircraft were modified to the ground attack standard, to increase commonality within the Mirage fleet. After the cessation of Mirage operations, a number of aircraft were retained by the RAAF as training aids. 

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 light transports arrived at RAAF Base Richmond on delivery from the De Havilland Aircraft Company of Canada factory at Downsview in Toronto, Ontario. The Australian Government had placed an order for 18 of these aircraft in May 1963, the intention being to completely re-equip No 38 Squadron (then operating C-47/DC-3 Dakotas) by December 1964. A second consignment of three Caribous was similarly received in June, following a route across the Atlantic to Europe and through the Red Sea, but then the third and fourth batches were diverted to Vietnam instead. In September, seven more Caribous were ordered––six to enable the re-equipment program to continue, plus another to replace one wrecked in a landing accident in July. Eventually a total of 29 airframes of this type joined the RAAF.

Three DHC-4 Caribou Mk 1 transports arrived at Vung Tau, a coastal city 60 kilometres south-east of the South Vietnamese capital, Saigon, marking the start of an Air Force presence during the Vietnam War which would last until February 1972. The aircraft were on their delivery flight from Canada when they were diverted at Butterworth, Malaysia, to equip RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, a new unit brought into existence at Butterworth on 20 July.

A new P-3B Orion awaiting delivery to the RAAF following acceptance from the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation factory was destroyed by fire after the undercarriage failed on landing at Moffett Naval Air Station. The aircraft was one of the first three of this type due to arrive in April, but the arrival date was deferred until 13 May. Australia’s order was initially for ten P-3B Orions to equip No 11 Squadron for maritime patrol duties. A second order for ten AP-3Cs re-equipped No 10 Squadron in 1978.

Ten Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Sabre Mk 32s, which had formerly been in service with Air Force squadrons, were officially handed over to the Royal Malaysian Air Force, along with spare parts, ground equipment, and a simulator for training, as a gift worth some $10 million. This followed an announcement made in April by Prime Minister John Gorton, as part of Australia’s commitment to provide military assistance to its allies in South-East Asia.

The first five of 24 F-4E Phantom aircraft, arrived at RAAF Base Amberley to provide Australia with an interim strike capability pending delivery of F-111s that were on order but had been subjected to various delays. The supersonic F-4E provided a substantial leap in technology and capability compared to the superseded Canberra, and provided the RAAF with experience on the systems and maintenance of modern strike aircraft.

The first six F-111Cs arrived at Air Force Base Amberley, ten years after 24 of these aircraft were ordered by the Australian Government to replace the Air Force’s ageing Canberra bombers. The Air Force now possessed what has been widely regarded as one of the world’s outstanding strike aircraft.

The first two F/A-18 Hornets landed at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, on completion of their delivery flight from the US. On approaching Williamtown, the group was met by a flight of Air Force Mirage fighters which escorted them into their destination. Each Hornet was refuelled seven times from the accompanying KC-10 tanker as the group headed towards Hawaii from California. South of Hawaii another KC-10 flew out to meet them and refuelled the first tanker. After passing Hawaii, the Hornets were each refuelled another eight times before the epic flight was over. This trans-Pacific flight lasted 15 hours.

The Air Force’s No 12 Squadron at Amberley was disbanded, following an announcement by the Minister for Defence in May that the Tactical Transport Group’s fleet of Boeing CH-47C Chinook medium lift helicopters would be withdrawn from service on cost grounds. The aircraft had been delivered in March 1974 and were in operation by December that year.

The Air Force’s first hot-air balloon made its maiden flight over Canberra.  Obtained in response to a growing number of requests for Air Force participation in public events, it allows members of the public to learn about the principles of flight. This balloon had an envelope capacity of 77,000 cubic feet. It was dark and light blue in four vertical sections with the Air Force Roundel on one side and the Air Force Crest on the other.

A parade held at RAAF Base Richmond marked the transfer of C-130H Hercules transport aircraft operated by No 36 Squadron to No 37 Squadron operating the later J model variants of the C-130. The squadron was divesting itself of the Hercules in preparation for moving to RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland the next month and re-equipping with the first of four Boeing C-17A Globemaster transport aircraft. The occasion also saw Wing Commander Linda Corbould take over as Commanding Officer of 36 Squadron, making her the first female commander of any RAAF flying unit. She had specialised in transport operations since gaining her wings in 1990, and was now given the important task of overseeing the introduction into service of a new heavy lift capability not previously possessed by the RAAF.

The last of the Air Force’s fleet of six Boeing 707 transports made its farewell flight over Sydney to mark the end of this type’s 29 years of service with the Air Force, both as long-range troop carriers and in-flight refuelling tankers.

The Air Force became an operator of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) when a detachment at Kandahar, Afghanistan, conducted its first flight with a Heron unmanned aircraft. The Heron is a one-tonne unmanned platform powered by an 86kW Rotax engine, capable of medium altitude, long-endurance flights.

No 2 Squadron took delivery of the first two Boeing Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW. Under the project, the Air Force would receive six airframes at a cost of A$3.4 billion, to herald a new era of aerial surveillance for the Australian Defence Force.

The Air Force flew its last operation involving the DHC-4 Caribou light transport aircraft, 45 years after this type first entered service in Australia. The final flight was carried out by Caribou A4-140 from Richmond into Canberra, where the aircraft was handed over to the Australian War Memorial for preservation.

The first five of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (Rhino) aircraft on order for the Air Force arrived at RAAF Base Amberley, becoming the Air Force’s first new air combat aircraft in 25 years. After further deliveries of Super Hornets were received, No 1 Squadron was declared operational on 8 December.

The Air Force’s fleet of General Dynamic's F-111 bombers was retired after 37 years as the mainstay of Australia’s long-range strike capability. A six ship formation overflew Brisbane and the Gold Coast before returning to mount a display over Amberley, while a solo aircraft performed a 'dump and burn' routine. A8-125 fittingly marked the end of the F-111 era as the last to touch down.

The Air Force took delivery of the first of a planned total of five Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, designated the KC-30A. The aircraft, A39-003, was officially handed over to No 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley upon arrival from Madrid, Spain.

Air Force’s first F-35A Joint Strike Fighter pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson, made his maiden flight in the aircraft at Elgin Air Force Base, Florida, USA. He is the first of a new generation of Air Force pilots who will fly the fifth generation fighter. 

The first P-8A Poseidon aircraft, an important part of Australia's future maritime patrol and response strategy, arrived in Canberra on this day. Based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, the P-8A aircraft has advanced sensors and mission systems, including a state-of-the-art multi-role radar, high definition cameras, and an acoustic system with four times the processing capacity of the AP-3C Orions. 

The first two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to be permanently based in Australia arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown on this day.

The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, were there to welcome the aircraft and RAAF fighter pilots who flew the final leg in the journey from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

The Lockheed-Martin-built Joint Strike Fighter is operated by nine partner nations, reaffirming and strengthening Australia’s alliance with the United States and other key international partners including the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark and Norway.

The aircraft creates significant opportunities for Australian defence industry.

The two aircraft arrived in Australia following a cross-Pacific ferry from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona and will be operated by the Air Force’s No 3 Squadron.

The fleet of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown and at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.

The Air Force began the draw down of the  AP-3C Orion following the arrival of the P-8A Poseidon, after serving as Australia's primary Maritime Patrol aircraft. Initially P-3 patrols involved the regular monitoring of Soviet ship and submarine movements in South East Asia, however it soon involved the use of radar and sonar buoys to actively detect, identify and track submarines. After the Cold War, the P-3 patrols continued as new demands arose to stop piracy, smuggling and terrorists.