No. 36 Squadron RAAF
No. 36 Squadron RAAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–current |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Role | Strategic airlift |
Part of | No. 86 Wing (1946–1953, 1955–1964, 1987–current) No. 91 Wing (1953–1955) |
Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Amberley |
Motto(s) | "Sure" |
Aircraft | Boeing C-17 Globemaster III |
Engagements | World War II
Military intervention against ISIS |
Battle honours | Malaysia (Confrontation) 1962–1966[1] |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Linda Corbould (2006–2008) |
No. 36 Squadron is a
The squadron was formed at
Role and equipment
No. 36 Squadron is responsible for strategic air transport in Australia and overseas, conducting missions as part of military operations and humanitarian efforts.[2] It is located at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, and controlled by No. 86 Wing, which is part of Air Mobility Group.[2][3] The unit headquarters comprises executive, administrative and operational components. As well as aircrew, the squadron is staffed by maintenance personnel responsible for regular servicing of equipment; they are frequently required to accompany the aircraft on deployments overseas.[2] More complex servicing is conducted by Boeing.[4][5] No. 36 Squadron's official crest, approved in May 1966, depicts a horse intended to symbolise strength, speed, mobility and dependability. The unit's motto is "Sure".[6]
The squadron operates eight Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs, the first of which entered service in December 2006.[2][7] The eighth and last was delivered in November 2015.[7] The aircraft are generally crewed by two pilots and a loadmaster, the latter being responsible for the loading, carriage and unloading of cargo or passengers. The C-17 can carry 70 tonnes of equipment, and is large enough to accommodate helicopters, tanks and other military vehicles. It can also carry over 130 passengers, and is designed for aerial despatch of paratroops or cargo. The C-17 has a range of some 10,000 km (6,200 miles) and is able to operate from short and unsealed airstrips.[2][8] Flown with a joystick and fly-by-wire controls, the aircraft is also highly manoeuvrable and responsive considering its size.[9] It can be refuelled in flight by the Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports operated by No. 33 Squadron.[10][11]
History
World War II
During February and March 1942, the RAAF formed four transport units: Nos. 33, 34, 35 and 36 Squadrons. No. 36 Squadron was established on 11 March at RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, under the control of Southern Area Command.[2][12] Its initial strength was twenty-six personnel and one Douglas DC-2.[13] This was gradually built up to a force of six DC-2s, as well as several de Havilland types including the DH.84 Dragon, DH.86 Express, DH.89 Dragon Rapide, and Tiger Moth.[14][15] Tasked with transport operations throughout Australia and to Port Moresby, New Guinea, the squadron relocated to Essendon, Victoria, on 17 July.[15][16] One of the DC-2s crashed at Seven Mile Aerodrome, Port Moresby, on 14 September; all aboard were killed. The squadron was transferred to Townsville, Queensland, on 11 December 1942.[15] During 1943, it maintained detachments at Essendon and in New Guinea, and began re-equipping with twelve Douglas C-47 Dakotas.[15][16]
On 27 March 1943, a Dakota of No. 36 Squadron crashed on takeoff in pre-dawn fog at RAAF Station Archerfield, killing all twenty-three occupants, twenty of whom were RAAF or Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force personnel.[17] The squadron relocated to Garbutt on 20 February 1944. During the New Guinea campaign it was responsible for carrying troops and cargo, and undertaking courier runs and supply drops.[15][16] In 1945, a detachment of No. 36 Squadron Dakotas augmented No. 84 Wing's operations in Bougainville, flying almost 800 sorties between January and June.[18] The squadron lost two Dakotas on supply missions in Aitape during February 1945.[15] In August, it flew paratroopers into Singapore as part of the reoccupation of the city, after which it continued to transport troops and cargo, and repatriate prisoners of war.[15][16] Following the end of hostilities, in March 1946, a detachment of six Dakotas established a courier service between Morotai and Japan, where Australian units had joined the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.[14]
Berlin Airlift and Korean War
On 19 August 1946, No. 36 Squadron transferred to RAAF Station Schofields, New South Wales, where it came under the control of No. 86 (Transport) Wing along with Nos. 37 and 38 Squadrons, also operating Dakotas, and No. 486 (Maintenance) Squadron. No. 486 Squadron provided day-to-day servicing for each of the flying squadrons, deeper maintenance being handled by No. 2 Aircraft Depot, based at the nearby RAAF Station Richmond.[15][16] Courier flights to Japan continued until December 1947, a 21,000 km (13,000-mile) round trip from Schofields.[19][20] On 25 August 1948, twenty staff from No. 36 Squadron joined five crews from No. 38 Squadron to take part in the Berlin Airlift, a commitment that lasted almost a year.[21][22] The Australians delivered over 16,000,000 pounds (7,300,000 kg) of supplies, and over 7,000 passengers.[16] In the absence of these crews, Nos. 36 and 38 Squadron operations were amalgamated, flying hours being recorded under the latter's auspices. During June 1949, No. 36 Squadron and the other extant components of No. 86 Wing, Nos. 38 and 486 Squadrons, relocated from Schofields to Richmond.[16][23]
Nos. 36 and 38 Squadrons began to operate separately again in June 1950, following the return of crews from Berlin and No. 38 Squadron's departure for service in the
Hercules era
No. 36 Squadron handed over its six Dakotas to No. 38 Squadron in July 1958, before re-equipping with the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.[23] It returned to Richmond in August, followed by the rest of No. 86 Wing a month later.[30] After conversion training of its personnel in the United States, No. 36 Squadron became the first non-US operator of the Hercules in December 1958, when it began taking delivery of twelve C-130As; deliveries completed in March 1959.[31][32] The official history of the post-war Air Force described the Hercules as "probably the biggest step-up in aircraft capabilities" the RAAF had ever received, considering it roughly four times as effective as the Dakota, taking into account the improvements in payload, range, and speed.[33] In September 1960, No. 36 Squadron began parachute trials on the Hercules.[23] It made the Hercules' first troop-carrying flights into a combat zone in December 1962, joining a Commonwealth airlift from Singapore to Borneo at the onset of the Konfrontasi between Indonesia and Malaysia; similar missions were undertaken over the next five years.[34] The squadron was again awarded the Gloucester Cup in 1963.[35]
In August 1964, following the disbandment of No. 86 Wing, No. 36 Squadron became an independently operating unit under the command of Headquarters RAAF Base Richmond. No. 486 Squadron was disbanded at the same time, leaving No. 36 Squadron responsible for its own day-to-day maintenance until 1966; No. 486 Squadron was re-formed that year to service both No. 36 Squadron and No. 37 Squadron, the latter having taken delivery of twelve C-130E Hercules.
In November 1978, one of No. 36 Squadron's C-130Hs became the first Australian Hercules to land in Antarctica, at
Six of No. 36 Squadron's Hercules evacuated over 450 civilians from Cambodia following the
Globemaster era
In May 2006, No. 36 Squadron personnel began conversion training in the US in preparation for re-equipping with Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy transports.[57] It transferred its C-130Hs to No. 37 Squadron on 17 November 2006, before relocating to Amberley. Also on 17 November, Wing Commander Linda Corbould took command of the unit, becoming the first woman to lead an RAAF flying squadron.[58][59] Corbould was responsible for delivering the first Globemaster from the United States to Australia on 4 December.[60][61] No. 36 Squadron achieved initial operating capability with the C-17 on 11 September 2007, following eight months' work-up training.[62] In June 2008, it received the Gloucester Cup as the RAAF's most proficient flying squadron of 2007 "for achieving all training objectives, supporting air lift activities globally and nationally and fulfilling short-notice, high-priority tasks, despite the squadron's expertise being in its infancy".[63][64] Corbould completed her posting as commanding officer on 8 December 2008, the day the squadron marked the second anniversary of C-17 operations by conducting the RAAF's first flight with an all-female aircrew.[65]
Since re-equipping with the Globemaster, No. 36 Squadron has continued to support
In September 2014, RAAF C-17s were used to airlift arms and munitions to forces in
See also
Notes
- ^ Stackpool, Andrew; Solomou, Bill (14 April 2011). "New battle honours unveiled". Air Force. Vol. 53, no. 6. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "No. 36 Squadron's role, aircraft, and operations". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ a b Hamilton, Eamon (8 May 2014). "Symbolic change is perfect timing". Air Force. Vol. 56, no. 8. p. 7. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
- ^ "RAAF signs for C-17 support, as fears grow for the production line". Australian Defence Magazine. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Boeing delivers sixth C-17". Australian Defence Magazine. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ No. 36 Squadron, Operations Record Book, p. 696
- ^ a b c "Fleet complete". Air Force. Vol. 57, no. 22. 19 November 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ^ "C-17A Globemaster description and specifications". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ McPhedran, Air Force, pp. 228–231
- ^ Waldron, Greg (19 February 2013). "Australian airlift comes of age". Flight International. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Australian Aviation. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, p. 481 Archived 1 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ No. 36 Squadron, Operations Record Book, p. 674
- ^ a b Eather, Flying Squadrons, pp. 73–74
- ^ a b c d e f g h RAAF Historical Section, Maritime and Transport Units, pp. 55–57
- ^ a b c d e f g h Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 92–93
- ^ "Dakota transport crash claimed 23 lives". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, p. 326
- ^ "86 Wing ran Japan courier service". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Parnell; Lynch, Australian Air Force Since 1911, p. 165
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 196
- ^ "RAAF squadron joined Berlin Airlift". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k RAAF Historical Section, Maritime and Transport Units, pp. 57–59
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 247–249
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Maritime and Transport Units, p. 184
- ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, p. 116
- ^ No. 36 Squadron, Operations Record Book, p. 41
- ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 232
- ^ No. 36 Squadron, Operations Record Book, p. 36
- ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 114–118
- ^ a b Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 97–98
- ^ a b c "Lockheed Hercules". RAAF Museum. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 417
- ^ "RAAF C-130 at start of Confrontation". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Gloucester Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 April 1963. p. 9.
- ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 102, 114
- ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 424–425
- ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, p. 100
- ^ a b c Roylance, Air Base Richmond, p. 105
- ^ "Looking back: 20 years ago". RAAF News. Vol. 37, no. 1. January–February 1995. p. 7.
- ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 107–108, 115
- ^ "Recognition for 36SQN". RAAF News. Vol. 33, no. 2. March 1991. p. 1.
- ^ Roylance, Air Base Richmond, pp. 110–111
- ^ "Advance party headed for Somalia". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Hercs taking care of business". RAAF News. Vol. 36, no. 7. August 1994. p. 1.
- ^ La Franchi, Peter (24 February 2004). "Australia to upgrade intelligence gathering pair". Flight International. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "Cambodian coup prompted airlift". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Bulletin board". Air Force News. Vol. 40, no. 8. September 1998. p. 12.
- ^ "RAAF units in East Timor". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Hamilton, Eamon (23 May 2013). "Reunion to unite C-130E community". Air Force. p. 15. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "Annual awards recognise RAAF personnel and heritage". Department of Defence. 8 March 2001. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Eaton, Mark (24 October 2002). "'Full-on' efforts earn plaudits". Air Force. Vol. 44, no. 20. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "The War in Iraq: ADF Operations in the Middle East in 2003" (PDF). Department of Defence. pp. 21, 24–25, 29, 37. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Solomou, Bill (16 June 2016). "Citation comes as a nice surprise". Air Force. Vol. 58, no. 10. p. 2. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ "Stallions have a spell". Air Force. Vol. 46, no. 16. 9 September 2004. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Relief effort after Boxing Day tsunami". Air Power Development Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew (September 2008). "Big Mover". Australian Aviation. No. 253. pp. 40–46.
- ^ "Royal Australian Air Force squadrons celebrate new role". Department of Defence. 17 November 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Banham, Cynthia (17 November 2006). "Breaking glass ceiling all in a day's flying for this ace". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Walker, Frank (10 December 2006). "We have touchdown: RAAF welcomes giant transporter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "First C-17 arrives in Australia". Department of Defence. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Rollings, Barry (20 September 2007). "Green light for C-17". Air Force. Vol. 49, no. 17. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ "87th night of nights" (PDF). Air Force. Vol. 50, no. 6. 17 April 2008. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Best on the night" (PDF). Air Force. Vol. 50, no. 11. 26 June 2008. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Celebrating the C-17 Globemaster" (Press release). The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel. 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ a b Pittaway, Nigel (July–September 2012). "Gentle Giant". Aero Australia. No. 35. pp. 18–22.
- ^ Hamilton, Eamon; Gardiner, Kris (24 May 2012). "61-tonne passenger". Air Force. Vol. 54, no. 9. p. 7. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ Hamilton, Eamon (6 December 2012). "Sixth C-17A's big impact". Air Force. Vol. 54, no. 23. p. 2. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ "Our best of 2012 awarded". Air Force. Vol. 55, no. 6. 11 April 2013. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ "ADF delivers fourth arms shipment to Iraq" (Press release). Department of Defence. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ Greene, Andrew (11 April 2015). "RAAF to receive two more C-17 Globemaster planes in billion-dollar defence purchase". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "Double prize for 36SQN". Air Force. Vol. 57, no. 7. 23 April 2015. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ^ Donnelly, Shaun (16 June 2016). "Setting the standard". Air Force. Vol. 58, no. 10. p. 9. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ "Military – Distinguished & Conspicuous" (PDF). Queen's Birthday Honours List 2016. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
References
- No. 36 Squadron (1950–1966). Operations Record Book. National Archives of Australia.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
- Gillison, Douglas (1962). Australia in the War of 1939–1945: Series Three (Air) Volume I – Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942. Canberra: OCLC 2000369.
- ISBN 978-0-7322-9025-2.
- OCLC 246580191.
- Parnell, N.M.; Lynch, C.A. (1976). Australian Air Force Since 1911. Sydney: A.H. & A.W. Reed. ISBN 0-589-07153-X.
- RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History. Volume 4: Maritime and Transport Units. Canberra: ISBN 0-644-42796-5.
- Roylance, Derek (1991). Air Base Richmond. RAAF Base Richmond: Royal Australian Air Force. ISBN 0-646-05212-8.
- Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42803-1.
- Stephens, Alan (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: ISBN 0-19-555541-4.