RAAF Base Wagga

RAAF Base Wagga (formerly RAAF Base Forest Hill)[2] is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base located 5.8 nautical miles (10.7 km; 6.7 mi) southeast[1] of the town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill, New South Wales, Australia.

This article is about the Royal Australian Air Force base. For the civil aviation airfield, see Wagga Wagga Airport.

RAAF Base Wagga
Forest Hill
Near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in Australia
Entry to RAAF Base Wagga
Crest of RAAF Wagga
RAAF Base Wagga
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates35°09′55″S 147°27′59″E
TypeMilitary air base
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defence
Operator Royal Australian Air Force
Controlled byWagga Wagga City Council
(airfield only)
WebsiteRAAF Base Wagga
Site history
Built29 July 1940 (1940-07-29)
In use29 July 1940 (1940-07-29) – present
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: WGA, ICAO: YSWG
Elevation221 metres (724 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23 1,768 metres (5,801 ft) Asphalt
12/30 894 metres (2,933 ft) Clay
Source: Enroute Supplement Australia from Airservices Australia[1]

The base is home to Headquarters RAAF College (RAAFCOL) and to the No 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU), the Air Force's basic recruit training school.[3] It is the main ground training base for airforce personnel of the technical, administration and logistics trades, as well as the location for initial courses for Administration and Logistics officers. The main postgraduate promotion courses are also conducted at the base. In addition, Air Force, Army and Navy personnel undertake technical airworthiness training at the RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT). Also, 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets uses RAAF Base Wagga to hold its biannual promotion courses (in January and July).

Owned by the Australian Government, the base is managed by the RAAF with the exception of the airfield that is leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council. Although military aircraft still use the airfield, the airfield is now called Wagga Wagga Airport.[4]

History

In 1939 the Australian Government purchased the 120-hectare (300-acre) farm, Allonville and commenced building the facility. Called RAAF Base Forest Hill, the base commenced operations on 29 July 1940 (1940-07-29) and was home to the No. 2 Flying Training School. Part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (or Empire Training Scheme), No. 31 Squadron flew from the base in 1942, flying Bristol Beaufighters and served in combat during World War II. Following the war, the base was declared home to the Ground Training School and in May 1950 RAAF School of Technical Training was established; and subsequently renamed as RAAF Base Wagga in 1952.[2]

The School of Management and Training Technology was established in 1985, and disbanded in 2004. The School of Postgraduate Studies established in 1998. In January 1999 Ground Training Wing. was established at RAAF Base Wagga and was amalgamated with RAAF College in 2008. RAAF College was relocated to RAAF Base Wagga in 2008 after having been established in 1947 at Point Cook, Victoria. The School of Administration and Logistics Training was established in 2005. The No. 1 Recruit Training Unit relocated from RAAF Base Edinburgh to RAAF Base Wagga in 2008. In December 2009 Ground Training Wing was reestablished after splitting from RAAF College. No. 31 Squadron re-formed in July 2010 after disbanding in 1946.[2]

While no flying squadrons are based at Wagga, a number of decommissioned RAAF and Army aircraft, including a GAF Nomad[5] and several Aermacchi MB-326 airframes have been allocated to RAAFSTT for use as ground training aids and remain on site.[6] The unit also acquired three Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner airframes in 1999 which were found to in 2005 contain asbestos, raising concerns about hazardous exposure by military instructors, trainees and civilian staff.[7]

Units

The following units are located at RAAF Base Wagga:[2]

UnitUnit nameForce Element GroupAircraftNotes
HQRAAFCOL Headquarters RAAF College Air Force Training Group N/A [8]
CSU-WAG Combat Support Unit Wagga Combat Support Group N/A N/A
RAAFSTT School of Technical Training Air Force Training Group N/A N/A
RAAFSALT School of Administration and Logistics Training Air Force Training Group N/A [9]
SPS School of Postgraduate Studies Air Force Training Group N/A N/A
1RTU No 1 Recruit Training Unit Air Force Training Group N/A N/A

Aircraft on display

The aircraft located next to the RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre, they are not officially part of the heritage centre but are officially part of RAAF Base Wagga as gate guardians.

Gate guardians

See also

References
  1. YSWG – Wagga Wagga (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 21 May 2020, Aeronautical Chart Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "RAAF Base Wagga - Brief History of RAAF Wagga". Royal Australian Air Force. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  3. 1RTU was relocated from RAAF Base Edinburgh.
  4. "Effective Regional Aviation Services-An Airport perspective". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  5. "ADF Serials - Army A18 GAF N22B/N24A Nomad". Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  6. "CNAPG individual aircraft history page - Aermacchi MB326". Clyde North Aeronautical Preservation Group. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  7. "Asbestos Discovered At RAAF Base Wagga (Australian Defence Force Press Release)". Scoop Media. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  8. "RAAF College". Royal Australian Air Force.
  9. "School of Administration and Logistics Training". RAAF Base Wagga Magazine. 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  10. Glover, Ben (29 April 2011). "Forest Hill RAAF aircraft relics get a makeover". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  11. "Wagga Wagga R.A.A.F. Museum". Tourism Internet. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
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