No. 33 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force
transport squadron. It was formed in 1942 for service during World War II
. Following the completion of hostilities the squadron was disbanded in 1946. In 1981 the squadron was re-raised as a flight
-sized organisation before being expanded to a full squadron again in 1983. It is currently based at RAAF Base Amberley
and is part of 84 Wing
, Air Lift Group
. The squadron is currently in the process of re-equipping with KC-30As, which it will operate in the air-to-air refueling role.
at Townsville
on 16 February 1942, equipped with four Short Empire
flying boats transferred from No. 11 Squadron
. Less than two weeks later the Squadron suffered its first loss when one of the Empires was destroyed in a landing accident at Townsville; the six crewmembers were killed. A second Empire was destroyed at its mooring during a Japanese air attack on Broome
on 3 March 1942; another Empire was impressed from Qantas
to replace the two lost aircraft. The Empires were subsequently augmented by a number of smaller types including de Havilland Dragon
s and Tiger Moth
s, and Avro Anson
s. One of the Squadron's tasks was Search-and-Rescue; it lost another Empire on 8 August 1942 after it sank in heavy seas off the coast of New Guinea
while trying to rescue survivors of a torpedo
ed ship. The Squadron transferred to Port Moresby
in January 1943, from where it provided air transport to Australian forces involved in the New Guinea campaign
. In October that year it was re-equipped with Douglas Dakota
s which it operated for the rest of the war; after the war's end in 1945 the Squadron was tasked with repatriating service personnel and former prisoners of war
. No. 33 Squadron returned to Townsville on 11 March 1946 before being disbanded there on 13 May.
s transferred from No. 37 Squadron
. In this role it was also responsible for providing long-range transport to Australian and visiting VIP
s. On 20 June 1983, following the acquisition of two further 707s, the unit was again reorganised as No. 33 Squadron. Another two aircraft were purchased in the late 1980s and four airframes were converted by Hawker de Havilland
to provide air-to-air refuelling
for the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornet
fighters, while the remaining 707s continued in the transport role. In 1989 the Squadron helped ferry members of the Australian public when the two domestic airlines were grounded during an industrial dispute
. On 29 October 1991 one of the Squadron's transport-configured Boeing 707s was lost when it crashed in the sea off the coast from East Sale, Victoria
during a training flight; all five crew members were killed.
Due to the political difficulty of spending public funds on new VIP aircraft the 707 continued to perform these duties long after the high ongoing maintenance costs made it uneconomic. The age of the aircraft meant that Australian ambassadors often had to request special waivers of noise regulations from foreign governments prior to official visits by Australian VIPs. The VIP transport role was eventually relinquished in 2002 when No. 34 Squadron
received two Boeing Business Jet
s. The Squadron saw active service again when it provided air-to-air refuelling support to Coalition forces in the Middle East
in 1998 and Afghanistan
in 2002. The last Boeing 707 was retired in mid-2008, bringing to an end the 29-year operational history of the type in the RAAF.
Following the retirement of the Boeing 707 in mid 2008 the Squadron relocated to RAAF Base Amberley
and temporarily has no aircraft. The Squadron awaits delivery of the new Airbus KC-30A
tanker-transport aircraft from 2010, which will be fitted with both drogue and boom systems.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
transport squadron. It was formed in 1942 for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the completion of hostilities the squadron was disbanded in 1946. In 1981 the squadron was re-raised as a flight
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
-sized organisation before being expanded to a full squadron again in 1983. It is currently based at RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
and is part of 84 Wing
No. 84 Wing RAAF
No. 84 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force wing. It consists of three air transport squadrons and two training units . No. 84 Wing's headquarters are located at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney.-References:*...
, Air Lift Group
Structure of the RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force is organised into a number of operational, support and training formations located at bases across Australia.-Formations:...
. The squadron is currently in the process of re-equipping with KC-30As, which it will operate in the air-to-air refueling role.
World War II
No. 33 Squadron was formed during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
at Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
on 16 February 1942, equipped with four Short Empire
Short Empire
The Short Empire was a passenger and mail carrying flying boat, of the 1930s and 1940s, that flew between Britain and British colonies in Africa, Asia and Australia...
flying boats transferred from No. 11 Squadron
No. 11 Squadron RAAF
No. 11 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. It was formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War...
. Less than two weeks later the Squadron suffered its first loss when one of the Empires was destroyed in a landing accident at Townsville; the six crewmembers were killed. A second Empire was destroyed at its mooring during a Japanese air attack on Broome
Attack on Broome
The town of Broome, Western Australia was attacked by Japanese fighter planes on 3 March 1942, during World War II. At least 88 people were killed....
on 3 March 1942; another Empire was impressed from Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
to replace the two lost aircraft. The Empires were subsequently augmented by a number of smaller types including de Havilland Dragon
De Havilland Dragon
|-See also:-References:Bibliography ISBN 0-85177-813-5...
s and Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
s, and Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s. One of the Squadron's tasks was Search-and-Rescue; it lost another Empire on 8 August 1942 after it sank in heavy seas off the coast of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
while trying to rescue survivors of a torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed ship. The Squadron transferred to Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
in January 1943, from where it provided air transport to Australian forces involved in the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
. In October that year it was re-equipped with Douglas Dakota
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
s which it operated for the rest of the war; after the war's end in 1945 the Squadron was tasked with repatriating service personnel and former prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. No. 33 Squadron returned to Townsville on 11 March 1946 before being disbanded there on 13 May.
Second establishment
The Squadron was re-formed on 2 February 1981 as No. 33 Flight RAAF, a strategic transport unit equipped with two modified Boeing 707Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
s transferred from No. 37 Squadron
No. 37 Squadron RAAF
No. 37 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. Formed in July 1943 at RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, it currently operates C-130H and C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The unit saw active service flying C-60 Lodestars and C-47 Dakotas in...
. In this role it was also responsible for providing long-range transport to Australian and visiting VIP
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
s. On 20 June 1983, following the acquisition of two further 707s, the unit was again reorganised as No. 33 Squadron. Another two aircraft were purchased in the late 1980s and four airframes were converted by Hawker de Havilland
De Havilland Australia
De Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd was part of de Havilland, then became a separate company. It was purchased by Boeing and is now Hawker de Havilland Aerospace Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Boeing Australia Ltd-Early Years and WWII:...
to provide air-to-air refuelling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
for the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
fighters, while the remaining 707s continued in the transport role. In 1989 the Squadron helped ferry members of the Australian public when the two domestic airlines were grounded during an industrial dispute
1989 Australian pilots' strike
The 1989 Australian pilots' dispute was one of the most expensive and dramatic industrial disputes in Australia's history. It was co-ordinated by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots after a prolonged period of wage suppression, to support its campaign for a large pay increase The 1989...
. On 29 October 1991 one of the Squadron's transport-configured Boeing 707s was lost when it crashed in the sea off the coast from East Sale, Victoria
RAAF Base East Sale
RAAF Base East Sale is one of the main training establishments of the Royal Australian Air Force, including where Australian Air Force Cadets have their annual General Service Training. It is home to the Roulettes aerobatic team. It is also now the home of the RAAF's Officers' Training School ...
during a training flight; all five crew members were killed.
Due to the political difficulty of spending public funds on new VIP aircraft the 707 continued to perform these duties long after the high ongoing maintenance costs made it uneconomic. The age of the aircraft meant that Australian ambassadors often had to request special waivers of noise regulations from foreign governments prior to official visits by Australian VIPs. The VIP transport role was eventually relinquished in 2002 when No. 34 Squadron
No. 34 Squadron RAAF
No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It is currently based at Canberra International Airport in the Australian capital Canberra, where it operates two Boeing 737 Business Jets and three Bombardier Challenger 604s.-History:...
received two Boeing Business Jet
Boeing Business Jet
|-External links:* .* .*...
s. The Squadron saw active service again when it provided air-to-air refuelling support to Coalition forces in the Middle East
Operation Desert Thunder
Operation Desert Thunder was a response to threats by Iraq's president Saddam Hussein to shoot down U-2 spy planes, and violate the no-fly zone set up over his country. The operation was designed to bring stability to the region by bringing in a military presence during the negotiations between...
in 1998 and Afghanistan
Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the war in Afghanistan. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing...
in 2002. The last Boeing 707 was retired in mid-2008, bringing to an end the 29-year operational history of the type in the RAAF.
Following the retirement of the Boeing 707 in mid 2008 the Squadron relocated to RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
and temporarily has no aircraft. The Squadron awaits delivery of the new Airbus KC-30A
Airbus A330 MRTT
The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330-200. The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Air Force , United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force...
tanker-transport aircraft from 2010, which will be fitted with both drogue and boom systems.
External links
- Sqn Ldr Charles Raymond "Bob" Gurney AFC CO 33SQN KIA 2 May 1942