No. 36 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 36 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force
transport squadron. It currently operates C-17 Globemaster III
aircraft from RAAF Base Amberley
. The Squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during World War II
, the Berlin Airlift, Korean War
, Vietnam War
and the invasion of Iraq in 2003
. It has also supported Australian peacekeeping operations around the world, including in Somalia
, Cambodia
and East Timor
.
aircraft. It was tasked with transport operations from Laverton to the far corners of Australia - mainly to Batchelor Airfield
in the Northern Territory
but also to Maylands, Western Australia
and Mareeba Airfield
in Far North Queensland
.History of 36 Squadron in World War II retrieved 26 January 2009. In mid-1942 the Squadron moved a short distance to Essendon
and later that year it took on strength two de Havilland Dragon
s and two impressed de Havilland Express
es; it also briefly operated one of two Ford Trimotor
s and one of three Beechcraft Staggerwing
s to serve with the RAAF.
Between 1958 (when the Squadron became the first non-United States of America operator of the Lockheed C130 Hercules with 12 C130A's models which were later replaced in 1978 by 12 C130H's) and 2006 No.36 Squadron operated C-130 Hercules
transports from RAAF Base Richmond
in New South Wales
. In late 2006 it began re-equipping with the first of four C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and transitioning to the strategic airlift role, operating out of RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland
.
On 17 November 2006 No. 36 Squadron achieved two milestones. On this date the Squadron handed its C-130H Hercules aircraft to No. 37 Squadron
ahead of the introduction of the first Globemaster on 4 December. In addition, Wing Commander
Linda Corbould
took command of the unit, becoming the first woman to command a RAAF flying squadron. Corbould completed her posting on 8 December 2008, and on this day the squadron marked the second anniversary of C-17 operations by conducting the RAAF's first flight with an all female aircrew.
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 currently operates C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
aircraft from 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...
. The Squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft 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...
, the Berlin Airlift, Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and the invasion of Iraq in 2003
Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
The Howard Government supported the disarmament of Iraq during the Iraq disarmament crisis. Australia later provided one of the four most substantial combat force contingents during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, under the operational codename Operation Falconer. Part of its contingent were among the...
. It has also supported Australian peacekeeping operations around the world, including in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
.
History
The Squadron was formed on 11 March 1942 at RAAF Base Laverton equipped with impressed civilian Douglas DC-2Douglas DC-2
The Douglas DC-2 was a 14-seat, twin-engine airliner produced by the American company Douglas Aircraft Corporation starting in 1934. It competed with the Boeing 247...
aircraft. It was tasked with transport operations from Laverton to the far corners of Australia - mainly to Batchelor Airfield
Batchelor Airfield
Batchelor Airfield, is an airport located south of Batchelor, Northern Territory, Australia. Currently, it has no commercial air service and is utilised by the Northern Australian Gliding Club.-History:...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
but also to Maylands, Western Australia
Maylands, Western Australia
Maylands is a suburb located approximately northeast of Perth centred on the Midland railway line and located on the northern bank of the Swan River....
and Mareeba Airfield
Mareeba Airfield
Mareeba Airfield is an airfield located near Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. Built in 1942 as a US Army Air Force base during World War II, the airfield had two runways, with a complement of taxiways, hardstands and a containment area...
in Far North Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.History of 36 Squadron in World War II retrieved 26 January 2009. In mid-1942 the Squadron moved a short distance to Essendon
Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
and later that year it took on strength two de Havilland Dragon
De Havilland Dragon
|-See also:-References:Bibliography ISBN 0-85177-813-5...
s and two impressed de Havilland Express
De Havilland Express
The de Havilland Express was a four-engined passenger aircraft from the 1930s manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:...
es; it also briefly operated one of two Ford Trimotor
Ford Trimotor
The Ford Trimotor was an American three-engined transport plane that was first produced in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and that continued to be produced until June 7, 1933. Throughout its time in production, a total of 199 Ford Trimotors were produced...
s and one of three Beechcraft Staggerwing
Beechcraft Staggerwing
The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is an American biplane with an atypical negative stagger , that first flew in 1932.-Development:...
s to serve with the RAAF.
Between 1958 (when the Squadron became the first non-United States of America operator of the Lockheed C130 Hercules with 12 C130A's models which were later replaced in 1978 by 12 C130H's) and 2006 No.36 Squadron operated C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transports from RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond is one of Australia's oldest and largest air force bases. It is located within the City of Hawkesbury in the north-western fringe of Sydney, New South Wales, between the towns of Windsor and Richmond. The base is home to the Royal Australian Air Force's transport headquarters,...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. In late 2006 it began re-equipping with the first of four C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and transitioning to the strategic airlift role, operating out of RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
On 17 November 2006 No. 36 Squadron achieved two milestones. On this date the Squadron handed its C-130H Hercules aircraft to 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...
ahead of the introduction of the first Globemaster on 4 December. In addition, Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Linda Corbould
Linda Corbould
Wing Commander Linda Mary Corbould OAM is an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force and the first woman to command a RAAF flying squadron.-Biography:Linda Corbould was raised in Tasmania, Australia and joined the RAAF in 1981...
took command of the unit, becoming the first woman to command a RAAF flying squadron. Corbould completed her posting on 8 December 2008, and on this day the squadron marked the second anniversary of C-17 operations by conducting the RAAF's first flight with an all female aircrew.