RAAF Base Mallala was a Royal Australian Air Force

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...

 (RAAF) base located at Mallala, South Australia

Mallala, South Australia

Mallala is a small town about 58 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia. The name Mallala is thought to be derived from the local Aboriginal word 'madlola' which supposedly meant 'place of the ground frog'. At the 2006 census, Mallala had a population of 737.In 1939 the Royal Australian...

.

History

The base was built in 1941 as the home of No. 6 Service Flying Training School (6SFTS) 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 SFTS provided advanced training for RAAF pilots, including fighter and multi-engine aircraft.

Following the cessation of hostilities, RAAF Base Mallala was a temporary base for flight test and transport support for the joint UK-Australian Weapons Research Establishment at Woomera

Woomera, South Australia

The town, or village, of Woomera is located in the south east corner of the Woomera Prohibited Area ; colloquially known as the Woomera Rocket Range...

. When RAAF Base Edinburgh

RAAF Base Edinburgh

RAAF Base Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh, 25km north of the centre of Adelaide.It is primarily home to No 92 Wing's AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft that conduct surveillance operations throughout Australia's airspace....

 opened in 1954, operations at Mallala wound down until the base closed in May 1960.

The site has been extensively modified and is now the Mallala Motor Sport Park.

Units based at RAAF Base Mallala

• No. 1 Airfield Defence Squadron
  No. 1 Airfield Defence Squadron RAAF
  No 1 Airfield Defence Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force military unit whose primary role is to protect and defend airfields, buildings, equipment, and personnel.-Crest:...
  
  
• No. 6 Service Flying Training School
• No. 24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron
  No. 24 Squadron RAAF
  No. 24 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1940 and saw action as a bomber squadron during World War II. Since the end of the war the Squadron has been an RAAF Reserve squadron located near Adelaide, South Australia....
  
  
• No. 34 Communications Squadron