No. 36 Squadron RAAF

No.36 Squadron RAAF
One of No. 36 Squadron's C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft in 2007
Active	March 1942 - present
Branch	RAAF
Role	Strategic airlift
Part of	86 Wing
Garrison/HQ	RAAF Base Amberley
Motto	Sure
Aircraft	C-17 Globemaster III

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.

History

The Squadron was formed on 11 March 1942 at RAAF Base Laverton equipped with impressed civilian Douglas DC-2 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.^[1] In mid-1942 the Squadron moved a short distance to Essendon^[1] and later that year it took on strength two de Havilland Dragons and two impressed de Havilland Expresses;^[1][2] it also briefly operated one of two Ford Trimotors and one of three Beechcraft Staggerwings^[3] to serve with the RAAF.^[4]

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.^[5] In addition, Wing Commander Linda Corbould took command of the unit, becoming the first woman to command a RAAF flying squadron.^[6] 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.^[7]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} History of 36 Squadron in World War II retrieved 26 January 2009.
2. ^ ADF Serials list of RAAF de Havilland Expresses retrieved 26 January 2009.
3. ^ ADF Serials list of RAAF Beechcraft Staggerwings retrieved 26 January 2009.
4. ^ ADF Serials list of RAAF Ford Trimotors retrieved 26 January 2009.
5. ^ "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE SQUADRONS CELEBRATE NEW ROLE" (Press release). Australian Defence Force. 2006-11-17. http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=6145. 
6. ^ Banham, Cynthia (2006-11-17). "Breaking glass ceiling all in a day's flying for this ace". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/breaking-glass-ceiling-all-in-a-days-flying-for-this-ace/2006/11/16/1163266711102.html. 
7. ^ "Celebrating the C-17 Globemaster" (Press release). The Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel. 2008-12-08. http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Snowdontpl.cfm?CurrentId=8584. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 

References

• RAAF Museum 36 Squadron
• Roylance, Derek (1991). Air Base Richmond. RAAF Base Richmond: Royal Australian Air Force. ISBN 0-646-05212-8. 

External links

• Australian Air Force News Story - Green light for C-17
• Australian Air Force News Story - New Loadmasters Graduate