Difference between revisions of "RAAF Base Laverton"

Latest revision as of 18:42, 27 April 2024

Brief History

Point Cook was the only base in Victoria until 1925 when Laverton was opened to support the increased workload in flying and maintenance commitments. The existing warehouses and workshops were inadequate to service the expanding numbers of aircraft requiring accommodation there. Also machinery stored in unsealed canvas hangers at Point Cook were deterioratig due to their exposure to salt air, and the site was therefore inappropriate for the growing support squadron. A 160 acre site, seven kilometers to the north, that had been acquired in 1921 was chosen, as it was also capable of housing an aircraft landing strip. Point Cook would revert to pilot training with No. 1 Squadron RAAF moving to Laverton on 1 Mar 1926. It was also to be the testing ground for a number of RAAF aircraft.

Activity increased as WW2 approached and during the war Laverton served as the birthplace of squadrons that later served in the Pacific theatre. Laverton also saw the formation of a paratroop training unit, an equipment training school and the 150 Radio Direction Finding Unit, formed in May 1943. Many of the units formed then moved north, but Laverton's prime function, that of an aircraft depot, continued throughout thc War.

The Aircraft Research and Development Unit moved to Laverton from Point Cook on 25 Oct 1948; 6 RAAF Hospital moved to Laverton in 1949; and he School of Radio moved from Ballarat to Laverton in 1961 to join the radio apprentice school already located there. In June 1946, the first jet to land at Laverton was a Gloster Metior. In May 1947. the first Vampire jet aircraft assemblod at No. 1 Aircraft Depot was flown for the first time in Australia. The first Canberra aircraft arrived from the United Kingdom in August 1951, and later the first Australian-built Canberra arrived for delivery to I AD in july 1953.

With a name change in May 1952 to Headquarters RAAF Laverton, the base continued to be the starting point for several aircraft types introduced to the Air Force. The first Australian built Sabre lighter aircraft arrived in September 1953 and September 1955 saw the first Australaim-built Winjeel arrive at Lnvcrton Base.

In March 1989 Point Cook and Laverton combined to form RAAF Williams which includes a naval reserve unit and an air cadet unit. Laverton airfield now is used as the second commercial airport for Melboune.

Units based at Laverton

No. 67 Squadron RAAF

Unit Personnel

Albert Walmsley 18 Jan - 4 Apr 1943
Marguerite Isabella (Peg) Stevens 19 Mar - 22 Dec 1942]] 23 Dec 1942 - 29 Feb 1943

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 1 Bases, Supporting Organisations - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995

External Links

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 ==Brief History==
-Point Coot.wa~ the only base in Victoria until 1925 when Laverton was opened to support the lncreased workload in flying and maintenance
+Point Cook was the only base in Victoria until 1925 when Laverton was opened to support the increased workload in flying and maintenance
-commitments. The existing wan•hnu'il.., and work..,hop~> .11 l'omt Cu"f.. were madc.1uate
+commitments. The existing warehouses and workshops were inadequate to service the expanding numbers of aircraft requiring accommodation there. Also machinery stored in unsealed canvas hangers at Point Cook were deterioratig due to their exposure to salt air, and the site was therefore inappropriate for the growing support squadron. A 160 acre site, seven kilometers to the north, that had been acquired in 1921 was chosen, as it was also capable of housing an aircraft landing strip. Point Cook would revert to pilot training with No. 1 Squadron RAAF moving to Laverton on 1 Mar 1926. It was also to be the testing ground for a number of RAAF aircraft.
-to scrvice the c~p.1ndmg numlw"' nf a.rcrafl rcqumng accommodation
-there. The Alf Board had al'><> d•-.co.crt'<l the ;peed w1th wh1ch
-machinery stor.'<l in UllM'JI<'<l cam"' h.1nga" .11 Point Cook wa>
+Activity increased as WW2 approached and during the war Laverton served as the birthplace of squadrons that later served in the Pacific theatre. Laverton also saw the formation of a paratroop training unit, an equipment training school and the 150 Radio Direction Finding Unit, formed in May 1943. Many of the units formed then moved north, but Laverton's prime function, that of an aircraft depot, continued throughout thc War.
-deteriorating, due to tlw dtN.' pro••m•ty to wa '"'tt•r Th" made Point
-Cook itsclf an m.>ppropriatc "tc for the growmg 'uppor1l><Juadron
-A 160-acrc s.t<' o;cvcn k•lomctfl':> north of Pomt Cook, wa_~ decmt'<llhe
+The Aircraft Research and Development Unit moved to Laverton from Point Cook on 25 Oct 1948; 6 RAAF Hospital moved to Laverton in 1949; and he School of Radio moved from Ballarat to Laverton in 1961 to join the radio apprentice school already located there. In June 1946, the first jet to land at Laverton was a Gloster Metior. In May 1947. the first Vampire jet aircraft assemblod at No. 1 Aircraft Depot was flown for the first time in Australia. The first Canberra aircraft arrived from the United Kingdom in August 1951, and later the first Australian-built Canberra arrived
-mO>t practical .. olutinn Th" land, whJ<h had ~n acqU!rt'<l on 1'121 for a
+for delivery to I AD in july 1953.
-total cost of £3528 (S705b), "•" lt>e.llt'<l b<.-hnocn (Old) C.,>elong Rood and 141
-the mil way line in the Wcrribee Shire, was easily accessible from the city
+With a name change in May 1952 to Headquarters RAAF Laverton, the base continued to be the starting point for several aircraft types introduced to the Air Force. The first Australian built Sabre lighter aircraft arrived in September 1953 and September 1955 saw the first Australaim-built Winjeel arrive at Lnvcrton Base.
-Headquarters, and had the potential to hou!>l! an aircraft landing strip. II
-was chosen for the equapment services stntion because it adjoined the
-railway line, the land was reasonably Oat and it~ms could be transferred
+In March 1989 Point Cook and Laverton combined to form RAAF Williams which includes a naval reserve unit and an air cadet unit. Laverton airfield now is used as the second commercial airport for Melboune.
-by road to Point Cook as required. Point Cook was by this time
-functioning as an efficient and effective pilot traaning centre, and support
-for c-rews, staff and aircrnft had to be located nearby.
+===Units based at Laverton===
-A~ a Rosull of Llw Air Bourd's decision to o:stablish a unit at Laverton,
+* [[No. 67 Squadron RAAF]]
-I Aircraft Depot wns transferred from Point Cook. TI1e move was
-completed on I March 1926, and the new depot consisted of one large
+===Unit Personnel===
-hangar which includ<'<l the administration block. The estimated cost of
+* [[Albert Walmsley]] 18 Jan - 4 Apr 1943
-t'Stablishing the depot at Laverton in 1923 was 000 000 ($600 000).
+* [[Marguerite Isabella (Peg) Stevens]] 19 Mar - 22 Dec 1942]] 23 Dec 1942 - 29 Feb 1943
-ln 1928, Lavcrton became home to 1 Squadron. which had been
-reformed at Point Cook U1ree years earlier. Lwcrton was also the k'Sting
-ground for >cveral RAAF aircraft, the Wapiti, the Hawker Demon and
-the Bristol Bulldog amongst them.
-With war looming. activity at L.wcrton was stepped up and during
-World War II the Bas<' wa~ the birthplace of some of the squ~drons which
-were to serve l~ter with distinction in the Pacific U1colre. Lavcrton also
-s.1w the formation of a paratroop training unit, an equipment training
-S<:hnol and 150 Radio Direction Finding Unit in May 1943. Many of Lhr
-units formed moved north, but Laverttm's prime functiun, th.Jt of an
-aircraft depot, continued throughout lhc War.
-The Aircraft Research and Development Unit moved to L.werton from
-Point Cook on 2!i Oct(lber 1948. 6 RAAF IIMpital moved to Lawrton in
-; the School of Radio moved from Ballarat to Lavcrton in 1961 to join
-the r.Jdio apprentice school already located there.
-In June 1946, Lavcrton stcppo.'d proudly into U1e jet ern when a Gloster
-Mcti!Or made it!. first flight. Shortly after, in May 1947. the first Vampire
-jet aircraft asscmbkod at 1 Aircroft Depot wa> flown fc>r the first time in
-Au.strJiio. The first Canberra aircraft arrived frC'Im the United Kingdom in
-August 1951, and later the first Au>tralian-built Canberra .1ircraft .1rrived
-for delivery to I AD in july 1953. With a name change in May 1952 to
-HcMdquarters RAAF Laverton, lhc S.1se continued tC'I be the starting poant
-for several aircraft types introduced to the Air Force. The first Australian·
-built S.Jbrc lighter aircraft arrived in September 1953 and the aircraft
-wcr<.' later commissioned into the RAAF at Laverton in August th~
-following year. September 1955 saw the first Australa;m-bualt Wanjcel
-arrive ot Lnvcrton Base.
-l)urtn!l llw fa"'t .JQ yl!ar.> of ats opcrahon, Lwerton', lAO was
-rc:.pon'lble fur the on-rhaul and mamtl'nancc of 42 aarcraft IYI"-"'· In
-, a change an D.!fL'tlCC pohC)' rcsulteJ an lhL' ck,.,mg down of thl'
-aircraft repaar 'l'Chon, although aarcraft cnilan'-. wntanut'<l to be
-o• erh.lull'<l at tht• dcpc11 unbl 1961;.
-On 6 Marth 1<15-1, the 8.1~ w.1s honour,'() O) ,, 'I \It fmm llcr \laj!"ty
-Queen Elu,lbeth II Tiw,, an earher ,.i .. t an Scpt,•mber 19:1-1 O) thl' Dul-t'
-anLI Duchl'S' of GloucL-.tcr to the then n,•Jglan!: I ,aq•rtoo 13.1-c, and a
-further "'-"II by LorJ .1nd Lady Loub Mnuntb.•tt••n an 19~1>. are th<'
-recordi'J "I"" by roy.1 lty to thl' Base in it. history tn d.1te.
-The B., ....... ha"t ho!'ttrd vir;; itors rn1rn mrlny nth(•r cuuntrirs. huwevl'r.
-During the I 96th, the United Statrs Air l'orcl' ">7 W,•,\llwr R1<ennnois--.1ncc
-Squadron occupil>d '><'vera I b uildings at Ll\ crtnn. Fur ""'"Y JL<cades, too,
-the B.l~ ha' olCn>ntmodatL>d \'1'-ltO!'!. from ncaghhmanng wunlfll" 'uch ·~
-Papua N••w (.uanca (Niugmi), Pakhtan, Malay\la .1nd New /caland, a"
-thcv ha' c cat her Ot'l'n studying or tutoring at the Ddcncc lntemahonal
-Trainang Centre.' A Of Lmguagc School, or on ''"h.lng<' In th<.• 0) mg t>r
-traanang ..qu,adruru.. Tod.1y, the me.se. .11 wvcrtcm 8.1~ permanent!}
-accommodat,• ATm),l\a• y, Au Force and trar'-'ll'nt pt.•r-onnd
-l..wl'rton tcxl,l) coml.'l> under the au>pace nf 'RA\F Walharru.', a
-change made an \llarch 1989 which S<lw Poant lool. Jnd Laverton
-.lma g.m;,J ~cl A' a fl">ult, ;ev.,rat asp<.'CL' of 'upport wluch had bcl'n
-duplic.ltL'<i by the two base> were able tu lw mn'><llidatt•d. The
-commcrca.lll--.ltlnn of the ca ~ring functions of llol'l' '><l ll·ldn>ai William>
-has be-en nne nf U1e most noticeable change> tn the f.ace of RAAF In
-Melbourne.
-ll>c future of RAAF Wtllaams, la\'Crton B.N;,, " ccrlam to andudc an
-incrc._t~ in promincn...-e in the sou them Vic.ton.ln n .. ·w~m AlrctuJr a nava)
-reserw unat and .ur c,>det unit opcrak fmm the B,,,.. wH•rtnn wall be the
-only fun,honal RAAF 00!>(' to remain m \llelboum~ (," RAJ\ I Willaam;;).
-Whale "'' .-r,ll dfl',lS wathan the Base's perimeter arc under an\·c-shJ;Jhon
-for ""'' ur te.>~ (indudang trn: airfield and ..om<.• "Mt•hoU'l'S), the uniL~
-hnu>L>d ther,• art• -chc'<luk>d to >hare the Ba><• wath lleadquartcr> l.<l!,.,bC:.
-Comm.md. whach as planned to move from the caty 111" wall m"an an
-inOU\ or 900 p<.'N>nncl-cll'lhan and mahtar\' M.1ny of '"'"" will fl'<jUirc
-ne-.,. marr1cd (1\hlriC"' or c;tngle living-Ill .,ccumnmJ,ltu.m. tlnd the
-prospc'Ct Of CXpJndang the current fuclhhl., In (Mr) the unp.>ct of the
-incrc.l'cd IJa><' population as valid.
 ====Notes====
+Content has come from ''Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 1 Bases, Supporting Organisations'' - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995
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