No. 33 Squadron RAAF
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| 33SQN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Service | RAAF | ||
| FEG | Air Lift Group | ||
| Parent Unit | 84 Wing | ||
| Role | Air to Air Refeulling, Logistics | ||
| Motto | Enduring | ||
| Formed | February 1942 | ||
| Base | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
| Aircraft | Boeing 707 | ||
| Callsign | WINDSOR, DRAGON | ||
No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1942 and is currently based at RAAF Base Richmond where it operates modified Boeing 707 aircraft in the strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling roles.
[edit] History
No. 33 Squadron was formed at Townsville in February 1942. The Squadron was redeployed to Port Moresby in January 1943 where it provided air transport to Australian forces in New Guinea. After the war the Squadron ferried Australian personnel back to Australia before being disbanded in 1946.
No. 33 Squadron was re-formed in 1983 as a strategic transport squadron equipped with modified Boeing 707s. In this role the squadron was also responsible for providing long-range transport to Australian VIPs. Due to the political difficulty of spending public funds on new VIP aircraft the 707 fleet remained on VIP duties long after the high ongoing maintenance costs made this uneconomic. Due to the age of the aircraft Australian ambassadors often had to request special waivers of aircraft noise regulations from foreign governments prior to official visits by Australian VIPs.
No. 33 Squadron's current primary role is providing air-to-air refuelling for the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornet fighters. As the 707s are only equipped with a probe and drogue system they are not capable of refuelling the RAAF's F-111 bombers. No. 33 Squadron has provided air-to-air refuelling support to Coalition forces in the Middle East in 1998 and Afghanistan in 2002.
No. 33 Squadron will be re-equipped with Airbus A330 MRTT tanker-transport aircraft from 2009. These aircraft will be fitted with both probe and drogue and boom systems. It is expected that No. 33 Squadron will relocate to RAAF Base Amberley when these aircraft are delivered.
[edit] References
- RAAF Museum 33 Squadron
- Air Force News New tankers to take on many roles
- SqnLdr C.R.Gurney AFC CO 33 Sqn KIA 2 May 1942
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