No. 35 Squadron RAAF

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Personnel and aircraft of RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam on arrival in South Vietnam in August 1964. This flight was later redesignated No. 35 Squadron.
Personnel and aircraft of RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam on arrival in South Vietnam in August 1964. This flight was later redesignated No. 35 Squadron.

No. 35 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. First formed in 1942 No. 35 Squadron has seen action in World War II and the Vietnam War.

[edit] History

No. 35 Squadron was formed at RAAF Base Pearce on 11 March 1942. While the Squadron initially only operated within Western Australia its operations were extended to cover all of Australia and New Guinea from August 1943. During the later years of the war the Squadron provided air transport to the Australian military throughout the South West Pacific. Following the Japanese surrender No. 35 Squadron flew Australian soldiers and ex-prisoners of war home and supported the movement of three RAAF fighter squadrons to Japan. No. 35 Squadron was disbanded at Townsville on 10 June 1946.

On 1 June 1966, RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam was redesignated No. 35 Squadron at Vung Tau in South Vietnam. Operating DHC-4 Caribou aircraft the reformed Squadron operated cargo and passenger flights throughout South Vietnam in support of Australian, South Vietnamese and United States forces. During its time in Vietnam the Squadron was nicknamed "Wallaby Airlines" (this nickname referred to the Squadron's call sign "Wallaby"). In early 1970 Aircraft No.293 was lost during a fuel run to an American base close to the Cambodian border. The base was under siege at the time by Viet Cong troops and No.293 received a direct mortar hit in the wing whilst taxiing. After almost 5 years of distinguished service No. 35 Squadron departed South Vietnam for RAAF Base Richmond in Australia on 19 February 1972.

In 1974 No. 35 Squadron was relocated north to RAAF Base Townsville where it operated in support of Army units based in Northern Australia. In early 1977 the Squadron's role was expanded when it was equipped with UH-1 Iroquois helicopters in addition to its Caribous, making it the only RAAF squadron to ever be simultaneously equipped with rotary and fixed wing aircraft. No. 35 Squadron's role was further expanded in November 1986 when it was issued with gunship variants of the UH-1.

In November 1989 No. 35 Squadron reverted to a purely fixed wing role when the UH-1 helicopters were transferred to Army control. No. 35 Squadron continued to provide tactical transport to Army units based in Northern Australia until 2000 when the Squadron was reduced to 'paper' status, with its role being amalgamated into No. 38 Squadron. No. 35 Squadron was formally deactivated on 10 March 2002.

[edit] Aircraft operated

[edit] References

  • Australian War Memorial Wallaby airlines
  • RAAF Museum No 35 Squadron
  • Steve Eather (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Aerospace Publications.
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