38 Squadron Association | Community organisation

38 Squadron Association

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25.01.2022 On this day, 22 November 2007, RAAF transports began delivering substantial disaster relief assistance to Papua New Guinea, after the northern Oro Province had been devastated by flooding caused by Cyclone Guba. Washed-out bridges had cut off the provincial capital Popondetta, and an estimated 150 people died in the disaster. Following coordination by Defence with AusAID and other agencies, two C-130J Hercules left this day with humanitarian supplies, and personnel from No... 2 Air Transportable Health Squadron and No 1 Airfield Operational Support Squadron. A C-17 Globemaster, along with three Caribou transports from No 38 Squadron, arrived the following day. A forward base was set up at a former World War II airfield at Girua, operated by the RAAF’s No 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron. Joint Task Force 636, under Group Captain Tim Innes, was also established there, to coordinate the movement of relief supplies to outlying villages. See more

16.01.2022 28 Nov 78 - Caribou ended service in support of United Nations observers in Kashmir On this day, the RAAF Caribou light transport that had been flying in support of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) since 1975 undertook its final ‘milk run’ prior to returning to Australia. A detachment from Richmond-based No 38 Squadron had been operating with UNMOGIP since March 1975, maintaining and crewing the Caribou that provided a scheduled Tue...sday courier service for observers in the disputed territory of Kashmir, and also transporting the UN Chief Military Observer on his visits to 35 observer stations scattered along the ceasefire line. The detachment’s single aircraft was changed over at six-month intervals by another sent from Australia. By the time that the final run from Rawalpindi to Srinagar was completed, the Caribous had flown 1800 hours on UN duties. Operating under a new ferry crew, the aircraft commenced its return flight from Rawalpindi, bound for Richmond, on 2 January. See more

14.01.2022 Also on today's honours list, a Conspicuous Service Cross is awarded to Group Captain Michael John BURGESS-ORTON "For outstanding achievement in development and... delivery of joint command and control networks and information technologies for the Australian Defence Force." Note* BO is NOT a member of this FB group.

12.01.2022 On this day, 13 October 1965, No 38 Squadron Detachment A began operations from Port Moresby. Two aircraft -- A4-164 and A4-225 -- had departed RAAF Richmond the previous day. The detachment provided transport support for the PNG Defence Force and tropical and mountainous condition experience for Australian-based crews. All Caribou captains were required to complete at least one two-month deployment to PNG before serving with No 35 Squadron in Vietnam. Until their withdrawal in 1975, the crews of the Detachment flew nearly 27,000 hours.

09.01.2022 27 December 1944 - 38SQN completed move to Archerfield from Richmond:

02.01.2022 On this day, three Hawker Pacific King Air 350 aircraft, formerly operated by the Army’s No 173 Air Surveillance Squadron, were handed over to No 38 Squadron at a ceremony held at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland. In addition to the aircraft, six Army pilots were also provided to Air Force, to assist No 38 Squadron with training to operate the King Air. The transfer followed the retirement from RAAF service of the Caribou aircraft which Nos 35 and 38 Squadron had operated... for the previous 45 years, and was meant to provide the Australian Defence Force with an interim light transport capability until a new tactical transport type was chosen. The three ex-Army King Airs were to be joined by another five new machines of the same type by mid-2010. The King Air had twice the speed and range of the Caribou, and could cruise at more than three times the altitude. 38SQN ceased operations in November 2018 and disbanded at a parade at Townsville on 29 November 2018. More in the 7 February 2019 edition of Air Force News here: https://www.defence.gov.au//NewsPap/RAAF/editions/6101.pdf

01.01.2022 9 Oct 1999 38SQN and 35SQN deploy to East Timor On this day in 1999, members of 38SQN and 35SQN deployed to Dili, East Timor as part of INTERFET. A dozen technicians and an Army Ground Liaison Officer travelled from Darwin to Dili on a RAAF C130. Two Caribous were flown from Darwin to Dili the next day (10 Oct) and flying ops in the country commenced on 12 Oct. In the month leading up to the deployment, Caribou flights from Darwin to East Timor had occurred. These supported... SF operations and repatriated some East Timorese who had previously fled the country. None of these earlier Caribou flights remained overnight or refuelled in East Timor and crews were faced with the prospect of insufficient fuel to make land in the event of an engine failure for a period of the return journey. Once deployed to East Timor, Caribou operations occurred as 86 Wing, Detachment C and were initially based in Dili, living and working from tents next to the busy runway. The Detachment later moved to Bacau and increased in size to four aircraft. At Bacau most aircrew lived in a converted bathroom, while the technicians lived in a building that should have been condemned. The Detachment finally moved backed to Dili and living conditions improved when air conditioned ATCO huts were provided. All 35SQN personnel were transferred to 38SQN in 2000 and the last 38SQN Caribou left East Timor on 25 Feb 2001. The Caribou proved ideal at operating in the mountainous tropical island nation, to rudimentary airfields, and achieved a high rate of mission success. At times the Caribou was the only link between Dili and the south of the island when rain cut roads, washed out beach landings and prevented helicopters from flying due to cloud cover across the high terrain. Tactical, fixed-wing transport again proved its worth, carrying out the unglamorous but vital tasks. The Caribou proved ideal at operating in the mountainous tropical island nation, to rudimentary airfields, and achieved a high rate of mission success. At times the Caribou was the only link between Dili and the south of the island when rain cut roads, washed-out beach landings, and prevented helicopters from flying due to cloud cover across the high terrain. Tactical, fixed-wing transport again proved its worth, carrying out the unglamorous but vital tasks.