RAAF Base Wagga

RAAF Base Wagga is a Royal Australian Air Force military air base located 5.8NM southeast of the town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill, New South Wales, Australia.The base is home to Headquarters RAAF College and to the No 1 Recruit Training Unit, the Air Force's basic recruit training school. It is the main ground training base for airforce personnel of the technical, administration and logistics trades, as well as the location for initial courses for Administration and Logistics officers. The main postgraduate promotion courses are also conducted at the base. In addition, Air Force, Army and Navy personnel undertake technical airworthiness training at the RAAF School of Technical Training . Also, 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets uses RAAF Base Wagga to hold its biannual promotion courses .Owned by the Australian Government, the base is managed by the RAAF with the exception of the airfield that is leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council. Although military aircraft still use the airfield, the airfield is now called Wagga Wagga Airport.HistoryIn 1939 the Australian Government purchased the 300acre farm, Allonville and commenced building the facility. Called RAAF Base Forest Hill, the base commenced operations on and was home to the No. 2 Flying Training School. Part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (or Empire Training Scheme), No. 31 Squadron flew from the base in 1942, flying Bristol Beaufighters and served n combat during World War II. Following the war, the base was declared home to the Ground Training School and in May 1950 RAAF School of Technical Training was established; and subsequently renamed as RAAF Base Wagga in 1952.