The weekend of 2-3 October 2004 saw the Defence Force Air Show at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley Queensland. Under beautiful southeast Queensland skies over 35,000 spectators attended each day
to witness flying and static displays featuring combat, training and support aircraft and equipment in service within the Australian Defence Forces (ADF).
The Defence Force Air Show also commemorates RAAF Amberley’s close 60 year
association with the nearby city of Ipswich, which itself is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary.
In 1938 a federal government initiative provided funding for the RAAF to establish a presence in Southern Queensland. A number of
sites were evaluated however none proved ideal for the establishment of the new base. Finally, an 80 acre site situated south-west of Brisbane, near the town of Ipswich was selected and purchased for £10,800. Station Headquarters was
raised at Amberley in June 1940 comprising of 4 officers, while No 24 General Purpose Sqn consisting of 6 officers and 33 NCOs and airmen was the first flying unit to occupy the new base. In July 1940 the first aircraft arrived in the form
of two De Havilland Moth Minors and 4 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Wirraway trainers. In October of that same year No 3 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) was also established at Amberley equipped with 54 CAC Wirraway
aircraft. The entry of the United States into the Second World War soon brought about a strong American presence in the pacific area with RAAF Amberley providing a major logistics support base for allied air forces within the region also
substantially increasing the size of this important base. Following the end of the Second World War, No 82 Heavy Bomber Wing was relocated to Amberley operating bomber aircraft including the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Avro Lincoln, CAC
Canberra and currently F-111 strike/reconnaissance aircraft. Today, RAAF Amberley is home for numerous RAAF units including Combat Support Group, Nos 82, 44, 78 Wings, Airfield Defence Wing, Health Services Wing and their various
supporting elements.
Amberley 04 - Jets over Amb.
RAAF Amberley
In October 1981 the Australian Government announced that the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet would replace the RAAF’s rapidly aging fleet of French Mirage IIIO interceptors. The Hornet ...... go to the report
Amberley 04 - Turboprops
RAAF Amberley
Flying displays on both days commenced with a parachuting display by the Australian Army’s parachute display team -The Red Berets. The Red Berets consists of instructors from the Australian ...... go to the report
Amberley 04 - Ground Attack
RAAF Amberley
Australian Army aviation was well represented by Sikorsky UH-60A-9 Blackhawk, UH-1H Iroquois and Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters of 5 Aviation Regiment, Australian Army Aviation Corps ...... go to the report
Release 4.0/2008
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