Antarctic Flight RAAF
| Antarctic Flight RAAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1948–1963 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | File:Air Force Ensign of Australia.svg Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Expeditions and Rescue |
| Current base | RAAF Base Laverton |
The Antarctic Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft flight. It operated from RAAF Base Laverton and Mawson Station. The flight was responsible for expeditions and rescue missions in Antarctica.[1]
Two ski fitted RAAF Auster AOP.6 (A11-200 & A11-201) were based at Mawson Station from 1952. On 5 March 1954, A11-200 was lost over the side of a ship. Later the flight included two DHC-2 Beavers and one Dakota aircraft. After 1963, the RAAF planes were withdrawn.[2]
Following this time RAAF aircraft have continued to operate infrequently in support of activities in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. These have included a number of flights using C-130 Hercules in the 1970s and 1980s into McMurdo Sound[1][3] and more recently C-17 Globemasters to Wilkins Aerodrome near Casey Station in late 2015 and early 2016.[4][5]
Notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Wilson 1991, pp. 32–110.
- ^ Wilson 1991, pp. 110–114.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
References
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- RAAF independent flights
- Aviation in Antarctica
- Australia and the Antarctic
- Military units and formations established in 1948
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1963
- 1948 establishments in Antarctica
- 1948 establishments in Australia
- 1963 disestablishments in Antarctica
- 1963 disestablishments in Australia