DAP – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB22/03/202321/05/2024

AHSA Melbourne Meeting March 2023 (Annie Floodin: Boeing History)

Our March 2023 Melbourne meeting featured a presentation by Annie Floodin, a historian from Boeing Historical Services who is currently visiting Australia connecting with...

1925 The RAAF established its first base outside of Victoria at Richmond, NSW on 30 June 1925. As early as 1916, a school for aviation had been established at Ham Common, the original name of the site where RAAF Richmond is now located. Richmond Aerodrome, as it was known in the early 1920’s was taken over by the Federal Government in 1923 in readiness for it becoming a RAAF base. It was established as RAAF Station Richmond on 30 June 1925 and was initially home to No 3 Squadron, commanded by Squadron Leader Frank Lukis. One DH.9 and two SE5A aircraft were the first RAAF aircraft to be based with 3 Squadron at Richmond when they arrived after flying from Point Cook over several days. Ten aircraft left Point Cook, but only three successfully completed the transit with others crashing or breaking down. Between 1923 and 1936, the base was also used as a supplementary airport for Sydney. Charles Kingsford Smith landed the Southern Cross at Richmond after his epic trans-Pacific flight in 1928. Likewise, Miss Jean Batten landed at Richmond after her solo flight from England in 1935. Base Commanding Officers between the wars included Harry Cobby (19310-31) and Bill Bostock (1931-33). Source: Air Force Association - SA Division

1926 The British aviator Alan Cobham departed from England, bound for Australia, in a de Havilland D.H. 50J aircraft, G-EBFO on 30 June 1926. The aircraft was fitted with floats and Cobham took off from the River Medway at Rochester. He was accompanied by mechanic A.B. Elliot. This flight became the first time that an aircraft had flown from England to Australia and returned. Source: National Film & Sound Archive

1950 Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced on 30 June 1950 that the Government had decided to commit RAAF No 77 Squadron to assist American forces in the defence of Southern Korea. At the time 77 Squadron was based in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. Menzies also announced that plans to bring the BCOF home to Australia had been shelved. Source: The Age (Melbourne) 1 July 1950.

2004 Some four hours into flight on 30 June 2004, a Korean Airlines aircraft was ordered by authorities to return to Sydney, due to Office of Transport Security concern over a passenger. Source: AAP. via aph.gov.au website