RAAF Base Amberley

{{Short description|Royal Australian Air Force base southwest of Ipswich, Queensland}}

{{Infobox military installation

| name = RAAF Base Amberley

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| location = {{QLDcity|Ipswich}}, Queensland

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| country = Australia

| image = File:A41-213 taking off from RAAF Base Amberley.jpg

| alt =

| caption = A RAAF C-17 Globemaster III taking off from RAAF Base Amberley, with KC-30 and F/A-18F aircraft in the background

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| type = Military airbase

| coordinates = {{coord|27|38|26|S|152|42|43|E|region:AU-QLD|display=inline}}

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| pushpin_map = Queensland

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| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Queensland

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| pushpin_image =

| pushpin_label = RAAF Base Amberley
YAMB

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| ownership = Department of Defence

| operator = {{air force|Australia}}

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| site_area = {{convert|1600|ha}}

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| built = {{Start date|1940|06}}

| used = {{Start date|1940|06}}{{spaced endash}} present

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| occupants = {{bulleted list|No. 1 Squadron|No. 6 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron|No. 36 Squadron|9th Force Support Battalion (Army)}}

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| IATA =

| ICAO = YAMB

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| WMO = 94568

| elevation = {{Convert|91|ft|m|0|order=flip}}

| r1-number = 04/22

| r1-length = {{Convert|1523|m|0}}

| r1-surface = concrete/asphalt

| r2-number = 15/33

| r2-length = {{Convert|3047|m|0}}

| r2-surface = concrete/asphalt

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| footnotes = Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart{{AIP AU|YAMB|name=Amberley}}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20190915002215/http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/AMBAD01-131.pdf Aeronautical Chart]

}}

RAAF Base Amberley {{airport codes||YAMB}} is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military airbase located {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Ipswich, Queensland in Australia and {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Brisbane CBD. It is the largest military airbase in Australia.

Amberley is one of two defence 'super bases' in Australia, with the other being RAAF Base Edinburgh, and is home to over 5,000 uniformed and civilian personnel.{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/NCRP/QLD/0861RAAFBaseAmberleyQLD.pdf |title=RAAF Base Amberley |work=Department of Defence |publisher=Australian Government |date=1 October 2013 |access-date=14 August 2017 |archive-date=14 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814220107/http://www.defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/NCRP/QLD/0861RAAFBaseAmberleyQLD.pdf |url-status=live }} The base is currently home to No. 1 Squadron (operating the F/A-18F Super Hornet), No. 6 Squadron (operating the EA-18G Growler), No. 33 Squadron (operating the Airbus KC-30A), No. 35 Squadron (operating the C-27J Spartan) and No. 36 Squadron (operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III). Amberley is also home to Army units making up the 9th Force Support Battalion (9 FSB).

There are a variety of other formations on the base such as training colleges and maintenance areas. Amberley's largest squadron in terms of personnel is No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF (ECSS) providing both garrison and deployed combat support. Amberley was one of only two airfields in Australia (the other being Darwin International Airport) that were listed as a Transoceanic Abort (TOA) landing site for the Space Shuttle.{{Cite web |title=RAAF Base Amberley - AAFCANS: Army & Air Force Canteen Service |url=https://www.aafcans.gov.au/outlet/raaf-base-amberley/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |language=en-AU |archive-date=9 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409212422/https://www.aafcans.gov.au/outlet/raaf-base-amberley/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=RAAF Base Amberley |url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/raafbaseamberley/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Airforce Technology |language=en-US |archive-date=9 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409212421/https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/raafbaseamberley/ |url-status=live }} Amberley is currently undergoing a A$64 million dollar re-development program.

History

The need for a RAAF base in Brisbane was identified in the 1930s. {{convert|882|acres|ha}} of land c. 8km south-west of the city of Ipswich was gazetted for defence purposes on 12 December 1938. The original land-owners, the Jagera, the Yuggera and Ugarapul clans, called the area Jeebropilly,{{cite web |title=The Heritage Values of RAAF Base Amberley |url=https://defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/Envrionment/Amberley/RAAFAmberleyHeritageBook-190320.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111100725/https://www.defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/Envrionment/Amberley/RAAFAmberleyHeritageBook-190320.pdf |url-status=live }} which denoted the flood plain in the region.{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Margaret |title=A River with a City Problem |date=2019 |publisher=University of Queensland Press |location=St Lucia, Qld. |isbn=9780702260438}}

The base was initially planned to house a general-purpose squadron with 300 officers and men. At the outbreak of World War II the handful of brick buildings was still incomplete and many extra buildings were constructed quickly using wood and fibro. The base opened in June 1940 with the first occupants being No. 24 Squadron. From May 1942, the base changed roles from being a centre of flying operations to assembling and repairing aircraft.

File:Amberley GIF.gif

= First troops airlifted into combat =

The base was a major United States Army Air Forces base during 1942 and 1943. In September 1942, General Douglas MacArthur and Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey, Australian commander of New Guinea Force, decided the key to defending Australia was in New Guinea. The US 32nd Infantry Division had arrived in Australia in April 1942 and spent several weeks building its first camp. When it was transported to a new camp in July, nearly one third of its troops had been in boot camp only five months previously. The division had less than two months of jungle warfare training, which was far short of the year of division-level training required by Army doctrine. Nonetheless, U.S. officers decided it was the most combat-ready unit in Australia.{{cite book| author = Samuel Milner| title = Victory in Papua| url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Papua/USA-P-Papua-2.html| access-date = 21 February 2010| series = United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific| date = December 2002| publisher = United States Army Center of Military History| isbn = 978-1-4102-0386-1| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100412021642/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Papua/USA-P-Papua-2.html| archive-date = 12 April 2010| df = dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://www.historyshots.com/USArmy/backstory.cfm|title=U.S. Army Divisions in World War II|access-date=21 October 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080928065621/http://www.historyshots.com/USArmy/backstory.cfm| archive-date= 28 September 2008 | url-status= live}}

On 13 September 1942, MacArthur ordered parts of the 32nd Division to Papua New Guinea. Because the situation was critical and time was short, 5th Air Force commander, General George Kenney, suggested that he could transport the first regiment by air. That had never been attempted before, so Company E, 126th IR, was used to test the concept. At dawn on 15 September 1942, the unit was flown {{convert|1293|mi}} from Amberley Field to Port Moresby. Beginning on 18 September, the remainder of the 126th IR boarded ships in Brisbane, bound for Port Moresby. On the same day, the 128th IR began the move to Port Moresby from Townsville, Australia.{{cite web |title=Advance to Buna - The 32D 'Red Arrow' Infantry Division in World War II |url=http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2-2.html |website=www.32nd-division.org |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=8 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908080638/http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2-2.html |url-status=live }} The 126th IR were the first troops to be airlifted into combat.{{cite web|url=http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2.html#firsts|title= Highlights of the 32nd Infantry Division "The Red Arrow" in World War II|publisher=The 32nd 'Red Arrow' Veteran Association|access-date=22 February 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090216132451/http://www.32nd-division.org/history/ww2/32ww2.html| archive-date= 16 February 2009 | url-status= live}}

Known Fifth Air Force units assigned to "Amberley Field" were:

class="wikitable" ! Unit !! Aircraft !! Assigned !! Reassigned !! Time at Amberley !! Notes
22d Bombardment Group	B-26 Marauder	{{start date\|1942\|03\|07\|df=y}}	{{end date\|1942\|04\|07\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1942\|03\|07\|1942\|04\|07}} days
38th Bombardment Group, Headquarters	B-25 Mitchell	rowspan=2\| {{start date\|1942\|04\|30\|df=y}}	{{end date\|1942\|06\|10\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1942\|04\|30\|1942\|06\|10}} days
69th Bombardment Squadron	rowspan=2\| B-26 Marauder	{{end date\|1942\|05\|20\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1942\|04\|30\|1942\|05\|20}} days
70th Bombardment Squadron	{{start date\|1942\|05\|11\|df=y}}	rowspan=5\| {{end date\|1943\|08\|14\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in years and days\|1942\|05\|11\|1943\|08\|14}}
475th Fighter Group, Headquarters	rowspan=4\| P-38 Lightning	{{start date\|1942\|05\|14\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in years and days\|1942\|05\|14\|1943\|08\|14}}
431st Fighter Squadron	{{start date\|1943\|07\|01\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1943\|07\|01\|1943\|08\|14}} days
432d Fighter Squadron	{{start date\|1943\|06\|11\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1943\|06\|11\|1943\|08\|14}} days
433d Fighter Squadron	{{start date\|1943\|06\|17\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1943\|06\|17\|1943\|08\|14}} days

The US transferred the facility to Australia in 1947,{{cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1947/4.html|title=Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America concerning Aerodrome Facilities. ATS 4 of 1947."|publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute|work=Australian Treaty Series|access-date=15 April 2017|archive-date=13 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051113211534/http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1947/4.html|url-status=live}} and it became the base for the RAAF's heavy bombers, operated by No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 squadrons. The reserve No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron relocated from RAAF Station Archerfield to Amberley in 1955.

In 1965, the US extended a "Joint Research Program for Measuring the Physical Effects of Disturbances in the Atmosphere or in Space with particular emphasis on their effect on Radio Communications" from RAAF Base Pearce to the base at Amberley.{{cite web |url=http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1965/4.html |title=Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America regarding a Joint Research Program for Measuring the Physical Effects of Disturbances in the Atmosphere or in Space with particular emphasis on their effect on Radio Communications. ATS 4 of 1965. |publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute |work=Australian Treaties Library |access-date=15 April 2017 |archive-date=14 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414083906/http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1965/4.html |url-status=dead }}

Current layout

The current layout of the aerodrome consists of two runways, 3km and 1.5km long.{{cite web |title=Airservices Australia |url=https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/aip.asp |website=Airservices Australia |access-date=29 January 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507032023/https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/aip.asp |url-status=live }}

Current units

The following units are based at RAAF Base Amberley:{{cite book |last1=Nelson |first1=Laraine |last2=McAuley |first2=Joanne |title=The heritage values of RAAF Base Amberley : from Hornet Moth to Super Hornet |date=2019 |publisher=Defence Publishing |location=Canberra |isbn=9781925890051 |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/Envrionment/Amberley/RAAFAmberleyHeritageBook-190320.pdf |access-date=11 January 2020 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111100447/https://www.defence.gov.au/id/_Master/docs/Envrionment/Amberley/RAAFAmberleyHeritageBook-190320.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite report |author1=Department of Defence |title=17th Construction Squadron Relocation Infrastructure Project - RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland - Statement of Evidence |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Public_Works/Squadron_Relocation/Submissions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519071126/https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Public_Works/Squadron_Relocation/Submissions |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2019 |access-date=12 January 2020 |date=March 2015 }}{{cite web |title=RAAF Base Amberley |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases/raaf-base-amberley |access-date=12 January 2020 |website=Royal Australian Air Force |archive-date=26 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026110256/https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases/raaf-base-amberley |url-status=live }}

Unit	Full name	Force Element Group	Aircraft
class="wikitable" ! colspan="5" \|Royal Australian Air Force
HQ82WG	Headquarters No. 82 Wing	Air Combat Group
\|Headquarters No. 95 Wing \| \| \|
1SQN	No. 1 Squadron	Air Combat Group	F/A-18F
6SQN	No. 6 Squadron	Air Combat Group	EA-18G
33SQN	No. 33 Squadron	Air Mobility Group	KC-30A
35SQN	No. 35 Squadron	Air Mobility Group	C-27J Spartan
36SQN	No. 36 Squadron	Air Mobility Group	C-17 Globemaster III
452SQN AMB FLT	No. 452 Squadron Amberley Flight	Surveillance and Response Group
HQCSG	Headquarters Combat Support Group	Combat Support Group
HQ 95WG	Headquarters No. 95 Wing	Combat Support Group
382SQN	No. 382 Squadron (Contingency Response Squadron)	Combat Support Group
295SQN	No 295 Squadron (Training and Standards)	Combat Support Group
1CCS DET AMB	No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron Detachment Amberley	Combat Support Group
2 SECFOR	Headquarters No. 2 Security Forces Squadron	Combat Support Group
HQ 96WG	Headquarters No. 96 Wing	Combat Support Group
23SQN	No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron	Combat Support Group
HQHSW	Headquarters Health Services Wing	Combat Support Group
1EHS	Headquarters No. 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron	Combat Support Group
3AMES DET AMB	No 3 Aero-medical Evacuation Squadron Detachment Amberley	Combat Support Group
HOCU	Health Operational Conversion Unit	Combat Support Group
RAAFSFS	RAAF Security and Fire School	Air Force Training Group
HALSPO	Heavy Air Lift Systems Program Office	Defence Materiel Organisation
SRSPO	Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office	Defence Materiel Organisation
ARDU	Aircraft Research and Development Unit Detachment Amberley	Aerospace Operational Support Group
colspan=5 style="background: #cccccc;" \| Australian Army
6 ESR	6th Engineer Support Regiment (except 20 EOD Sqn)	6th Brigade
9 FSB	9th Force Support Battalion (except 176 AD Sqn)	17th Sustainment Brigade

References

External links

{{commons category-inline}}
[https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases/raaf-base-amberley RAAF Base Amberley] on the Australian Air Force website

Category:Royal Australian Air Force bases

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Australia

Category:Airports in Queensland

Category:Military buildings and structures in Queensland

Category:Ipswich, Queensland

Category:Queensland in World War II

Amberley

Category:Amberley, Queensland

Category:Military installations in Queensland

Category:Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Sites

class="wikitable" ! Unit !! Aircraft !! Assigned !! Reassigned !! Time at Amberley !! Notes
22d Bombardment Group	B-26 Marauder	{{start date\|1942\|03\|07\|df=y}}	{{end date\|1942\|04\|07\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1942\|03\|07\|1942\|04\|07}} days
38th Bombardment Group, Headquarters	B-25 Mitchell	rowspan=2\| {{start date\|1942\|04\|30\|df=y}}	{{end date\|1942\|06\|10\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1942\|04\|30\|1942\|06\|10}} days
69th Bombardment Squadron	rowspan=2\| B-26 Marauder	{{end date\|1942\|05\|20\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1942\|04\|30\|1942\|05\|20}} days
70th Bombardment Squadron	{{start date\|1942\|05\|11\|df=y}}	rowspan=5\| {{end date\|1943\|08\|14\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in years and days\|1942\|05\|11\|1943\|08\|14}}
475th Fighter Group, Headquarters	rowspan=4\| P-38 Lightning	{{start date\|1942\|05\|14\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in years and days\|1942\|05\|14\|1943\|08\|14}}
431st Fighter Squadron	{{start date\|1943\|07\|01\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1943\|07\|01\|1943\|08\|14}} days
432d Fighter Squadron	{{start date\|1943\|06\|11\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1943\|06\|11\|1943\|08\|14}} days
433d Fighter Squadron	{{start date\|1943\|06\|17\|df=y}}	align=right\| {{age in days\|1943\|06\|17\|1943\|08\|14}} days