RAAF Base Pearce
{{Short description|Air force base in Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAAF Base Pearce
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| location = {{WAcity|Bullsbrook}}, north of {{WAcity|Perth}}, Western Australia
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| country = Australia
| image = RAAF Pearce PC9s.jpg
| image_size = 300
| alt =
| caption = Lineup of PC-9 aircraft from No 2 FTS at RAAF Base Pearce
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| type = Military air base
| coordinates = {{coord|31|40|04|S|116|00|54|E|region:AU-WA|display=inline,title}}
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| pushpin_map = Western Australia
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Western Australia
| pushpin_relief = 1
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| ownership = Department of Defence
| operator = {{nowrap|{{air force|Australia}}}}
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| built = {{Start date|1936}}{{spaced endash}} {{End date|1939}}
| used = {{Start date|1939|02|06|df=y}}{{spaced endash}} present
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| occupants = {{bulleted list|No. 2 Flying Training School|No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron|No. 79 Squadron|No. 453 Squadron Pearce Flight|No. 3 Security Force Squadron Detachment|No. 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Pearce|{{nowrap|{{air force|Singapore}}}} No. 130 Squadron}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/bases/wa/pearce|RAAF Base Pearce}}
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| ICAO = YPEA
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| elevation = {{Convert|150|ft|m|0|order=flip}}
| r1-number = 05/23
| r1-length = {{convert|1691|m|0}}
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| r2-number = 18L/36R
| r2-length = {{convert|2439|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| r3-number = 18R/36L
| r3-length = {{convert|1741|m|0}}
| r3-surface = Concrete
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| footnotes = Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart{{AIP AU|YPEA|name=Pearce}}, [http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/PEAAD01-128.pdf Aeronautical Chart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410053207/http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/PEAAD01-128.pdf |date=10 April 2012 }}
}}
RAAF Base Pearce {{airport codes||YPEA}} is the main Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base in Western Australia, located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the RAAF and the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Pearce is the busiest RAAF base in Australia, with the highest air traffic including civil flights, including civil movements at the Joint User bases. Although its primary role is pilot training, it remains the only permanent RAAF base on the west coast, and thus has a significant logistics role. Pearce also has operational responsibility for RAAF Gingin, a small military airfield used for flying training, located {{Convert|34|km|abbr=on}} north of Pearce. When requested by the flying units, a rotation of air traffic controllers travel from Pearce to Gingin daily to provide services.
History
Built between 1936 and 1939, RAAF Base Pearce was officially granted "station" status on 6 February 1939.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/raafbasepearce/ |title=RAAF Base Pearce, Australia |work=Airforce Technology |publisher=Kable Intelligence Limited |date=2017 |access-date=18 August 2017 }} It was named in honour of Sir George Pearce, a Senator from Western Australia. Pearce was elected to the inaugural Senate in 1901 and remained a Senator for Western Australia until 1938. He was Minister for Defence in four separate ministries including the period 1910 to 1913 when the Central Flying School was established.{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |last=Beddie|first=B|title=Pearce, Sir George Foster (1870–1952)|id2=pearce-sir-george-foster-7996|access-date=10 March 2014}}
The base opened with two resident squadrons, Nos. 14 and 25 Squadrons. During World War II, No. 5 Initial Training School (ITS) was formed at RAAF Pearce as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme and No. 85 Squadron RAAF was stationed. Recruits commenced their military service at the ITS, learning fundamentals such as mathematics, navigation and aerodynamics.
On 10 September 1950 a one-off motor race meeting, called the "Air Force Handicap" was held as a part of an air show.{{cite book|last1=Walker|first1=Terry|title=Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Circuits: 1904-1995|date=1995|publisher=Turton & Armstrong|location=Wahroonga, NSW|isbn=0908031556|page=124}} The circuit was triangular in shape, and used all three runways of the base.{{cite web|last1=Galpin|first1=Darren|title=Pearce|url=http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/pearce.html|website=GEL Motorsport Information Page|access-date=3 April 2016}} The feature race was won on handicap by Syd Negus in a Plymouth Special, ahead of Syd Barker in a Ballot V8 and Arthur Collett in an MG TC.
In 1964, Australia and the United States agreed to conduct a "Joint Research Program for Studying Aero-Space Disturbances and their Effect on Radio Communications" at the Pearce base.[http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1964/1.html "Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the United States of America regarding a Joint Research Program for Studying Aero-Space Disturbances and their Effect on Radio Communications. ATS 1 of 1964”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414084320/http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1964/1.html |date=14 April 2017 }}. Australasian Legal Information Institute, Australian Treaties Library. Retrieved on 15 April 2017.[http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1965/4.html “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”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414083906/http://www3.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1965/4.html |date=14 April 2017 }}. Australasian Legal Information Institute, Australian Treaties Library. Retrieved on 15 April 2017.
RAAF Base Pearce is used by the Australian Air Force Cadets as a headquarters and for promotional courses, as well as serving as headquarters for No. 7 Wing and premises for No. 701 Squadron (AAFC).{{cite web |year=2024 |title=7 Wing AAFC |url=https://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/how-to-join/wings/7-wing-aafc-wa/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Australian Air Force Cadets}}
The base also serves as an anti-hijacking training aid for Special Air Service Regiment counter-terrorism squadron, also known as Tactical Assault Group (West). It is used to practise airliner entry and hostage rescue drills. The base is home to a mockup of a Boeing 747 used for this counter-terrorism training.{{cite web |url= http://theaviationist.com/2012/05/10/boeing-747-mock-up/ |title=Boeing 747 mock-up used for Special Forces counter-terrorism training in Western Australia |first=David |last=Cenciotti |work=The Aviationist |date=10 May 2012 |access-date=13 April 2015}} Built in the early 1990s the mockup is slightly smaller than the Boeing 747, includes two non-operational engines and has been painted in the livery of the fictional Emu Airlines.
Since 1993, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has operated its Flying Training Institute at Pearce.{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/air-force-training-in-australias-pearce-airbase-to-be-extended-for-another-25-years |newspaper=The Straits Times |quote=On Monday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Australian Minister for Defence Marise Payne signed the pact that will allow the RSAF to maintain and operate its Flying Training Institute in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce for another 25 years. |title=Republic of Singapore Air Force to train at Australia's Pearce Airbase for another 25 years under new pact |date=21 August 2017 |first=Lim Min |last=Zhang}} As part of the institute, No. 130 Squadron RSAF operates training aircraft at Pearce.
The 2005 Defence Force Air Show, held at Pearce on 19–20 November, marked the first visit to Perth of the United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bomber. The 2012 Defence Force Air Show, held at Pearce on 19–20 May, included visits by a USAF B-52 bomber, a USAF KC-135 tanker, an RAAF AEW&C Wedgetail and an RSAF C-130 Hercules.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/raaf-airshow-in-perth-in-may |title=RAAF airshow in Perth in May |work=Australian Flying |publisher=Yaffa Publishing |date=3 April 2012 |access-date=18 August 2017 }}
In 2014, the base was the hub for the international search of the southern Indian Ocean for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. It hosted search aircraft from six other nations including a United States Navy P-8 Poseidon, P-3 Orions of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy, and Ilyushin Il-76s of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26697048 |title=Malaysia plane search: China checks new 'debris' image |publisher=BBC |date=22 March 2014 |access-date=22 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2014/mar/0323.htm|title=Defence supports search for aircraft|publisher=Department of Defence|date=23 March 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/AircraftNoise/PearceGinGin/default.asp |title=RAAF Base Pearce |work=Defence Aircraft Noise, Department of Defence |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=18 August 2017 }}
Pearce has sometimes been proposed as the site for a second Perth international airport.{{cite news |author=McInnes, Anita |url=http://echonewspaper.com.au/pearce-or-gingin-airport-unlikely/ |title=Pearce or Gingin airport unlikely |work=Echo News |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=19 August 2017 }}{{cite web |url=http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/submissions/aip/files/David_and_Rui_Schafer.pdf |title=Relocation of Perth domestic/International airport north to Bullsbrook |publisher=Infrastructure Australia |date=2004 |access-date=18 August 2017 |author1=Schafer, David |author2=Schafer, Rui |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220152621/http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/submissions/aip/files/David_and_Rui_Schafer.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}
RAAF units
The following units are located at RAAF Base Pearce:{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/RAAFBases/Western-Australia/RAAF-Base-Pearce/?RAAF-ETMG/wnS47GZQ5rzljGnJ2np16BAjbht |title=RAAF Base Pearce |work=Royal Australian Air Force |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=18 August 2017 }}
Gallery
RSAF Pearce.JPG|Sign for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Flying Training School (No. 130 Squadron) at RAAF Base Pearce.
Vulcan RAF XH479, RAAF Pearce.jpg|A Royal Air Force Avro 698 Vulcan B1A at RAAF Base Pearce in the 1970s.
US Navy TA-4 at RAAF Base Pearce in 1982.jpeg|A US Navy Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk at RAAF Base Pearce in 1982.
P-3B RNZAF USN MirageIII RAAF 1982.jpg|An aerial view of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighters, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and United States Navy (USN) patrol aircraft (bottom to top) parked on a ramp during exercise Sandgroper 1982. Visible are seven Dassault Mirage IIIO and one Mirage IIID of No. 77 Squadron RAAF, two Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft of No. 10 Squadron RAAF, one Lockheed P-3B Orion of No. 5 Squadron RNZAF, and two P-3B (BuNos 152733 and 153418) of Patrol Squadron VP-1 Screaming Eagles, USN.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|RAAF Base Pearce}}
- [http://www.airforce.gov.au/Bases/Western_Australia/RAAF_Base_Pearce/?RAAF-ETMG/wnS47GZQ5rzljGnJ2np16BAjbht RAAF Base Pearce] at airforce.gov.au
- [https://www.airforce.gov.au/technology/aircraft/aviation-training/pc-21 Air Force PC-21]
{{Portal bar|Western Australia|Royal Australian Air Force|Aviation}}
{{RAAF Bases}}
{{Western Australia during World War II}}
{{Airports in Australia}}
{{Airports in Western Australia}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce}}
Category:Royal Australian Air Force bases
Category:Airports in Western Australia
Category:Military airbases established in 1939
Category:1939 establishments in Australia
Category:Military installations in Western Australia