RAAF Williams

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RAAF Williams, Point Cook
IATA: N/A - ICAO: YMPC
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator AOS Airport Consulting Pty Ltd
Serves Point Cook, Victoria
Elevation AMSL 14 ft (4.3 m)
Coordinates 37°55′54″S, 144°45′12″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22 3,730 1,137 Asphalt
08/26 3,497 1,066 Grass
17/35 4,508 1,374 Asphalt
RAAF Williams, Laverton (closed)
IATA: N/A - ICAO: YLVT
Summary
Airport type Civilian
Serves Laverton, Victoria
Elevation AMSL 59 ft (18 m)
Coordinates 37°51′49″S, 144°44′45″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
05/23 5,005 1,526 Asphalt
17/35 3,466 1,056 Asphalt

RAAF Williams (ICAO: YMPC) comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases (RAAF Base Point Cook and RAAF Base Laverton) until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams. The name was chosen in honour of Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, the 'father' of the Royal Australian Air Force.[1]

Contents

Point Cook was purchased by the government in 1912 with the vision to form what would become the Australian Flying Corps. Due to the success of the AFC in the First World War, the AFC became a separate service, the Royal Australian Air Force. Point Cook remained the RAAF's only base until 1925 when RAAF Base Richmond and RAAF Base Laverton were also built.

Point Cook is considered the birthplace and the spiritual home of the RAAF. It contains a memorial parade ground which was built in the 1920s, a site which was previously used by the AFC for drill training. Point Cook still has an operating airfield, but military operations are generally restricted to the Museum based there. The airfield is used by a number of General Aviation users, although it is still classified as a military aerodrome. It is the longest continuously operating military aerodrome in the world.

RAAF Williams Point Cook base is the home of the RAAF College including Officers Training School (OTS) and the RAAF Museum. All administrative functions are located at the Laverton base, and there is a single mess service (Officers Mess Annexe) which provides a meal service to all personnel, and a bar service to OTS students only.

Laverton is the third oldest RAAF base, being built at the same time as RAAF Base Richmond, which was opened slightly before Laverton. Laverton is the home of Headquarters Air Force Training Group (formerly Training Command). It also contains all the administrative functions of RAAF Williams. Other units at Laverton are the ADF School of Languages, Defence International Training Centre (DITC), Director General Technical Airworthiness, No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron (RAAF Active Reserve) and a number of smaller sub-units. It also hosts an element of 8th/7th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment, Australian Army Reserve.

Laverton's airfield was decommissioned in the early 1990s. In early 2007 the Victorian State Government gave approval for the land that was formally the Laverton airfield and runway to be developed into the new suburb of Williams Landing. Three areas totalling 55ha have been set aside for conservation and are managed in accordance with a management plan. Williams Landing will be developed into a Transit-oriented development, major activity centre and employment node. As well as being a major activity centre and employment node, there will also be four residential neighbourhoods each with their own distinctive character. Construction of Williams Landing is due to commence in late 2007 and is due for completion by 2025.

Should Point Cook be decommissioned, Laverton will revert to a single base, although it is unknown if it will adopt the name RAAF Base Williams or revert to RAAF Base Laverton. There is also the possibility it too may be decommissioned and become a Defence Establishment.

Unit Full Name FEG Aircraft
LAVERTON
HQTC Headquarters Training Command Air Force Training Group
21SQN No. 21 Squadron Combat Support Group
ADFLANGS ADF School of Languages Air Force Training Group
CENBAND Central Band Air Force Training Group
CSU-WIL Combat Support Unit - Williams Air Force Training Group
DITC Defence International Training Centre Air Force Training Group
HSTF Health Services Training Flight Air Force Training Group
POINT COOK
RAAFCOL Headquarters RAAF College Air Force Training Group
OTS Officer Training School Air Force Training Group
MUSEUM RAAF Museum Air Force Training Group
4WGAAFC No. 4 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets Australian Air Force Cadets
404SQN No. 404 Squadron AAFC No. 4 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets

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