Strong air force history in Townsville leads to strong future
A strategic base for wars fought in the Pacific, RAAF Base Townsville is as important to Australia’s national interest today as it was when it was established 80 years ago.
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A STRATEGIC base for wars fought in the Pacific, RAAF Base Townsville is as important to Australia’s national interest today as it was when it was established 80 years ago.
Reflecting on the centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force, significant investment in the Townsville base and its future is proving Townsville as a community will reap the benefits for years to come.
The Townsville base was established in 1940 as the war in the Pacific intensified and the Japanese were moving closer to Australia, some 20 years after the Air Force itself was established.
Playing an important role in the battle of the Coral Sea and other battles, senior Australian Defence Force officer Wing Commander Mat Green said the base accommodated other forces and projected capabilities into the near region.
“The need to have the RAAF base here was demonstrated by the ... number of US aircraft here in Townsville at the time,” he said.
“We had the largest number of US aircraft outside of the US at one point to fight that war in the Pacific.
“It’s important to reflect on where we’ve come from, how we began … (and) it’s important to contemplate the foundations that we’re laying now for all those servicemen and women that will come after us in service of the nation.”
The RAAF base continues to work alongside the army’s 3rd Brigade in Townsville with the ability to “take the army where the army needs to go”.
On March 31, the Royal Australian Air Force will mark 100 years of service to Australia and Air Force’s contributions to the Australian Defence Force’s Joint Force efforts.
But in looking to the past, personnel are also looking to the future as RAAF Base Townsville continues to undergo change that cements it as a leading local economic driver.
The base is currently undergoing a refresh with the upgrade of infrastructure and facilities, with the runway to be extended to accommodate future capabilities.
WGCDR Green said the investment was proof of the Air Force’s commitment to the Townsville region.
“There’s a lot of money being invested at the moment so in the next five to 10 years there will be significant investment in the base, which means jobs for the community and money in Townsville,” WGCDR Green said.
“Having a Defence footprint in Townsville is because of where Townsville is, but also what Townsville can offer in terms of infrastructure and support access to everything we need to be able to essentially fight a war from here.
“It’s (also) an important capability that Defence, as the owner of the aerodrome, provides for the community by enabling domestic operations out of what is essentially our air base.”
THE CENTENARY OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ON MARCH 31 GIVES OUR GARRISON CITY THE CHANCE TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BASE IN TOWNSVILLE, WRITES MATT TAYLOR
Originally published as Strong air force history in Townsville leads to strong future
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