Royal Australian Air Force Maritime Section

Royal Australian Air Force Maritime Section

The Royal Australian Air Force Maritime Section was the branch of the Royal Australian Air Force responsible for manning boats operated by the Air Force. The typically small craft operated by the Section provided the RAAF with an air-sea rescue service, transported stores and provided support for seaplanes.

History

The RAAF's first boats were obtained in 1921 to support the Fairey III seaplanes based at RAAF Base Point Cook. The RAAF Maritime Section was massively expanded during World War II and at its peak the Section operated over 600 powered and 700 unpowered craft (including several sailing vessels). While many of these craft were ex-civilian fishing boats, the RAAF also purchased a number of specialised craft. Small maritime sections were established at many RAAF bases in Australia and the South West Pacific and were administered by the units they supported. Most training for RAAF crews was undertaken at RAAF Base Rathmines in New South Wales.

Following the war, the RAAF Maritime Section was greatly reduced to operate only 65 powered and 42 unpowered craft. This force was reduced further when the RAAF retired its seaplanes in 1952 and as helicopters replaced air-sea rescue boats. The RAAF Maritime Section was disbanded on 31 January 1993.

References

* RAAF Historical Section (1995), "Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History". Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Australian Defence Force — Drapeau combiné Fondation 1901 Branches Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force Quartier général Organisme australien de défense Heures de vol dans l’armé …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Australian Defence Force — Australian Defence Force …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Canadian Air Cadets — crest Active April 1941–present Country …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Naval Air Service — The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army s Royal Flying Corps to form a new service (the first of its kind in the world), the Royal Air… …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Australian Navy — Drapeau de la marine royale australienne Période 1901 Présent Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons — This is a list of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons. It includes Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) squadrons incorporated into the Royal Air Force (RAF) when it was formed in April 1918, during the First World War. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Republic of Singapore Air Force — Infobox Military Unit unit name=Republic of Singapore Air Force caption=RSAF Service Flag start date=April 1, 1975 country=Singapore allegiance= branch=Air Force type= role=Air supremacy / defence size=13,500 personnel 300+ aircraft command… …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Military College of Canada — Motto Truth, Duty, Valour Established 1876 Type …   Wikipedia

  • Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 — Livre blanc sur la Défense 2009 (Australie) Le livre blanc sur la Défense australien 2009 (Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030), publié le 2 mai 2009, est chargé de définir une stratégie globale de défense et de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Royal Naval Reserve — The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy (RN) in the United Kingdom. HistoryThe present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 merging the original Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) founded under the Naval Reserve… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”