Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
All About No. 34 Squadron RAAF
No
34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) VIP transport squadron
It operates Boeing 737 Business Jets and Bombardier Challenger 604s from Defence Establishment Fairbairn in Canberra
The squadron was formed in February 1942 for standard transport duties during World War II, initially flying de Havilland DH.84 Dragons in Northern Australia
In 1943 it re-equipped with Douglas C-47 Dakotas, which it operated in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies prior to disbanding in June 1946.
The unit was re-established in March 1948 as No
34 (Communications) Squadron at RAAF Station Mallala, South Australia, where it supported activities at the Woomera Rocket Range before disbanding in October 1955
It was re-raised as No
34 (VIP) Flight in March 1956 at RAAF Base Canberra (later Fairbairn)
No
34 Flight was redesignated No
34 (Special Transport) Squadron in July 1959, and No
34 Squadron in June 1963
During the 1960s it operated Dakotas, Convair Metropolitans, Vickers Viscounts, Dassault Falcon-Mysteres, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, and BAC 1-11s, the last three types continuing in service until the late 1980s
The squadron's fleet consisted solely of Dassault Falcon 900s from 1989 until 2002, when it began operating the 737 and Challenger.