ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
No. 34 SQUADRON
DARWIN RELIEF OPERATIONS

 

BAC 1-11s A12-124 and A12-125 together at Brisbane in October 1982.
(Photo: Ron Cuskelly)

 

During the month of December 1974, all of 34 Squadron's aircraft were employed on Darwin relief operations. A total of 107.8 hours was flown on Darwin support with a further 118.8 hours flown on VIP tasks to and from Darwin with some of these flights carrying evacuees to the south. Squadron aircraft uplifted 437 evacuees and 5900 lbs of freight.

Notable VIP flights during the Darwin relief operation

BAC 1-11 A12-125 25DEC74 Departed RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra at 1530 with Major-General Stretton, Director General National Disasters Organisation. Landed at Mackay to collect Dr Rex Patterson (Minister for Northern Development) and continued to Mount Isa where they transferred to C-130E A97-168.
BAC 1-11 A12-? 28DEC74 Arrived DRW at approx 1130 with Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
BAC 1-11 A12-? 02JAN75 Arrived DRW with Governor-General Sir John Kerr. Departed 03JAN.
? ? 01JAN75 An aircraft (type unknown) of No 34 Squadron carried Major-General Stretton, Director General National Disasters Organisation from Melbourne, Tullamarine to Canberra where it arrived at 1045.

 

Aircraft on strength to No. 34 Squadron at the time
(All were used on Darwin relief)

BAC 1-11
A12-124
BAC 1-11
A12-125
Dassault Mystere 20
A11-078
Dassault Mystere 20
A11-085
Dassault Mystere 20
A11-090
Hawker Siddeley 748
A10-595
Hawker Siddeley 748
A10-596

 

Source: (57)
Office of Air Force History
Unit History Sheet
No. 34 Squadron RAAF
December 1974

 

SOURCES

 

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ISSUE
DATE
 REMARKS
2
23AUG16
 Identified the BAC 1-11 which departed Canberra with Maj-Gen Stretton on 25DEC74. Thanks to Nev Duus.
1
12FEB13
 Original.