AIR Force representatives spoke at the first ordinary meeting of the Hawks Nest and District Probus Club on Friday 4 April, educating the more than 100 members present about the key regional defence base.
“Not everyone in the RAAF flies, only a small percentage actually do, and we have many roles including dog handling, technicians, mechanics, and much more,” guest speaker Sergeant Sean Gillett explained.
“We ask that, especially in April, everyone please acknowledge the family and people behind those wearing the medals and uniforms.”
The Williamtown air base was first established in 1938 as a civil aerodrome, but WWII meant an inevitable government takeover to protect the industrially valuable nearby port of Newcastle.
It began with three officers, 96 aviators, four runways and 62 buildings.
Post-war, talk of knocking the base down was overruled by the value of maintaining an active base adjacent to Newcastle, and it has grown into a centre for several training establishments, including the Warfare Training Centre, which takes in army and navy personnel.
Upgrades came in 1983, and these days Williamtown hosts more than 5000 people working on the base, including contractors and employees of the Australian Public Service.
Williamtown’s duties include reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, medical and training, with many activities creating industrial jobs in the surrounding communities.
Several squadrons call Williamtown home, including some that assisted in the evacuation of Australian citizens from Kabul in 2021.
One of the locally-based squadrons is the 77th, who have visited Tea Gardens to perform the Catafalque Party at ANZAC and Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Williamtown is now also the home of the single-engine F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, which attract aircraft lovers to the area to see the planes in action.
“The best day to watch the jets is probably Wednesday, although they fly all the time, and you can find details on Facebook plane-spotting groups,” Sgt Gillett said.
“We like having people watch our aircraft, they let others know if something odd happens out there.”
By Thomas O’KEEFE
