RAAF Base Richmond

RAAF Base Richmond is located in the City of Hawkesbury, New South Wales, approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Sydney. Established on 30 June 1925, it is the oldest Air Force base in New South Wales and the second oldest in Australia. The site originated as a military flying school in August 1916 on land then known as Ham Common. Its inaugural commander was Flight Lieutenant Frank Lukis, who also led the first flying unit, No. 3 Squadron, operating Airco DH.9 and Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 aircraft. During World War II, the base expanded to host units including No. 1 (Fighter) Wing and No. 3 RAAF Hospital. In 1949, Richmond transitioned into a transport hub with the arrival of No. 86 Wing.

The base is operated by the Royal Australian Air Force and houses the headquarters for Air Lift Group, as well as No. 84 Wing and No. 86 Wing. Primary flying units include No. 37 Squadron, which operates Lockheed C-130J Hercules aircraft, and No. 35 Squadron, which operates Alenia C-27J Spartans. Other units stationed at the facility include No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron, No. 285 Squadron, No. 87 Squadron, and No. 453 Squadron Flight Richmond. The base also hosts the Air Movements Training and Development Unit, the Air Mobility Control Centre, and the Air Lift Systems Program Office. The Australian Army maintains a presence through the 176 Air Dispatch Squadron.

Infrastructure at Richmond supports medium airlift sustainment and aerial delivery development. Facilities include flight simulators, technical training centers, and the New South Wales Rural Fire Service air tanker base. The base provides operational capacity for the Rural Fire Service fleet of large air tankers, including Boeing 737, Avro RJ85, and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft during the summer fire season. Under the Combat Support Group, the base also maintains detachments for security, expeditionary health, and airfield operations.