RAAF Base Wagga (RAAF Base Forest Hill)

RAAF Base Wagga is situated in Forest Hill, 11 kilometres south-east of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The Australian Government acquired the 120-hectare site in 1939, and the facility commenced operations as RAAF Base Forest Hill on 29 July 1940. It initially hosted No. 2 Flying Training School as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1942, No. 31 Squadron operated Bristol Beaufighters from the base for combat operations. Following World War II, the site was designated as a ground training center and was renamed RAAF Base Wagga in 1952. The RAAF School of Technical Training was established there in 1950. Several units relocated to the base in 2008, including RAAF College and No. 1 Recruit Training Unit. No. 31 Squadron re-formed at the base in July 2010.

The base is owned by the Department of Defence and operated by the Royal Australian Air Force. The airfield component is leased to the City of Wagga Wagga and functions as Wagga Wagga Airport. The base is a facility for ground training in technical, administration, and logistics trades, as well as professional military education. Stationed units include Headquarters Ground Academy, No. 31 (City of Wagga Wagga) Squadron, No. 1 Recruit Training Unit, and the RAAF School of Technical Training. The school provides technical airworthiness training for personnel from the Air Force, Army, and Navy. Other resident units include the School of Administration and Logistics Training, the School of Postgraduate Studies, and No. 332 Squadron of the Australian Air Force Cadets.

Infrastructure at the base supports technical instruction, military induction, and airbase capability management. While the base hosts no active flying squadrons, the RAAF School of Technical Training utilizes decommissioned airframes for ground instruction, including the GAF Nomad, Aermacchi MB-326, and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner. Static displays at the RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre include airframes such as the Dassault Mirage III, CAC Sabre, Gloster Meteor, English Electric Canberra, and Macchi MB-326.