RAAF Base Amberley
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| RAAF Base Amberley | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: YAMB | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | RAAF | ||
| Location | Ipswich, Queensland | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 91 ft / 30 m | ||
| Coordinates | 27°38′24″S 152°42′42″E / 27.64°S 152.71167°ECoordinates: 27°38′24″S 152°42′42″E / 27.64°S 152.71167°E | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 04/22 | 1,523 | 4,997 | Concrete/Asphalt |
| 15/33 | 3,047 | 9,997 | Concrete/Asphalt |
| Source: Enroute Supplement Australia from Airservices Australia[1] | |||
RAAF Base Amberley (ICAO: YAMB) is a Royal Australian Air Force base located 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and 50 km (31 mi) southwest of Brisbane, Queensland. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron (awaiting delivery of the F/A-18F Super Hornet), No. 6 Squadron (operating the General Dynamics F-111), No. 33 Squadron (awaiting delivery of the Airbus KC-30A) and No. 36 Squadron (operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III jet transport). Amberley is also home to Army units making up the 9th Force Support Battalion (9FSB). Amberley's largest squadron in terms of personnel is No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (ECSS) providing both garrison and deployed combat support. Amberley is one of only two airfields in Australia (the other being Darwin International Airport) that is listed as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle[2].
Contents |
[edit] Location
RAAF Amberley is the largest operational base in the Air Force, employing approximately 3,500 uniformed and civilian personnel. There are a variety of other formations on the base such as training colleges and maintenance areas. The base is also a Transoceanic Abort (TOA) landing site for the Space Shuttle program.
Amberley is currently undergoing a $64 million dollar re-development program. By 2015 the RAAF hopes to have Amberley operating as its 'superbase' with flights of F/A-18F Super Hornets, F-35 Lightning II, KC-30A and C-17 Globemaster.
[edit] Climate
Amberley Air Force Base enjoys good weather almost all year round. There is generally a humid summer and a relatively dry, windy winter period. Amberley experiences thunderstorms during summer and fogs during winter. Showers and rain events can occur at any time of the year. Average temperatures range from 25 °C (77 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer, and 15 °C (59 °F) to 25 °C (77 °F) in the winter.
[edit] Units
| UNIT | FULL NAME | FEG | AIRCRAFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQ82WG | Headquarters No. 82 Wing | Air Combat Group | |
| 1SQN | No. 1 Squadron | Air Combat Group | F/A-18F |
| 6SQN | No. 6 Squadron | Air Combat Group | F-111 |
| 278SQN DET AMB | No. 278 Squadron Detachment Amberley | Air Combat Group | |
| 33SQN | No. 33 Squadron | Air Lift Group | KC-30A |
| 36SQN | No. 36 Squadron | Air Lift Group | C-17 Globemaster III |
| 44WG DET AMB | No. 44 Wing Detachment Amberley | Surveillance and Response Group | |
| HQCSG | Headquarters Combat Support Group | Combat Support Group | |
| 382ECSS | No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | Combat Support Group | |
| 1ATS DET AMB | No. 1 Air Terminal Squadron Detachment Amberley | Combat Support Group | |
| HQAFDW | Headquarters Airfield Defence Wing | Combat Support Group | |
| 2AFDS | No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron | Combat Support Group | |
| 3AFDS(Disbanded) | No. 3 Airfield Defence Squadron (Disbanded) | Combat Support Group | |
| HQHSW | Headquarters Health Services Wing | Combat Support Group | |
| 1EHS | No. 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron | Combat Support Group | |
| HQRTW | Headquarters Reserve Training Wing | Air Force Training Group | |
| 23SQN | No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron | Air Force Training Group | |
| RAAFSFS | RAAF Security and Fire School | Air Force Training Group | |
| HALSPO | Heavy Air Lift Systems Program Office | Defence Materiel Organisation | |
| SRSPO | Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office | Defence Materiel Organisation | |
| 9FSB | 9th Force Support Batallion | 17th Brigade |
[edit] United States Army Air Force at Amberley
During World War II, the airfield became a major American Air Force base during 1942 and 1943. Known Fifth Air Force units assigned to "Amberley Field" were:
- 22d Bombardment Group, (7 Mar-7 Apr 1942) B-26 Marauder
- 38th Bombardment Group B-25 Mitchell (Headquarters 30 Apr-10 Jun 1942)
- 69th Bombardment Squadron, (30 Apr-20 May 1942)
- 70th Bombardment Squadron, (11 May-14 Aug 1942)
- 475th Fighter Group P-38 Lightning (Headquarters 14 May-14 Aug 1943)
- 431st Fighter Squadron, (1 Jul-14 Aug 1943)
- 432d Fighter Squadron, (11 Jun-14 Aug 1943)
- 433d Fighter Squadron, (17 Jun-14 Aug 1943)
With the Allies advancing against the Japanese in the southwest Pacific, the American units moved north to forward airfields in 1943.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ YAMB – AMBERLEY (PDF). AIP Enroute Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 19 Nov 2009.
- ^ Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Sites
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
