RAAF Base Wagga (formerly RAAF Base Forest Hill) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base located southeast of the town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
The base is home to No 31 Squadron and Ground Academy (GA), including No 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU), the Air Force's basic recruit training school. It is the main ground training base for RAAF Aviators of the technical, administration and logistics trades, as well as the location for initial courses for Administration and Logistics Officers. RAAF Wagga is also home to most Air Force Professional Military Education. In addition, Air Force, Army and Navy personnel undertake technical airworthiness training at the RAAF School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT).
The local Australian Air Force Cadets squadron, 332 SQN, hosts weekly parades on Tuesday nights at RAAF Base Wagga, and 3 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets formerly used RAAF Base Wagga to hold their biannual promotion courses (in January and July until the end of 2022, then once more in July 2023).
Owned by the Australian Government, the base is managed by the RAAF with the exception of the airfield that is leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council. Although military aircraft still use the airfield, the airfield is now called Wagga Wagga Airport.
History
In 1939 the Australian Government purchased the farm, Allonville and commenced building the facility. Called RAAF Base Forest Hill, the base commenced operations on and was home to the No. 2 Flying Training School. Part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (or Empire Training Scheme), No. 31 Squadron flew from the base in 1942, flying Bristol Beaufighters and served in combat during World War II. Following the war, the base was declared home to the Ground Training School and in May 1950 RAAF School of Technical Training was established; and subsequently renamed as RAAF Base Wagga in 1952.
The School of Management and Training Technology was established in 1985, and disbanded in 2004. The School of Postgraduate Studies established in 1998. In January 1999 Ground Training Wing. was established at RAAF Base Wagga and was amalgamated with RAAF College in 2008. RAAF College was relocated to RAAF Base Wagga in 2008 after having been established in 1947 at Point Cook, Victoria. The School of Administration and Logistics Training was established in 2005. The No. 1 Recruit Training Unit relocated from RAAF Base Edinburgh to RAAF Base Wagga in 2008. In December 2009 Ground Training Wing was reestablished after splitting from RAAF College. No. 31 Squadron re-formed in July 2010 after disbanding in 1946.
While no flying squadrons are based at Wagga, a number of decommissioned RAAF and Army aircraft, including a GAF Nomad and several Aermacchi MB-326 airframes have been allocated to RAAFSTT for use as ground training aids and remain on site. The unit also acquired three Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner airframes in 1999 which were found to in 2005 contain asbestos, raising concerns about hazardous exposure by military instructors, trainees and civilian staff.
Units
The following units are located at RAAF Base Wagga:
Headquarters Ground Academy
Headquarters Ground Academy (HQGA) was formed on 01 Jan 2019 as a result of the amalgamation of Headquarters RAAF College and Headquarters Ground Training Wing in order to realise Chief of Air Force intent to modernise Air Force education and training.
HQGA will realise important organisational changes and efficiencies to better align functions, roles and responsibilities and performance management across Air Force Training Group (AFTG). The main focus of Ground Academy is to provide through-life education and training, and deliver enhanced leadership skills and professional mastery, through modern learning tools, methods and processes across all levels and specialisations.
HQGA enables the Officer Commanding Ground Academy (OC GA) through executive staff support, the conduct of training design and development and by delivering centralised administration, logistics and training support to GA units across Australia.
No. 31 (City of Wagga Wagga) Squadron
Number 31 (City of Wagga Wagga) Squadron (31SQN) is responsible for the Airbase capability management, air operations support and the military coordination of RAAF Base Wagga. 31SQN also delivers Combat Support Group's support to the training activities conducted by the Ground Academy at RAAF Base Wagga.