RAAF Bradfield Park
Encyclopedia
RAAF Bradfield Park was a Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) station located at Lindfield, New South Wales
during World War II
.
units. During World War II, more than 200,000 members of the RAAF and the WAAAF received training on their way to service in World War II.
After World War II the base was utilised as a migrant hostel for new arrivals in Australia and for Australian families in urgent need of accommodation due to the acute housing shortage.
The site has been cleared and reclaimed for housing. A RAAF Memorial was officially opened to commemorate the former base on 29 October 2006.
. New recruits were posted to an Initial Training School to learn the basics of military life. They were taught subjects such as mathematics, navigation and aerodynamics.
on 31 July 1944.
in 1941 and was a repatriation hospital for injured aircrew and ground staff.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) station located at Lindfield, New South Wales
Lindfield, New South Wales
Lindfield is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lindfield is 13 kilometres north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council.- Location and history :...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
The station was built on the grounds of Bradfield Park in 1940 and housed a number of RAAF and WAAAFWomen's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II...
units. During World War II, more than 200,000 members of the RAAF and the WAAAF received training on their way to service in World War II.
After World War II the base was utilised as a migrant hostel for new arrivals in Australia and for Australian families in urgent need of accommodation due to the acute housing shortage.
The site has been cleared and reclaimed for housing. A RAAF Memorial was officially opened to commemorate the former base on 29 October 2006.
No. 2 Initial Training School
No. 2 Initial Training School was formed as part of the Empire Air Training SchemeBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. New recruits were posted to an Initial Training School to learn the basics of military life. They were taught subjects such as mathematics, navigation and aerodynamics.
No. 6 Initial Training School
No. 6 Initial Training School was also formed as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme.No. 2 Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Training Depot
No. 2 WAAAF Training Depot was relocated to Bradfield Park as a lodger unit on 7 March 1942. It was disbanded on 18 February 1943 and its personnel incorporated into No. 5 WAAAF Training Depot.No. 5 Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Training Depot
No. 5 WAAAF Training Depot was formed at Bradfield Park on 4 February 1943 to provide skilled and semi-skilled signals and maintenance personnel to fulfil RAAF commitments for local defence in Australia. The unit relocated to Penrith, New South WalesPenrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
on 31 July 1944.
No. 2 Embarkation Depot
At the end of their courses of training aircrew and ground staff were posted to embarkation depots, where they were appropriately kitted and given final medical examination before going to operational theatres.No. 3 RAAF Hospital
No. 3 RAAF Hospital was transferred from RAAF Base RichmondRAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond is one of Australia's oldest and largest air force bases. It is located within the City of Hawkesbury in the north-western fringe of Sydney, New South Wales, between the towns of Windsor and Richmond. The base is home to the Royal Australian Air Force's transport headquarters,...
in 1941 and was a repatriation hospital for injured aircrew and ground staff.