RAAF Scherger
Encyclopedia
RAAF Base Scherger is the newest of the Royal Australian Air Force
's three 'bare bases'
, completing a chain of bases across Australia’s ‘top end’. Located 26km East of Weipa
on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland
, it was opened on the 5th of August, 1998 by former Prime Minister
, John Howard
.
As a 'bare base' Scherger's role is to provide the RAAF and other services with the necessary infrastructure to support forward deployed forces during a crisis. The base is named in honour of Air Chief Marshal
Sir Frederick Scherger
who was the Australian Chief of the Air Staff (now known as Chief of Air Force
) from March 1957 to May 1961 and the equivalent of what is now Chief of the Defence Force
from 1961 to 1966.
While the base has facilities to cater for 400 personnel in fixed accommodation, 1000 personnel in tent lines and about 40 aircraft, it is normally only manned by 4 Air Force personnel who are responsible for caretaker duties. During peacetime RAAF Base Scherger hosts, on average, one major exercise per year in which the base is fully activated through the arrival of RAAF units based elsewhere in Australia.
In October 2010 The Scherger Immigration Detention Centre was opened at the Scherger RAAF Base, this facility provides accommodation for 300 single adult males.
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...
's three 'bare bases'
RAAF Bare Bases
The Royal Australian Air Force currently maintains three Bare Bases in remote areas of Northern Australia. These bases were developed in the 1980s and 1990s in line with the Defence of Australia Policy in order to enhance the RAAF's ability to conduct combat operations from the Australian mainland...
, completing a chain of bases across Australia’s ‘top end’. Located 26km East of Weipa
Weipa, Queensland
Weipa is the largest town on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Weipa had a population of 2,830; the largest community on Cape York Peninsula. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast...
on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, it was opened on the 5th of August, 1998 by former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
.
As a 'bare base' Scherger's role is to provide the RAAF and other services with the necessary infrastructure to support forward deployed forces during a crisis. The base is named in honour of Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Frederick Scherger
Frederick Scherger
Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Rudolph William Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force...
who was the Australian Chief of the Air Staff (now known as Chief of Air Force
Chief of Air Force
Chief of Air Force is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Air Force , responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence. The rank associated with the position is Air Marshal . The role encompasses "the delivery of aerospace capability, enhancing the Air...
) from March 1957 to May 1961 and the equivalent of what is now Chief of the Defence Force
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
from 1961 to 1966.
While the base has facilities to cater for 400 personnel in fixed accommodation, 1000 personnel in tent lines and about 40 aircraft, it is normally only manned by 4 Air Force personnel who are responsible for caretaker duties. During peacetime RAAF Base Scherger hosts, on average, one major exercise per year in which the base is fully activated through the arrival of RAAF units based elsewhere in Australia.
In October 2010 The Scherger Immigration Detention Centre was opened at the Scherger RAAF Base, this facility provides accommodation for 300 single adult males.