In Active Service – Transport Command

After the war, both the 36 and 37 Squadrons began evacuating prisoners-of-war from Singapore, and in 1948 37 Squadron was disbanded. In 1953, 36 Squadron was moved to a base at iwakuni in Japan. After two years in Japan, the 36 Squadron returned to Australia to be based at Richmond in New South Wales and, in 1958, the long-serving Dakotas were replaced by 12

Lockheed C-130A Hercules. The squadron was given the role of strategic transport and, in 1964, when the RAAF became involved in the Vietnam conflict, 36 Squadron commenced operations to South-East Asia in support of the Australian Army and the RAAF Caribou Flight.

In 1966, Number 37 Squadron was reformed at Richmond with a newly acquired C-130E Hercules which offered extended range and increased payload over the “A”. Number 37Squadron also became involved in moving personnel and equipment to and from Southeast Asia, including medical evacuation of sick and wounded to service hospitals in Australia.

In fact, more than 3000 Australian and New Zealand casualties were flown from Vietnam to Australia via Hercules.

In 1972, 36 Squadron set a world record for Hercules by completing 100,000 accident-free flying hours – equivalent to 58 return trips to the moon! In 1977, 37 Squadron set the same record for E-model Hercules. Number 37 Squadron Hercules supported Australian United Nations forces in Egypt and RAAF UN Caribous in Pakistan.

In 1978, 36 Squadron retired its “A”s and took delivery of 12 “H” model Hercules for tactical transport. These versions have improved range, speed and payload over the 37 Squadron “E” models, and were delivered in camouflage markings.

Lockheed C-130

The Hercules is powered by four Allison turboprops, giving a cruising speed of 280 knots for the C-130E and 360 knots for the C-130H. One of the advantages of the Hercules is its ability to operate from unimproved and primitive airfields. RAAF Hercules has operated from the harshest desert airstrips and the Antarctic ice fields. The “Herc”, which is pressurised, has carried almost every type of cargo imaginable: Army Sioux helicopters and Cessna 180s, 2 Squadron Canberra fuselages, a priceless Chinese archeological exhibition-even a Murray Grey bull. A dual rail roller conveyor system used in conjunction with special cargo pallets enables the Hercules to be loaded and unloaded rapidly. Low-altitude parachute extraction of munitions and supplies, where the cargo is removed from the aircraft whilst airborne by streaming parachutes, is also possible using the roller system. The Hercules is often used for humanitarian tasks such as drought, flood, and bushfire relief, search and rescue, and medical evacuation. The Richmond-based Heres were an integral part of the evacuation and resupply of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy.

The Hercules is crewed by two pilots. a navigator, flight engineer, and loadmaster. The C-130H differs from the E primarily In having uprated Allison engines of 4500 ehp which give higher take-off ratings and cruise settings than the E’s 4200 ehp turboprops. Upgraded solid-state avionics, an inertial navigation system and new auxiliary power and air conditioning units are also incorporated in the H. Both versions carry either 92 fully equipped troops, 64 paratroopers, or up to 74 stretcher patients. With a payload of over 40,000 lb and a range of over 2000 miles, the Hercules is a very useful aeroplane. The aircraft is 97 feet 9 inches long, 38 feet 6 inches high, and has a wing span of 132 feet 7 inches.

Boeing 707

In 1979 the RAAF acquired two ex-Qantas Boeing 707 airliners for special transport purposes including long-range troop transport and VIP use These aircraft were first used by the RAAF for ferrying Air Force personnel from the Butterworth Malaysian air base to Australia. 37 Squadron operates these highly respected machines. The 707s, which have a cruising speed of 570 knots, were recently used to transport naval personnel from Australia to the United States to crew the RAN’s new guided missile frigates on their delivery.

Caribou Squadrons

Number 35 and 38 Squadrons were formed during World War II, both operating a variety of transport aircraft. Number 35 Squadron was disbanded after the war, and reformed in 1966 to absorb the aircraft and personnel of the RAAF Caribou Flight which had been operating in Vietnam since 1964. Number 38 Squadron had been operating Dakota aircraft since 1944, and in 1964 had also been re-equipped with the de Havilland Canada Caribou. At this stage, 38 Squadron was based at Richmond, and after the termination of Australian involvement in Vietnam, 35 Squadron returned to Australia to be based with 38 Squadron at Richmond, and in 1978 was relocated at Townsville, Northern Queensland.

In Vietnam, Caribou aircraft won a reputation for reliability and efficiency, even in the most adverse conditions. When 35 Squadron was formed around the Caribou Flight, seven aircraft were on strength. In 1971 the Squadron’s strength was reduced to four aircraft, nine pilots, six loadmasters and 47 groundcrew! In spite of this handicap, the “Wallaby Airlines”, as the squadron was known, completed almost 80,000 sorties in seven and a half years of wartime operation without loss of life. 91 million pounds of freight and some 700,000 passengers were carried by these remarkable aircraft. When the squadron was moved to Townsville in 1978 its aircraft strength was boosted by a number of Bell Iroquois utility helicopters. Number 21 Squadron (City of Melbourne) Citizen Air Force Squadron is involved with the maintenance of 35 Squadron’s Caribous.

Number 38 Squadron has served since 1964 as a tactical transport unit supplying the Australian Army. A detachment was also based at Port Moresby in New Guinea before independence and provided support for the Pacific Islands Regiment of the Australian Army. The Richmond “Sous” provide logistic support for the Army by transporting troops and munitions to points of tactical importance, and also resupplies the soldiers in the field. Low Altitude Parachute Extraction (LAPE) is often used as a means of supplying troops in the field. In addition to Army support duties, Caribous are used for regular courier runs between RAAF bases.

The Aircraft

The Caribou STOL transport is powered by two Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp piston engines of 1450 horsepower. It cruises at 150 knots and has a maximum speed of 280 knots. 7000 pounds (3200 kg) of cargo can be carried, or alternatively 31 fully equipped troops or 25 paratroopers. A rear cargo door enables easy loading and unloading and makes the Caribou an ideal aircraft for paratrooping operations.

Two pilots and a crewman technician are carried. The pilots are seated on an elevated platform above the cabin floor level, giving good forward visibility over the sharply sloped nose. The crewman tech acts as both a loadmaster and flight engineer and is seated in the capacious cabin area immediately behind the cockpit. The Caribou’s Short Take-Off and Landing capabilities are provided by full-length double slotted 0°-40° flaps. The tailplane is connected to the flaps in such a way that it varies incidence with the amount of flap selected. The extent of aileron movement is also governed by the flap setting. The tail unit sweeps up dramatically to a height of 31 feet 9 inches (9. 6 m), and the Caribou has a span of 95 feet 7 inches (29 m) and is 72 feet 7 inches (22. 1 m) long).

The Hercules, Caribous and Boeing 707s of the RAAF’s transport squadrons have a remarkable record of efficient and invaluable service to both the military forces and the civilian communities of Australia and New Guinea. They are indeed the lifeline of our defence force.