This week’s Star Chat examines the support provided by the ADF with Squadron Leader David Weekley, Executive Officer at No 382Squadron at RAAF Amberley. His specialisation is Logistics Officer.

LQ: What has been your role in assisting bushfire relief?
DW: I provide executive support and expeditionary advice to the Commanding Officer of No 30 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale.
LQ: What is the difference between operations at home and while deployed on operations?
DW: 382SQN is a contingency response squadron, so the roles are the same as I would perform on the majority of deployments. The main difference is that when we are working at Amberley, i.e. not deployed, our focus is on ‘raise, train and sustain’ to ensure all 382SQN members are prepared, poised and postured as both individuals and teams ready to provide for lean, light, rapid, responsive and effective expeditionary airbase operational
support. I have deployed on numerous occasions to the Middle East Area of operations, and both internationally, such as Australian Defence Force support to the Pacific Island Forum, and within Australia on activities and training exercises, such as Exercise Talisman Sabre.
While the airbase operational support we provide is similar, the situation and mission can be vastly different.
I had a much smaller role at Amberley in providing airbase operational support during the
humanitarian and security crisis that took place in East Timor from 1999-2000, and Operation Yasi Assist in Queensland but have never deployed on a Defence Aid to the Civil Community (DACC) tasking on this scale.
LQ: How do you prepare, mentally and from a logistics standpoint?
DW: As members of a contingency response squadron, we are postured to deploy and provide this type of support at short or very short notice. In times such as this, we use
experience and lessons gained from previous activities and build our plan and actions from there. At the tactical level, lots of reading on the road or in the air helps understand the mission on the way to your next location. The logistics staff work incredibly hard all year round to ensure the equipment is postured to deploy, just like our personnel.
LQ: Have you learned anything that surprised you this time?
DW: I have learnt that no matter how short the planning time may be and no matter how many Defence and civilian agencies from all over the world are involved when in a crisis we can all work together and make it happen in a safe environment.
LQ: What’s important about the support offered to those in danger?
DW: I am confident they are comforted that there are thousands of people working together to ensure support is made available. This includes firefighters saving houses and property, to evacuations from dangerous situations. Specific to our mission is to ensure the airbase can support the fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft flying into the areas of operation. The aircraft have several tasks including the evacuation of civilians and animals;
the transportation of civilian agencies and their assets; the return of evacuees once areas are deemed safe; and the supply of critical stores. It is important to note that the ADF does these tasks in support of the Emergency Services and other civilian agencies.
LQ: Is there a rewarding element?
DW: The entire operation is rewarding! It’s the look of gratitude from tired, stressed evacuees and volunteers, the ability to plan then execute Defence support, working closely with other governments, nations and Defence personnel, and reading the kind words on
social media.
LQ: How would you reflect on your time involved in the effort?
DW: It will be a positive reflection once my part is complete. It’s difficult to walk out the front door and wave goodbye to the family, but as the cliché goes, ‘it’s what we’re trained for.’ I know the people of Australia, and my family, are proud of the way in which the Australian Defence Force can provide support to the state and territory governments in this time of need.
Above: C-27J ‘Spartan’ pilots fly in poor visibility conditions as they assist evacuees during the bushfires.
Left: Squadron Leader David Weekley.
(Defence Photos)

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Ipswich is a Defence Force city, with RAAF Base Amberley on its doorstep and the Air Base contributing substantially to Ipswich’s economic prosperity and the community fabric of the region. The base is home to more than 8,000 personnel, with F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler combat aircraft squadrons along with the C-17A Globemaster, the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport, and soon the C-27J ‘Spartan’ tactical airlifter.

Historically, air operations officially commenced at RAAF Station Amberley in June 1940, and the base played an important part in the Allied war effort in the Pacific during World War II.
Post-war, its role shifted from aircraft maintenance towards operational flying, with the relocation of the RAAF’s heavy bomber squadrons and later the RAAF’s rotary and tactical airlift units.

Over the years, the air base has been home base to Lincoln and Canberra Bombers, the F-111 strike aircraft, Caribou tactical transport aircraft, Chinook and Iroquois helicopters.

In the modern era, the air base continues to be home to combat aircraft such as the F/A-18F and EA-18G fighters alongside air C-17 transport and KC-30 air refuelling aircraft. The base is also headquarters to Air Combat Group, which manages air base support for all fixed air bases nationally and mounts air bases to support air operations in Australia and overseas. Amberley’s future as a mega Defence base is assured for decades to come.

Early History

In December 1938, 882 acres of land in the Parish of Jeebropilly was gazetted for Defence purpose at Amberley. Located on the overflow floodplains at the confluence of the Warrill Creek and Bremer River the land was known as “Jeebropilly”, an indigenous name translated as ‘Swamp of the Flying Squirrels’.
The northern part, owned by a pioneer family, the Colletts, was named ‘Amberley’ after their country of origin in Sussex England. So, Amberley had indigenous ‘flying operations’ long before the arrival of the F-111s and Super Hornets.
Construction of RAAF Air Station Amberley commenced in 1939 and operations began in June 1940 with the formation of No 24 Squadron, No 3 Recruit Training Depot and No 3 Service Flying Training School to provide recruitment and training for RAAF aircrews flying AVRO Anson and CAC Wirraways.

After the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor in 1941 the US Army Air Corps established an Air Echelon on-base and shipped in fighter aircraft (Kittyhawks, Airacobra and Dauntlass) in kit form for assembly at Amberley for the Pacific War.
With the formation of No 3 Aircraft Depot, Amberley developed into a significant aircraft assembly, salvage and maintenance facility.

In 1942, No 23 Squadron relocated to Amberley, equipped with Vultee ‘Vengeance’ and Bell P-39 ‘Airocobra’ aircraft, then deployed to New Guinea area for light bombing support duties.
In 1944, the squadron was reformed as a Heavy Bomber squadron equipped with B-24 ‘Liberator’ bombers, which were deployed to carry out bombing missions in the South Pacific.
Amberley also hosted other units transiting through to support the war effort including the only US Air Force squadron to be formed outside the United States, the 75th Fighter Group.
Post-war, No 82 Wing relocated to Amberley equipped with B-24 ‘Liberator’ bombers. This pre-empted the transformation in the post war role of Amberley as the RAAF’s major bomber base.
Nos 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons were equipped with AVRO ‘Lincoln’ bombers. No 23 Squadron then reformed as a RAAF Active Reserve unit, which remains an active unit at RAAF Amberley to this day.

The Jet Age & Helicopters

The era of subsonic jet aircraft came to Amberley in 1954, with the arrival of GAF ‘Canberra’ bomber to replace the propeller-driven ‘Lincoln’. This transformed the air base into the modern era jet aircraft and later, supersonic fighter aircraft.
From the mid-1960s the RAAF waited with great anticipation for the arrival of the long-range, supersonic strike aircraft, the F-111, only to be thwarted by structural issues that grounded the jet in the United States.

The RAAF would have to wait five years from the expected delivery date before it got its F-111s.
With aircrews and maintenance personnel trained, and a capability gap a real prospect, the Federal Government decided to lease 24 F-4 ‘Phantoms’ as an interim capability, enabling most of the Canberra fleet to be disbanded.

Helicopters became a major part of base activity from December 1971, when No 9 Squadron with its Bell UH-1H ‘Iroquois’ helicopters relocated to Amberley following active service in Vietnam.
The iconic swing-wing F-111 touched down on Australian soil in June 1973, to serve with No 1 and No 6 Squadrons, and became a familiar sight in Ipswich and Australian skies.

Australia’s love affair with the F-111 centres on its raw power and its famous ‘Dump & Burn’ flypast at air shows and major events nationally.

The F-111 added massive air power capability to Australia, with its 2500 nautical mile range (unrefuelled) and being able to carry a massive bomb load.

Tactical Transport

Also in 1973, No 12 Squadron reformed with the twin-rotor CH-47 ‘Chinook’ helicopter. The Chinooks were a familiar sight in the region providing mostly troop-lift for the Australian Army but also humanitarian missions. The Chinook was withdrawn from RAAF service and the squadron disbanded in 1989.

In 1992, No 38 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Richmond, was relocated to Amberley, to provide tactical transport support for the Australian Army with its DH-4C ‘Caribou’ aircraft.
The Caribou, which saw active service during the Vietnam War, served for many years providing troop-lift and humanitarian support – including operations from remote airfields in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Iran Jaya.

The Caribou was replaced by the C-27J ‘Spartan’ that transferred to RAAF Amberley from RAAF Base Richmond earlier this year.

Amberley has also become home to a number of Australian Army units along with a number of Defence and Industry organisations that provide contractor services.

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While regarded initially as filling a capability gap – with the retirement of the F-111, phasing out of the F/A-18A/B ‘Classic’ Hornets and introducing the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter into RAAF service – the Super Hornet has established an important place in the ADF’s Order of Battle. The introduction of the EA-18G ‘Growler’ has firmed the Super Hornet’s place in Australia’s combat air capability.

The RAAF bought 12 Growlers, which are highly modified Super Hornet airframes. When fully operational, Australia will have the only tactical Airborne Electronic Attack Capability in the world, outside of the United States.

In RAAF service the Growlers will work with other Defence Force assets such as the Navy’s new Air Warfare Destroyers and the Army’s combat units to identify, jam and when necessary, destroy enemy radar and communications systems.

Electronic Attack (EA) is the offensive suppression of an adversary’s electromagnetic spectrum, primarily radar and communications systems. In today’s technologically dependent air combat environment, denial of those systems would seriously impede an adversary’s ability to function effectively.

The EA-18G is capable of surviving in a high threat environment. Growlers aim to roll back the adversary’s air defenses through Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) – firing the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles at emitting enemy radars), airspace dominance, and rapid reaction support (jamming).

In an air combat situation, the enemy’s early warning systems provide tracking info to targeting systems, and they pass this information down to the shooters (defending aircraft and ground-based missiles primarily). If this information pathway is interrupted by EW, target engagement becomes far more difficult.

The combination of the F/A-18F and EA-18G variants of the Super Hornet therefore present a formidable air power capability for Australia, a capability that works seamlessly with the F-35A stealth fighter. RAAF Amberley may yet be home to a squadron of F-35 fighters.

Global airlift and air refueling

Now a familiar sight over Ipswich, the massive C-17A ‘Globemaster III’ arrived in 2006, first with four aircraft, then six and finally eight aircraft assigned to No 36 Squadron.

The RAAF also has a significant operational support capability with the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft assigned to No 33 Squadron. Both squadrons home-base at RAAF Amberley but operate on the global stage.

Extended operations in the Middle East and on Australian and international exercises have proved the worth of these air transport and air refuelling platforms in support of operations.

The C-17 provides unprecedented capacity for strategic airlift. It allows Australia to rapidly deploy troops, supplies, combat vehicles, heavy equipment and helicopters anywhere in the world.

These massive airlifters provide the logistics backbone for ADF operations at home and while deployed overseas. C-17As have also been an integral part of disaster relief and humanitarian missions worldwide.a

The C-17 is fitted with a cargo bay ramp that allows it to airdrop cargo in-flight, and can operate from unsurfaced runways as short as 3500 feet.

Able to carry up to 77 tonnes of cargo, the C-17’s cargo bay can accommodate loads ranging from: an Abrams Tank, four Bushmaster vehicles, or three helicopters. It can also be converted for the medical evacuation role. The C-17A can be refuelled in-flight by the KC-30A, extending its range further.

The KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport is a heavily modified Airbus A330 airliner, enabling Air Force to conduct air-to-air refuelling and provide strategic air lift. The KC-30 features advanced avionics systems, and an electronic warfare self-protection system for shielding against threats from surface-to-air missiles.

The KC-30A MRTT is fitted with two forms of air refuelling systems: an Advanced Refuelling Boom System mounted on the tail of the aircraft; and a pair of all-electric refuelling pods under each wing.

These systems are controlled by an Air Refuelling Operator in the cockpit, who can view refuelling on 2D and 3D screens.

The KC-30A carries a fuel load of more than 100 tonnes, and can transfer part of that load to compatible aircraft, including: F/A-18A/B Hornets; F/A-18F Super Hornets; E/A-18G Growlers; E-7A Wedgetails; C-17A Globemaster III; and other KC-30As, P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft, F-35A Lightning II, and allied aircraft.

In its transport role, the KC-30A can carry 270 passengers and its under-floor cargo compartments can accommodate 34,000 kilograms of military and civilian cargo pallets and containers.

The newest airlifter in the fleet is the C-27J ‘Spartan’ tactical tranport aircraft that replaced the venerable Caribou aircraft that served the RAAF for decades.

The C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter will complement the Australian Defence Force’s existing air mobility fleet. Its capabilities bridge the gap between Army helicopters, such as the CH-47F Chinook, and larger Air Force aircraft, such as the C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III. It can operate from unsurfaced airstrips, and support humanitarian missions in remote locations.

These three aircraft types provide the transport and air refuelling support that is essential to support of air combat operations.

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During September, the Super Hornet crews flew with their Indonesian and Thai air force aircrews on Exercises Elang AUSINDO and Thai Boomerang while squadron personnel engaged with their counterparts in developing interoperability between the air forces.

Exercise Elang AUSINDO, held at Sam Ratulangi Air Force base, Manado in North Sulawesi demonstrated the commitment between the Australian and Indonesian air force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara TNI-AU) to develop co-operative air combat procedures and to foster friendship and cultural ties.

Group Captain Stephen Chappell (RAAF) said exercises in South East Asia were essential in building and maintaining personal and professional networks as well as challenging the participants.

“Not only are we learning from our partners about how we can best operate with each other, we’re continuing to strengthen the positive relationship we have with our neighbours.
“These types of exercises are also important for the development of our people. It is an opportunity to challenge the team in an unfamiliar and often demanding environment. As the exercises progress we will throw more and more complex scenarios at the team to see how they operate when they are outside their comfort zone.”

It was not just in the cockpit where the RAAF strengthened its bonds with its neighbours. While in Indonesia, squadron personnel took time out to stop in at the Sam Ratalungi International Airport for a community open day where they were greeted by thousands of local people who had their photos taken with the crews and personnel in front of the Super Hornets.

From there, the detachment continued on to Thailand for Exercise Thai Boomerang between the Royal Thai Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force at the Korat Airbase in Thailand.

This second exercise also demonstrated bilateral fighter operations, which included dissimilar air combat training, with the aim of enhancing interoperability between the two air forces.

The visit to Thailand included a visit to the Ang Huai Yang high school where both the Thai and Australian personnel listened to performances by the children, played games, distributed snacks, opened a playground for the primary school and donated a cheque of 40, 000 baht, which was raised by the Thai Air Force and matched by the RAAF.

Returning home to RAAF Amberley, the Super Hornets conducted an impressive low-level formation flypast over the air base.

Photo: Sergeant Ryan Whelan distributes snacks during a visit to Ang Huai Yang School.

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(Defence Photo)

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