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38SQN

173 General Support Squadron, A 38SQN King Air surveys
38SQN has not only been able to cyclone damage while
conduct light passenger transport contributing to Operation
across the country, but perform aerial Queensland Assist 2017. defence
surveillance, act as a communications
relay for ground forces and develop
a classified intelligence, surveillance,
target acquisition and reconnaissance
(ISTAR) capability.
“While we did lose a bit of
capability by not being able to carry a
lot of cargo, we gained a lot more by
being inherently flexible to Air Force
and ultimately, government,” said
WGCDR Ward.
In recent times, 38SQN has earned
accolades from RAAF hierarchy for its
A 38SQN King Air at rest. high availability of aircraft, ready to be
defence tasked at short notice.
“Our principal role is moving
Operations with the Caribou began in service with fellow former Caribou people around,” outlined 38SQN XO
in 1964, which the squadron use to operator 35SQN). Matt Plenty.
support innumerable humanitarian “The transition across to the King “Over the time we’ve been ‘The King Air
and peacekeeping operations across Air was probably about the time operating, because we can get along
the Pacific region, from Papua New where it should’ve come, to tell you at a reasonable speed and we get into has really
Guinea to East Timor to the Solomon the truth,” 38SQN commanding a lot of smaller airfields that bigger
Islands. officer WGCDR Michael Ward told aircraft struggle with, we’ve ended provided
The squadron’s final chapter, at Australian Aviation. up doing a lot more work in that field
least to date, opened in 2009 with its “In my personal opinion, the King than was previously done. something
transition to the King Air, intended Air has really provided something “We’ve done a lot of VIP or senior
as an interim light transport until quite special and unique.” leadership tasks, again for the same quite special
a replacement for the Caribou’s The King Air has been valued for reason – it’s the timeliness we can
battlefield airlifter capability could its inherent flexibility. With a fleet provide… I think that’s given quite a and unique.’
be acquired (ultimately delivered in of eight aircraft, including three that lot of efficiency to those sort of moves.”
the form of the C-27J Spartan, now were transferred from the Army’s Participation in training exercises WGCDR MICHAEL WARD
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