Golden years
Half a century of work and play in South Australia

By WGCDR Janice Elvin

Prince Phillip officially opens RAAF Base Edinburgh on March 22, 1954.

Photo courtesy of The Adelaide Advertiser.

Some of the many faces of Edinburgh across the years. Dancing in the sergeants mess in the early 1960s.

Putting a new coat of paint on a Neptune in 1961.

An inspection by the Governor of South Australia Major General Sir James Harrison at Government House June 1969.

Photos courtesy of RAAF Museum

CONSTRUCTION began on RAAF Base Edinburgh in 1953, culminating in the official opening by HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on March 22, 1954.

The location was scanned by Flight Lieutenant Sydney Peake and WOFF Len Baker as a likely site to take over from RAAF Mallala which then housed No. 34 (Communications) Squadron.

But the base’s origins hark back to the war years, when the site (originally called Mirrabooka) was used as the Salisbury wartime munition factory.

In 1946 the Australian and British Governments agreed to undertake a joint guided weapons’ testing project and to set up a long-range experimental firing range. During the years of the weapons testing, there were more than 2000 British servicemen based at Edinburgh, Woomera and Maralinga.

In those early days soccer and cricket competitions between the RAF and RAAF were gladiatorial tests of strength, stamina and wit. On the odd occasion the RAAF did win, they made sure the Poms knew about it.

Cricket became so technical a battle that the RAF flew out hallowed soil from Lords (London) in the bomb bay of British aircraft to create the perfect pitch.

In early 1955 WOFF Baker arrived with a small detachment, known as ‘Baker’s Dozen’, of technical personnel employed in air-movement work loading and servicing Bristol Freighters and the regular Hasting transport from England.

The RAAF began to make its presence felt when Headquarters Edinburgh was established on January 17, 1955.

Followed by Base Squadron Edinburgh (now Combat Support Unit - Edinburgh) in March. The first WRAAFs arrived in October 1955 and units established at the time included Nos 1 and 2 Air Trial Unit, under the command of ARDU.

Aircraft operating from the air-field included Canberras, Sabres, a Valiant, Bristol Freighters, Meteors and Dakotas.

Aircraft incidents were frequent, parades and kit inspections were an institution, as were the court hearings.

Search and rescue operations were often conducted over Lake Alexandriana and around the Port Lincoln area. Crews were fortunate in finding several survivors, however, on some occasions only wreckage was spotted.

One incident occurred when a Bristol Brittania was on its way from Edinburgh to England with a full load of fuel, freight and passengers.

The aircraft was heading down the runway at almost lift-off speed when number four engine failed. The captain gave the order “Shut 4” to the engineer. Obeying the order he did, shutting the whole four engines down.

The aircraft kept going over the end of the runway, through the boundary fence, across Heaslip Road, through the next fence and into the farmer’s neatly ploughed paddock.

No great damage was done and the aircraft flew out a few days later. RAAF Maintenance Squadron personnel recall the time they were launching a Meteor when scratching was heard coming from the aircraft.

Thinking it was just the brakes, they pushed on only to hear the noise again when the aircraft was motionless. The sound came from the fuselage and on opening a panel a wild cat let out a whopping howl as it flashed past and up the nearest hangar structure.

The tarmac happened to be particularly busy to the point one ‘techo’ cut his time so short that he was forced to relieve himself on the spot.

Choosing the nearest aircraft tyre, he found instant relief. Moments later, the ENGO came to inspect the aircraft and found a pool of what he thought was hydraulic oil around one tyre and instantly declared the aircraft unserviceable.

He took a lot of convincing it was a matter of nature and not mechanics.

The ‘60s saw the winds of change blow through Edinburgh. 1RTU moved in from Wagga in 1964 and the fi rst Orion aircraft arrived in 1968 with No 11 Squadron. No 10 Squadron relocated to Edinburgh in 1977, bringing an increase in aircraft and staff.

As a consequence, on July 1, 1977, No 92 Wing was formed as the RAAF’s first Maritime Wing.

In July 1977, Maritime Analysis Training School was formed and later renamed No 292 Squadron, under the command of No 92 Wing.

Today, Edinburgh plays an important and very active operational and support role for the Orion aircraft both nationally and internationally.

P-3C aircraft and crews support activities out of Darwin, Butterworth and Iraq on top of their normal taskings.

Search and rescue operations remain a vital element of aircraft activity. Redevelopment of the base has seen some of the antiquated buildings replaced with modern structures more befi tting the busy role played by units located on the base.

Edinburgh is one of the RAAF’s busiest operational quiet achiever bases and an active participant in the local community.

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