RAAF Base Fairbairn to close
34 and 28 Squadrons to maintain Air Force heritage

Air Vice-Marshal Jim Flemming (ret’d), No. 34 Squadron pilot Flying Officer Martin Stiles and Group Captain Arthur Skimin (ret’d) during a recent visit to RAAF Base Fairbairn by 23 members of the ACT Branch of the RAAF Association. The visit included a tour of the BBJ-737 aircraft and the Aerospace Centre. Photo by LACW Simone Liebelt

By Richard Hogan
As RAAF Base Fairbairn ends an era, Nos 34 and 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron will maintain the Air Force traditions in Canberra.

Fairbairn, which has been a RAAF base since 1940, will cease to function as an established Air Force facility on June 30 and its RAAF heritage and ethos will be entrusted to 28SQN as the reserve unit marks its 20th anniversary.

Closed functions will be observed on the base – including a Farewell to Fairbairn Ball in the Airmen’s Mess – on June 27. That same day at noon the Canberra public will be treated to the full colour and pageantry of a Freedom of the City parade, including an F-111 flypast.

In what is believed to be unique circumstances, the parade will involve an exchange of ceremonial honours as RAAF Base Fairbairn relinquishes its right to Freedom of the City and the honour is granted to 28SQN.

Base Commander Wing Commander David Thompson said it would be a rare occasion, if not unique, where the base would hand back its right of freedom to the city and the honour bestowed on another Air Force unit all in the same parade.

The Canberra parade will involve about 180 personnel, comprising units from Fairbairn, the Air Command Band and the Air Force division of Australia’s Federation Guard.

Starting from the Law Courts at noon, the march will proceed clockwise along London Circuit past the ACT Legislative Assembly building. ACT Chief Police Officer John Murray, will make the traditional challenge and then after exercising the base’s right of Freedom to the City, Wing Commander Thompson will relinquish the privilege to ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.

The Chief Minister will then pass the honour to 28SQN, led by its Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Jim Kearney, in recognition of the reserve unit’s service to Canberra over the past 20 years.

28SQN was established on July 1, 1983, and has a total strength of 150 Active Reserve and Permanent Air Force members, including a flight at RAAF Base Wagga. Over the years it has become an acknowledged part of the community and received an award from the ACT Chief Minister for its service during the ACT bushfires in 2002. The squadron also played an active role during this year’s bushfire crisis in Canberra with members on the front line in Duffy during the peak of the firestorm on January 18.

Proud of its motto, “In Response”, the squadron has been involved in many other operations and exercises, including peacekeeping, civil and humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and also operates the Air Force’s hot air balloon. In 1997 it received the Air Force Association trophy as the most efficient reserve squadron.

In recognition of its anniversary and 20 years service to Canberra, the squadron will also have the honour of leading the Reserve Forces Day Commemorative Service and march at the Australian War Memorial on Sunday, June 29.

Its 20th anniversary activities also include the appointment of the Chief Justice of the ACT, Terence Higgins, as its first Honorary Air Commodore.

Although Fairbairn will close as a RAAF base on June 30 it will become a Defence establishment, with most units to be progressively relocated.

28SQN will continue to operate from Fairbairn for the time being and 34SQN will operate the special-purpose aircraft fleet from the base for at least the next 15 years.

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