An Air Force that fixes its gaze only on the future does not see more clearly, but closes one eye to history’s lessons and present demands. 

100 Squadron leads the Royal Australian Air Force by example through looking ahead with both eyes open, guided by the past, present and future. 

Reformed in 2021 to mark the Air Force’s centenary, 100 Squadron is an active flying unit made up of multiple heritage aircraft dating back to World War I. However, heritage is about more than aircraft alone. The 40 members in the unit who make up the maintenance teams, administration and logistic support, and executive functions all enable Air Force’s history to fly.  

The preservation of heritage aircraft enriches the Australian Defence Force’s institutional knowledge. This lends 100 squadron to be a custodian of Air Force DNA, connecting aircraft from 1914 to today’s fifth-generation platforms.

Commanding Officer 100 Squadron Wing Commander Richard Brougham described the presence of heritage aircraft within a modern Air Force ecosystem as instructive, not only symbolic. 

“This squadron is the most unique flying unit in the Australian Defence Force. The heritage aircraft offer both a bridge to the past and a guide for the future, grounding today’s capability in an honest understanding of the conditions, risks and sacrifices that shaped it,” he said. 

'To understand where the Air Force is going, you first have to understand where it has come from.'

This is particularly true for pilots, who find a century of difference falls away when they step inside a cockpit and contend with the same flight mechanics faced by generations of aviators before them.

“When these aircraft fly, they carry more than history – they carry the experiences of our veterans and give voice to a generation whose service made today’s Air Force possible,” Wing Commander Brougham said.  

“To understand where the Air Force is going, you first have to understand where it has come from.”

100 Squadron further serves an outward-facing purpose – preserving history not only for those in uniform, but also for the families, communities and Australians connected to its service. 

“History survives through people, not just platforms,” Wing Commander Brougham said. 

The squadron’s regular flying displays, air show appearances and ongoing partnerships with enterprises such as the Temora Aviation Museum ensure this history is accessible and enjoyed by all. 

In preserving and flying its heritage aircraft, 100 Squadron ensures that the current Air Force is informed by the past, shaped by experience and prepared for the future.