View source for RAAF Williams

{{Short description|Australian military air base}}
{{Redirect|YMPC|the cricket club in Barbados|YMPC Cricket Club|the Young Moro Professionals Council|Young Moro Professionals Council}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAAF Williams
| ensign =  
| ensign_size =
| native_name = RAAF Point Cook<br />RAAF Laverton
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = {{VICcity|Point Cook}} and {{VICcity|Laverton}}
| nearest_town = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]<!-- used in military test site infobox -->
| country = Australia
| image = RAAF Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 YPMC Creek.jpg
| image_size = 300
| alt = 
| caption = Take off of a RAAF [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] at RAAF Williams, {{VICcity|Point Cook}}, in 2006
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = [[Military airfield|Military air base]]
| coordinates = {{coord|37|55|54|S|144|45|12|E|region:AU|display=inline,title}}<!-- {{Coord}} -->
| gridref = 
| image_map = 
| image_mapsize = 
| image_map_alt = 
| image_map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = Australia Victoria metropolitan Melbourne
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location south-west of [[Melbourne central business district|Melbourne CBD]]
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_image = 
| pushpin_label = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mark = 
| pushpin_marksize = 
| ownership = [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]]<!-- government department such as the MoD or the United States DoD -->
| operator = {{no wrap|{{air force|Australia}}}}<!-- where different from ownership such as the RAF or the USAF -->
| controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force -->
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities - radar types etc -->  
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| built = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY}} -->
| used = <!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder = 
| materials = 
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition = 
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = <!-- current commander -->
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = [[Air Force Training Group RAAF|Air Force Training Group]]<!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = {{bulleted list|[[RAAF College]]|ADF School of Languages|Defence International Training Centre|[[No. 21 Squadron RAAF|No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron]]|No 1 Security Force Squadron Detachment Williams|[[RAAF Museum]]|Air Force Band}}<!-- squadrons only -->
| website = {{URL|http://www.airforce.gov.au/RAAFBases/Victoria/RAAF-Base-Williams/?RAAF-GKWIoxZ3eHYJpOnu0DJtc9Pbfkj+70z6|RAAF Williams}}
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = 
| ICAO = YMPC
| FAA = 
| TC = 
| LID = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 
| elevation = {{Convert|14|ft|m|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}
| r1-number = 04/22
| r1-length = {{convert|1137|m|0|abbr=on}}
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number = 08/26
| r2-length = {{convert|1066|m|0|abbr=on}}
| r2-surface = [[Grass]]
| r3-number = 17/35
| r3-length = {{convert|1374|m|0|abbr=on}}
| r3-surface = Asphalt
| h1-number = 
| h1-length = 
| h1-surface = 
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
| footnotes = Sources: Australian [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] and aerodrome chart<ref name="AIP">{{AIP AU|YMPC|name=Williams}}, [http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/MYBAD01-130.pdf Aeronautical Chart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410115245/http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/MYBAD01-130.pdf |date=10 April 2012 }}</ref><!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
}}

'''RAAF Williams''' {{Airport codes||YMPC}} is a [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) [[military airfield|military air base]] set across two locations, at [[Point Cook, Victoria|Point Cook]] and [[Laverton, Victoria|Laverton]], located approximately {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} south-west of the [[Melbourne central business district]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases ('''RAAF Base Point Cook''' and '''RAAF Base Laverton''') until 1989 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams. The name was chosen in honour of [[Richard Williams (RAAF officer)|Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams]], the 'father' of the RAAF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rvac.com.au/club-history |publisher=[[Royal Victorian Aero Club]] |date=2006 |title=Club History |access-date=24 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018020841/http://www.rvac.com.au/club-history |archive-date=18 October 2007 }}</ref>

RAAF Williams, Point Cook is the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force and is the oldest continually operating military airfield in the world.<ref name=noise>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/AircraftNoise/Williams/default.asp |title=RAAF Base Williams |work=[[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=25 August 2017 }}</ref> Since 1994 RAAF Williams (Point Cook) has been the home of RMIT Flight Training.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/engineering/aerospace-engineering-and-aviation/flight-training|title=Flight training - RMIT University|website=rmit.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2018-06-03}}</ref>

==RAAF Base Point Cook==
{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2017}}
The land area at Point Cook was purchased by the Australian Government with the vision to form what would become the [[Australian Flying Corps]]. Due to the success of the AFC in the [[World War I|First World War]], the AFC became a separate service, now known as the Royal Australian Air Force. Point Cook remained the RAAF's only base until 1925 when [[RAAF Base Richmond]] and RAAF Base Laverton were also built.

Point Cook is considered the birthplace and the spiritual home of the RAAF. It is also the airport at which the [[Royal Victorian Aero Club]] was established. It contains a memorial parade ground which was built in the 1920s, a site which was previously used by the AFC for drill training. Point Cook still has an operating airfield, but military operations are generally restricted to the museum based there. The airfield is used by a number of [[general aviation]] users, although it is still classified as a military aerodrome. It is the oldest continuously operating military aerodrome in the world.<ref name=noise/> Radio communication frequencies include CTAF on 126.2&nbsp;MHz. The airfield [[Non-directional beacon|NDB]] is inactive.

RAAF Williams, Point Cook, is the former home of the [[RAAF College]] including [[Officer Training School RAAF|Officer Training School]] (OTS) and the RAAF Academy from 1961 to 1985, and is currently used for the Air Force element of the [[Australian Defence Force]] Gap Year Program. All administrative functions are located at RAAF Williams, Laverton, and there is a single mess service (Officers Mess Annexe) which provides a meal service to all personnel, and a bar service to [[Gap year|Gap Year]] students only.

The [[RAAF Museum]] is located at Point Cook<ref name=noise/> and has a large collection of ex-RAAF aircraft and military [[memorabilia]] from the prewar years until recent decades. The museum is open every day except Monday.<ref name="Herald Sun Point Cook">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/melbourne/melbournes-point-cook-raaf-base-is-flying-high-when-it-comes-to-aviation-history/news-story/26e16016418b7eafdcf662b2e82d33fe |title=Melbourne's Point Cook RAAF base is flying high when it comes to aviation history |work=[[Herald Sun]] |date=15 September 2016 |access-date=25 August 2017 |author=Schulz, Matthew }}</ref>

==RAAF Base Williams, Laverton==
Laverton is the third oldest RAAF base, being built in 1925 at the same time as RAAF Base Richmond, which was opened slightly before Laverton. Located approximately {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} from Point Cook,<ref name=noise/> Laverton is the home of Headquarters [[Air Force Training Group RAAF|Air Force Training Group]] (formerly Training Command). It also contains all the administrative functions of RAAF Williams. Other units at Laverton are the ADF School of Languages, Defence International Training Centre (DITC), Director General Technical Airworthiness, [[No. 21 Squadron RAAF|No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron]] (RAAF Active Reserve) and a number of smaller sub-units. It also hosts an element of [[8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment|8th/7th Battalion]] of the [[Royal Victoria Regiment]], [[Australian Army Reserve]], as well as elements of the [[Defence Materiel Organisation]] (DMO).

In 1946, Laverton was host to the first flight of the newly formed [[Trans Australia Airlines]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Government Air Service Inaugurated |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206372488 |access-date=2025-03-08 |work=The Age |date=1946-09-10 |via=Trove}}</ref> Its [[Douglas DC-3]], VH-AES ''Hawdon'', was forced to use the base because operations at [[Essendon Airport|Essendon]] had become adversely affected by recent{{when|date=August 2017}} heavy rains. The base hosted the [[Shotgun (shooting sports)|shotgun]] section of the [[shooting at the 1956 Summer Olympics|shooting]] events for the [[1956 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1956/OR1956.pdf |title=1956 Summer Olympics official report |publisher=LA84 Foundation |page=46 }}</ref>

The runway at Laverton was decommissioned September 1996. In early 2007, the [[Government of Victoria|Victorian Government]] gave approval for the land that was formerly the Laverton airfield and runway to be developed into the new suburb of [[Williams Landing, Victoria|Williams Landing]]. Three areas totalling {{convert|55|ha|acre|0|abbr=on}} were set aside for conservation. More than {{convert|100|ha|acre|0|abbr=on}} of nationally significant native grassland outside the reserves was permitted to be cleared by the state- and federal governments. Williams Landing is being developed into a [[transit-oriented development]], major [[activity centre]] and employment node. As well as being a major activity centre and employment node, there will also be four residential neighbourhoods each with their own distinctive character. Construction of Williams Landing commenced in late 2007 and is due for completion by 2025.

In 2016, it was speculated that the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] would completely shut down Laverton and its land sold, under plans by the RAAF to consolidate its facilities towards northern Australia.<ref name="HeraldSun shutdown"/>

==Units==
The following units are located at RAAF Williams:<ref name="RAAF Williams">{{cite web |url=http://www.airforce.gov.au/RAAFBases/Victoria/RAAF-Base-Williams/?RAAF-GKWIoxZ3eHYJpOnu0DJtc9Pbfkj+70z6 |title=RAAF Williams |work=Royal Australian Air Force |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=25 August 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706210420/http://airforce.gov.au/RAAFBases/Victoria/RAAF-Base-Williams/?RAAF-GKWIoxZ3eHYJpOnu0DJtc9Pbfkj+70z6 |archive-date=6 July 2017 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Unit !! Unit name !! [[Force Element Group]] !! Aircraft !! Location !! Notes
|-
| {{nowrap|AFTGHQ}} || [[Air Force Training Group RAAF|Headquarters Air Force Training Group]]||[[Air Force Training Group RAAF|Air Force Training Group]] ||{{N/a}} || Laverton ||<ref name="RAAF Williams"/>
|-
| 21SQN || [[No. 21 Squadron RAAF|No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron]]||[[Combat Support Group RAAF|Combat Support Group]] ||{{N/a}} || Laverton || Airbase operations<ref name="RAAF Williams"/> 
|-
| || [[ADF School of Languages]]||Air Force Training Group ||{{N/a}} || Laverton ||rowspan=2|<ref name="RAAF Williams"/><ref name="HeraldSun shutdown"/>  
|-
| || [[Air Force Band (RAAF)|Air Force Band]]||Air Force Training Group ||{{N/a}} || Laverton
|-
| || Combat Support Unit - Williams||Air Force Training Group ||{{N/a}} ||  || {{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
|-
| || [[Defence International Training Centre (Australia)|Defence International Training Centre]]||Air Force Training Group ||{{N/a}} || Laverton || Cultural and military familiarisation training for foreign military personnel training in Australia.<ref name="RAAF Williams"/>
|-
| || [[Health Services Training Flight RAAF|Health Services Training Flight]]||Air Force Training Group ||{{N/a}} || ||
|-
| || [[ADF Gap Year|RAAF Gap Year Program]]||Air Force Training Group ||{{N/a}} || Point Cook || <ref name="RAAF Williams"/>
|-
!colspan=6 style="background: #cccccc;" | 
|-
| || [[RAAF Museum]]||Air Force Training Group || {{nowrap|Heritage aircraft}} || {{nowrap|Point Cook}} || <ref name="RAAF Williams"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/AircraftNoise/Williams/Operations.asp |title=RAAF Base Williams: Flying Operations |work=Royal Australian Air Force |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=25 August 2017 }}</ref>
|-
| || [[No. 100 Squadron RAAF|Air Force Heritage Squadron]]||Air Force Training Group || {{nowrap|Heritage aircraft}} || {{nowrap|Point Cook}} || RAAF Museum Heritage Flight
|-
!colspan=6 style="background: #cccccc;" | 
|-
| || No. 4 Wing Headquarters || {{nowrap|[[Australian Air Force Cadets]]}} ||{{N/a}} ||  || rowspan=3 |<ref name=4WGAAFC>{{cite web|title=4 Wing AAFC - VIC|url=http://www.aafc.org.au/wings/4-wing/|website=Australian Air Force Cadets}}</ref>
|-
| || No. 404 Squadron AAFC || Australian Air Force Cadets ||{{N/a}} 
|-
| || No. 418 Squadron AAFC || Australian Air Force Cadets ||{{N/a}} 
|-
!colspan=6 style="background: #cccccc;" | 
|-
| 8/7 RVR || {{nowrap|[[8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment]]}} || [[Australian Army Reserve]] ||{{N/a}} || Laverton || <ref name="HeraldSun shutdown">{{cite news |title=RAAF base at Laverton could be shut down, sold off |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/raaf-base-at-laverton-could-be-shut-down-sold-off/news-story/bdc18a80c2e20aa0c8af05e6f29dda8b |website=[[Herald Sun]] |date=15 September 2016 |access-date=25 August 2017 |author=Harris, Rob }}</ref>
|}

==Other activities==
The [[1948 Australian Grand Prix]] was held on a racetrack mapped out on the runways and support roads of the Point Cook airfield.<ref name="http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/pointcoo.html">{{cite web|last1=Galpin|first1=Darren|title=Point Cook|url=http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/pointcoo.html|website=GEL Motorsport Information Page|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> The race was won by Frank Pratt driving a [[BMW 328]].<ref name="Walker">{{cite book|last1=Walker|first1=Terry|title=Fast Tracks - Australia's Motor Racing Tracks: 1904-1995|date=1995|publisher=Turton & Armstrong|location=Wahroonga, NSW|isbn=0908031556|page=134}}</ref> Also, since 1994 RAAF Williams (Point Cook) has been the home of RMIT Flight Training.<ref name=":0" />

==Werribee Satellite Aerodrome==
Land was set aside by the Australian Government west of the Williams bases from 1940 to 1952 for a spare grass airfield and aircraft storage. Several hangars and accommodation buildings were built in 1942 by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) in the style of US hangars. The USAAF units assigned to Werribee left in 1945. The land was part of what is now the [[Western Treatment Plant]].

Two hangars remain on the land. The northernmost hangar on Geelong Road near Farm Road now houses a former RAAF [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] under restoration by the [[B-24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Fund]].

==See also==
* [[United States Army Air Forces in Australia]] (World War II)
* [[List of airports in Victoria (Australia)|List of airports in Victoria]]
* [[List of Royal Australian Air Force installations]]
* [[RAAF Centenary Air Armada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|RAAF Williams}}
* [http://www.airforce.gov.au/RAAFBases/Victoria/RAAF-Base-Williams/?RAAF-GKWIoxZ3eHYJpOnu0DJtc9Pbfkj+70z6 RAAF Williams] at [http://airforce.gov.au airforce.gov.au]

{{Portal bar|Royal Australian Air Force|Australia|Aviation}}
{{RAAF Bases}}
{{1956 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues shooting}}
{{Airports in Australia}}
{{Airports in Victoria (Australia)}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams}}
[[Category:Venues of the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic shooting venues]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Australia]]
[[Category:RMIT University]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Motorsport venues in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Airports in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Australian Grand Prix]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1912]]
[[Category:Defunct motorsport venues in Australia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Wyndham]]