No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling squadron. It operates Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports from RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. The squadron was formed in February 1942 for service during World War II, operating Short Empire flying boats and a variety of smaller aircraft. It disbanded in 1946, and was reformed as a full squadron in July 1983.
About No. 33 Squadron RAAF in brief
No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling squadron. It operates Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports from RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. The squadron was formed in February 1942 for service during World War II, operating Short Empire flying boats and a variety of smaller aircraft. By 1944 it had completely re-equipped with Douglas C-47 Dakota transports, which it flew in New Guinea prior to disbanding in May 1946. The unit was re-established in February 1981 as a flight, equipped with two Boeing 707s for VIP and other long-range transport duties. By 1988 it was operating six 707s, four of which were subsequently converted for aerial refuelled. One of its aircraft was deployed to the Middle East in September 2014, as part of Australia’s contribution to the military coalition against ISIS. It began re-equipping withKC-30As in June 2011, and achieved initial operating capability with the type in February 2013. In its transport configuration, the KC- 30 can carry 270 passengers or 40 tonnes of cargo. As well as its aircraft, No. 33 Squadron operates a KC 30 simulator at Amberley. It is controlled by No. 86 Wing, which is part of Air Mobility Group. It was equipped with four ex-Qantas Short Empire Flying boats transferred from No 11 Squadron, along with several smaller types including de Havilland Dragons and Tiger Moths, Avro Ansons, and Vultee Vigilants.
It suffered its first loss on 27 February, when one of the Short Empires crashed on landing on Townsville; A second Empire was destroyed at its moor during a Japanese air attack on Broome on 3 March. Two months later the commanding officer, Leader Charles Gurney, was killed while co-piloting a B-26 Marauder. No 33 Squadron transferred to Port Moresby in January 1943, providing air transport to Australian forces. It lost another Empire on 8 August 1942, when it sank in heavy seas off the coast of New Guinea while trying to rescue survivors of a torpedo ship. No.33 Squadron’s tasks was search-andrescue; it also provided air transport for the 19th Bomb Squadron that crashed after attacking attacking a Rabaul Bomb Squadron. It disbanded in 1946, and was reformed as a full squadron in July 1983. It relocated to Amberley and was temporarily without aircraft following the retirement of the 707es in June 2008. A seventh, for VIP passenger transport as well as aerialrefuelling, is due for delivery in 2019. The aircraft are crewed by pilots, refueller operators and flight attendants. The KC-29 can carry up to 100 tonnes of fuel. It can refuel the RAAF’s McDonnell Douglas FA-18 Hornet and Boeing FA- 18 Super Hornet multi-role fighters, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy airlifters, Boeing E-7 Wedgetail early warning aircraft, or other KC-25s.
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