No . 36 Squadron RAAF No . 36 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) strategic transport squadron . It operates Boeing C - 17 Globemaster III heavy airlifters from RAAF Base Amberley , Queensland . The squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during World War II , the Korean War , the Indonesia – Malaysia " Konfrontasi " , the Vietnam War , and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq . It has also supported Australian humanitarian and peacekeeping operations around the world , including Somalia , Cambodia , East Timor and Indonesia . The squadron was formed at RAAF Station Laverton , Victoria , in March 1942 , and equipped with Douglas DC - 2 s , among other aircraft . Later in the war it began operating Douglas C - 47 Dakotas . From 1946 to 1953 it was controlled by No . 86 Wing , which was based in New South Wales at RAAF Station Schofields and , later , RAAF Station Richmond . In 1953 it was re - formed at Iwakuni , Japan , as part of No . 91 Wing . It returned to Australia and the aegis of No . 86 Wing in 1955 . The squadron began re - equipping with Lockheed C - 130 Hercules at Richmond in 1958 , becoming the first non - US operator of the type . Over the next half - century it flew two models of Hercules , the C - 130A and C - 130H . The squadron transferred to Amberley in 2006 , when it took delivery of its first Globemaster . Role and equipment . No . 36 Squadron is responsible for strategic air transport in Australia and overseas , conducting missions as part of military operations and humanitarian efforts . It is located at RAAF Base Amberley , Queensland , and controlled by No . 86 Wing , under Air Lift Group . The unit headquarters comprises executive , administrative and operational components . As well as aircrew , the squadron is staffed by maintenance personnel responsible for regular servicing of equipment ; they are frequently required to accompany the aircraft on deployments overseas . More complex servicing is conducted by Boeing . No . 36 Squadron ' s official crest , approved in May 1966 , depicts a horse intended to symbolise strength , speed , mobility and dependability . The unit ' s motto is " Sure " . The squadron operates six Boeing C - 17 Globemaster III s , the first of which entered service in December 2006 . The aircraft are generally crewed by two pilots and a loadmaster , the latter being responsible for the loading , carriage and unloading of cargo or passengers . The C - 17 can carry 70 tonnes of equipment , and is large enough to accommodate helicopters , tanks and other military vehicles . It can also carry over 130 passengers , and is designed for aerial despatch of paratroops or cargo . The C - 17 has a range of some and is able to operate from short and unsealed airstrips . Flown with a joystick and fly - by - wire controls , the aircraft is also highly manoeuvrable and responsive considering its size . It is capable of being refuelled in flight by the KC - 30A Multi Role Tanker Transports operated by No . 33 Squadron , although this had not been undertaken as of 2013 . History . World War II . During February and March 1942 , the RAAF formed four transport units : Nos . 33 , 34 , 35 and 36 Squadrons . No . 36 Squadron was established on 11 March at RAAF Station Laverton , Victoria , under the control of Southern Area Command . Its initial strength was twenty - six personnel and one Douglas DC - 2 . This was gradually built up to a force of six DC - 2s , as well as examples of various de Havilland types including the DH . 84 Dragon , DH . 86 Express , DH . 89 Dragon Rapide , and Tiger Moth . Tasked with transport operations throughout Australia and to Port Moresby , New Guinea , the squadron relocated to Essendon , Victoria , on 17 July . One of the DC - 2s crashed at Seven Mile Aerodrome , Port Moresby , on 14 September ; all aboard were killed . The squadron was transferred to Townsville , Queensland , on 11 December 1942 . During 1943 , it maintained detachments at Essendon and in New Guinea , and began re - equipping with twelve Douglas C - 47 Dakotas . On 27 March 1943 , a Dakota of No . 36 Squadron crashed on takeoff in pre - dawn fog at RAAF Station Archerfield , killing all twenty - three occupants , twenty of whom were RAAF or Women ' s Auxiliary Australian Air Force personnel . The squadron relocated to Garbutt on 20 February 1944 . During the New Guinea campaign it was responsible for carrying troops and cargo , and undertaking courier runs and supply drops . In 1945 , a detachment of No . 36 Squadron Dakotas augmented No . 84 Wing ' s operations in Bougainville , flying almost 800 sortie s between January and June . The squadron lost two Dakotas on supply missions in Aitape during February 1945 . In August , it flew paratroopers into Singapore as part of the reoccupation of the city , after which it continued to transport troops and cargo , and repatriate prisoners of war . Following the end of hostilities , in March 1946 , a detachment of six Dakotas established a courier service between Morotai and Japan , where Australian units had joined the British Commonwealth Occupation Force . Berlin Airlift and Korean War era . On 19 August 1946 , No . 36 Squadron transferred to RAAF Station Schofields , New South Wales , where it came under the control of No . 86 ( Transport ) Wing along with Nos . 37 and 38 Squadrons , also operating Dakotas , and No . 486 ( Maintenance ) Squadron . No . 486 Squadron provided day - to - day servicing for each of the flying squadrons , deeper maintenance being handled by No . 2 Aircraft Depot , based at the nearby RAAF Station Richmond . Courier flights to Japan continued until December 1947 , a round trip from Schofields . On 25 August 1948 , twenty staff from No . 36 Squadron joined five crews from No . 38 Squadron to take part in the Berlin Airlift , a commitment that lasted almost a year . The Australians delivered over of supplies , and over 7 , 000 passengers . In the absence of these crews , Nos . 36 and 38 Squadron operations were amalgamated , flying hours being recorded under the latter ' s auspices . During June 1949 , No . 36 Squadron and the other extant components of No . 86 Wing , Nos . 38 and 486 Squadrons , relocated from Schofields to Richmond . Nos . 36 and 38 Squadrons began to operate separately again in June 1950 , following the return of crews from Berlin and No . 38 Squadron ' s departure for service in the Malayan Emergency . No . 36 Squadron assumed control of the Governor - General ' s Flight in late 1950 . On 21 November 1952 , the squadron was awarded the Duke of Gloucester Cup for its proficiency . The return of No . 38 Squadron from Malaya in December stripped No . 36 Squadron of crews to ensure an even distribution of personnel among the two units . This led to No . 36 Squadron again merging with No . 38 Squadron . The former disbanded at Richmond on 9 March 1953 , re - forming the next day from No . 30 Transport Unit at Iwakuni , Japan . Here it was part of No . 91 ( Composite ) Wing , which controlled the RAAF ' s units during the Korean War and its immediate aftermath . Its complement included eight Dakotas and one CAC Wirraway . In July and August , the squadron evacuated over 900 Commonwealth prisoners of war . It departed Japan on 13 March 1955 , having carried over 42 , 000 passengers and of cargo , and was re - established on 1 May at RAAF Base Canberra , where No . 86 Wing had transferred the previous year . Vietnam War era and after . No . 36 Squadron handed over its six Dakotas to No . 38 Squadron in July 1958 , prior to re - equipping with the Lockheed C - 130 Hercules . It returned to Richmond in August , followed by the rest of No . 86 Wing a month later . After conversion training of its personnel in the United States , No . 36 Squadron became the first non - US operator of the Hercules in December 1958 , when it began taking delivery of twelve C - 130As ; deliveries completed in March 1959 . The official history of the post - war Air Force described the Hercules as " probably the biggest step - up in aircraft capabilities " the RAAF had ever received , considering it roughly four times as effective as the Dakota , taking into account the improvements in payload , range , and speed . In September 1960 , No . 36 Squadron began parachute trials on the Hercules . It made the Hercules ' first troop - carrying flights into a combat zone in December 1962 , joining a Commonwealth airlift from Singapore to Borneo at the onset of the " Konfrontasi " between Indonesia and Malaysia ; similar missions were undertaken over the next five years . The squadron was again awarded the Gloucester Cup in 1963 . In August 1964 , No . 36 Squadron became an independently operating unit under the command of Headquarters RAAF Base Richmond , following the disbandment of No . 86 Wing . No . 486 Squadron was disbanded at the same time , leaving No . 36 Squadron responsible for its own day - to - day maintenance until 1966 ; No . 486 Squadron was re - formed that year to service both No . 36 Squadron and No . 37 Squadron , the latter having taken delivery of twelve C - 130E Hercules . During the Vietnam War , both squadrons undertook long - range transport and medical evacuation flights between Australia and South East Asia , servicing Phan Rang , Vung Tau , and Nui Dat . No . 36 Squadron was presented with its own standard by Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh , on 1 April 1971 , in recognition of a quarter - century ' s service . Eight of its twelve Hercules were involved in relief efforts after Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin , Northern Territory , on Christmas Eve 1974 ; the aircraft flew over 550 hours , carrying 2 , 864 passengers and almost of cargo . Having remained in service for twenty years , clocking up 147 , 000 accident - free flying hours , the C - 130As were replaced by C - 130Hs in 1978 . In November 1978 , one of No . 36 Squadron ' s C - 130Hs became the first Australian Hercules to land in Antarctica , at McMurdo Sound . The squadron reached a total of 200 , 000 accident - free flying hours in C - 130s during 1984 . When No . 86 Wing was re - formed at Richmond on 2 February 1987 , under the newly established Air Lift Group , No . 36 Squadron formed part of its complement . The unit again received the Gloucester Cup in 1989 . That year , it was called on to provide civilian passenger transport during the pilots ' dispute that curtailed operations by the two domestic airlines ; three aircraft and five crews were assigned to this task , which it undertook in addition to normal duties . The squadron reached 100 , 000 accident - free flying hours on the C - 130H during 1990 . In December 1990 and January 1991 , it flew missions to Dubai in support of Australia ' s naval contribution to the Gulf War , and in 1993 transported Australian troops to Somalia as part of Operation Solace . Four of its C - 130Hs were equipped with Electronic Warfare Self Protection packs , including radar and missile warning systems , and countermeasures such as chaff and flares , in 1994 . Later in the decade , one of the C - 130Hs was fitted with signals intelligence equipment and crewed by RAAF and Defence Signals Directorate personnel . Six of No . 36 Squadron ' s Hercules evacuated over 450 civilians from Cambodia following the coup in July 1997 . The unit again became responsible for its own routine maintenance in 1998 , when No . 486 Squadron was disbanded . A detachment from No . 36 Squadron supported INTERFET operations in East Timor between September 1999 and February 2000 . The squadron was assigned four C - 130Es previously operated by No . 37 Squadron during the latter ' s transition to the new C - 130J Super Hercules , which commenced in 1999 ; the E models were retired the following year . No . 36 Squadron was once more awarded the Gloucester Cup in 2001 . It took part in relief efforts following the Bali Bombings in October 2002 . In February 2003 , it deployed a detachment of two Hercules to the Middle East as part of the Australian contribution to the invasion of Iraq . The aircraft arrived on 10 February , and began flying transport sorties less than two weeks later . One of No . 36 Squadron ' s Hercules became the first Coalition aircraft to land at Al Asad Airbase , west of Baghdad , after it was secured by Australian special forces personnel . The detachment remained in Iraq until September 2004 , when it was relieved by two C - 130Js from No . 37 Squadron . No . 36 Squadron also participated in Operation Sumatra Assist in the wake of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami . In May 2006 , No . 36 Squadron personnel began conversion training in the US in preparation for re - equipping with Boeing C - 17 Globemaster III heavy transports . It transferred its C - 130Hs to No . 37 Squadron on 17 November 2006 , prior to relocating to Amberley . Also on 17 November , Wing Commander Linda Corbould took command of the unit , becoming the first woman to lead an RAAF flying squadron . Corbould was responsible for delivering the first Globemaster from the United States to Australia on 4 December . No . 36 Squadron achieved initial operating capability with the C - 17 on 11 September 2007 , following eight months ' work - up training . Corbould completed her posting as commanding officer on 8 December 2008 , the day the squadron marked the second anniversary of C - 17 operations by conducting the RAAF ' s first flight with an all - female aircrew . Since re - equipping with the Globemaster , No . 36 Squadron has continued to support Coalition forces in Afghanistan , as well as humanitarian operations worldwide . In 2011 , it took part in relief efforts following the floods in Queensland , the Christchurch earthquake , and the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan . The Queensland floods necessitated the evacuation of two C - 17s to Richmond , when Amberley was threatened by rising waters ; of the other two Globemasters , one was in the Middle East and the other was undergoing maintenance at Amberley and could not be flown but was moved onto high ground and escaped damage . The deployment to Japan involved all three of the squadron ' s available C - 17s , the fourth still being serviced at Amberley . On 11 May 2012 , a C - 17 flew an Australian Army M1 Abrams tank from RAAF Base Darwin to Shoalwater Bay for a training exercise ; it was the first time an RAAF Globemaster had airlifted an Abrams , which at 61 tonnes was among the largest single items the 70 - tonne - capacity aircraft could carry . In November that year the squadron took delivery of its sixth and last Globemaster . It was again awarded the Gloucester Cup in March 2013 , for its proficiency the previous year .