Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/June 7

A USAF C-130 taking off from RAAF Base Darwin in 1999

RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin. RAAF Station Darwin was established in June 1940 and hosted a large number of RAAF and United States units during World War II. The base was bombed by Japanese forces many times, beginning with two major air raids on February 19, 1942. Following the war RAAF Base Darwin remained active as an important transit centre for RAAF aircraft travelling to and from Asia. In 1975, during the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy, the base was the centre of the largest airlift in Australian history in which the majority of Darwin's inhabitants were evacuated.