Superbase Williamtown
Updated: 3 hours ago
Report & photos by Robin Polderman
In search of some action while in Australia The Unit Report made the trek to the RAAF base at Williamtown, located around two hours north of Sydney by car. And plenty of action is just what we got!
Following the outbreak of the Second World war, the Australian government deemed it necessary to protect the vital industry around the town of Newcastle, on the country’s east coast, through the use of air power. Construction of an airfield quickly began, and RAAF Williamtown became operational in early 1941. The base housed squadrons operating the Gloster Meteor, CAC CA-27 Sabre, Macchi MB326, Mirage IIID/O and F/A-18A/B Hornet before receiving the first Lockheed Martin F-35A on 10 December 2018.
Currently the base is home to three F-35 squadrons. Besides the 3 and 77 squadron, Williamtown is home to the 2 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit), which facilitates the conversion to the F-35 for both new fighter pilots as well as pilots transitioning from another aircraft type. All three F-35 units have one common denominator; they all flew the CA-27 Sabre, Mirage III and F/A-18 in the past. A total of 72 F-35s were delivered to the RAAF, all produced by the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, TX, and ferried to Australia via Luke AFB (Arizona), Hickam AFB (Hawaii) and occasionally Andersen AFB in Guam.
The 76 sqn at RAAF Williamtown uses the BAe Hawk Mk.127 for lead-in fighter training. The RAAF has two Hawk squadrons; there is also the 79 sqn, based at RAAF Pearce, near Perth on the country's west coast. To make things easier when Hawks are transferred between the two units they carry 79 sqn markings on the left side, while the 76 sqn crest adorns the right hand side of the vertical stabiliser.
A total of 34 Hawks were obtained, one of which was used for so-called Full-Scale Fatigue Testing, since the Mk.127 was bigger and heavier than the earlier Hawk aircraft produced. All 33 aircraft assigned to both Hawk squadrons are still around today.
For Forward Air Controller (FAC)/Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training, four PC-21s of the 4 sqn fly their missions from Williamtown. These four aircraft are unique in having an overall grey colour scheme, whereas the examples used for training fly around in striking red colours. Allegedly the RAAF isn’t fully satisfied with the PC-21 in the JTAC-training role, since the aircraft isn’t capable of dropping ordnance which would enhance realism during JTAC initial, currency and proficiency training. A Request for Information for another type of aircraft to be purchased for the role was issued back in July of 2022. However, the Australian government seems hesitant to spend additional funds to obtain a new aircraft type in small numbers only to be used for JTAC-training. On top of that, the whole acquisition- and integration process could take many years while a solution is needed in the shortest possible time. For this reason, other solutions are being pursued including the use of a podded system which can simulate laser targeting and weapons employment.
Last but not least Williamtown houses the RAAF fleet of Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft. Four E-7As were ordered on 19 December 1999, with a follow-on contract exercising options for two more Wedgetails signed in April of 2004. Since delivery, the fleet has been active across the globe. The E-7s regularly deploy to Nellis AFB, NV for Red Flag exercises along an Australian F/A-18, EA-18 or F-35 detachment. Between July and October of 2025, one example was based at Lask airbase in Poland, following a request from NATO to secure its eastern borders. Earlier, between October 2023 and April 2024, a Wedgetail deployed to Ramstein AB in Germany for a similar reason.
The spring of 2026 saw an RAAF E-7A deploy to Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates for defensive surveillance. The aircraft detects and tracks incoming Iranian ballistic- and cruise missiles as well as drones launched towards partner Gulf nations.
During The Unit Report’s visit, flying started around 9AM, with many missions being flown by aircraft of the resident squadrons. Due to the fact the 2 OCU had just started a new F-35 conversion course, the based F-35s flew multiple missions and each pair, consisting of a student and instructor as chase, practised numerous approaches. Add Hawks, PC-21s and an E-7, and it comes as no surprise that, despite the rather chilly temperature during the morning, photo cameras nearly overheated and memory cards quickly filled up.
Tips for travellers:
-The resident Fighter World museum, located close to the viewing area, has an observation deck that is accessible for visitors to the museum. You will be in an elevated position, just enough to photograph taxiing aircraft clear of the fence. The museum opens at 10 AM, but first take offs usually take place around 9 AM however.
-The north side of RAAF Williamtown is difficult to reach, making landings on runway 12 impossible to photograph from that side of the base. In this case, the observation deck in the museum will be your best bet for take offs, although Hawks and PC-21s will be at altitude already by the time they pass by you.
-Depending on the season, the sun will start taking an unfavourable position well before 15:00. But there is a solution when runway 30 is in use. From the viewing area head south towards the McDonalds (Macca in Aussie slang), and turn east on Lavis Ln. Continue for 1,8 km and find a spot near the bend in the road just before you reach the forest. With 400-600mm focal length, shots can be made of aircraft turning finals for runway 30.
