No. 86 Operational Base Unit RAAF

Aerial view of Cunderdin with airport mid photo

Brief History

When No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF ceased to function at Cunderdin on I June 1945, No. 86 Operational Base Unit was formed. Personnel and appropriate equipment were transferred from the former unit. January 1946 was one of the wettest experienced whilst the Air Force was in residence at Cunderdin. The airstrip was flooded and it was impossible to move off the hard standing for fear of bogging aircraft and motor transport. During July, efforts were made to improve the drainage at the camp. A lack of manpower made> these tasks difficult. Personnel from No. 25 Squadron, based at Cunderdin, had to be seconded to assist No. 86 Operational Base Unit members with normal station duties.

On 2 Apr 1946, Western Area Headquarters advised that No. 86 Operational Base Unit was to be reduced and re-named Care and Maintenance Unit Cunderdin. This took place on 28 April 1946, and the latter unit took over the former's role, with a strength of 66 airmen.

Unit Personnel

• Edith Lillian Madgwick 2 Jun 1945 - 1 Jan 1946

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 1 Bases, Supporting Organisations - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995 page 82.