No. 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF

No. 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF
Aircraft on display at No. 1 Aircraft Depot, September 1955
Active	1921–94
Allegiance	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Aircraft maintenance
Part of	Southern Area Command (1940–42) No. 4 Maintenance Group (1942–53) Maintenance Command (1953–59) Support Command (1959–90) Logistics Command (1990–94)
Garrison/HQ	RAAF Point Cook (1921–26) RAAF Laverton (1926–94)
Motto(s)	Providemus ("We foresee")
Commanders
Notable commanders	William Anderson (1921, 1929) Adrian Cole (1929–32) Frank McNamara (1933–36) Frank Lukis (1936–38) Arthur Murphy (1938–40) John Lerew (1942–43)

No. 1 Aircraft Depot (No. 1 AD) was a maintenance unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Formed in July 1921 at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria, it relocated to the nearby RAAF Laverton in March 1926. As well as servicing aircraft and other equipment, in its early years the depot supported survey flights in Australia and the Pacific region. It was also responsible for training maintenance staff.

No. 1 AD's strength increased from 350 staff in the 1930s to over 2,000 during World War II, when it assembled, tested and repaired aircraft ranging from Tiger Moth trainers to Spitfire fighters to B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers. It also undertook aircraft research and development.

Shortly after World War II, No. 1 AD introduced the first jets into RAAF service. In 1961, it ceased airframe maintenance, but continued to service aero engines. By the 1970s, the depot's main focus was ground-based equipment, though it still handled some aircraft components. No. 1 AD was disbanded in December 1994, its functions having been taken over by other units and private contractors. At the time of its disbandment, it was the oldest RAAF unit in continuous operation.

No. 1 Aircraft Depot (No. 1 AD) was one of the first units formed by the Royal Australian Air Force after the new service was established (initially as the Australian Air Force) on 31 March 1921. The original components of No. 1 AD became known as such in April 1921, though the unit did not formally come into existence until July. Prior to this it comprised two elements in Melbourne, one at Spotswood handling the equipment of the Imperial Gift (128 surplus aircraft and associated spare parts donated by Great Britain following World War I), and another at North Fitzroy responsible for motor vehicle repair. When No. 1 AD was officially established at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria, on 1 July, the Spotswood component was dissolved, while North Fitzroy continued to operate as a detachment. The unit's inaugural commanding officer was Squadron Leader Bill Anderson, who was also in overall charge of Point Cook.