No. 37 Squadron RAAF

No. 37 Squadron RAAF
No. 37 Squadron's crest
Active	1943–48 1966–current
Allegiance	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Role	Medium tactical airlift
Part of	No. 86 Wing (1946–48, 1987–2010) No. 84 Wing (2010–current)
Garrison/HQ	RAAF Base Richmond
Motto(s)	"Foremost"
Engagements	World War II Vietnam War Operation Solace Operation Warden War in Afghanistan 2003 invasion of Iraq Military intervention against ISIL
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-60 Lodestar (1943–45) C-47 Dakota (1945–48) C-130E Hercules (1966–99) C-130H Hercules (2006–12) C-130J Hercules (1999–current)

No. 37 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) medium tactical airlift squadron. It operates Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during World War II, the Vietnam War, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the military intervention against ISIL. It has also supported Australian humanitarian and peacekeeping operations around the world, including in Somalia, East Timor, Bali, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.

The squadron was formed at RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, in July 1943, and equipped with Lockheed C-60 Lodestars that it operated in Australia, New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies. Towards the end of the war it began flying Douglas C-47 Dakotas. It became part of No. 86 (Transport) Wing, headquartered at RAAF Station Schofields, New South Wales, in 1946 but was disbanded two years later. In response to Australia's increasing air transport needs during the Vietnam War, the squadron was re-formed at Richmond in February 1966, and equipped with the C-130E Hercules. It converted to the C-130J model in 1999, and between 2006 and 2012 also operated C-130Hs formerly of No. 36 Squadron. No. 37 Squadron came under the control of a re-formed No. 86 Wing from 1987 until 2010, when it was transferred to No. 84 Wing.