RAAF Base Point Cook

RAAF Williams
RAAF Point Cook RAAF Laverton
Point Cook and Laverton Near Melbourne, Victoria in Australia
Take off of a RAAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules at RAAF Williams, Point Cook, in 2006
RAAF Williams Location south-west of Melbourne CBD
Coordinates	37°55′54″S 144°45′12″E / 37.93167°S 144.75333°E / -37.93167; 144.75333Coordinates: 37°55′54″S 144°45′12″E / 37.93167°S 144.75333°E / -37.93167; 144.75333
Type	Military air base
Site information
Owner	Department of Defence
Operator	Royal Australian Air Force
Website	RAAF Williams
Garrison information
Garrison	Air Force Training Group
Occupants	RAAF College ADF School of Languages Defence International Training Centre No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron No 1 Security Force Squadron Detachment Williams RAAF Museum Air Force Band
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: YMPC
Elevation	4 metres (14 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 04/22 1,137 metres (3,730 ft) Asphalt 08/26 1,066 metres (3,497 ft) Grass 17/35 1,374 metres (4,508 ft) Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart

RAAF Williams (ICAO: YMPC) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base set across two locations, at Point Cook and Laverton, located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-west of the Melbourne central business district in Victoria, Australia. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases (RAAF Base Point Cook and RAAF Base Laverton) until 1989 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams. The name was chosen in honour of Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, the 'father' of the RAAF.

RAAF Williams, Point Cook is the birthplace of the Royal Australia Air Force and has the oldest continually operating military airfield in the world.

The land area at Point Cook was purchased by the Australian Government in 1912 with the vision to form what would become the Australian Flying Corps. Due to the success of the AFC in the First World War, the AFC became a separate service, now known as the Royal Australian Air Force. Point Cook remained the RAAF's only base until 1925 when RAAF Base Richmond and RAAF Base Laverton were also built.

Point Cook is considered the birthplace and the spiritual home of the RAAF. It is also the airport at which the Royal Victorian Aero Club was established. It contains a memorial parade ground which was built in the 1920s, a site which was previously used by the AFC for drill training. Point Cook still has an operating airfield, but military operations are generally restricted to the museum based there. The airfield is used by a number of general aviation users, although it is still classified as a military aerodrome. It is the oldest continuously operating military aerodrome in the world. Radio communication frequencies include CTAF on 126.2 MHz. The airfield NDB is inactive.