RAAF Base Williamtown

RAAF Base Williamtown
F/A-18 Hornet taking off from RAAF Base Williamtown
The entrance to Fighter World museum
IATA: NTL ICAO: YWLM
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Royal Australian Air Force
Location	Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia
Built	15 February 1941
In use	1941–present
Elevation AMSL	31 ft / 9 m
Coordinates	32°47′42″S 151°50′04″E / 32.79500°S 151.83444°E / -32.79500; 151.83444Coordinates: 32°47′42″S 151°50′04″E / 32.79500°S 151.83444°E / -32.79500; 151.83444
Website	RAAF Base Williamtown
Map
YWLM Location in New South Wales
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 12/30 2,438 7,999 Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart

RAAF Base Williamtown (IATA: NTL, ICAO: YWLM) is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Air Combat Group. The base is located 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales (27 km (17 mi) by road) in the local government area (LGA) of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with Newcastle Airport. The nearest towns are Raymond Terrace, located 8 km (5 mi) west of the base and Medowie, 6.8 km (4.2 mi), north of the base, which is home to many of the base's staff.

RAAF Station Williamtown was established on 15 February 1941 to provide protection for the strategic port and steel manufacturing facilities of the Hunter Region. The base was initially served by four runways, each 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in length to meet the needs of the Williamtown Flying School. The School consisted of 62 buildings which accommodates 366 officers and men.

A number of Australian Empire Air Training Scheme squadrons were formed at Williamtown before proceeding overseas and No. 4 Operational Training Unit was located at Williamtown from October 1942 until the unit was disbanded in April 1944. Following World War II, Williamtown was retained as the RAAF's main fighter base and was equipped with squadrons of Gloster Meteor and F-86 Sabre fighters.