RAAF Base Pearce

RAAF Base Pearce is the main Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the RAAF and the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

It is the busiest RAAF base in the country in terms of total aircraft movements, including civil movements at the Joint User bases. Although its primary role is pilot training, it remains the only permanent Air Force base on the west coast, and thus has a significant logistics role.

RAAF Gingin is a small airfield located near Pearce which is also used for flying training. The airfield is owned by the Air Force and is managed by RAAF Base Pearce. A rotation of Air Traffic Controllers travel from Pearce each day to provide services, when requested by the flying units.

History
RAAF Base Pearce was officially granted 'station' status on 6 February 1939. It was named in honour of Sir George Pearce, a long-standing Senator from Western Australia. Pearce was elected to the inaugural Senate in 1901 and remained a Senator for Western Australia until 1938. He was Minister for Defence in four separate ministries including the period 1910 to 1913 when the Royal Australian Air Force was formed.

The base opened with two resident squadrons, 14 Squadron and 25 Squadron.

No. 5 Initial Training School
No. 5 Initial Training School was formed at RAAF Pearce as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II. Recruits commenced their military service at the Initial Training School, learning fundamentals such as mathematics, navigation and aerodynamics.

Airshows
The 2005 Defence Force Air Show, held at Pearce on 19–20 November, marked the first visit to Perth of the United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bomber. The 2012 Defence Force Air Show, also held a Pearce on the 19th-20 May marked the visit of a USAF B-52 Bomber, USAF KC-135, RAAF AEW&C Wedgetail and a RSAF C-130.

Units



 * Republic of Singapore Air Force 130 Squadron

Other uses
RAAF Pearce is also used by the Australian Air Force Cadets as a headquarters and on promotional courses, as well as serving as HQ for 7 Wing and the squadron premises for 701 Squadron (AAFC). An airliner mock-up has been built on base to serve as an anti-hijacking training aid for the Australian Special Air Service's counter-terrorism squadron, also known as Tactical Assault Group (West). It is used to practise airliner entry and hostage rescue drills.