The Royal Australian Air Force’s C-130J unit, 37 Squadron, celebrated the seventieth anniversary of its founding in ceremonies at RAAF Richmond, near Sydney on 15 July 2013. Established at RAAF Laverton, near Melbourne, flying the Lockheed C-60A Lodestar in 1943, 37 Squadron crews have supported key Australian Defence operations around the world. Deactivated in 1948, the squadron was reformed in 1966 to fly the new C-130E. Today, 37 Squadron flies tactical airlift missions with a fleet of twelve C-130Js. Recent squadron missions have ranged from providing relief supplies following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and flying search and rescue missions during the 1998 Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race. Two 37 Squadron aircraft are currently deployed to the Middle East.
