RAAF Base Point Cook is the birthplace of the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force.
As the home of the Royal Australian Air Force, Point Cook was established in March 1913 as the location for the Central Flying School, and was in continuous operation as a flying training base from 1914 until 1992. It is the oldest continually operating military airfield in the world.
Point Cook was also home to the RAAF Academy until 1986 when the Australian Defence Force Academy opened in Canberra. The Officer Training School (OTS) continued to operate at Point Cook until it relocated to RAAF Base, East Sale in 2008.
The RAAF Museum is currently the largest Defence unit at Point Cook. It features the oldest and most extensive complex of military aviation buildings. RAAF Base Point Cook was included in the National Heritage List on 29 August 2007.
On 01 July 2017 Defence renamed Point Cook to RAAF Base Point Cook and the name will be retained in perpetuity.
RAAF Base Point Cook covers 341 ha and is located approximately 26 km from Melbourne CBD and 8 km south of RAAF Williams. RAAF Base Point Cook units include:
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21 Squadron
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100 Squadron
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1 Security Force Squadron
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1 Security Force Squadron 5 Rifle Flight
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Australian Air Force Cadet Headquarters
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RAAF Museum
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Commercial tenants including the RMIT Flight Training Centre