331 Squadron - Coffs Harbour

BRIEF HISTORY 331SQN

· 331SQN was raised in September 1980 as 31FLT, Air Training Corp.

· Mrs Lyn West from the local RAAF Association was appointed the first female Flight Commander.

· The squadrons inaugural parade was held at Coffs Harbour Airport in October 1980 and was the first Flight to receive the new Royal Australian Air Force uniform.

· After 6 years of operating out of the boot of a car, a parent support group undertook the construction of the Squadron’s own HQ.

· Then Governor of NSW, Air Marshal Sir James Rowland, piloted a plane from Sydney and opened the building on Monday the 17th of August 1987, the Commanding Officer at the time was FLTLT Toby Tyson.

· In January 1988 a De Havilland Caribou propeller was installed at the front of the building, as well as a Mark 84 Snake Eye drag weapon, two-blade Bonanza propeller and the vertical stabiliser from a two-seat Mirage, A3-116, which was the last Mirage IIIO manufactured.

· In April 2019, 331SQN moved to our current location at ‘Fitzroy Barracks’ in the CBD of Coffs Harbour.

. On 3 September 2022, after a refurbishment project, our Caribou propeller, Mark 84 Snake Eye, and verticle stabiliser from A3-116, were officially unveiled at their new location at the northern end of Fitzroy Barracks.