339 Squadron - Moree

339SQN Moree - a short history

Initial representations were made to Moree Plains Shire Council and schools in the area about standing up an Air Training Corps [AIRTC as it was then] squadron in 1999. SQNLDR(AIRTC) Doug Oliver Regional Executive Officer North [RXON] led the negotiations with Moree Council with support from Councilor John Tramby to establish a squadron in Moree.

It took some time for the necessary agreements to be formalized during this time FLTLT(AAFC) Andrew Griffey and ACW(AAFC) Amanda Stewart staff from 319 Squadron Inverell started parading at the Moree Town Hall with a number of interested cadets in 2001. The cadets were listed as 319SQN Inverell cadets even though they were parading in Moree.

The unit moved to the Moree Aero Club and it was here that the cadets were given a choice of squadron numbers and chose 339 as their squadron number because of the close association with 319SQN Inverell. The first official parade of 339SQN occurred at the Aero Club on the 13 Sept 2003.

The squadron was offered by council to share the new building they were erecting next to the Aero Club for the SES. At the time defence and SES couldn’t agree so the opportunity was lost.

The squadron then relocated to rooms in the back of the Town Hall and they paraded on the grassed area in the Uniting Church behind the town hall.

Several relocations later the squadrons penultimate move was to the building adjacent the Moree fire station in Albert St with PLTOFF (AAFC) Anthony Baxter-Tomkins as CO. The cadets paraded on the fire station car park and did activities on the oval behind Woolworths. The squadron paraded here from 2010-2019 when council needed the building to accommodate a project team.

The squadron was very fortunate to be allowed to use the SES building for our parades each Thursday night so we had somewhere to parade whilst we tried to find new accommodation but we had to store all of our equipment at 319SQN Inverell. SQNLDR(AAFC) Billy Gleeson-Barker Regional Executive Officer West [RXOW] was instrumental in securing the use of the SES building for the AAFC.

The SES relocated their operations to the council works depot in Tycannah St and defence signed a 9 year lease in January 2022 so for the first time 339SQN Moree had our own facility.

From humble beginnings, 339SQN has now grown to about 30 cadets, including a full NCO structure. 339SQN has moved from strength to strength. The squadron now has 9 very dedicated adult volunteer staff of varying backgrounds, which augers well for the unit as we move into a new and vibrant training program incorporating experiential learning.