| No. 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Aircraft on display at No. 1 Aircraft Depot, September 1955 | |
| Active | 1921–94 |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Aircraft maintenance |
| Part of | Southern Area Command (1940–42) No. 4 Maintenance Group (1942–53) Maintenance Command (1953–59) Support Command (1959–90) Logistics Command (1990–94) |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Point Cook (1921–26) RAAF Laverton (1926–94) |
| Motto(s) | Providemus ("We foresee")[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | William Anderson (1921, 1929) Adrian Cole (1929–32) Frank McNamara (1933–36) Frank Lukis (1936–38) Arthur Murphy (1938–40) John Lerew (1942–43) |
No. 1 Aircraft Depot (No. 1 AD) was a maintenance unit of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Formed in July 1921 at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria, it relocated to the nearby RAAF Laverton in March 1926. As well as servicing aircraft and other equipment, in its early years the depot supported survey flights in Australia and the Pacific region. It was also responsible for training maintenance staff.
No. 1 AD's strength increased from 350 staff in the 1930s to over 2,000 during World War II, when it assembled, tested and repaired aircraft ranging from Tiger Moth trainers to Spitfire fighters to B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers. It also undertook aircraft research and development.
Shortly after World War II, No. 1 AD introduced the first jets into RAAF service. In 1961, it ceased airframe maintenance, but continued to service aero engines. By the 1970s, the depot's main focus was ground-based equipment, though it still handled some aircraft components. No. 1 AD was disbanded in December 1994, its functions having been taken over by other units and private contractors. At the time of its disbandment, it was the oldest RAAF unit in continuous operation.
- ^ RAAF Historical Section, Maintenance Units, pp. 1–5