No. 30 Transport Unit RAAF

No. 30 Transport Unit RAAF
Man in dark-coloured military uniform writing on blackboard
Recording the next day's tasking for No. 30 Transport Unit at Iwakuni, Japan, in 1953
Active1950–1951 (No. 30 Communications Unit)
1951–1953 (No. 30 Transport Unit)
CountryAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force
RoleTransport
Part ofNo. 91 Wing
HeadquartersIwakuni, Japan
EngagementsKorean War
Aircraft flown
TransportC-47 Dakota
Auster
CAC Wirraway

No. 30 Transport Unit was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) unit that operated during the Korean War. It was formed in November 1950 as No. 30 Communications Unit and based at Iwakuni, Japan, as part of No. 91 (Composite) Wing. The unit was initially equipped with four Douglas C–47 Dakotas and two Austers, one of the Dakotas being the personal transport of Lieutenant General Sir Horace Robertson, commander of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). Another four Dakotas were sent to Japan due to operational demands. The unit's role in Korea was to support No. 77 (Fighter) Squadron by transporting supplies and equipment. It also delivered materials and stores to Australian and Commonwealth ground forces, and transported VIPs of the United Nations Command. Return journeys to Japan were often used to evacuate wounded personnel from the theatre. No. 30 Communications Unit was redesignated No. 30 Transport Unit in November 1951, and re-formed as No. 36 (Transport) Squadron in March 1953. The squadron remained in Korea following the armistice, and returned to Australia in June 1955.