No. 34 Squadron RAAF

No. 34 Squadron RAAF
Crest of 34 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, featuring winged messenger in gold, two crossed arrows, and the motto "Eo et redeo"
No. 34 Squadron's crest
Active1942–1946
1948–1955
1959–current
AllegianceAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Air Force
RoleVIP transport
Part ofNo. 86 Wing
Garrison/HQDefence Establishment Fairbairn
Motto(s)Eo et redeo
(Latin: "I Go and I Return")
AircraftBoeing 737 Business Jet
Dassault Falcon 7X
EngagementsWorld War II
Cold War

No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) VIP transport squadron. It operates Boeing 737 Business Jets and Dassault Falcon 7Xs from Defence Establishment Fairbairn in Canberra. The squadron was formed in February 1942 for standard transport duties during World War II, initially flying de Havilland DH.84 Dragons in Northern Australia. In 1943 it re-equipped with Douglas C-47 Dakotas, which it operated in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies prior to disbanding in June 1946.

The unit was re-established in March 1948 as No. 34 (Communications) Squadron at RAAF Station Mallala, South Australia, where it supported activities at the Woomera Rocket Range before disbanding in October 1955. It was re-raised as No. 34 (VIP) Flight in March 1956 at RAAF Base Canberra (later Fairbairn). No. 34 Flight was redesignated No. 34 (Special Transport) Squadron in July 1959, and No. 34 Squadron in June 1963. During the 1960s it operated Dakotas, Convair Metropolitans, Vickers Viscounts, Dassault Falcon-Mysteres, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, and BAC 1-11s, the last three types continuing in service until the late 1980s. The squadron's fleet consisted solely of Dassault Falcon 900s from 1989 until 2002, when it began operating the 737 and Bombardier Challenger 604s. The Challengers were replaced with the Falcon 7Xs in 2019.