3SQN's 110th BIRTHDAY 2026
Newcastle/Williamtown.

Then: “On the Buses” to the ASSOCIATION DAY at 3SQN Headquarters, WLM.
It was a sparkling day and our combined party of around 70 Association members and friends (3 & 450) were welcomed into the 3SQN Headquarters, work spaces and hangars. 
It was a “working day”, so pictures were not permitted indoors…  [But luckily there are some “security cleared” pix available on official websites, which tell the same story!] 

The visiting Mustang was a stirring sight!  Also the incredible tooling used to insert the engine into the F-35. 
We’re in awe of the Squadron’s technical prowess.  (Entertainingly explained by various Squadron members who stood-in as tour guides!)

Stepping outside the hangar door led to a "photographable" aircraft- “Lucky 003” - the plane that started it all back in 2017!

A thrilling highlight was the arrival overhead - LOW and FAST - of a 4-ship training mission led by 3SQN’s outstanding female pilot ‘ROLLIN’.  Her call-sign for the day was “FALCON 1”, in memory of 450 SQN’s call-sign from WW2.

Then it was:  “On the Buses” once again (because the size of our audience required the 2OCU Theatre!) for the…

Well, we can’t reveal what was in this one…  But it was PRETTY GOOD! 
Buster rapidly covered many interesting topics, in an attempt to fend off DIFFICULT questions…
- And that worked!  (For a while…)
Until QUESTIONS started popping up like drones on a frosty Ukrainian morning! 
Buster coped very well, only having to throw the OCCASIONAL grenade into the laps of his trusty support-staff in the front row...

Then back to the 3SQN Headquarters for a snag (or alternatively, a vegan-pattie thingie); a chat; a few words from (surprise, surprise) Buster again; and some major pounding of credit cards at the Social Club’s ‘Merch’ counter.  The happy throng were then bussed back to Fighterworld, feeling VERY GOOD VIBES about how well their Squadron is doing!

Some bods then took advantage of a Fighterworld tour arranged by 450 Assn.  – While a lot headed back to the hotel for a restorative nap (!), before proceeding to the very smart waterfront Honeysuckle Hotel, where about 30 Association and serving members mingled on the deck in the delightful Newcastle evening air.

Many thanks to 3SQN Warrant Officer Engineering RICHO for scouting this fascinating venue.  It was not only packed with great memorabilia from Newcastle’s long military history, but they also opened their bar for us! 

Our guide Gloria was bubbling over with excitement at having guests who could help explain various mysterious donated items.  (Our F-35 pioneer CO3 Darren CLARE even signed their big poster featuring himself sitting in the high-tech cockpit!)

SATURDAY EVENING 05 SEPTEMBER
3SQN 110th BIRTHDAY COCKTAIL PARTY (Newcastle Club)

After we stripped-off their camo overalls and ran them through the degreaser a few times, 3 Squadron scrubbed-up surprisingly well!   The glamourous highlight of our birthday weekend was the gala Cocktail Party at the hilltop Newcastle Club, overlooking the lights of the rapidly-modernising Newcastle Harbourside.

Readers are also invited to browse the Slides from our Cocktail Party Background Loop, featuring 110 years of notable events across the history of the Squadron.

Many thanks to our member Kieron “KB” BALL for his event photos.