Flying began in 1914 at the site of what is today the Ballarat Airport in Victoria but military flying did not commence until World War Two. The RAAF airbase was established there in 1940 with No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School (WAGS) under the Empire Air Training Scheme(EATS) using Avro Anson multi engined andCAC CA-6 Wackett single engined training aircraft. This was one of only three WAGS training facilities in Australia and the only one in Victoria. The Anson was a stable platform for crews to hone their skills and 72 served at RAAF Ballarat.

Alan Penhall’s “Faithful Annie”, Avro Anson on display at Ballarat Aerodrome. The Anson was developed during the mid 1930’s from the earlier Avro 652 airliner.


Ryan on display in the Ballarat Aviation Museum, open weekends. A resurrected vintage aircraft tug now in use.