Tocumwal is not just another town on the Murray River.
The NSW town and tourist summer playground is also steeped in military and aviation history.
According to the Tocumwal Aviation Museum, the first plane landed in the town in September 1919.
This was only 16 years after aviation pioneers the Wright brothers took their maiden flight in 1903.
The Tocumwal Aerodrome gradually grew in importance and became home to aircraft of all different types, including ex-military craft repurposed for civilian use.
In 1942, at the height of World War II and when Australia believed itself to be at imminent risk of invasion by Japan, Tocumwal became the most extensive Royal Australian Air Force base.
It is believed to have been the biggest air force base in the Southern Hemisphere at the time.
The RAAF continued to operate out of Tocumwal until 1960, though as the base’s importance declined, commercial and agricultural operations also used the facility.
On Friday, October 20, in recognition of the airport’s place in Australian history, the Tocumwal Aviation Museum was gifted an Aermacchi MB-326H advanced jet trainer.
As the name suggests, the aircraft was used to train pilots in the 1970s. The RAAF operated a total of 97 planes.
Museum founder Matt Henderson said the plane served in several RAAF units, including Number 2 Flying Training School, Central Flying School, Number 2 Operational Conversion Unit, Number 76 Squadron, and the Roulettes Aerobatic Team between 1967 and 2001.
Mr Henderson, who served in the RAAF, was thrilled about the acquisition.
“We are honoured that the Tocumwal Aviation Museum is to receive this historic aircraft,” he said.
“Karen (Henderson, Matt’s wife) and I are extremely proud to be custodians of this important piece of aviation history.”