Amid the pomp and ceremony of the parade to mark the base’s 75^th anniversary, the RAAF’s Commander of Air Force Training Group, Air Commodore Brian Edwards, said the once-threatened base was now safe from rationalisation.

“There is no talk of Wagga closing that I am aware of,” Air Commodore Edwards said.

Wagga’s main street was lined with spectators when the parade stepped off from Morgan Street at 11am.

More than 350 Australian Defence Personnel from the air force, army and navy stationed at the Forest Hill base marched to outside the Sturt Mall where parade commander, Group Captain Ross Jones, was challenged by Wagga police Inspector, Peter McLay.

Given permission to pass, the parade moved on to Morrow Street where Air Commodore Edwards and Wagga mayor Rod Kendall took general salutes and delivered speeches.

“Today, we acknowledge the very special relationship Wagga has with RAAF Base Wagga,” Councillor Kendall said.

He spoke of the cultural and economic contribution of the base to Wagga and led the applause when he asked the crowd to join him in recognising and thanking the RAAF for its outstanding contribution to the community.

Air Commodore Edwards said the RAAF was proud to be a citizen of Wagga.

“The relationship between RAAF Base Wagga and the community is strong and now doubt will become stronger and richer,” he said.

Towards the end of the 35-minute parade a massive Globemaster C-17 transport plane from the Amberley air force base in Queensland flew over the central business district.

A planned aerobatic display by the RAAF Roulettes was cancelled because of weather conditions between Wagga and the team’s base at East Sale in Victoria. Icing was the threat.

Rain threatened to disrupt the parade at any moment but held off long enough for the marchers to troop off.