Initially, the base was home to No.1 Operational Training Unit (1 OTU) equipped with Bristol Beaufort light bomber aircraft, relocated from airfields at West Sale and Bairnsdale.

The base was primarily responsible for training air crew, but units from East Sale also operated in some convoy protection and maritime surveillance roles.

[4] In addition to the Beauforts, a variety of different aircraft types were operated from the base during this time, including the Lockheed Hudson on which future Prime Minister of Australia Gough Whitlam undertook training as a navigator.

However while practising aerobatic routines on 15 August, all four Red Sales crashed in formation after failing to recover from a manoeuvre, killing six Central Flying School staff.

[6] To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force, the current Roulettes aerobatic display team was formed in 1970, initially operating Macchi MB-326s.

[9] On 1 July 1989, 32 Squadron – formerly a bomber and reconnaissance unit during World War II – was reactivated at East Sale and equipped with Hawker Siddeley HS 748s.

[10] In 2015 the RAAF announced that Basic Flight Training would be returning to East Sale in 2019 with Lockheed Martin selected to provide support for this new program using Pilatus PC-21 aircraft that will replace the current PC-9 fleet.

Many aircraft deployed to the base, including Australian Army S-70 Blackhawk, MRH-90 Taipan and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, RSAF CH-47s,[14] New Zealand NH-90s and RAAF C-27J Spartans.

Those civilians injured on Seaspray Beach were as follows:- 16 year old Miss Noreen Cullen of Sale had both feet severed above the ankles.

However while practising aerobatic routines on 15 August, all four Red Sales crashed in formation after failing to recover from a manoeuvre, killing six Central Flying School staff.

33 Squadron crashed into the sea 43 km (27 mi) south of RAAF Base East Sale while on a training flight.