37 Squadron R.A.A.F. cloth crest patch

No. 37 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) airlift squadron. Formed in July 1943 at R.A.A.F. Station Laverton, Victoria, it currently operates C-130J Hercules aircraft from R.A.A.F. Base Richmond, New South Wales. The unit saw active service flying C-60 Lodestars and C-47 Dakotas in World War Two, before being disbanded in 1948. It reformed at Richmond in 1966 with C-130E Hercules, and operated flights between Australia and South-East Asia during the Vietnam War. The squadron has since been heavily involved in disaster relief in Australia and the region, as well as peacekeeping missions in the Pacific and the Middle East. It converted to the C-130J in 1999, and between 2006 and 2012 also operated C-130Hs transferred from No. 36 Squadron.

This patch came with a booklet entitled '37 Squadron: Foremost in airlift' which mentions 29 years of service of the C130E Hercules aircraft and their future replacement with the more modern C130J Hercules. This dates the booklet and patch to around 1995.

According to the 37 Squadron (R.A.A.F.) Association, the gold water bouget (leather vessel for carrying water) is a heraldic symbol for a water bag as carried by Sumter mules and other animals. The pair of Argent wings infer the linking by aviation of the countries of the world. The whole device symbolises the national dependence on air power and the international nature of the potential of No 37 Squadron. 'Foremost' is the motto of the squadron.