Raaf Association Victoria
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RAAF ASSOCIATION VICTORIA ATC/AAFC BRANCH ABN 96 091 342 304 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER Issue No 64 June 2017 President’s Message Office Holders President Laurie Bell Vice President Peter Wilson Hello to all members and I hope you’re managing to keep warm as Winter starts Secretary Hugh Tank to sneak up on us. Treasurer Tony Synhur Delegate John MacDonald I’m very pleased to be able to open with well-deserved congratulations to two of Branch AAFC WGCDR (AAFC) Liaison Officer Shaun Young our members, those being Don Bergman on his being awarded the OAM, and Jan Williams, designated “Local Hero” of Newsletter Editor Ian Cohn Badaginnie. Further details can be found elsewhere in this newsletter and Please send your contributions to “Well done” to both Don and Jan. [email protected] Or Congratulations are also due to John MacDonald who has also Box 486, Mt Beauty, VIC, 3699 recently qualified for and received his RA-Aus Pilot’s Certificate Deadline for next issue - 23July17 and Passenger Endorsement. On the subject of awards, one which came as a complete surprise was our Branch being announced as the winners of the Fred Cowell Trophy for our efforts during the 2016-2017 period. Welfare Afterwards during lunch, Fred’s daughter, Frances Lester, who Branch Welfare Officers presented the trophy, supplied me with a very short brief on her Hugh Tank on 03 9877 3424 father’s association with the R.A.A.F. and rather than repeat it and Peter Wilson here, it can be found in the “Winter” issue of the Air Force Association’s “CONTACT” magazine in our Branch Report. If you are aware of any member who is unwell please contact Hugh or Peter. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ATC/AAFC Newsletter June 2017 Page 1 President’s Message (continued) Regarding our recent Branch A.G.M……………(and I take this opportunity to thank those members who attended at Box Hill R.S.L. on the 22nd of April)’ no doubt many of you are wondering what the outcome was with regards to the Election of Office Bearers? Then wonder no more, as you’re stuck with the same team again:- Elected Positions President: Laurie Bell. Vice President: Peter Wilson. Secretary: Hugh Tank. Treasurer: Tony Synhur. Branch Delegate: John MacDonald. AAFC Branch Liaison Officer: WGCDR (AAFC) Shaun Young. O.C. 4 Wing. Appointed Positions. Welfare Officers: Hugh Tank and Peter Wilson. Newsletter Editor: Ian Cohn. Archives: Laurie Bell. Returning Officer: Graeme Smith. Last, but by no means the least, further congratulations are due to WGCDR (AAFC) Shaun Young, O.C. of 4 Wing, his Staff and all cadets on the Annual Parade conducted at Point Cook on the 21st of March. The standard of drill, dress and conduct were all qualities of which 4 Wing as a whole can be extremely proud. Congratulations to all of those Staff, Squadrons and cadets who were recipients as Winners and/or of Awards presented on the day. Complete results can be found in this newsletter Kindest regards to everyone, Laurie Bell. ___________________________________________________________________________________ RAAFA News News from the AFA (Victoria Branch) Board of Management Meeting 02 May 2017 1. The memo of understanding that AFA (Vic) has with the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) has been revised; AFA provides occasional Air Force-specific assistance and some minor financial support to 4 Wing AAFC. The AAFC is an important avenue of sourcing Air Force recruits with many current and former senior airmen and women having their interest kindled through the cadets. 2. Max McGregor is compiling a Schedule of Events that will appear on the website. Max will be contacting branches in the near future to encourage branches to add details of their events into the Schedule. This way, there will be a schedule that will identify the activities being carried out by branches Victoria-wide. 3. President Carl Schiller is developing a Welfare policy to clarify the Welfare function within AFA (Vic). When the policy is established, Carl will be seeking a meeting with branch Welfare Officers to explain the policy and explain how crucial the duties of the network of Welfare Officers are to AFA members’ well-being. 4. The Care Parcel program is about to start up again – Di Hoopert and John McCrystal will once again be leading the team of packers. Last year’s Care Parcel program received lots of appreciative comment from the deployed recipients. Whilst the program is now a national program, Victoria continues to lead this initiative. 5. Tony Pilli advises that books in the library at the AFA office are available for borrowing. He will be advising the appropriate borrowing procedures in the near future, and asks anyone who has borrowed books in the past and has forgotten to return them, to please return them as soon as possible. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ATC/AAFC Newsletter June 2017 Page 2 AAFC News 4 Wing Annual Parade and Competitions - 20 May 2017 Congratulations to the following Cadets, Staff and SQN Teams 1st Drill competition 401SQN Surrey Hills. 2nd Drill competition 402SQN Watsonia. Best Cadet in charge of a drill team CCPL Eloise Lee 401SQN Surrey Hills. Most Proficient Cadet in Aerial Activities LCDT Trent Bucker 405SQN Sunshine. 4 Wing Cadet of the Year 2017 is CWOFF Sam Chu 401SQN Surrey Hills. Most Efficient Squadron in Cadet Activities 405SQN Sunshine. 1st Aviation 401SQN Surrey Hills. 2nd Aviation 406SQN Frankston. 1st Fieldcraft 415SQN South Yarra. 2nd Fieldcraft 403SQN Beaconsfield. CCPL Nathan Martina 430 SQN Kyneton was awarded his Cadet Pilot Wings having qualified for his Recreational Pilots Licence. CUO Dale Perkins 429 SQN Queenscliff was awarded his Cadet Pilot Wings having qualified as a "C" Certificate Glider Pilot. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ATC/AAFC Newsletter June 2017 Page 3 4 Wing Annual Parade and Competitions - 20 May 2017 (Continued) The following cadets who have achieved first solo either in Powered or Glider flying received their First Solo Brevet; CSGT Brett McBain 402 SQN Watsonia CFSGT Jamie Lowden 403 SQN Beaconsfield CCPL Edward Healy 403 SQN Beaconsfield LCDT Trent Buckner 405 SQN Sunshine CSGT Kyle Du Plessis 406 SQN Frankston LCDT Laura Roberts 412 SQN Albury CWOFF Simon Dale 425 SQN Ballarat Photo Credits above - Bob Ganaway Australian Honours and Awards - Staff The 2nd Clasp to the Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal for 25 years dedicated service was presented to FLTLT (AAFC) Danny Salmon OAM from 412SQN and HQ 4WG. The Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal for 15 years dedicated service was presented to FLTLT (AAFC) Luke Meilak the Flight Commander of 4 Logistics Flight. The Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal for 15 years dedicated service was presented to FSGT (AAFC) Viatcheslav (Vlad) Boiko from 404 SQN Point Cook. The Air Commodore A. J. Pappin CVO AM - 4 Wing AAFC Patrons Award for selflessness and sustained effort to the benefit of our cadets was presented to; SQNLDR (AAFC) John Gibbs HQ 4 Wing; and FLTLT (AAFC) Danny Salmon OAM HQ 4 Wing and 412SQN. Officer Commanding Commendation to FLGOFF (AAFC) Sarah Gulam 407/416SQN. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ATC/AAFC Newsletter June 2017 Page 4 Vale Peter Isaacson Extracted from Wikipedia Former State Commandant of the Victorian Squadron Air Training Corps, Wing Commander (Ret) Peter Stuart Isaacson AM DFC AFC DFM passed away on 07 April 2017. He was 96 years. http://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/breakfast/peter- isaacson-flew-a-bomber-plane-under-the-sydney-harbour- brid/8433442 Peter Isaacson Peter Stuart Isaacson, AM, DFC, AFC, DFM (31 July 1920 – 7 April 2017) was an Australian publisher and decorated military pilot. Peter Isaacson grew up in Melbourne. He joined the RAAF in 1940. Following his stint in Bomber Command, he became well known in Australia for his tours in the Avro Lancaster Q-for-Queenie to promote the sale of war loans and, in particular, for flying his plane under the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1943. He transferred to the RAAF Reserve after the war, retiring as a Wing Commander in 1969. From 1956 he served as a Trustee, Chairman, and finally Life Governor of the Victorian Shrine of Remembrance. In 1991 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his publishing and community work. Peter Isaacson was born in London on 31 July 1920. His parents moved to Australia with him when he was six years old. On 8 December 1940, the nineteen-year-old Isaacson enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force. After completing his training in Australia and Canada, he was posted to the United Kingdom and joined No. 460 Squadron RAAF, as a Sergeant pilot. Operating Vickers Wellington medium bombers, No. 460 Squadron had been raised under provisions of the Empire Air Training Scheme and was one of a number of nominally Australian formations taking part in RAF Bomber Command's strategic air campaign against Germany. The squadron commenced operations in March 1942 and participated in 1,000- bomber raids against Cologne, Essen and Bremen in May and June. It converted to Avro Lancaster heavy bombers in October. Isaacson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 6 November 1942 for "many successful night attacks on the enemy" with No. 460 Squadron. The following month his Lancaster was damaged by a Junkers Ju 88 night fighter after a raid on Munich. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer, Isaacson was subsequently posted to No. 156 Squadron RAF. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 March 1943 for his actions during a raid on Berlin. His citation, promulgated in the London Gazette, read: One night in March 1943, this officer was detailed for an attack on Berlin. Following the attack and while still over the target area, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and severely damaged.