AUTUMN 2021 WINGS NO.1 73 VOLUME CELEBRATING LOOKING BACK THE RAAF’S EARLY YEARS AN AIR FORCE AVALON THE SHOW GOES ON MILESTONE

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ON THE COVER The cover pays tribute to the Air Force Centenary and invokes a faded memory of rugged beginnings, while paying homage to the men and women who provide the bedrock of a potent fighting force. 38 WINGS TEAM WINGS MANAGER Ron Haack EDITOR Sandy McPhie ART DIRECTOR Katie Monin SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE CONTENTS Sue Guymer ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Phil Whiteman wings autumn 2021 volume 73 / NO.1 ASSISTANT EDITORS Mike Nelmes (history) 4 WELCOME MESSAGE John Kindler AO AFC (industry news) 5 MANAGER’S MESSAGE & LETTERS Bob Treloar AO MiD (military ) 6 MILITARY AVIATION 12 PRESIDENT'S CORNER CONTACT & ASSOCIATION NEWS E [email protected] 16 INDUSTRY NEWS W wingsmagazine.org 22 AN INDEPENDENT AIR FORCE RAAFANSW Publications Pty Ltd A Early history of the RAAF Salamander Bay LPO, PO Box 656 Salamander Bay 2317 27 CENTENARY COMMEMORATIONS Air Force 2021 events PRINTED BY: WHO Printing, Regional Printer 30 A VALON ON FOR 2021 of the Year, National Print Awards 2020. The Australian International Airshow 32 NEWTON VC AND THE BOSTON DIGITAL EDITION RAAF Cross recipient To read this publication online, or subscribe 22 34 A LONG ASSOCIATION to the print issue, go to wingsmagazine.org in Australia 38 CENTREFOLD FACEBOOK Pull out and keep Wings on Facebook, go to facebook.com/ 40 ORIGINS OF THE F-117 WingsMagazineRAAFAPublications Lockheed’s Skunk Works, part 2 44 RAAF'S LARGEST BASE DISCLAIMER RAAF Base Amberley & its Aviation Information in the articles in this magazine was current at time Heritage Centre of publication but more recent developments should be checked 50 THE FASTEST AUSSIE ON EARTH with the relevant Defence and other authorities for currency and any changes to conditions. Content appearing in this publication World land speed record attempts does not necessarily reflect the views or have the endorsement 54 THE BIRTH OF A NUMBER of the Department of Defence or the publisher. While every effort No.450 Squadron turns 80 has been made to ensure accuracy and currency in the articles presented, reliance should not be placed on the information 56 THE ERA contained without reference to the relevant authorities. No part history, part 2 of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent 62 A DIVERSE ENTERPRISE of RAAFANSW Publications. No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for the accuracy of advertisements or information. Rolls-Royce ship design 63 MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP 66 PERSONAL FINANCE 68 CADETS NEWS 71 LAST FLIGHT AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION 74 BOOK REVIEWS 40 WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 03 WELCOME. SADFO RAAF BASE AMBERLEY

MESSAGE FROM Custodians of the land – and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We share a commitment for RAAF Base AMBERLEY protecting country and community and looking after our people. We also have a strong and collaborative relationship with our local Elders and I encourage you all to take the time to better S THE SENIOR understand our Indigenous history, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE culture and customs. FORCE (ADF) OFFICER RAAF Base Amberley was officially for RAAF Base Amberley, opened in June 1940 and will celebrate IA am delighted to introduce both this 81 years’ service as an operational air autumn edition of Wings magazine and base in 2021. provide an insight into one the largest On 31 March 2021, the Air Force will Air Force bases in the country. celebrate its 100th year of service as an RAAF Base Amberley is one of our independent air force. Throughout 2021, largest operational air bases, where we we will acknowledge our centenary and, deliver airpower and joint capabilities together with industry, government, to defend our nation and its interests. council and – most importantly – our On any given day, the base is home to people, celebrate our history, our a range of air mobility, air combat and achievements and our future. airbase support capabilities, to name We will continue to meet day- a few, that together can rapidly deploy to-day operational requirements, in support of single service, joint or deliver flexible capability for our coalition operations. nation, develop future base plans and It is my honour and privilege to introduce technology that will keep us represent our Defence people and at the forefront of airpower generation. their families in the wider South I trust you enjoy this edition of Wings East community and to as we celebrate our 100th year as an concurrently ensure our base is ready air force. to support the range of operational, training and industry capabilities that Iain Carty, CSM call RAAF Base Amberley home. Senior Australian Defence We acknowledge the Yuggera and Force Officer the Ugarapul people – the Traditional RAAF Base Amberley

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04 | AUTUMN 2021 LETTERS.

B-24 VISIT I read with interest your article and MANAGER'S photos, regarding the B-24 Liberator MESSAGE . I recall visiting the project many RAAFA Publications Pty Ltd, a resource years ago. I was not allowed to enter the fully owned by Air Force Association part-constructed fuselage. NSW, has been producing Wings in the I am a WWII veteran and, having modernised form for two years with this opened my log book for the first time edition and, by all accounts, it has been in 75 years, I noted I had completed 19 well received. sorties, approximately 240 operational In this edition, we acknowledge the hours, with trips varying from 12 to 15 Air Force centenary and the contribution hours over Burma, French Indo air power has made to our young nation, and Siam as they were named. We were both commercially and militarily. We sworn to secrecy about our operations. begin an Air Force history series and Our crew was two pilots, two WAGs, continue the Qantas and Skunk Works a navigator, a bomb aimer and a tail series. We also introduce a short series gunner. I was a WAG. LIBERATOR on an Aussie larrikin determined to break Merv McGrane, Bundaberg, Qld his own land speed record and with RESTORATION aspirations to break the sound barrier I read with great interest the article in the while in contact with terra firma. Summer 2020 edition about restoring a AUSTRALIA'S We hope you continue to enjoy the B-24 Bomber at Werribee. FIRST AIRLINE magazine and encourage all with an I was the ADMINO at 21 Squadron I was pleased to read in Don Hill’s interest in air power, a little history, (City of ) for many years and feature on the early years of Qantas, technology and a good yarn to subscribe was associated with the project, as was that he mentioned Norman Brearley for a mail-delivered personal copy. the Squadron Engineering Section. Gary operated Australia’s first commercial I would also commend a subscription to Jarvis was the 21SQN officer to visit PNG airline, West Australian Airways. the magazine, as a gift, to budding young and make arrangements for removal and Brearley’s story is very interesting. (and the not so young) aviators, space transport of the wing section mentioned I had a copy of his autobiography many travellers and technicians with an interest in the article. years ago which I loaned to someone in all things that work in the environment The project was beset with problems and consequently lost. His book is between us and our neighbouring – break-ins and theft of tools and called Australian Aviator and is well planets and that evolve to advance our equipment, plus indecision as to the future worth reading. knowledge and improve our lives. of the hangar. I knew Bob Butler, as he Graham Thomas, via email Visit our website, wingsmagazine.org, was one of my instructors when I was an to read previous issues and arrange a Cadet (8217) back in the • Please send letters to editor@ personal or gift subscription. late 1940s, and later on his many visits to raafapublications.org.au, including your 21 SQN as part of the project. Ron Haack name and details. Letters may be edited Wings magazine manager David Crickmore, Scarness, Qld for length and clarity.

THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AND WINGS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 5 MILITARY. AVIATION

EDITED BY Bob Treloar

Wedgetail back home AIR FORCE E-7A WEDGETAIL and support personnel have returned to Australia following a successful year-long deployment to the Middle East Region (MER). The occasion also marked the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the E-7A Wedgetail into RAAF service. The aircraft has been operating in the MER with Australia’s Air Task Group 630, performing airborne command and control as part of Operation Okra, the 's contribution to the -led global Coalition to combat the Daesh terrorist threat in . F-35As ready During operations, the RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was responsible for the command and control of all coalition aircraft in a battle management area, for deployment and crews regularly managed more than 80 combat aircraft at once. More AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR equip three operational squadrons; two than 550 missions were flown since Defence declared Initial Operational at RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW, and September 2014 accumulating over Capability for Australia’s F-35A Lightning one at RAAF Base Tindal, NT. 6,900 flying hours. One mission involved II aircraft on 28 December 2020. The The Operational Conversion Unit has a flight duration of 17.3 hours – the RAAF Lightnings can now be deployed already transitioned to Lightning ll. longest flight recorded for a Boeing operationally, joining the other services Australia’s first two locally 737 airframe. around the world that have achieved based F-35As arrived at RAAF Base Source: Defence Connect the capability: US Air Force, Navy and Williamtown on 18 December 2018 Marine Corps, , Israeli and the base currently operates 33 BELOW E-7A Wedgetail on the Tarmac Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, F-35As with a contingent of 45 pilots in the Middle East. Photo: CPL Dan Pinhorn. , Royal Norwegian Air and 600 maintenance crew. To date, Force and Japan Self-Defence Air Force. the RAAF has flown more than RAAF plans to achieve Final Operational 8,780 flight hours. Capability by 2024. Source: The Aviationist The service will procure 72 aircraft to replace the F/A-18A/B Hornet aircraft and complement the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack ABOVE Head-on view of an F-35A Lightning II flying off Newcastle, NSW. Photo: RAAF. aircraft. The fifth-generation aircraft will

RAAF P-8A Poseidon at the Avalon Airshow in February 2019. Boost for maritime fleet TWO ADDITIONAL BOEING P-8A POSEIDON aircraft will be added to the RAAF’s maritime patrol fleet, increasing the force size to 14 aircraft. Sustainment funding has also been approved for three MQ-4C Triton unmanned air vehicles, yet to be delivered. The Poseidon and the Triton will provide Australia with one of the most advanced maritime patrol and response capabilities in the world. The acquisition is part of the government’s plan to invest $270 billion in defence F-35A Lightning II aircraft fly in formation along the Newcastlecapability region in the coastline 2020s. in NSW during Exercise Lightning Storm. Photo: Sergeant David Gibbs Source: Flight Global

06 | AUTUMN 2021 Exercise Lightning Spear THE AUSTRALIAN AND UNITED multiplying, air-combat platform. STATES AIR FORCES participated in Officer Commanding No.81 Wing NIDA AVIONICS TRAINING Exercise Lightning Spear at Eglin Air Group Captain John Haly said the SYSTEM Force Base, Florida, USA, last October, exercise demonstrated the crucial developing interoperability between capability of the growing Lightning the two services with a common but force in Australia. relatively immature capability – the F-35 The RAAF team then conducted Lightning ll combat aircraft. Exercise Lightning Ferry to bring an The F-35A's combination of full- additional nine Lightning aircraft from spectrum low-observable stealth coatings Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, to RAAF and materials, advanced radar-dispersing Base Williamtown via Hickam Air Force shaping, network-centric sensor and Base in Hawaii. They were sustained communications suites – combined enroute by RAAF KC-30A multi-role with a lethal strike capability – means tanker transports. the aircraft will be the ultimate force Source: Strike & Air Combat

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WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 07 MILITARY. AVIATION

Apache to replace Army Tiger

DEFENCE HAS SELECTED the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian to replace Army’s Armed (ARH) from 2025 under Project Land 4503. The AH-64E is equipped with improved sensors, communications suites, attack In a statement, Defence said: arrangement (offering the Bell AH-1Z capabilities and enhanced survivability. “Lessons learnt from issues with Viper) and an Airbus offer of an upgrade Defence considered several the ARH Tiger and other rotary-wing to the incumbent Tiger platform. against key criteria of proven ability, projects had informed the strategy Source: Australian Defence magazine maturity and an off-the-shelf operating to seek a proven, mature ARH system and deemed the Apache replacement capability.” Guardian the most lethal, survivable The Apache was selected over a ABOVE AH-64 Apache helicopter. and lowest risk option. Bell/BAE Systems Australia teaming Photo: SGT David Hicks. building opens Air Force AS PART OF THE redevelopment of RAAF Williamtown, NSW, to accommodate in Darwin the F-35 Lightning ll, the RAAF officially opened the Len Waters Building in October 2020. The building was named after Australia’s only known Indigenous World War II fighter pilot. Len Waters enlisted in the Air Force in August 1942 as an aircraft mechanic and earned his wings in July 1944. He learnt to fly in Tiger Moths and Wirraways before joining No.78 Squadron flying Kittyhawks. During nine months of active service, Waters flew 95 sorties in the Pacific campaign, operating from Noemfoor, Morotai and Tarakan. He was discharged on 18 January 1946, with the rank of Warrant Officer. ABOUT 200 REPUBLIC of Singapore He died from pneumonia in August 1993, aged 69, and is survived by his wife Air Force (RSAF) personnel, along with and six children. RSAF's F-15SGs, an A330-Multi-Role Air Commander Australia, Air Vice-Marshal Joe Iervasi said it was a great honour Tanker Transport (MRTT) and a G550 to dedicate the building to Len Waters. “It is important to recognise and embrace Airborne Early Warning aircraft, were the stories of all who have served, and continue to serve, so we can truly be the stationed at RAAF Base Darwin for a two- Air Force of Australians for all Australians,” he said. month detachment between October and Source: Defence Connect December 2020. Due to airspace constraints in Singapore, the RSAF conducts training Len Waters Building, overseas to meet national preparedness RAAF Base Williamtown. requirements, and also has detachments in the US and France. The deployment marked Singapore's strong defence ties with Australia and the 30th anniversary of the RSAF's training presence in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Source: Channel News Asia

ABOVE RSAF F-15SG and A330-MRTT in company.

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Hornets on Roulettes’ 50-year milestone display

A RAAF F/A-18A HORNET (A21-022) aircraft with a decorated three decades Second Hercules of service has been welcomed into the ’s collection. A21-022 was deployed to Operation Falconer in 2003 and took part in 20 equipped with SATCOM combat missions. During Operation Okra in 2016–17 it flew more than 50 combat missions against ISIL targets A SECOND RAAF C-130J a flight of up to 10 hours and, in that in Iraq and Syria. It was retired last May HERCULES has been upgraded with time, the operating environment for after completing 30 years in service and a high-speed satellite communications both the crew and embarked joint 6131.5 flying hours. (SATCOM) system. The first C-130J capabilities could vary significantly. A second F/A-18 Classic Hornet (A21- was equipped with the SATCOM Hercules equipped with high-speed 040) is scheduled to be handed to the system in 2017 and six aircraft are SATCOM allows control elements, Australian War Memorial in mid-2022. planned for upgrade. crew and embarked forces to conduct The RAAF is the first operator of mission planning while enroute.” C-130J Hercules to install a Ka-band A C-130J Hercules fleet is SATCOM system, which allows high- operated by the No.37 Squadron from BELOW A21-022 positioning on the low loader definition video live-streaming and RAAF Base Richmond, NSW. The third for transport to . Photo: CPL Brett Sherriff. connectivity to command headquarters aircraft is programmed to be fitted with and other nodes around the world. the Ka-band SATCOM capability by C-130J Hercules are often a first April 2021. response for missions such as disaster Source: Air Force Technology relief, deploying to remote locations where communications infrastructure is often damaged or non-existent. ABOVE No.37 Squadron C-130J Hercules Commander Air Mobility Group A97-468 and A97-467 have been fitted with Air Commodore Carl Newman said: Ka-band satellite communications systems. “Deploying a Hercules might require Photo: Corporal David Said.

tactical coordinating officer, Director- “It reinforces the dedication, sacrifice Orion guards General Air Force History and Heritage and exemplary service of the many Air Branch, Air Commodore John Meier Force and civilian personnel who have said the gate guard honour highlighted supported the P-3 Orion aircraft since the importance of preserving Air Force 1968,” he said. the gate history for future generations. Source: RAAF News

IN RECOGNITION OF THE ORION’S distinguished RAAF service over more than 50 years, a decommissioned LEFT ADF personnel and civilians in front aircraft now takes pride of place at the of the decommissioned RAAF Base Edinburgh front gate. AP-3C Orion at the The refurbished Orion A09-658, which front gate of RAAF began RAAF service in 1985, was towed Base Edinburgh. Photo: into position on 1 November 2020. LACW Jacqueline Former AP-3C Orion navigator and Forrester.

10 | AUTUMN 2021 DEFENCE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED the 50-year anniversary of the first Roulettes’ 50-year milestone public display of the RAAF’s formation aerobatic team, the Roulettes. The Roulettes initiative was established in November 1970 as part of the celebrations marking the RAAF’s golden jubilee and the team undertook its first public display later that year. The Roulettes flew Macchi MB-326H jet aircraft before moving to the Pilatus PC-9/A turbo-prop in 1989 and the Pilatus PC-21 in 2019. The impressive skills demonstrated by the Roulette pilots have been witnessed by many at international events and in small country air shows over the years. Roulettes crew with the new PC-21 in Roulette Livery. Source: Defence Connect

RAAF Base Williamtown celebrates No.100 Squadron two milestones to be re-formed NO.100 SQUADRON is being re-formed as the Air Force Heritage Squadron. ON 15 FEBRUARY, a combined home to two of the RAAF’s four Groups, Announcing the decision, Minister celebration was held at four aircraft types including the new fifth- for Defence Personnel Darren Chester Williamtown to mark the 80th birthday of generation F-35A Lightning II, and more said that after a 75-year absence, it was the Air Base and Fighter World’s 30th. than 4,000 personnel. fitting RAAF reactivates 100SQN in the To open proceedings, Ross Pay Fighter World President AVM John year it commemorates its first 100 years. arrived from Scone in his restored P-40 Quaife (retd) paid tribute to the initiative “The heritage fleet of 100 Squadron and enthusiasm of former base and Kittyhawk, which took up a static display will continue to recognise the service Tactical Fighter Group Commanders position at the entry to Fighter World. of previous generations and inspire the A brief history of the base was to establish and grow Fighter World, next generation of pilots,”he said. presented by the recently arrived Senior soliciting essential financial support 100SQN RAAF was originally formed ADF Officer GPCAPT Anthony Stainton. from the Federal Government and at RAAF Base Richmond in 1942 from He noted that, from its beginnings as a local businesses. Today Fighter World the remnants of 100SQN RAF which base to provide strategic protection for welcomes 25,000 visitors a year and will had been evacuated just prior to the Newcastle Port and the steel industry, continue to grow as it looks forward to an fall of Singapore. The squadron was it grew to accommodate Australia’s expansion of its facilities as part of the Air equipped with aircraft increasing fighter capability. It is now Force History and Heritage organisation. and saw service in PNG in both and bombing roles before being disbanded in 1946. The re-formed squadron, to be commanded by WGCDR Phil Beanland, will be headquartered at RAAF Base Point Cook and will take over two hangars currently used by the RAAF Museum for restoration work. It will manage and operate the aircraft belonging to the heritage fleets at Point Cook and Temora and will be manned by a mix of permanent RAAF and RAAF reservists.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 11 AFA. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

veterans in established ESOs resolve their issues. There is serious concern for the PRESIDENT’S CORNER quantity of Compensation Advocates. DVA is hosting a working group to consider improvements to the delivery of advocate training to make it more accessible. Advocacy is an area THE ASSOCIATION than applying ‘band-aids’ to where younger veterans can make and other Ex-Service existing legislation. a considerable contribution as well Organisations (ESOs) Department of Veterans’ as obtaining formal qualifications in the maintained their Affairs (DVA) recently art of advocacy. dialogue with the surveyed the effectiveness I hope 2021 will be a year in which government and its of the National Consultative we can all make a difference. agencies throughout Framework (NCF) that 2020, despite COVID comprises several forums Carl Schiller, OAM, CSM limitations. Looking for designed to provide strategic National President positives, COVID reinforced the advice on veterans’ issues, as well Air Force Association importance of regular conversations as information on matters affecting and working collaboratively towards day-to-day administration of veteran THE AUSTRALIAN AIR the delivery of support to veterans support. The survey was very critical of FORCE ASSOCIATION and their families. the NCF. Consequently, DVA established NATIONAL PRESIDENT Last year we saw, among other an NCF working group to investigate Carl Schiller, OAM, CSM things, the establishment of the a revised structure. I was asked to NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT Family Veterans’ Advocate, the chair the working group which includes Sharon Bown Office of the National Commissioner Sharon Bown (Vice-President, Air Force NATIONAL SECRETARY for Defence and Veteran Suicide Association) and representatives of Peter Colliver, OAM [email protected] Prevention, and the government’s several other ESOs. NATIONAL TREASURER response to 25 of the Productivity Working correctly, the NCF will have Robbie Robertson Commission’s 69 recommendations a significant impact on government SPECIAL PROJECTS with others to follow mid-2021. Those decisions and the administration of Peter McDermott, AM, CSC recommendations have been the veteran support. Most major national subject of extensive consultation with ESOs are represented on the forums, JOIN THE AIR FORCE the veteran community. It wasn’t but there is little contemporary veteran ASSOCIATION surprising they attracted strong representation. To join the Association, visit emotional responses, either supporting Veterans, regardless of generation, www.raafa.org.au and follow or criticising the initiatives. have the same fundamental needs. the JOIN US link. For assistance The Productivity Commission’s Some needs were not identified in earlier contact the Association by phone inquiry into veteran support highlighted generations. Understandably, each or email as listed on Page 15. significant shortcomings. Central to veteran generation has a raft of different the problems are the three veterans experiences that emphasise issues. support Acts that complicate the Each generation has worked to protect system. Harmonisation of existing veterans’ benefits and identify ways to legislation has been suggested improve veteran support. It has been to simplify the system. However, and will always be an ongoing campaign. harmonisation would be expensive Traditional ESOs have been criticised and involve a substantial body of as out of touch with contemporary work. There is a growing interest veterans. There may be an element of within the veteran community towards truth in that critique; young veterans’ the creation of a new Act to replace needs diverge from those of past existing legislation, while preserving generations. Young veterans are talented current benefits. Resources assigned and educated and need to become to that activity may be better served formally involved to help the older

12 | AUTUMN 2021 AFA. DIVISION NEWS

which provides fascinating storytelling Centenary through a community-based of key aspects of 's program of events in 2021. For more AIR FORCE contribution to the Air Force over information about Air Force Centenary the past 100 years. Also on display events in SA, visit the Air Force were artefacts provided by the South Association (South Australia) Facebook Australian Aviation Museum and a page (facebook.com/raafasa). CENTENARY Sir Richard Williams display provided by the Moonta-based Sir Richard Williams RAAF Centenary Celebrations BELOW SA Premier Steven Marshall Committee (see page 14 for more). delivering the key note address at the Sir Ross SA LAUNCH WOFF Scott Brown, Base Warrant and Sir Keith Smith Dinner in . Officer RAAF Edinburgh, gave a moving speech and toast honouring THE ANNUAL ROYAL our nation's over 3,000 missing airmen AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY (Adelaide whose remains have never been Branch) Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith recovered. That was complemented by Dinner was held on 6 åDecember 2020. a Welcome to Country by FLTLT Steven The theme was ‘Honouring the Air Warrior, the RAAF Indigenous Liaison Force Centenary in 2021’ and the dinner Officer, a proud Kaurna, Narungga and launched the centenary in South Australia. Kokatha man. GPCAPT Greg Weller, Guests of honour were SA Governor Hieu Director Community Engagement Van Le and Premier Steven Marshall. at RAAF Edinburgh, provided a Passionate air-minded people from poignant overview of South Australia's across the Defence, aviation, heritage, contribution to the Air Force and the veterans and broader community came sacrifices of SA airmen and an outline together to enjoy a great Air Force of what the centenary will look like in display, including RAAF Edinburgh's the state. The evening concluded with new indigenous air weapons display a keynote address by Premier Marshall, acknowledging our First Nations looking to the future. people’s employment of weapons in The Air Force Association (SA) is the air. The evening also saw the launch working with other organisations such of the 10-piece Air Force Centenary in as the Royal Aeronautical Society and South Australia exhibition banner set RAAF in commemorating the Air Force

Thank you to the Royal Australian Air Force for 100 years of service to Australia

The Air Force Association honours the heritage and traditions of the Air Force and proudly supports all Air Force veterans and their families.

Supporting veterans | Fostering friendships | Honouring our legacy Divisions in Join Us ACT | NSW | Queensland | South Australia | Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia www.raafa.org.au Images courtesy the Australian War Memorial and Royal Australian Air Force.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 13 AFA. DIVISION NEWS

Town honours Sir Richard Williams

MOONTA IS A SMALL TOWN on the western coast of the York Peninsula, South Australia. It was a centre for copper mining in the 19th century and today, it is a rural town and a popular holiday spot. It is also the home of Sir Richard Williams. To celebrate the Air Force Centenary and the importance of its famous son, Moonta has initiated a project to erect a bronze sculpture of Sir Richard Williams in Moonta’s Queen Square. The life-size sculpture will show Sir Richard sitting on a park bench looking into the sky, allowing people to sit beside him and be inspired by this Dr Robert Black, President Air Force great South Australian. Association (SA), farewells Beside the bench will be a bronze AIRCDRE Buck Rogers. plaque mounted on a copper mine rock to reflect Williams’ Cornish mining heritage and provide the history of Farewell his professional life. The sculptor, Tim Tomson, also created a sculpture of South Australian aviator Harry Butler which is on display at Minlaton on AIRCDRE BUCK ROGERS the York Peninsular. The Moonta sculpture will be unveiled on 29 August as the key ON 18 JANUARY, the Air Force Association (South Australia) was honoured event of a day’s activities celebrating to have South Australian Governor Hieu Van Le and Premier Steven Marshall join the Air Force Centenary and the life members of the SA veterans’ community to farewell AIRCDRE Buck Rogers as of Sir Richard Williams. The Air Force the outgoing Commander Air Warfare Centre/Senior ADF Officer Edinburgh Association (South Australia) and welcome AIRCDRE Ross Bender as the incoming Commander. is working closely with the Moonta Both guests provided warm farewell speeches acknowledging the work and career of AIRCDRE Rogers. team on the initiative. AFA-SA President Dr Robert Black acknowledged the career of AIRCDRE If you would like to contribute Buck Rogers, noting he has been a wonderful friend of the Association in to the initiative, contact Robyn Knight, supporting the Air Force family. Dr Black particularly noted the Air Force's support Chair of the Sir Richard Williams partnering in ceremonies such as the annual , Bomber Command Air Force Centenary Committee, and Air Force Birthday commemorative services, which have become highly on 0409 007 054 or visit the website regarded and well attended. saheritagefoundation.com.au/appeals/ AIRCDRE Rogers transferred from the Permanent Air Force to the Reserves on moonta-heritage-foundation. 21 January, completing 34 years of service. During that time, he was awarded the • To learn more about Sir Richard Conspicuous Service Cross (2014) and the Conspicuous Service Medal (2018). Williams, turn to page 25.

14 | AUTUMN 2021 A voice to government for members and ex-members An association for all ranks Open to citizens with a strong aviation interest WINGS magazine provided free to members

NEW SOUTH WALES VICTORIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA Air Force Association (NSW Division) Air Force Association (Victoria Division) RAAF Association (WA Division) PO Box 494, 24 Camberwell Rd, EAST HAWTHORN VIC 3123 18 Bowman St, Paddington NSW 2021 Tel: 03 9813 4600 | [email protected] SOUTH WA 6151 Tel: 0418 627 969 | [email protected] www.raafavic.org.au Tel: 08 9288 8400 | [email protected] www.raafansw.org.au www.raafawa.org.au QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL RAAF Association (QLD Division) TASMANIA TERRITORY PO Box 2259, WELLINGTON POINT QLD 4160 RAAF Association (TAS Division) RAAF Association (ACT Division) Mob: 0419 688 014 | [email protected] RAAF Memorial Centre, PO Box 111, www.raafaqld.com 61 Davey St, HOBART 7000 CAMPBELL ACT 2612 SOUTH AUSTRALIA Tel: 03 6200 9221 | [email protected] Tel: 0428 622105 | [email protected] RAAF Association (SA Division) www.raafatas.com www.raafaact.org.au Torrens Parade Ground Victoria Dr, ADELAIDE SA 5000 Tel: 08 8227 0980 | [email protected] www.raafasa.org.au INDUSTRY. NEWS

EDITED BY John Kindler

German Australian cooperation BELOW LEFT Artists Impression of DLR’s TO AID SPACE RESEARCH Reusability Flight Experiment in space.

BELOW TED-01 lift-off on 19 September 2020 from the Koonibba Test Range, followed shortly after by TED-02. Both rockets carried payloads for DEWC Systems.

THE GERMAN AEROSPACE DLR is considering Southern Launch’s CENTRE (DLR) and Australia’s Koonibba Test Range for evaluating Southern Launch have evolved a new rocket technologies and launch previously signed memorandum of equipment. It is working with Southern understanding and struck a cooperation Launch toward launching the first DLR agreement to implement joint civilian research mission in mid 2022. research into suborbital and orbital The two organisations are also space launch, especially of reusable working to establish an educational launch vehicles (RLV). The agreement sounding rocket program in Australia, followed the successful launch of two allowing universities to undertake space capable DART rockets by Southern space-based research projects from Launch at the Koonibba Test Range in the Southern Hemisphere. South Australia last September. Source: satnews.com

NORTHROP GRUMMAN has UPGRADES FOR GLOBAL HAWK delivered a pair of sensors to enhance the capability of the US Air Force’s Global Hawk high-altitude, long- endurance autonomous aircraft system. Enhancements include the deployment of the MS-177 multi- spectral camera system and the first fielding of the increment 1 upgraded AN/ASQ-230 system to counter expanded electronic threats. Global Hawk is uniquely positioned for additional missions that connect the joint force as one, including persistent high-capacity backbone, pseudo-satellite communications coverage and joint all-domain command and control. Global Hawk. Source: Defence Connect

16 | AUTUMN 2021 Kongsberg and BAE Systems Australia. Norway orders Since receiving initial funding from the Australian Government in 2013, PREPARING Kongsberg and BAE have invested in the qualification and integration of the AUSTRALIAN Australian sensor into the JSM, in a bid to provide additional capability to the FOR TRITON fifth-generation, long-range, precision- guided, stand-off missile system. NORTHROP GRUMMAN JSM SENSORS The purchase order follows a set has completed CORPORATION of flight trials that, according to BAE Phase 1A – initial development – of NORWEGIAN KONGSBERG Systems, demonstrated the “successful the MQ-4C Triton Network Integration DEFENCE AND AEROSPACE has integration” of the electronic systems Test Environment (NITE) at RAAF placed a purchase order with BAE into the missile. Base Edinburgh, SA. That means Systems Australia for an initial batch Kongsberg’s JSM is designed for use Chief Information Officer Group of passive radio frequency sensors for against maritime and land targets and is (CIOG) can begin developing the Triton the Joint Strike Missile (JSM). the only anti-ship cruise missile that can network design and test basic network The order, the first full-rate production be carried internally by the F-35 Joint configuration settings. Northrop order of the sensors, is part of a broader . Grumman Australia will develop NITE in co-operation agreement between Source: Defence Connect three phases, allowing CIOG to progress from basic continuity testing between distributed environments to an advanced integrated environment. “With Air Force embracing leading edge technology in the form of the remotely piloted MQ-4C Triton, there is now a reliance on assured data flows between the air vehicle and those who operate it on the ground and disseminate what we see,” said CIOG director general Air Commodore Leon Philips. “The NITE offers CIOG the earliest opportunity to ensure those data flows JSM mounted in F-35 weapons bay. are established and verified well before our first aircraft arrives.”

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 17 INDUSTRY. NEWS

Collaboration lets full power of F-35 LOOSE Defence unfazed by A TEAM OF DEFENCE SCIENCE and Technology (DST) scientists and engineers played a pivotal role supporting the research and SKYGUARDIAN HICCUP development conducted by the US Air Force Seek Eagle Office at

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE on the ground and other airspace Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to has confirmed it is developing options users,” a Defence spokesperson enhance the lethality of the F-35 for up to 12 General Atomics MQ- told Defence Connect, noting that in Joint Strike Fighter. 9B (SkyGuardian) remotely piloted Australia, qualification tests would be DSTG engineer Regina Blyth has led aircraft (RPA) to present for second guided by the Defence Aviation Safety the development of a computational pass government approval in 2022, as Regulations, rather than Civil Aviation aerodynamics modelling capability for part of Project AIR 7003 – a $1.3 billion Safety Regulations. Defence works the external and internal carriage and program to deliver an armed RPA closely with the Civil Aviation Safety release of weapons from the F-35A. system to the Australian Defence Force. Authority (CASA) to ensure Defence The modelling tool has been fully The initiative will be progressed regulations are compatible with validated and allows a greater range despite General Atomics’ failure to CASA’s guidelines. of weapons to be integrated onto the demonstrate the aircraft’s capability SkyGuardian is expected to provide F-35A without the need for expensive in urban environments, and the persistent intelligence, surveillance, physical testing. manufacturer forced to cancel a test reconnaissance and electronic warfare Source: Defence Connect flight in San Diego earlier this year in support and precision strike to multiple response to community pushback. domains. The aircraft can continuously According to Defence, concerns observe a wide area for an extended over regulatory compliance, aviation period, supporting national safety and airworthiness would be security objectives and providing addressed “well ahead of achieving reconnaissance support to search initial operating capability”, currently and rescue, humanitarian assistance scheduled for the “mid-2020s”. and disaster relief operations. “The variant of SkyGuardian Source: Defence Connect Defence is purchasing will be certified to similar standards as manned aircraft to ensure the safety of people MQ-9B SkyGuardian.

Triton's autonomous operations are Northrop Grumman teams with Airbus supported by land-based command and control mission planners and NORTHROP GRUMMAN to begin building the airframe for sensor operators. AUSTRALIA and Airbus Australia Australia’s first air vehicle later this year. Flying out of Edinburgh, the Triton is Pacific have entered into a strategic Triton will be equipped with a unique capable of monitoring 5.2 million sq.km teaming agreement to cooperate in and robust mission sensor suite that in a 24-hour mission and flying a round delivery of advanced and optimised provides 360-degree coverage by all trip to provide sustained surveillance in MQ-4C Triton sustainment capabilities sensors, providing unprecedented support of allied freedom of navigation at RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA. maritime domain awareness for the operations in the South China Sea. Australia is scheduled to receive the US Navy and the RAAF. The facilities and crew required to first Triton ground control station in Triton is designed to operate in operate, train and maintain the Triton 2022 and the first of six to seven Triton conjunction with Australia’s planned surveillance capability will be part of air vehicles in 2023. fleet of 12 manned P-8A Poseidon an initial $1.4 billion investment, which Northrop Grumman is already building maritime patrol and anti- includes $364 million on new facilities at long lead items and is scheduled aircraft. Based on the Global Hawk, RAAF Bases Edinburgh and Tindal, NT.

18 | AUTUMN 2021

INDUSTRY. NEWS

Quickstep, which has recent Sikorsky approved Air Fab contract experience working with Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier aircraft, F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets, F/A-18F for training for aircraft Super Hornets, C-130J Hercules and CH-47 Chinooks, intends to leverage its SIKORSKY AUSTRALIA has been safety stands existing relationships and capabilities to officially approved as an Aircraft broaden the scope of MRO work offered Maintenance Training Organisation to include F-35 and other military and (MTO) and is now eligible to deliver commercial work. type course aircraft training to its staff, BDA and Quickstep have also agreed defence and industry partners under to consider a long-term agreement Defence Aviation Safety Authority that would develop a broader, ongoing (DASA) regulations. collaboration in both the military and Training for Sikorsky and defence commercial aerospace segments. personnel on MH-60R (Romeo) and Source: Defence Connect VICTORIA-BASED AIR FAB has S-70A-9 (Black Hawk) helicopter received a $1.3m contract with Boeing platforms in both avionic and mechanical Defence Australia to design and build trade categories is now authorised. aircraft safety stands to be used in the The MTO program was developed by maintenance of RAAF F/A-18F Super a team of Sikorsky’s aviation instructors Hornets and EA-18G Growler aircraft. in collaboration with DASA to ensure all “With eight employees, Air Fab is an elements of the training program aligned excellent example of the ingenuity with Defence Airworthiness Safety of Australian small business in helping Regulations Part 147 standards. not only keep our personnel safe, but ABOVE Mark Burgess CEO and MD Quickstep “To be recognised as an MTO in helping to get Australia’s frontline and Scott Carpendale VP and MD BDA. and meet Australia’s strict aviation back into the air quicker,” training regulations, which are seen said Defence Minister Linda Reynolds. as a benchmark by many nations, is Source: airforce-technology.com an important outcome for Sikorsky Aerospace Australia and our customers,” said Sikorsky Australia general manager ABOVE RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet City Scholarships Dale Hall. “DASA’s in-depth advice and of Ipswich. Photo: Peter Bailey. ongoing support during our path of TWENTY STUDENTS from creating the training courseware was across Australia have been awarded invaluable in helping us achieve this scholarships from the Australian positive outcome.” Quickstep to Youth Aerospace Association (AYAA), Sikorsky’s maintenance and support supported by Raytheon Australia. The facility at the Albatross Aviation acquire Boeing’s Australian Youth Aerospace Leader Technology Park houses through-life- scholarship was offered to school support services for the Royal Australian MRO capability students in Years 10 to 12 with a keen Navy’s fleet of 24 Romeo maritime interest in aerospace or avionics, while helicopters and support for the Army’s QUICKSTEP HAS ANNOUNCED the Australian Youth Aerospace Scholar Black Hawk helicopters. plans to acquire Boeing Defence category was open to students in their Australia’s (BDA) maintenance, repair first year of an engineering degree at any and overhaul (MRO) capability, based at Australian university. Tullamarine, Victoria. Each recipient will receive $1,000 Under the terms of the asset purchase toward their education and professional agreement, Quickstep will acquire development. Three recipients will also operating assets plus inventories receive mentoring from a Raytheon and certain customer contracts from Australia engineering expert. Boeing Australia Component Repairs AYAA is a not-for-profit organisation (BACR) through its subsidiary Quickstep managed by student volunteers and Aerospace Services. Quickstep has young professionals to promote also offered to onboard certain BACR education and involvement in the employees and has agreed to assume aerospace industry. It hosts several major ABOVE Technicians inspect a helicopter liabilities for transferring employees and annual events, including the Australian rotor control system at Sikorsky Australia's facility. certain other business liabilities. Universities Rocket Competition.

20 | AUTUMN 2021 prototype flights expected by 2028 and Air-breathing Future fighter full-scale production by 2030-31. The government has insisted the hypersonic fighter incorporate a stealthy design and emphasised interoperability with US technologies FOR JAPAN fighter assets, including the F-22 and F-35. The Japanese have also insisted on AUSTRALIA AND THE US have joined JAPAN HAS REVEALED more details the future fighter having a single priority: on the Southern Cross Integrated Flight of its in-development, next-generation air-to-air combat. Research Experiment Allied Prototyping fighter aircraft. Driven largely by F-X will be capable of directing up to Initiative to develop air-breathing advances in capabilities by Russia and three loyal wingman combat drones hypersonic technologies, essential to China, Japan has sought to respond and is expected to be armed with the the future of hypersonic flight. with a combination of the F-35 and a Joint New Air to Air Missile being co- The program, to be executed by domestically produced sixth-generation developed with the UK. the US Department of the Airforce, . Source: World of Aviation aims to build complete and affordable It is envisaged that the next- prototypes and offer a flexible, long- generation fighter, now named the F-X, range capability, leading to flight will fill the role of the retiring F-15J demonstrations. Additionally, it will operated by the Japan Air Self Defence work at exploring potential opportunities Force, with the F-35A and B variants for co-production between the two providing the low-end air-combat countries and will use the collaborative capabilities currently assigned to the hypersonic activities embedded in F-16-based F-2 aircraft. the Hypersonic International Flight The Japanese Government has Research Experimentation program. awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Source: airforce-technology.com the contract to develop the aircraft, with Artists impression of Japan’s F-X.

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WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 21 AIR FORCE CENTENARY. RAAF HISTORY

ANAIR INDEPENDENT

Imperial Gift DH.9a .

22 | AUTUMN 2021 IN THE CENTENARY YEAR OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, WINGS BEGINS A FOUR-PART SERIES OF EDITED EXCERPTS FROM THE RAAF PUBLICATION THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE OF AIR POWER.

HE RAAF TRACES air matters, seized on the government’s its history back to the stated desire to use to trial an air mail service to some of (AFC), which was Australia’s more remote areas. Aware established in September of ministerial impatience, Williams 1912 and commenced advised that trials of an air mail service flying operations at Point could not begin until the proposed air Cook on 1 March 1914. force had been formally established. At the close of World With that argument, Williams was War I, AFC squadrons were disbanded able to win approval to inaugurate the Tand their aircraft and equipment in Australian Air Force on 31 March 1921. Europe and Palestine returned to the The prefix ‘Royal’ was added to the new Royal Air Force (RAF). That reduced service’s name on 13 August 1921. Australia’s military aviation capability to The aircraft received in the Imperial domestic forces, established largely as Gift were sufficient to form six RAAF a training organisation centred on Point squadrons: four of landplanes and Cook, pending the arrival of Britain’s two of seaplanes. The original plan Imperial Gift that included 128 aircraft was to base three squadrons in New and 258 vehicles. South Wales and three in Victoria, The Australian Air Corps (AAC) but that plan had to be modified almost was formally instituted within the immediately due to a change in the Commonwealth Military Forces on government’s financial policy. The 1 January 1920 as an interim body to number of squadrons was reduced provide for the maintenance of existing to five. Even that diminished plan equipment until a permanent organisation had to be abandoned in the wake was created. Apart from some training of international treaties signed at and public flying displays, the AAC also the disarmament conference held carried out aerial route surveys. in Washington, DC, later that year. In September 1920, an allocation of In July 1922, the five squadrons funds and the creation of an efficient air created the previous year were merged force and commercial air services were into a single mixed squadron, No.1 announced by Prime Minister William SQN, at Point Cook. For the next Morris (Billy) Hughes, who declared two years, the strength of the RAAF himself ‘a fanatic’ in his personal belief remained at about 50 officers and in aviation. 300 airmen, far short of the 1,500 originally planned. As Williams told FORMATION OF THE RAAF a parliamentary committee at that Despite the enthusiasm of the Prime time, “Our present staff is really a Minister, the government dithered over nucleus and quite inadequate alone the final step to raise an Air Force, to effectively serve in the case of apparently through a reluctance to a possible emergency”. actually spend money on Defence. In 1924, an Experimental Section, Realising that situation might continue commanded by indefinitely, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Lawrence J. Wackett, was set up Williams, the principal military adviser on at Randwick, , to undertake

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 23 AIR FORCE CENTENARY. RAAF HISTORY

Fairey IIID seaplane. technical research and aircraft design training organisation with a limited establish the theoretical basis for the Air work. The unit was disbanded in 1930. combat capability. The government Force, Williams did not define how the In 1925-26, two new bases were expected that in the event of a defence markedly bigger Air Force would operate established. The first was at Laverton, emergency the service would expand to assist in the defence of Australia, Victoria, to accommodate a depot unit by calling upon its Citizen Air Force especially given the limitations in range and No.1 SQN, which relocated from component and the resources of and capability of available aircraft types. Point Cook. The second was the former civil aviation. The response of the nation’s political NSW Government airfield at Richmond, leaders was largely to ignore Williams’ which was turned into a permanent AIR DEFENCE SCHEME scheme, clearly displaying their limited base for a second operational unit, No.3 In April 1925, the Chief of the Air Staff understanding of, and indifference to, air SQN. When Nos 1 and 3 Squadrons (CAS), Williams, had power’s potential. However, by failing to were formed on 1 July 1925, Citizen written a memorandum regarding the clearly articulate the doctrinal dimension Air Force personnel made up nearly air defence of Australia in which he put in his argument and ignoring political two-thirds of their establishment. Those forward the case for a nine-year program aspects, Williams’ contribution to the two bases and squadrons formed the to increase the RAAF to 18 squadrons debate was less than he imagined. backbone of the RAAF’s operational and a dozen flights and to provide Unable to persuade his political capability for more than a decade. an Air Force presence in every state. masters on his own, Williams appealed Nos 1 and 3 Squadrons had been Although the document was written to to RAF authorities for expert advice, formed as composite units allowing both army cooperation and air defence roles to be exercised in both and Victoria. TRAINING AND CIVIL TASKS By the end of the 1920s, the store of Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the RAAF provided training in air co-operation Imperial Gift machines was exhausted or had to be retired due to deterioration during militia training camps for the Army, and as embarked detachments on RAN while in storage. The multiple aircraft warships during annual cruises of the region. A large part of the service’s time was types operated by each squadron were also taken up with public-relations tasks such as air displays and aerial races. replaced by the , a Equally demanding was a range of non-military tasks such as: responding general purpose aircraft. No.1 SQN then began to specialise as a bomber to requests from civil agencies for aerial photography; mapping surveys, notably Unit, while No.3 SQN formalised its of Central and Northern Australia; supporting forestry development through aerial primary role as army co-operation. surveys, bushfire patrols and aerial dusting; daily meteorological flights; assisting Flights of seaplanes and fighters with scientific study of pelagic fish movements in coastal waters and oil exploration were used to sustain other core around Australia and in ; helping to chart the Great Barrier Reef; skills considered vital to the RAAF’s purpose, but only in cadre form. By search and rescue of lost sea and air parties; and even participating in the default, the RAAF had become a exploration of Antarctica.

24 | AUTUMN 2021 believing that Australian governments and Army, the RAAF simply invoked were more likely to be influenced the arguments advanced by the RAF by an opinion coming from London. in answering similar moves against it in Accordingly, he engineered a visit in Britain. Unfortunately, those arguments 1927 by a senior British officer to review were advanced without any of the the RAAF. intellectual underpinnings used by Air Marshal Sir ’s the formidable British CAS, Air Chief report confirmed, as Williams must Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard. have known it would, that the RAAF In Australia, there was no debate was totally unfit for war, and outlined a comparable to that which had been development program aimed at building occurring in Britain, Europe and America up the service to a credible level. As after WWI regarding the best means Salmond’s recommendations were more of applying air power, whether there modest than his own plan, Williams was an independent role for air forces expected to see it adopted in full, but and whether air power alone could be the government was only interested in a war-winning factor. The foremost air FATHER OF THE RAAF implementing some of the proposals. power theorists abroad, men such as Williams’ recourse to invoking British Italy’s Giulio Douhet and Billy Mitchell of Even though a number of Australians authority carried a significant risk by the , were essentially rose to tactical command positions appearing to confirm a wider perception unknown identities to members of the that the RAAF was simply an offshoot RAAF. The closest Australia had to a during WWI, no Australian advanced of the RAF, functioning as a local branch homegrown student of air power in the beyond leading an operational wing of the British service. 1930s was Group Captain H.N. Wrigley, of several squadrons. Of the four who The impression of subservience who kept detailed personal notebooks reached that level, only one was an to British influences was true in many about the ideas to which he was Australian Flying Corps officer, Richard regards. The RAF was the standard exposed in the course of his career. on which the Australian air service Williams, who in June 1918 commanded modelled itself, from its traditions REARMAMENT 40th (Army) Wing of the Royal Air and organisation to its equipment and The RAAF’s status as an independent Force (RAF) brigade in Palestine. training. For instance, the RAAF was service began to change dramatically Williams was one of the Service’s obliged to adopt the RAF even from the mid-1930s as the world though it had proposed its own design emerged from the Depression and two senior officers when the RAAF was (see page 26). entered a period of rearmament in formed in March 1921 and became the From 1926, the RAAF had sent response to the growing menace posed first Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) when a proportion of its pilots from Point by Fascism in Europe. From 1935, that post was created in October 1922. Cook flying courses the RAAF underwent a period of rapid He remained CAS for a record 16 years, to receive further expansion. In four years, it trebled training in Britain. To its personnel to more than 3,000 and departing on exchange with the RAF in the detriment of the added 10 squadrons to its order of early 1939. During his tenure as CAS RAAF, many of those battle. Additional permanent bases he had risen from the rank of Wing pilots subsequently were established at Perth and Darwin, Commander to Air Vice-Marshal. transferred to the and a temporary base was created near RAF. For more than Brisbane, pending construction of a new In 1940, Williams returned to a senior a decade, there was Queensland base at Amberley. New administrative post in Australia with the little effort to consider stations were also planned for Rathmines temporary rank of Air Marshal but did defence issues from on Lake Macquarie, NSW, not lead the RAAF again. In 1946, he a uniquely Australian and at Canberra. left the Air Force and became Director perspective. In Ideas about employing air power in most instances, the Australian context began to evolve General of Civil Aviation until he retired advice received from as the RAAF expanded. In September in 1955. He was knighted in 1954. London regarding the 1935, Squadron Leader J.P.J. McCauley, development of the of the Chief of Staff Branch, instructed TOP Sir Richard Williams. RAAF was accepted staff at all RAAF bases to draw up local without question. defence schemes and to prepare papers Even when fending on specified subject areas related to LEFT Captain and Sergeant Arthur off attempts to have the Air Force their particular role. All officers below Murphy. Murphy became the RAAF’s first airman disbanded and dispersed between Navy the rank of were (Airman No.1) when the Air Force was formed.

WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 25 AIR FORCE CENTENARY. RAAF HISTORY

instructed to write a 10,000-word essay on how air power could be used in co-operation with fixed defences to protect Australia’s vital assets. That process was, in effect, the first-ever attempt to formulate operational-level doctrine that was directly applicable to Australian circumstances. As a result of that initiative, an Air Staff Memorandum dealing with the tactical employment of air forces in the local defence of Australia was issued on 15 April 1936. PREPARATION FOR WAR The years before the start of WWII, in RAAF ENSIGN 1939, saw serious efforts to improve the operational capabilities of the Australian On 21 July 1921, Wing Commander Richard Williams submitted a proposal for a defence forces, which had atrophied RAAF ensign. His design was not adopted and, a year later, the approved during a prolonged period of neglect. the British Royal Air Force Ensign, a sky- with the RAF in the fly, However, critics who viewed Air Force as the Ensign of the RAAF. during the inter-war years as little better than an exclusive flying club had a point. In December 1948, to avoid confusion between the two air forces, King George VI The RAAF was unprepared for active approved a new RAAF ensign. The new had the roundel in the lower fly of a sky- operations when war was declared. blue Ensign with a Commonwealth Star and tilted Southern Cross. It was adopted by the The most obvious deficiencies were RAAF in 1949. Although the RAAF adopted a distinctive roundel for its aircraft on 2 July in equipment, especially modern combat 1956 – a red kangaroo replacing the red circle, the old roundel remained on the ensign. aircraft, and personnel. There was also a less obvious but equally critical lack of In 1981, the RAF roundel was replaced on the RAAF Ensign by a new roundel doctrine for the effective employment featuring a red leaping kangaroo on a white background within a dark blue ring. of air assets. The magnitude of those The design was approved by the Queen in 1981 and proclaimed as a Flag of shortcomings was about to be brought Australia under the Act on 6 May 1982. into sharp focus by the scale of the conflict in which Australia was obliged to join. ABOVE Design for the original RAAF Ensign that was not approved. To be continued next edition

26 | AUTUMN 2021 AIR FORCE CENTENARY. EVENTS

CENTENARY

COMMEMORATION

COVID-19 IR FORCE 2021 activities The Colour Parade will be televised by across Australia will highlight the ABC from 10am local time around RESTRICTIONS HAVE the contribution Air Force Australia, preceded earlier in the week has made in all states and by an hour-long ABC News feature PLAYED HAVOC territories. Nationally, Air Force exploring the century of Air Force WITH PLANS FOR will conduct a major event in composition and commitments. CanberraA focused on presentation of a The regular annual Australian War THE AIR FORCE’S new Queens Colour for the RAAF on Memorial (AWM) commemoration CENTENARY IN 31 March at Government House. ceremony will take place on Anzac The original Queens Colour for the Parade on 30 March. Air Force will also 2021, BUT THE RAAF was presented on 17 September be honoured in the AWM’s Last Post 1952 and the current Colour was Ceremonies on 30 and 31 March. The AIR FORCE 2021 presented by Her Majesty at RAAF Base AWM conducts a Last Post Ceremony TEAM IS FORGING Richmond in 1986. In addition to the each day, commemorating a fallen ADF Queen’s Colour, the RAAF has six current serviceperson. The ceremonies can AHEAD WITH Unit Queens’ Colour, 28 Squadron be viewed on the AWM website (awm. COMMEMORATIONS. Standards and 16 current Governors gov.au) at 4:45pm daily, and in most General Banners. All RAAF colours, Queensland and Victorian RSL clubs. standards and banners will be paraded RAAF centenary ceremonies will be and the ceremony will be endorsed by streamed live on the RAAF website a large formation of current and (airforce.gov.au). former Air Force aircraft. The 31 March ceremony will honour

WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 27 B:220 mm T:210 mm S:200 mm

AIR FORCE CENTENARY. EVENTS

Sergeant William Bernard Turly Godly, AIR FORCE FAST FACTS and five were RAAFNS. Of those, 3,125 who was born in Lucknow, on personnel have no known grave and 31 March 1921, the same day the • Australia’s air power began with the 18 are from the Korean conflict. Australian Flying Corps which fought Australian Air Corps was separated from • Air Force today is an organisation of with distinction in the Middle East and the Army to form the Australian Air Force. almost 21,700 individuals including on the Western Front in . William grew up in Victoria and 5,000 Reservists, supported by nearly The Air Force has since served enlisted on 23 June 1940 aged 19 years. 700 Australian public servants. He served with No.14 (RAF) Squadron in WWII, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, •  comprise as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. 2.5 percent of the RAAF and people perished on operations in the Middle • More than 350,000 men and women with the heritage of 111 nationalities East (Bir El Baheira, Libya) on 17 March have served as members of the make up the Air Force in 2021. 1942, 14 days before his 21st birthday. Australian Air Force, Women’s Auxiliary Sergeant Godly represents a link from Australian Air Force, Women’s RAAF, • The RAAF operates from 17 bases, the past to today’s Air Force; almost RAAF Nursing Service and RAAF. including RAAF Bases Curtin, Learmonth, Scherger and Woomera. 100 years after he was killed, Australian • Of the 102,890 individuals recorded airmen would again be on operations in on the Australian War Memorial Roll • The oldest unit is the Central Flying the Middle East. It is not impossible to of Honour, 206 were members of the School, formed in 1913, disbanded in imagine, had Sergeant Godly survived, Australian Flying Corps. In all, 11,191 1919 before the formation of the RAAF, he might be witness to the Centenary of Air Force personnel have lost their lives and reformed in 1940. the Air Force on his 100th birthday and while serving Australia – 9,870 during • No.1 Flying Training School was the would join with those airmen, who like WWII. Of the 11,191: 11,129 were first unit formed after the Australian him, served in the Middle East. RAAF (two women), 57 were WAAAF Air Force was established in 1921. B:285 mm S:265 mm AF2021 ACTIVITIES July: Hawkesbury Festival, T:275 mm Freedom of Entry Wagga ALL STATES & TERRITORIES August: Airshow over Newcastle March 31: Queen’s Colour Parade September: Freedom of the City, April: ANZAC Day Richmond, Newcastle QUEENSLAND October: RAAF Base Richmond Family Day, RAAF Empire Aircrew Memorial Wagga HONOURING August: Freedom of Entry Parade, Ipswich November: Remembrance Day NORTHERN TERRITORY May: Tindal Community Open Day TASMANIA July: Darwin Show and Katherine Show September: National Battle of Britain Day 100 YEARS OF THE ABOVE The first Australian coin struck in 2021 August: Victory in the Pacific Day November: Remembrance Day commemorates the RAAF centenary. Three RAAF Commemoration – Coomallie Airield SOUTH AUSTRALIA aircraft feature on the reverse side of the $1 November: Remembrance Day coin, alongside a soaring wedge-tailed eagle as February to November: Rolling AF2021 ROYAL AUSTRALIAN depicted on the Air Force crest. VICTORIA displays at SA Aviation Centre November: Remembrance Day, May: Freedom of Entry Adelaide, rolling RAAF 2021 Memorial Point Cook series of heritage presentations as part and AIA International Avalon Airshow of SA History Festival, Copper Coast AIR FORCE WESTERN AUSTRALIA Cornish Festival Moonta – Sir Richard April: Bullsbrook Show and RAAF Williams display and Aboriginal veterans reception City of Geraldton Commemorative Service May: Freedom of Entry Perth, Air Force June: Bomber Command Commemorative service Adelaide and RAAF Port Pirie anniversary reception RAAF Learmonth Founded in values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been June: WA Day, Perth Commemorative Service July: Exmouth Community Day August: VP Day Ceremony, Air Force defending the people of Australia for the last century. Since 1927, Boeing and the RAAF have partnered to create next-generation Centenary Church Service, Sir Richard November: Remembrance Day, products and push the boundaries of air defence. Boeing also proudly welcomes RAAF veterans into our workforce, where they Busselton-Margaret River Open Day Williams Celebration Moonta. continue to support Australia’s defence. As enduring partners, we recognize the centenary of the RAAF and we look forward to ABOVE Australia Post has released December: Pearce Family and For the latest information on many more years of partnership, innovation and protection. commemorative stamps featuring RAAF aircraft: Community Day AF21 activities visit the Air Force 2021 a 1921-era SE5A bi-plane and a F-35A Lightning NEW SOUTH WALES website, airforce.gov.au/100, which II. The minisheet depicts RAAF Base Point Cook April: Hawkesbury Show will keep pace with possible emerging with Richard Williams, the first chief of the RAAF, beside the SE5A. May: Bomber Command Anniversary COVID-19 restrictions. boeing.com.au

28 | AUTUMN 2021

Job Number: 11518889 Version: C Client/Brand: Boeing/BDS Date: 2-2-2021 9:37 AM APPROVALS File Name: 11518889vC_BDS_RAAF_Australian_100_210x275.indd QC: Steve Jablonski Bleed: 220 mm x 285 mm Gutter: None Publications: Wings PA: Steve Hutchings PR: Pat Owens Trim: 210 mm x 275 mm Folds: NoneNone Notes: L+T bill to: 11518971 RET: Greg Olsen PP: Sue Breitenecker Safety: 200 mm x 265 mm Media/Color Sp: PRINT/4 COLOR AB: Fallon Pfeiffer TM: None Scale: 1:1 Country: Australia Vendor: None GCD: Bruno Mazzotti Actual Size: 210 x 275 mm Language: ENGLISH Output%: None Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black AD: Sarah Hollis Fonts: Helvetica Neue (55 Roman, 95 Black; Type 1) CW: Yessy Downs AE: Olivia Troy/Heather Schwartz

ALL CONTENT WITHIN THIS FILE IS FOR OUTPUT ONLY BY END PRINTER/VENDOR. CHANGES, SHARING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. LICENSING RIGHTS AND APPROVALS MUST BE REQUESTED AND APPROVED TO/BY FCB CHICAGO. Images: 11518889CT01_R0_BDS_RAAF_Australian_100.tif (300 ppi; CMYK), Boeing_white_50mm.eps B:220 mm T:210 mm S:200 mm B:285 mm S:265 mm T:275 mm HONOURING 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Founded in values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been defending the people of Australia for the last century. Since 1927, Boeing and the RAAF have partnered to create next-generation products and push the boundaries of air defence. Boeing also proudly welcomes RAAF veterans into our workforce, where they continue to support Australia’s defence. As enduring partners, we recognize the centenary of the RAAF and we look forward to many more years of partnership, innovation and protection.

boeing.com.au

Job Number: 11518889 Version: C Client/Brand: Boeing/BDS Date: 2-2-2021 9:37 AM APPROVALS File Name: 11518889vC_BDS_RAAF_Australian_100_210x275.indd QC: Steve Jablonski Bleed: 220 mm x 285 mm Gutter: None Publications: Wings PA: Steve Hutchings PR: Pat Owens Trim: 210 mm x 275 mm Folds: NoneNone Notes: L+T bill to: 11518971 RET: Greg Olsen PP: Sue Breitenecker Safety: 200 mm x 265 mm Media/Color Sp: PRINT/4 COLOR AB: Fallon Pfeiffer TM: None Scale: 1:1 Country: Australia Vendor: None GCD: Bruno Mazzotti Actual Size: 210 x 275 mm Language: ENGLISH Output%: None Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black AD: Sarah Hollis Fonts: Helvetica Neue (55 Roman, 95 Black; Type 1) CW: Yessy Downs AE: Olivia Troy/Heather Schwartz

ALL CONTENT WITHIN THIS FILE IS FOR OUTPUT ONLY BY END PRINTER/VENDOR. CHANGES, SHARING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. LICENSING RIGHTS AND APPROVALS MUST BE REQUESTED AND APPROVED TO/BY FCB CHICAGO. Images: 11518889CT01_R0_BDS_RAAF_Australian_100.tif (300 ppi; CMYK), Boeing_white_50mm.eps AVALON. AIRSHOW 20AVALON ON FOR

AFTER BEING DELAYED, WORK IS IN FULL SWING TO STAGE THE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AT AVALON IN NOVEMBER.

HIS YEAR IS AN Avalon conflict through the decades. Visit the future, including fifth-generation fighters. 21Airshow year. The COVID-19 meticulously restored GAF Canberra The array of aircraft will include Super epidemic caused the Bomber Mk 20, A84-232, and learn how Hornets, F-35s, Hawks, transport aircraft organisers to move the a dedicated band of volunteers saved a such as the C27 Spartan, C130 Hercules Australian International valuable piece of RAAF history. and the Giant C-17 Globemaster, TAirshow from its scheduled February There will be an ADF Military Working surveillance aircraft such as Wedgetail 2021 dates to late this year, and Dogs display and you can meet Belgian and Poseidon and the PC-21 pilot preparation work is well underway. Shepherd (Malinois) puppies and training aircraft. This November, the premier aviation learn how the “im-paw-tant” recruits The airshow will also be the final and aerospace event in the South will become the canine heroes of public outing for the F/A-18 Classic Pacific will also celebrate the RAAF the future. Hornet. After a long and successful centenary. The skies above Victoria’s Housed in colossal expo halls, the tenure with the RAAF, the Classic will erupt with all the Aviation and Aerospace Exposition Hornet is being replaced by the F-35A latest military heavy metal, the boom of will showcase more than 500 of the Lightning II. The opportunity to look vintage , the whir of helicopters world’s leading aviation and aerospace back on a bit of aviation history accords and the flash and thunder of precision companies with stands of the latest some context and understanding of manoeuvres and brilliant flying displays. products, inventions and military how far the RAAF has come, mapping There will be as much happening on technology, plus a look into the out the major leaps in aircraft design the ground as there is in the air. Take aerospace future. and capability. a journey back in time through RAAF The RAAF centenary will bring In addition to RAAF assets, the historical diorama displays recreating together a cavalcade of Air Force assets, Navy and Army will be represented scenes from Australian theatres of from vintage warbirds to aircraft of the with helicopters in the air and multiple

30 | AUTUMN 2021 capability displays on the ground. JET GENERATIONS The skies will also host an incredible

display of aerobatic acts and precision flying by some of the world’s best The idea of aircraft “generations” aerobatic pilots, with barrel rolls, as a classification was introduced formation loops, head-to-head passes in the 1990s as a way of grouping and precision flying. stages of development and For a flight down memory lane, a number of lovingly restored and rebuilt improvements in fighter aircraft. aircraft will soar skyward to strut their The classification is only applied historic stuff. to jet-powered aircraft rather than earlier piston powered fighters and • The Australian International Airshow 2021, Avalon Airport, marks milestone developments in Victoria Trade days: 23-26 November aerodynamic design, avionics and Public days: 26-28 November combat systems. First generation generally refers to subsonic fighters, introduced in late World War II and spanning the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s. That generation of fighter was quite basic F-35A Joint Strike Fighters flying in formation with F/A-18 Hornets. Photo: CPL David Gibbs. and comprised a relatively simple platform without radar or any sensor capability and with manually RIGHT Paul Bennet SkyAces directed weapons. Their main Wolf Pitts Pro. armoury was cannons, unguided bombs and machine guns. BELOW First-generation jet engines Worimi Classic Hornet. Photo: CPL Craig Barrett. were typically non-afterburning. Examples flown by the RAAF included the Paul Bennet SkyAces’s Pitts and the Avon Sabre. Special. By the time the RAAF ushered in a fifth-generation capability, with the introduction of the F-35A Lightning ll, military aircraft had evolved to new levels of combat performance combining stealth attributes, advanced avionics and highly integrated digital flight control and combat systems. Fifth- generation fighters were “born” networked, able to receive, share and store information to enhance awareness of the battlespace, making fifth-generation largely defined by software, rather than their hardware performance.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 31 AIR FORCE CENTENARY. VICTORIA CROSS

N 16 MARCH 1943, a fortnight after taking part in the successful Battle of the Bismarck SeaO near New Guinea, No.22 Squadron launched seven Douglas Boston light bombers from Wards Strip at . Supporting the coming Allied assaults on Lae and Salamaua on the north-east coast, their mission was a low-level attack on Japanese fuel dumps, stores and buildings at Salamaua. Leading the strike in Boston A28-7 was Flight Lieutenant William Ellis ‘Bill’ Newton, with his crewmen FLTSGT Lyon and SGT Eastwood. Flying straight in towards the target through heavy anti- aircraft fire, their aircraft was hit badly and one engine knocked out. Regardless, the crew succeeded in destroying two 180,000-litre fuel tanks along with stores and buildings. On one engine, Newton managed to fly over the Owen Stanley mountains back to base. Two days later they returned to Salamaua in Boston A28-3. It was Newton’s 52nd sortie in 10 months of operational flying. Successfully bombing the targeted building, the Boston was hit NEWTON VC AND THE by ground fire and caught alight. Newton brought the burning aircraft onto the water further down the coast, a mile offshore and other airmen saw two men swim to shore. The fates of the three crewmen were not known until September when Salamaua was captured by the Allies. Newton’s body was found buried in an unmarked bomb crater. It was revealed that he and Lyon had managed to evade the Japanese for a day before BOSTON being captured and interrogated. They were taken to Lae, where Lyon was bayoneted to death. Newton was IN THE RAAF CENTENARY YEAR, WINGS returned to Salamaua and beheaded on WILL RECOUNT THE STORIES OF THE 29 March. Not long afterwards, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross FOUR AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN AWARDED for his fearless attacks. SGT Eastwood was not found and was presumed to THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH’S HIGHEST have died in the aircraft. AWARD FOR VALOUR IN THE PRESENCE No.22 SQN moved to Goodenough Island to join the fight for OF THE ENEMY, THE VICTORIA CROSS. and continued to fly Bostons until the end of 1944 when it re-equipped with WE BEGIN WITH FLTLT , Beaufighters. Newton’s medals were THE ONLY MEMBER OF A RAAF UNIT donated by his mother to the Australian War Memorial, where they are displayed TO RECEIVE THE VC. in the Hall of Valour.

32 | AUTUMN 2021 BOSTON FLOWN The following July, the squadron transferred to Goodenough Island. On BY FLTLT NEWTON 12 September 1943, Boston A28-8 crash- landed there after receiving battle damage over the Gasmata airfield in New Britain. In 1987, its airframe was salvaged from ABOVE No.22 SQN unit diary account the island by a RAAF team and Chinook of the day Newton and crew were shot down. helicopter and returned to Australia Courtesy National Archives of Australia. aboard HMAS Tobruk. A US Army Air Force A-20G Boston, forced down by LEFT FLTLT Bill Newton beside a Wirraway bad weather in April 1944, had earlier training aircraft with an ammunition belt draped been recovered from New Guinea. around his neck. Photo: AWM. Both Bostons were restored to static Fortuitously, of the 69 Douglas Boston display standard by a team at RAAF bombers flown by the RAAF in World DOUGLAS Base Amberley under GPCAPT L.J. War II the only one remaining was Armstrong, who completed them in time A-20C BOSTON flown by FLTLT Newton on two attack for the 75th anniversary of the RAAF in TECHINICAL DATA operations – 18 and 22 February 1943 – 1996. Fittingly, present for the dedication ROLE: Three-seat light attack bomber as well as by WGCDR Keith Hampshire of the two aircraft was A28-8’s last POWER PLANT: Two Wright R-2600 DSO DFC (Commanding Officer of No.22 pilot, FLGOFF Harold Rowell. The Cyclone air-cooled radial engines of SQN) and WGCDR Charles Learmonth American A-20G (The Hell ‘N Pelican II) 1,600hp each DFC & Bar (after whom RAAF Base is displayed at RAAF Amberley Aviation DIMENSIONS: Wingspan 18.69m, Learmonth, WA is named). The aircraft is Heritage Centre, while in 1998 Boston length 14.48m displayed at the RAAF Museum at Point A28-8 was trucked to Point Cook. Cook, Victoria. WEIGHTS: Empty 6,827kg, loaded This DB-7B Boston, serial A28-8, • With thanks to Kevin McGuirk, vice 10,660kg. was among a batch intended for the president of the 22 Squadron Association, MAX SPEED: 544km/h Netherlands East Indies Air Force in Java. who together with the president, Harold RANGE: 1,200km With the Japanese occupation, it was Rowell, and members, was instrumental SERVICE CEILING: 27,600ft diverted to Melbourne for the RAAF in in advocating for and organising the April 1942. On delivery to No.22 SQN, recovery of A28-8 Jessica to Australia. ARMAMENT: Four 0.303-inch and four the primary RAAF squadron to use the 0.5-inch machine-guns in nose, twin hand AUSTRALIA’Stype, LEADING at Port Moresby atSTEM year’s end, thePROVIDER operated 0.303-inch machine-guns in aircraft was allocated the code letters dorsal and one in ventral positions. ABOVE LEFT Boston A28-8 at RAAF DU-J (J for Jessica). Museum Pt Cook. Photo: James Kightly. Bomb load 907 kg (2,000 lb).

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WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 33 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. BOEING

A LONG ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE COMPANY BOEING HAS BEEN OPERATING IN AUSTRALIA FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS, WITH A BROAD RANGE OF LOCAL SUBSIDIARIES.

OEING IS UNIQUE in the Aerostructures Australia, Boeing Defence and manufactures structural composite Australian aerospace industry. Australia, Aviall Australia, Boeing aircraft components, 100 percent of Renowned on the international Distribution Services and Insitu Pacific. which are exported to Boeing’s final stage, Boeing employs a national In total, the business employs more than assembly sites in the United States. workforce in a mix of commercial 3,800 people across the nation. “Boeing employs more than 700 and defence business, original In 1956, Qantas became the first people at our factory at Fishermans Bresearch and development activities, and international customer to acquire Bend in Melbourne,” says BAA an extensive domestic supplier network, the , prompting the managing director Jose Garza. “We Boeing is a substantial Australian establishment of the first Australian design, test, certify and manufacture company in its own right. commercial airline support office in advanced composite structures for “For more than 90 years, Boeing in 1959. Since then, the commercial arm some of the most technically advanced Australia has been built by Australians has thrived, supporting Qantas, commercial aircraft in the world – for Australians,” says Brendan Nelson, , Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand including trailing edges for the Boeing president of Boeing Australia, New and other regional airlines on aircraft 787 Dreamliner.” Zealand and the South Pacific. ranging from the 717, 737 Classic and The trailing edges are manufactured “The Boeing brand is synonymous Next-Gen, 747 to the 787 Dreamliner using a pioneering resin infusion with commercial aircraft, of course, but and 777-300ER. system enabling components to be the company’s portfolio of aerospace But Australia’s contribution to cured without an autoclave. BAA is products and services and contribution Boeing’s commercial airplane business the only location in the world to apply to the defence of our nation makes us extends well beyond supporting the the infusion technique that delivers much more than that.” region’s passenger airlines. Through infrastructure, labour, energy and Boeing’s Australian entities comprise its subsidiary, Boeing Aerostructures weight efficiencies, and ultimately Boeing Australia Holdings, Boeing Australia (BAA), the company designs contributes to fuel saving.

34 | AUTUMN 2021 CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATION Innovation such as BAA’s resin infusion system were achieved in partnership with the on-site R&D arm, Boeing Research and Technology- Australia (BR&T-Australia). BR&T- Australia provides innovative technologies to improve the technical risk, cycle time, cost, quality and performance of current and future aerospace systems. It spans numerous parts of Boeing's businesses and has a research portfolio focused on a range of innovations, such as: • Development of highly integrated, large-scale composite structures • Advanced production systems and collaborative robotics for aerostructures manufacturing • Autonomous systems and sensors to support the deployment of future unmanned systems Ten years later, the Wedgetail remains • Advanced virtual reality/extended one of the world’s most capable air reality technology for next generation ABOVE Carbon fibre before resin infusion battlespace management capabilities – remote training systems treatment. most recently evidenced by its critical • Low-cost, secure web systems for six-year role supporting allied forces in globally deployable remote test and the Middle East. collaboration OPPOSITE RAAF E-7A Wedgetail A30-003 “The RAAF leaned in to push the from No.2 Squadron flies in formation with No.77 • Novel anti-microbial polymer coatings capabilities of the aircraft and, from Squadron F/A-18A Hornets and a No.6 Squadron in support of Boeing’s Confident Travel initial development to upgrades EA-18G Growler. Photo: SGT Guy Young. Initiative. undertaken through AIR 5077 Phase “BR&T-Australia not only supports 5A, BDA [Boeing Defence Australia] human-machine team synchronised with Boeing’s local businesses, it provides has developed a reputation for being a existing military aircraft to complement a focal point for collaboration with R&D world-leading defence mission systems and extend combat performance. organisations including universities, and software technology developer,” In a recent address about the Loyal the government and private sector says BDA vice president and managing Wingman, Prime Minister Scott providers,” says BR&T-Australia director Scott Carpendale. Morrison expressed pride in the general manager Michael Edwards. BDA is also responsible for ongoing ingenuity that has led Australia to “Most notably, Boeing has enjoyed a sustainment of the Wedgetail fleet design and manufacture its first military collaborative relationship with Australia’s along with the F/A-18 Classic Hornet, aircraft in more than 50 years. Unveiled premier government research agency, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, at the Australian International Airshow the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial CH-47 Chinook, C-17 Globemaster, at Avalon in February 2019, ATS has Research Organisation [CSIRO], for P-8A Poseidon and Helicopter Aircrew recently successfully completed its first more than three decades.” Training System. In all, the company high-speed taxi test in preparation for supports mission-readiness for more first flight in early 2021. DEFENCE PLATFORMS than half the ADF’s aircraft types. Boeing’s Systems Analysis With platforms including the E-7A The newest addition to Boeing’s Laboratory (SAL) in Brisbane is the Wedgetail, P-8A Poseidon, F/A-18F global defence portfolio, conceptualised region’s leading advanced concepts RAAF Airmen Corporal Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, the andJosh developed Golding and byLeading Boeing Australia and military operations development Australian Defence Force (ADF) has andAircraftwoman manufactured Tiane in Australia, is the and experimentation centre. With a some of the most capable surveillance, BoeingHoffmann Airpower in front of Teaminga P-8A System team of software engineers and ex- command, control and combat platforms (ATS)Poseidon – dubbed at Australia’s Loyal Wingman by the military operations analysts, supported in the world. RAAF.main operating Conceived base toin thecreate disruptive by Boeing’s international laboratory Australia was Boeing’s launch advantageMiddle East forregion. global Photo defence customers, network, SAL provides decision support LSIS Craig Walton ©DoD. customer for the E-7A Wedgetail. the ATS is designed to work as a smart services to defence projects.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 35 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. BOEING

COMMUNICATIONS HERITAGE BDA was borne out of Rockwell Electronics, which manufactured communications equipment for the ADF. BDA’s role supporting the development of communications systems for the Collins Class Submarine was key to it securing the ADF’s High Frequency Communications Network Modernisation (now called the Defence High Frequency Communications System – DHFCS) and the Air Defence Command and Control System (now systems, such as the Currawong battlespace communications system. Wakulda) contracts in the late 1990s. ABOVE Project Currawong mobile A complex, modular, flexible deployed Marking its tenth year of service satellite trailer.. last year, the DHFCS is a uniquely system, Currawong provides secure Australian capability that provides wideband voice, data and video state-of-the-art, long-range secure services using line-of-sight radio, and non-secure tactical voice, data satellite, troposcatter, internet and BELOW LEFT DHFCS antenna farm. and email communications across HF radio to connect deployed forces and command centres. the high-frequency (HF) band. DHFCS Australian supply chain are SMEs. supports information exchange between We’ve spent more than $10 million fixed stations and air, land and sea PARTNERING TO DELIVER with Indigenous-owned businesses platforms and is the only alternative “As a world-leader in aerospace, Boeing since 2012 and remain focused on when satellite communications are takes very seriously its responsibility growing our Indigenous supply chain not available or have been disabled. to engage small-to-medium sized through partnerships with Supply Nation Wakulda is a core component of companies (SMEs) in the development and the Indigenous Defence the RAAF’s air defence surveillance of new capabilities, connecting them and Infrastructure Consortium.” network. It receives, interprets and with Boeing’s global supply chain and To support its promotion of sovereign consolidates data from more than providing Australian industry with capability, the company established the 250 defence and civil radars and other greater local and international export Boeing Office of Australian Industry sensors to generate and display the opportunities,” says Scott Carpendale. Capability (OAIC) in Seattle, Washington Australian Recognised Air Picture. “SMEs and local defence industry are in 2007. Focused on matching Australian- Those building blocks of Boeing’s core to Boeing’s ability to provide agile developed technology with global Australian communications capability solutions to meet complex customer partners, the OAIC has engaged hundreds have paved the way for next-generation requirements. Fifty percent of Boeing’s of Australian companies since its inception and offers training and mentoring support in program management, business development, communications, specialised manufacturing and machining, quality assurance and lean manufacturing.

A BROAD PORTFOLIO A number of other Boeing subsidiaries deliver critical services in the aerospace arena. Based in Brisbane, Insitu Pacific is a subsidiary of US-based Insitu Inc. which provides innovative unmanned systems to suit a variety of applications. Insitu Pacific’s ScanEagle was deployed in support of Australian troops in Afghanistan, where it flew more than 40,000 combat hours. It has also been used by Queensland Gas Company to inspect gas wells, pipelines and processing facilities within Queensland

36 | AUTUMN 2021 in a first-of-its-kind program in Australia. Within its defence business, and those who have served the nation. Insitu Pacific is continually exploring Boeing first delivered satellite-on- Veterans make up more than 20 percent the application of unmanned aircraft the-move capability on the RAAF’s of the employees at the company’s two systems for agriculture, mining, oil C-17A Globemaster III in 2015. defence subsidiaries, Boeing Defence and gas, wildfire monitoring and marine It has since delivered Australian- Australia and Insitu Pacific, and half mammal monitoring. integrated satellite communications of those veterans are managers. Through Aviall Australia and Boeing terminals certified for use on the “Our efforts to recruit, hire, develop Distribution Services, Boeing Global Wideband Global Satellite network and promote veterans is truly a part of Services provides leading supply-chain under the Currawong battlespace our DNA,” says Brendan Nelson. “Our management solutions for new aviation communications system program. team is proud that these efforts were parts and aftermarket services geared Boeing Australia is also supporting formally recognised in 2018, when to commercial and defence customers. the Commonwealth by developing new BDA received the inaugural Prime approaches to modelling and simulation Minister’s Veterans’ Employment THE FINAL FRONTIER including the construction of complex, award for Veterans’ Employer of the In 2019, Boeing signed a statement multi-domain and joint force scenarios Year – Large Business.” of strategic intent with the Australian to understand the implications of a Boeing’s commitment to giving back Space Agency to help to grow contested, degraded and operationally includes grants to civic, environment, Australia’s space industry and the limited space environment. health, education and veterans' number of people working in it. Also, organisations, and engaging staff and in 2019, Boeing and CSIRO announced VETERANS & THE COMMUNITY matching financial donations to assist a multi-year collaborative research Boeing’s Australian story would not communities at times of need. Boeing agreement that included a number be complete without a mention of Australia continues to make significant of jointly developed space-related its commitment to supporting the investments in local talent, technology, technology developments. communities in which it operates, industry, innovation and communities.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 37 and striking photo was captured by WOFF Ray Bennell, a professional photographer assigned to ARDU, with Hasselblad 2000FC single shot camera. SQNLDR Mark Skidmore (Skates) with FLTLT Mark Lax navigating and the Mirage IIID chase, A3-112, was flown by FLTLT John O’Halloran (JOH). The unique This photo of A8-132 was taken from a Mirage IIID while in transit to test fire an AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). The F-111C flown by Harpoon anti-ship missile; the RAAF was only service to envisage a maritime strike role for F-111. at low level (100 feet) in all weather, day or night. The aircraft could carry an array of ballistic and guided air-to-surface (A/S) weapons including the AGM-84 The F-111 was capable of 800KIAS/Mach 2.5 and exploited a hybrid flight control system linked to radar sensor terrain follow penetrate airspace fielded by the USAF and RAAF in tactical interdiction light strategic strike roles. The General Dynamics F-111 was conceived as a multi-role fighter for both Navy and Air Force deployment. Ultimately, the aircraft was only ever F-111C. WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1

Photo: Warrant Officer Ray Bennell

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. SKUNK WORKS PART 2 STEALTH ORIGINS OF THE F-117

ABOVE Phantom view of F-117A. Image: Denny Lombard, LMSW.

of The Projects of Skunk Works: 75 years of Lockheed-Martin’s Advanced Development Programs by Steve Pace (Voyageur Press). US terminology has been retained, with metric conversions for Imperial measurements added, FIGHTER except for altitudes. IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES ON LOCKHEED’S SKUNK WORKS, WE LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE F-117 NIGHTHAWK, FLOWN BY THE US AIR FORCE FROM 1983 TO 2008.

HE LEGENDARY SKUNK altogether different but equally WORKS, Lockheed Advanced intriguing Skunk Works aircraft, Development Projects facility the F-117 Nighthawk, served ABOVE Have Blue Experimental Survivable (read stealth) Testbed demonstrator number founded by Clarence “Kelly” operationally with the USAF. The two (HB-1002) in Burbank just prior to being TJohnson at Burbank (later Palmdale), ‘stealth fighter’ (actually an attack shipped to Area 51. Photo: LMSW. California, originated in 1943 after aircraft), with its tiny 10cm equivalent Johnson’s involvement with the radar signature, saw active service in HAVE BLUE XST P-38 Lightning fighter project. It has the 1989 US invasion of Panama, the The Have Blue Experimental Survivable produced cutting-edge aircraft such 1991 Gulf War and the 1999 NATO Testbed (XST) program began in as the P-80 Shooting Star, U-2 Dragon bombing of Yugoslavia. November 1975 under a joint US Air Lady, F-104 Starfighter, F-22 Raptor The following is a summary of Force (USAF) and Defense Advanced and F-35 Lightning II. the development of the F-117, from Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Skunk Works’ triple-sonic aircraft – its origins in the secret Have Blue contract with Lockheed and its Skunk the CIA’s single-seat A-12 and the US Air project, through related projects Works to build and fly two XST Force’s SR-71 strategic reconnaissance to Senior Trend. Edited excerpts air vehicles. aircraft – are probably its most famous and photographs are used (with The Skunk Works designs were the product. But between 1983-2008 an permission) from Chapter Four inventions of Richard Scherrer, Denys

40 | AUTUMN 2021 D. Overholser and Kenneth E. Watson. The unique engine exhaust system used on both Have Blue XST and the F-117 was designed by Stephen G. Justice. As a matter of interest, the competing Northrop entry featured triangular wings, a single vertical tail and rudder and no horizontal tail planes. Its propulsive system, most likely a pair of aft-mounted J85 engines, were to be fed air via a single dorsal inlet and duct played a significant role in the creation The results of that and subsequent system mounted just aft of the cockpit. and success of the F-117 stealth flights are not known publicly, for The two Have Blue XST air vehicles fighter. Although both were lost in the program remains classified and were assembled in Building 82 at crashes, the 88 test flights between no further Senior Prom details are Lockheed’s Burbank, California, facility them demonstrated that low-observable available. It is known, however, that no and given Lockheed factory serial technologies could be applied to a full-scale production orders for Senior numbers 1001 and 1002. They were functional combat aircraft, as proven Prom air vehicles were forthcoming then transferred to Area 51 (Groom by the performance of the F-117 and that it was the General Dynamics Lake), Nevada for developmental flight Nighthawk on operations. Corporation that produced the ACM test. Have Blue number one or HB-1, that became known as the AGM-129A. the aerodynamic testbed, was initially SENIOR PROM MISSILE flown by Lockheed test pilot Bill Park With the success of the two Have on 1 December 1977. The second Blue XST air vehicles, especially their ABOVE Have Blue number two in flight example, HB-2 was first flown on anti-radar characteristics, the Skunk with USAF Col. Ken Dyson at the controls. 20 July 1978 by USAF Lt. Col. Norman Works offered a design of a stealthy Photo: LMSW. Kenneth “Ken” Dyson. cruise missile, loosely based on the The highly classified Have Blue configuration of its XST aircraft, for program ended in November 1978, the Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM) BELOW LEFT Have Blue XST demonstrator when Lockheed got the go-ahead on competition. So promising was the number one (HB-1001) in light grey livery. the Senior Trend program. However, offering that the USAF ordered an Artwork: Giuseppe De Chiara. flight testing on HB-2 continued. Both unknown quantity of those missiles air vehicles were lost in separate under a highly classified program crashes: HB-1 on 4 May 1978, on its dubbed Senior Prom. The Senior Prom F-117A FIRST 36th test flight, and HB-2 on 11 July missiles were evaluated through a 1979, on its 52nd test flight. Both Park series of launches from a USAF C-130 FLIGHTS AND and Dyson survived and the remains Hercules. A special attachment point of the aircraft were buried somewhere was installed under the outer left wing PILOTS within Area 51. of the C-130, and the first launch was SCORPION 1: (780) 18 June 1981, The pair of Have Blue XST prototypes made in October 1978. Harold C. “Hal” Farley Jr. (Bandit 117)

SCORPION 2: (781) 24 September 1981, David L. “Dave” Ferguson (Bandit 105)

SCORPION 3: (782) 18 December 1981, Thomas A. “Tom” Morgenfeld (Bandit 101)

SCORPION 4: (783) 7 June 1982 (flew after Scorpion 5), Tom Morgenfeld (Bandit 101)

SCORPION 5: (784) 10 April 1982, Robert L. “Bob” Riedenauer (Bandit 103)

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 41 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. SKUNK WORKS PART 2

SENIOR TREND: F-117A The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk was the first and, until the advent of the B-2 stealth bomber, only operational stealth airplane in the world. Although the existence of such a warplane had been rumoured for several years as the F-19, the existence of the F-117A wasn’t made public until 10 November 1988, when Pentagon spokesman James Daniel “Dan” Howard announced the project at a press briefing. Along with his announcement came release of a very poor-quality photograph of the F-117A that largely distorted its actual appearance. It didn’t have an official name at the time, as it was only known as the Black Jet to those associated with it. Developed and produced by the Skunk Works for Tactical Air Command USAF, the F-117A Nighthawk was classified as a strike fighter and designed from the never fly again. That airplane therefore outset to utilise very low observables was not accepted by the USAF and (VLO), or stealth, technologies. wasn’t counted in the total of 59 Following the two XST aircraft under production F-117As built and delivered. the Have Blue program, five full-scale The second production F-117A (786) development (FSD) F-117A aircraft were flew on 15 July 1982. The third (787) built under the Senior Trend program. flew five days later and, on 23 August, Those aircraft were used in part for became the first production example aerodynamic, stealth and airborne accepted by the USAF. Chief engineering tactical warfare evaluations. test pilot Hal Farley made both of those The five FSD F-117A airplanes first flights. ordered, Lockheed factory serial numbers 780 to 784, were later redesignated YF-117A to better describe INTO SERVICE their prototype status. Those five aircraft As F-117A production increased, the TOP YF-117A number one (USAF were called Scorpion 1 through Scorpion fleet was assigned to a specially built 79-10780) during assembly in Burbank. 5 by those closely associated with air base in Nevada, complete with Photo: LMSW. individual hangers for each airplane. The them and known collectively as the Baja ABOVE Subscale RCS F-117 pole model. Scorpions. When pilots made their first once top-secret facility is called Tonopah Photo: LMSW. flight in an F-117A and/or other classified aircraft, they earned Bandit status and BEN RICH – PRESIDENT OF LOCKHEED were assigned a Bandit number. The first flight of a production F-117A ADVANCED PROGRAMS, 1975-91 (785) was attempted on 20 April 1982 Benjamin Robert “Ben” Rich joined the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in 1950 from Area 51, with Skunk Works test pilot Bob Riedenauer at the controls. as a thermodynamicist. At the request of Kelly Johnson, he joined the Skunk Works Unfortunately, its computerised fly-by- in mid-1953 to work on the design of engine air inlets for the experimental and wire flight control system had somehow prototype F-104s. On 17 January 1975, Vice President Ben Rich became the second been connected up incorrectly and president of the Skunk Works. In that capacity he pushed corporate management when Riedenauer rotated for take-off, into the very low observables world and found great success in the Have Blue and the airplane immediately went out Senior Trend programs, earning the title “Father of Stealth”. of control, flipped onto its back and Rich was born on 18 June 1925 in Manila in the Philippines and passed away crashed inverted. Riedenauer survived on 5 January 1995, aged 69. but was severely injured and would

42 | AUTUMN 2021 Test Range (also known as Area 10) F-117A and is located about 70 miles (113km) northwest of Area 51, and some 30 miles SPECIFICATIONS (48km) southeast of Tonopah. CREW: One (pilot) When the F-117A Nighthawk became operational in October 1983, Tactical PROPULSIVE SYSTEM: Two axial-flow, Air Command USAF had a dedicated non-afterburning 10,600-lbf General precision strike that Electric F404-GE-F1D2 turbofan engines could carry and deliver two 2,000-pound LENGTH: 65ft 11in (20.1m) laser-guided (later satellite-guided) Joint Direct Attack Munitions (J DAM) HEIGHT: 12ft 9.5in (3.9m) bombs and escape enemy territory WINGSPAN: 43ft 4in (13.21m) without detection. Aviation enthusiasts the world ABOVE YF-117A number one being EMPTY WEIGHT: 29,500 lbs over were astonished at the aircraft’s prepared for its first flight on 18 June 1981 (13,381kg) configuration. Expected to be of at Area 51. Photo: LMSW. curvaceous and sleek design to achieve GROSS WEIGHT: 52,500 lbs (23,814 kg) its anti-radar characteristics, it was F-117A. Prior to that it was operated by MAXIMUM SPEED: Mach 0.92 or the 4450th Tactical Group (absorbed by instead angular and jutted. It looked 617mph (993km/h) more like a flying iron than an airplane. the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing in October Moreover, since the F/A-18 Hornet and 1989) at Tonopah Test Range. MAXIMUM RAN GE: 1,070 miles F-20 Tigershark had already flown (in The F-117A was replaced by the F-22A (1,722km) 1978 and 1982 respectively), everybody Raptor at Holloman AFB. Ten were SERVICE CEILING: 45,000ft assumed it would be designated F-19, retired in December 2006, followed by so its designation F-117A was a perfect 27 between January and March 2008. PAYLOAD: Two 2,000 lb (907 kg) cover. After the F-111 there had been A retirement ceremony honouring precision-guided bombs carried internally no subsequent century-numbered the contributions made by the F-117A designations. took place at Wright-Patterson AFB in The F-117A Nighthawk was a very Dayton, Ohio, on 11 March 2008. The successful warfighter, flying combat last F-117As to fly into retirement left missions over Panama, Iraq and Holloman AFB on 21 April 2008, stopping Yugoslavia. Just one was shot down, a in Palmdale, California, for another loss considered the result of a lucky shot retirement ceremony, and arrived at their from the ground. In July 1992, the 49th final destination on 22 April. Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB, New The remaining fleet of Nighthawks Mexico, became the sole operator of the were earmarked for mothballing at their

ABOVE F-117A artwork for the USAF. Image: LM Code One.

original home, Tonopah Test Range, after an operational life of less than 22 years. Its earlier-than-expected retirement was intended to save money for other programs, such as the F-35 Lightning ll. The F-117A program demonstrated that a stealth aircraft can be designed for reliability and maintainability. It revolutionised military warfare by incorporating VLO technologies into operational aircraft. Now replaced by the F-22A, a fifth-generation stealth airplane and the USAF’s stealth fighter of choice, Weapon loading tests at Eglin AFB in Florida. the F-117A has been overtaken by the Photo: Denny Lombard, LMSW. stealth technologies it pioneered.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 43 RAAF BASE. AMBERLEY

RAAF’S LARGEST BASE SINCE OPENING IN 1940, RAAF BASE AMBERLEY HAS DEVELOPED INTO A 'SUPER BASE’ WITH AN INCREASINGLY DIVERSE DEFENCE ROLE.

AAF BASE AMBERLEY, accommodates a range of aircraft 50km west of Brisbane in and squadrons, Force Element Groups, , is units, Defence the RAAF’s largest operational organisations, the Australian Air Force base, established to sustain Cadets No.208 Squadron, aerospace airpower capability for companies, retail outlets and the RAAF resident, forward-based Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre. and transiting ADF aircraft. The base covers more than 2,500 RThe need for a RAAF base in the hectares and employs approximately Brisbane region was identified in 6,000 uniformed and civilian personnel. the 1930s. The RAAF chose the The site includes adjacent farms (used Amberley site due to its flat, well- for training exercises such as airdrops), draining terrain, good visibility and an arms range and five buffer zones. proximity to engineering works and In cooperation with the NSW National the Brisbane railway line. It acquired Parks and Wildlife Service, the base also the land in December 1938 under the manages the Evans Head Air Weapons Defence purposes provision of the Range in Northern NSW. Lands Acquisition Act 1906-1936. Prior RAAF Base Amberley provides to European settlement, the site and permanent facilities for five military surrounding area were home to the aircraft platforms: F/A-18F Super Hornet, Yuggera and Ugarapul clans. EA-18G Growler, C-17A Globemaster III, RAAF Base Amberley is orientated KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and Aerial view of RAAF Base Amberley circa 1940s. around a large complex and C-27J Spartan.

44 | AUTUMN 2021 EARLY DAYS RAAF Base Amberley flight line and Construction of the runway and base and decommissioned aircraft, hard stand. Photo: FSGT Glen McCarthy. infrastructure began in 1939 and was was constructed to thwart potential one of the largest building projects enemy attacks. undertaken in Queensland at the time. During 1942 and 1943, Amberley The first building completed accommodated various USAAF units was the Commanding Officer’s and hundreds of US military personnel headquarters, designed in the were stationed there. British Colonial style. Base By the end of the war in 1945, the facilities, including hangars and base had accommodated the Lockheed accommodation, were added in quick Hudson, Martin B-26 Marauder, Curtiss succession and RAAF Base Amberley P-40 Warhawk (Kittyhawk), Vultee A-31 officially opened in June 1940. Vengeance, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Republic The first aircraft stationed at P-43 Lancer, Douglas A-20 Havoc (Boston Amberley was the Moth Minor Bomber), and No.A21-26, followed shortly by four Consolidated B-24J Liberator. CAC Wirraway aircraft. By the end of 1940, there were 54 aircraft based at Amberley and over the next two years the base was transformed into a BELOW A parade at RAAF centre of excellence for the assembly, Base Amberley circa 1965. maintenance and salvage of aircraft, including for the United States Army BOTTOM A GAF Canberra Bomber observed from the tower at RAAF Air Force, as Amberley was its primary Base Amberley. staging post during World War II. LARGEST BASE In March 1941, the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed, leading to the employment of women on the base in a variety of roles, including radar operators, wireless telegraphy operators, parachute packers, instrument repairers and drivers. The following year a dummy airfield, complete with empty hangars

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 45 RAAF BASE. AMBERLEY

DEVELOPING A SUPER BASE In 2000, redevelopment works The arrival of the F-111 circa June 1973. commenced with the relocation of Combat Support Group (CSG) from Glenbrook, NSW, and new headquarters for No.82 Wing, while the base also hosted several operational combat support units and security and fire training capabilities. Development of the ‘super base’ continued over the subsequent years, including the construction and refurbishment of accommodation, airfield upgrades, combined mess, gym, military working dog facilities, security and fire training and the Headquarters CSG building. In 2006, No.36 Squadron relocated to RAAF Base Amberley when it commenced re-equipping with the C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlifter. Canberra bomber from operational In 2010, after 37 years of service, the POST-WAR YEARS service and the government leased The site became a major RAAF bomber F-111, known as ‘the pig’, was retired, 24 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom base following the war, with Lincoln with two remaining on display, one at the II aircraft from the US Government, bombers initially based at the site, main entrance to the base and the other prior to the arrival of the F-111C. followed by the Canberra. moved to the RAAF Amberley Aviation Sadly, one of the Phantoms was Tragically, an Lincoln crashed Heritage Centre which opened in 2011 lost at sea with both crew members in the northeast corner of the base in (see page 48 for more). during an exercise at the Evans Head 1948, killing all 16 personnel on board. No.33 Squadron relocated to the Air Weapons Range in 1971. The first bomber in RAAF service to base in 2008 and in 2011 began re- be fitted with ejection seats, the GAF An extension of the main runway to equipping with the KC-30A Multi-Role Canberra Mk 20, arrived at the base more safely accommodate the future Tanker Transport. in 1953, remaining in service first as a F-111C was completed in 1971 and the Throughout its life, RAAF Base bomber and then in target towing and first six F-111C aircraft arrived at the Amberley has hosted elements of the photo reconnaissance roles until 1982. base in 1973. A few months later No.12 Australian Army. From 1960 to 1973, Also, during 1953, base personnel Squadron was formed with CH-47 it was home to and since hand-dug a swimming pool in their free Chinook helicopters. 2006 has supported a variety of Army time, finishing just in time for summer. The transfer of the battlefield and joint force units. In 2015, the Joint A major realignment of the main helicopters – Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Logistics Facility was opened on a runways was undertaken and Wirraway, Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and 22-hectare site in the centre of the base. Vampire and Meteor aircraft were CH-47 Chinook – from the RAAF stationed on-site during the 1950s. to the Army in 1989 provided the In 1960, No.16 Army Light Aircraft opportunity for additional aircraft capability on the base and three BELOW A CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift Squadron formed at RAAF Base helicopter over RAAF Base Amberley. Amberley as a joint unit operating years later, 10 de Havilland Bell Sioux helicopters and Cessna 180 DHC-4 Caribou aircraft were light aircraft. In 1966, the Squadron relocated to Amberley. expanded and was renamed 1st The 1990s saw the parade ground, Aviation Regiment. the heart of the base since the 1940s, The period between 1962 and 1970 converted to a car park, and a new saw construction of a new air traffic entrance gate installed, complete control tower and several new hangars. with a memorial garden and a static The largest, Hangar 363, was later Canberra Bomber. A84-201 was the assigned to General Dynamics F-111C first Australian built GAF Canberra and aircraft operated by No.1 Squadron. also came second in the 1953 London In 1970, the RAAF retired the to Christchurch Air Race.

46 | AUTUMN 2021 THE BASE TODAY RAAF Base Amberley is home to A C-17A Globemaster III departs the a number of Force Element Groups base with humanitarian aid bound (FEGs). RAAF’s largest FEG with more for Fiji. Photo: CPL Nicci Freeman than 5,600 permanent and reserve personnel, Combat Support Group (CSG) is headquartered at the base, along with: Combat Support Division, Headquarters 96 Wing, No.23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron, Headquarters 95 Wing, No.382 Squadron, No.295 Squadron, No.1 Combat Communications Squadron (Amberley Detachment), No.2 Security Forces Squadron Headquarters, Health Services Wing, No.1 Expeditionary Health Squadron Headquarters, No.3 Aero- medical Evacuation Squadron (Amberley Detachment) and Health Operational Conversion Unit. A detachment of Headquarters Air Combat Group (ACG) personnel is co- located at Amberley with Headquarters No.82 Wing, along with ACG’s No.1, No.6 and No.278 Squadrons. Although Headquarters Air Mobility

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AP-3C departs RAAF Base Darwin.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 47 RAAF BASE. AMBERLEY

Group (AMG) is located at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW, RAAF Base Amberley F/A-18F Super Hornet taxis for take-off. Photo: LAC Jesse Kane. hosts a number of subordinate units: Headquarters No.86 Wing and No.33, No.35 and No.36 Squadrons. The base is also home to three of the six aircraft types flown by AMG – the KC-30A, the C-27J and the C-17A. No.452 Squadron Amberley Flight (part of Surveillance and Response Group) provides Air Base Air Traffic Services and airspace management in support of flying operations and training at the base, including managing more than 30,000 aircraft movements a year. Air traffic controllers simultaneously manage civilian aircraft transiting the Amberley airspace to/from Brisbane, Archerfield, PERMANENT AIRCRAFT AT RAAF BASE AMBERLEY Toowoomba, Wellcamp and upwards of 40 other civilian airfields in South F/A-18F SUPER HORNET runways as short as one kilometre, enabling Australia to deploy troops, supplies and East Queensland and Northern NSW. No.1 Squadron operates RAAF’s 24 Super Hornets. The twin-seat Super Hornet vehicles anywhere in the world. The Ground Electronic Services section is larger than the F/A-18A (single-seat) maintains the air traffic control radar, and F/A-18B (twin-seat) Hornets. It can KC-30A MULTI-ROLE TANKER communication equipment and a number undertake air interception, air combat, air TRANSPORT of vital navigation aids. support of ground troops and interception No.33 Squadron operates six KC-30A Two Air Force Training Group of enemy supply lines. The Super Hornet Multi-Role Tanker Transports – a heavily schools are located at the base: RAAF will maintain Australia’s air combat modified , featuring Security and Fire School and School of capability until the RAAF fully incorporates advanced communication and navigation Postgraduate Studies – Professional the F-35A Lightning II. systems and a self-protection system to Military Education Flight. RAAF Amberely shield itself from surface-to-air missiles. also houses a range of Defence EA-18G GROWLER In its transport role, the KC-30A can carry organisations which support ADF No.6 Squadron operates 11 EA-18G 270 passengers plus 34 tonnes of cargo. operations, including Joint Logistics Growlers. An electronic , the In its air-to-air refuelling role, it can remain Unit South East Queensland, Estate Growler is capable of disrupting, deceiving 1,800km from base for up to four hours & Infrastructure Group, Heavy Air Lift or denying a broad range of military and offload 50 tonnes of fuel. Compatible Systems Program Office, Air Combat electronic systems, including radars and aircraft include EA-18G Growler, F/A- Electronic Attack System Program communications. Based on the F/A-18F 18A/B Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet, Office, Aerospace Explosive Ordnance Super Hornet airframe, the Growler is fitted E-7A Wedgetail, C-17A Globemaster III, System Program Office and Defence with additional avionics, enhanced radio- P-8A Poseidon, F-35A Lightning II and Aviation Safety Authority. frequency receivers and radio-frequency another KC-30A. The KC-30A can also RAAF Base Amberley also supports jamming pods to jam enemy systems. The refuel foreign aircraft such as the General Army units from 9th Force Support Growler supports a wide range of ADF Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon and Battalion, 6th Engineer Support tasks, from peacetime evacuations to major Rockwell B-1 Lancer. Regiment and LAND 121. conflicts. It provides a complementary capability to the Super Hornet and F-35A C-27J SPARTAN Lightning II. No.35 Squadron operates 10 C-27J Spartans, which bridge the gap between C-17A GLOBEMASTER III Australian Army helicopters such as the No.36 Squadron operates eight C-17A CH-47 Chinook and larger RAAF aircraft Globemaster IIIs. The Globemaster can such as the C-130J Hercules and C-17A carry up to 77 tonnes of cargo and drop it Globemaster III. The Spartan can transport while in flight. In its vehicle transport role, cargo and passengers, airdrop cargo it can carry four Bushmaster Protected and paratroopers inflight and conduct Mobility Vehicles or three Sikorsky UH-60 aeromedical evacuations. Black Hawk helicopters or one M1 Abrams It can operate from unsurfaced airstrips to tank. It can also be converted into a mobile support humanitarian aid and disaster relief A F-111 ‘dump and burn’. hospital for aeromedical evacuations. The missions in remote locations and has played Globemaster can operate from unsurfaced crucial roles in bushfire assistance.

48 | AUTUMN 2021 HISTORY. MUSEUM

recognising the contribution of women in the defence of Australia. With the Preserving Amberley’s assistance of retired and current female members of the WRAAF and RAAF, the centre is collecting significant stories, memorabilia and objects for HERITAGEpermanent display. The Aviation Heritage Centre is run by a team of Air Force Reservists RUN BY RESERVISTS AND VOLUNTEERS, supported by dedicated volunteers from the Ipswich and Brisbane communities, THE RAAF AMBERLEY AVIATION HERITAGE all with a keen interest in military aviation history. Members of the team CENTRE SHINES A LIGHT ON THE HISTORY are usually on hand to explain each OF AVIATION IN SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND. display and relate the story behind it with the hope those stories will be passed on from generation artefacts are restored, loaned or HE RAAF AMBERLEY to generation. Aviation Heritage Centre donated to illustrate the breadth Admission to the Aviation Heritage was opened in June 2011 of military aviation in South Centre is free, however, donations to showcase the history of East Queensland. are gratefully accepted. As the centre Tthe RAAF and the role of RAAF Base Visitors can see up close the is located inside the secure zone Amberley in providing air power to F-111 crew module that could be of RAAF Base Amberley, access the nation. ejected from the fighter/bomber during is tightly controlled. The centre displays a growing an in-flight emergency. Visit the RAAF Amberley range of static historical aircraft, There are two aircraft refuelling Aviation Heritage Centre website including a World War II Boston tankers and a range of historic (raafamberleyheritage.gov.au) for Bomber (courtesy of the Papua New vehicles, including two World War II opening hours and call 1800 623 306 Guinea Government), a Vietnam-era jeeps, on display. or email [email protected] Canberra bomber, Caribou, Douglas A special display highlights the to confirm visit details. DC-3 and Lockheed Electra L-10 history of Australian Hospital Ship transport aircraft, a Sopwith Camel Centaur which was attacked and sunk replica, Boomerang and replica Spitfire by a Japanese submarine off the coast fighters, Sabre and F-111 jets, Winjeel, of Queensland on 14 May 1943. Of the Pilatus Porter, Sioux, Iroquois and 332 medical personnel and civilian crew Blackhawk helicopters. aboard, 268 were killed. Survivors were Occupying four Bellman Hangars, discovered by the crew of an Avon which were part of a group of 14 Anson from 71 (CAF) Squadron that identical hangars built in 1942, the launched from the airfield at Lowood, centre endeavours to add to the 31km north of Ipswich. collection as more aircraft and Planning is underway for a display

WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 49 HISTORY. LAND SPEED

THE FASTEST AUSSIE ON EARTH

IN 1987, NEIL SMITH, HIS IS NOT A STORY that minutes later a shortish, stocky bloke would normally appear in an darkened the doorway to my office, THEN OC NO.481 aviation magazine, but it is introduced himself as Rosco and got WING, RAAF BASE about ultra ‘low flying’ – at down to business. Tzero feet – and has a strong RAAF He announced that he had recently WILLIAMTOWN, connection. It’s the yet unfinished purchased four Atar 9C engines, ex- story of a dinkum Aussie bloke with a Mirage III, at a Defence disposals auction RECEIVED dream, unbridled determination and an at St Marys (west of Sydney), and was AN UNUSUAL irrepressible spirit, who, some 25 years planning to use one to break the world ago, embarked on his journey to break land speed record. His determination and REQUEST FROM A the world land speed record. enthusiasm were immediately apparent, “There’s a Mr McGlashan at the front and there was something about the bloke YOUNG WESTERN gate asking to see you sir,” said my PA. that told me he was fair dinkum. AUSTRALIAN SET It was 1987, in the days when OCs had I also had a reasonable idea of what PAs. “He says he would like to talk to it was like to strap oneself to an Atar ON BREAKING you about mounting a Mirage engine 9C, albeit in a Mirage IIIO, and of the THE WORLD LAND into a car,” she added. engineering challenges involved. So, after Clearly a nut case, I thought, but the he produced drawings of the car and SPEED RECORD. name rang a distant bell and, with the explained his plan of approach, Rosco possibility the visit may provide some had captured my interest and, moreover, temporary relief from the insatiable my support. Simply put, I was hooked. in-tray, I agreed to see him. Fifteen As an aside, some years later Rosco

50 | AUTUMN 2021 revealed to me how he came to buy four engines rather than one or two. It seems that, after receiving very short notice of the auction, he caught the redeye flight from Perth to Sydney to attend in person (see page 53 for the story in his own words). BUILDING AN OPERABLE ENGINE The immediate problem Rosco needed to solve was that his recent acquisitions were only ‘core’ engines: he needed to acquire the ‘optional extras’ such as an afterburner, fuel control units, starter, etc, to make them run. The other problem was that he was not particularly flush with funds. To say he was attempting a world record on a shoestring would be an understatement. Rosco and his wonderful, supportive (some would say long-suffering) wife, Cheryl, were living pretty frugally and pouring all their spare cash into his dream. Aussie Invader II with main drag chute deployed In 1987, No.3 Squadron was on the runway at RAAF Base Pearce. already operating the F/A18 Hornet at Williamtown and No.77 Squadron was re-equipping with them. With the BELOW Tubular steel frame nearing completion, simultaneous winddown of Mirage with the Atar installed (except for starter). operations, Defence was starting to dispose of the aircraft and spares BELOW RIGHT The Atar 9C (hence the disposal of four engines at an assembled with all its ‘optional extras’. affordable price). I suspected a number of repairable items would also be available, so I volunteered to enquire of a well-placed contact in the Equipo world whether Rosco would be able to buy the required items at disposal prices. Acquisition of the ‘extras’ proved not as simple as first thought. There were people in Canberra who felt it would be irresponsible for Defence to sell Rosco the parts (at any price) because of the risk of “damage” he might do to himself. However, we were able to persuade them that he was well aware

WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 51 HISTORY. LAND SPEED

AUSSIE INVADER I

Aussie Invader I was a J34 Westinghouse jet powered dragster. It and a sister car were owned by the legendary Ken Warby MBE who set the world water speed record at 317 mph at Blowering Dam in NSW. Rosco helped Ken build the cars with a Chicago- based race-car builder, and then purchased Aussie Invader I after it had raced in the US, Australia and NZ. Rosco and Ken ran Aussie Invader II on the Lake Gairdner salt for the both cars side by side and performed at first time. many race meeting and displays. In Australia, the J34 augmented the of the risks. There was also a precedent. volunteers, including some RAAF fitters take-off power of the Lockeed Neptune, Rosco was already using a surplus J34 and technicians, who worked with him to producing around 3,400 lbs thrust. The from a Neptune P2V7 in his build his dream car. Most of those people J34 had no afterburner but Rosco and Aussie Invader I, which he was using to became firm friends of Rosco and Cheryl, Ken designed their own using just 304 SS delight the petrol heads attending drag and long-term members of his team. rolled sheet with their own design two-stage meetings across Australia (see Aussie Construction of Aussie Invader II burner rings and flame holders. A hole Invader I story on the left). commenced in 1988 using chrome was drilled into a combustion chamber Having acquired the necessary items, molybdenum steel tube to create a frame to accommodate a hot streak to light the the problem was how to fit them to an 8m long by 2.2m wide to house the Atar burner. The cars had two separate throttles, engine and run it. The engine shop at engine, four wheels, a small Rosco-sized one for the engine, the other for the burner No.481 Wing was still servicing Mirage cockpit on the starboard side, and two and a third lever for the main braking chute, engines, but the number requiring brake chutes in the rear, all enclosed in a with all three levers in a cluster gripped in maintenance was declining, providing fibreglass shell. By 1992, the build was all the right hand. The left hand steered the car. some spare workshop capacity. but complete and Rosco had commenced “By introducing an afterburner, over- Accordingly, the engine shop assembled test runs (on pneumatic tyres) on the speeding the engine way higher than and test-ran one of Rosco’s engines at Pearce runway after flying finished on military specs, increasing the engines fuel Williamtown. We were then able to find Friday afternoons. The car ran straight flow, adding water-methanol injection space on a Hercules going to Perth, so we and true and reached speeds of 300kph into the intake and squeezing our tailpipe waived Rosco (and the engine) goodbye (about lift-off speed for the Mirage). diameter we made over 5,100 lbf,” says with our best wishes. I recall thinking at Rosco. “Those engines had stallite turbine the time that it would be the last I would GETTING TO THE SALT blades and always hot started with our see or hear of Rosco unless he either Aussie Invader II was now ready for the EGT gauges on KILL. Thousands of achieved his goal or spectacularly failed. record attempt. Location was an issue. starts, lots of FOD ingestions and running How wrong one can be. Several salt lakes in WA were considered them on straight gasoline, diesel , JP1 Fast-forward to 1992, when I arrived but none could provide the runway length or whatever fuel was available at our race at RAAF Base Pearce as the newly required. Finally, Lake Gairdner in South venues. Aussie Invader I’s best ET was appointed OC Base. On the initial tour of Australia was selected, a vast salt lake 5.9 seconds at 242mph (390kph). my ‘kingdom’, I was somewhat surprised north of the Eyre Peninsular about mid- “That fantastic car did TV commercials, to find, in one of the hangers, a vehicle way between Port Augusta and Ceduna. set the Tasmanian land speed record at that closely resembled Rosco’s drawings The next challenge was funding, 504kph, and travelled at over 500kph from five years back. I guess I shouldn’t which could only come by finding more filming for a British Vauxhall commercial have been surprised. It seemed I was not sponsors. The logistics of getting Aussie on a remote salt lake in WA.” the only person who had fallen under the Invader II and its support team to such a influence of Rosco’s magnetic personality remote location and operating there for up and powers of persuasion. to two weeks were significant, especially with the size of the support group Rosco BUILDING AUSSIE INVADER II wanted to take. He was keen to share the In the years between 1987 and 1992, event with all the Aussie Invader people Rosco had been busy recruiting a who had helped get him that far: crew, large number of supporters and expert wives, sponsors – 40-odd people all up. While a smaller crew would have sufficed, that’s just not Rosco’s way; he never fails LEFT Aussie Invader I. to show his appreciation.

52 | AUTUMN 2021 Finally, in December 1993, everything PURCHASE OF THE with their transport container lids open. was ready for the big event. Aussie The auctioneer was being pushed round Invader II was rolled from its transporter FOUR ATARS on a wheeled platform and there was lots onto Lake Gairdner. While the logistic of interest in the engines with bidders issues had been solved earlier, the AS TOLD BY climbing all over them and leaving me December date reflected the local ROSCO MCGLASHAN OAM feeling very discouraged. knowledge of weather conditions. Bidding started on the first engine However, Rosco’s problems were and from memory went to $3,500 quite not over. There were to be many more quickly, but then stalled. obstacles and setbacks to follow. The auctioneer announced: “The To be continued next edition. containers around these engines are Neil Smith, MD RAAFA Publications, worth more than $3,500. It’s too hot. with the assistance of Peter Taylor, It’s too late in the day. Pass them in.” ex-FSGT engine fitter RAAF and He instructed the guy pushing him to Australian Land Speed Challenge go in the direction of his office. team member. It took a few seconds for the penny to drop, but I then yelled back at the auctioneer: “Mate I got on a flight from AUSSIE INVADER II Perth last night specifically to bid on one SPECIFICATIONS of these engines. If you’re not happy with the offer on your first one, you can’t drop DIMENSIONS: length 8m, width all four separate listings”. 2.2m, height 2.3m “Which one do you want to bid on?” WEIGHT: 4.5 tonnes he asked. ENGINE: Atar 09C5 axial flow turbo “Number two in line,” I responded. jet (ex-Mirage III) Catching a redeye to Sydney, I was present “What is your bid?” he asked. BODY: Welded tubular steel frame, at the most exciting aero auction I had “$500, sir.” fibreglass body ever attended. There was some really neat “Sold! What about the next one?” AXLES: Chrome molybdenum steel, surplus parts there. I would have bid on “$500,” I responded. “Sold… What grease specially developed by Kluber everything but did not have $100 to my about the next?” “$500.” “Sold!” “What Lubrication, Germany name. However, I was determined I was about the first one?” “$500.” “Sold!” WHEELS: Forged aluminium alloy, coming home with an engine. Everyone present, including me, was no tyres Luckily the four engines were the gobsmacked. It was an amazing moment. I was in shock when I rang Cheryl and BRAKING: Two parachutes plus last items on the list, all with their own carbon fibre disc brakes on all wheels auction ID numbers. It was an extremely told her our exciting news. She was too hot day and took about four hours to but said. “Where are we going to find FUEL CAPACITY: 500 litres (two $2,000?”. Somehow she did. minutes at full power) reach the first engine, all four displayed

Keeping Australia resilient in the name of the Spitfire pilots and ground crews who defended Australia across the globe in WWII.

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WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 53 HISTORY. NO.450 SQUADRON

its passengers. It was the largest convoy THE BIRTH OF A Australia had ever farewelled. After disembarking in Egypt, initially at Port Tewfik on 5 May, then a short stay at Geneifa, the squadron was posted to Abu Sueir followed by Aqir, Palestine. There, in June, it united with the pilots and Hawker Hurricanes of No.260 Squadron, RAF, to form an operational squadron predominantly flying ground-attack operations during the Syrian campaign. In August, No.260 Squadron’s ground NUMBER staff arrived from Britain and No.450 Squadron regained its original identity and purpose. After working as an Operational EIGHTY YEARS AGO, NO.450 SQUADRON Training Unit in Rayak, Lebanon, and an Aircraft Repair Unit in Burg el Arab, FORMED AT RAAF WILLIAMTOWN. Egypt, it moved to Kassassin, Egypt and reformed as a fighter squadron, receiving P-40 Kittyhawks and RAAF pilots in December. On 20 February 1942, 450 Squadron commenced operations at Gambut, Libya. Initially designated a fighter squadron, its principal role was bomber escort and ground-attack in close support of land forces. That role required the squadron to be highly mobile, particularly in North Africa, as it would leap-frog detachments from one forward landing ground to the next to keep pace with the fighting on the ground. No.450 Squadron, nicknamed the Desert Harassers, became one of the most famous RAAF squadrons of WWII. NDER THE AGREEMENTS of and its first squadron, No. 450, was Its nickname was derived from the the Empire Air Training Scheme, formed the following day. By 25 March, taunts of German-based propaganda Australia was responsible for the ED at Williamtown housed 267 broadcaster Lord Haw Haw who branded the formation of a number of enlisted men and seven officers. On 8 it “a band of Australian mercenaries Usquadrons to be administered by the April, after spending countless hours whose harassing tactics were easily RAF, apart from the Australian squadrons training and preparing the grounds of the beaten off by the Luftwaffe”. Needless already formed and active, such as RAAF Base, CO designate SQNLDR John to say, he was wrong. No.3 and No.10 Squadrons. Paget named 450 Squadron Avenue on On 9 April 1945, the Allies launched On 7 February 1941, a number of the base in honour of the squadron. their last offensive in Italy, resulting in the serving RAAF men reported to the The following day, the squadron left surrender of German forces on 2 May. Commanding Officer (CO) of a secret Williamtown with nothing but personal That ended No.450 Squadron’s war, just Embarkation Depot (ED) at Williamtown, kit and the mixed feelings of “Sailing as it was preparing to re-equip with the NSW with slips of paper declaring them Day” and boarded a train at Civic Station, North-American P-51 Mustang. to be members of No.450 Squadron Newcastle, bound for Sydney. Following The squadron was disbanded at awaiting posting. Simultaneously, at a short truck ride and a ferry across the Lavariano, Italy on 20 August 1945. Bankstown, west of Sydney, No.451 harbour to HMS Queen Elizabeth, which More than 800 airmen from five Squadron began to take shape. was officially referred to only as HMT PP. Commonwealth countries served in Those squadrons were the first Six thousand men were aboard. Across No.450 Squadron from 1941 to 1945, established under ‘Article XV’ the harbour, her sister ‘ship’, HMS Queen 61 airmen, both ground staff and pilots, of the Empire Air Training Scheme Mary, lay at anchor. Dwarfed were did not return. and consisted, almost exclusively, Mauretania, Isle De France and New The ‘450 Club’ was formed in Italy of ground staff. Amsterdam. The convoy followed HMAS in November 1943, with view to RAAF Base Williamtown was Australia out of the heads at 6.30am on maintaining friendships post war. Today, established on 15 February 1941 11 April 1941 to a destination unknown to the surviving veterans and their children

54 | AUTUMN 2021 retain that time-honoured tradition through the 450 Squadron RAAF Association Inc. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of No.450 Squadron’s formation, the Association unveiled a photographic exhibition at Fighter World, Williamtown on 15 February 2021. A wreath was laid at the 450 Squadron Memorial, RAAF Base Williamtown on 15 February 21 by AIRCDR Tim Alsop, Commander Air Combat Group and WOFF Philip Martin on behalf of the Association. Members and friends of the Association will commemorate the squadron’s deployment to the Middle East with a formal dinner, commemorative service and events on 9-11 April. An edited extract from the Squadron’s Unofficial Diary - Vol 1 as recorded by the Pilots of No 450 Squadron (1942)

LEFT RAAF Base Williamtown, March 1941. CAMPAIGNS/OPS Photo: courtesy Christie family. Jun-Jul 1941 – Syria

Feb 1942-Mar 1943 – Western Desert (Egypt and Libya) ABOVE RIGHT Sightseers watch Queen Elizabeth (refitted as a troop transport) resting at Mar-May 1943 – Tunisia anchor in Sydney Harbour, circa April 1941. Photo: courtesty Archbold family. Jul-Sept 1943 – Malta/Sicily

Sep 1943-May 1945 – Italy RIGHT 450 Squadron airmen wave to the camera on the Queen Elizabeth foredeck in 21 Mar 1945 – Operation Bowler, Sydney Harbour on 10 April 1941, 450’s last big operation. the day before they sailed. Photo: courtesy Gordon House.

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 55 CIVIL AVIATION. QANTAS CENTENARY THE PROPELLER ERA

CONTINUING THE N THE FIRST OF THIS international services that eventually FOUR-PART SERIES, stretched to England and beyond. Over STORY OF QANTAS’ ‘Forming:1919-1923’, we reflected the propeller-powered decades that on the events, motivation and followed, Qantas expanded its horizons, FIRST 100 YEARS, persistence of a handful of people ultimately encircling the globe. THE AIRLINE COMES that brought about the formation It was a period of great change for of the Queensland and Northern the company, the country and the OF AGE. Territory Aerial Services (QANTAS). world. For Qantas, it was an era of By 1922, the company had secured its newer technologies, larger aircraft, Ifirst mail contract and with a fleet of new opportunities and great setbacks. four biplanes was realising its creators’ But the greatest change for the airline dream of bringing a better, safer and was its business evolution. No longer more connected lifeline to those who a bush service of biplanes linking called the outback their home. country railheads and serving small Before the end of that decade, rural communities, it became a modern the company would outgrow the transport giant connecting Australia Queensland and Northern Territory to the global economy and establishing scope in its name, launching a travel industry.

56 | AUTUMN 2021

RIGHT A DH50 fuselage taking shape in the Longreach hangar.

BELOW RIGHT Another DH50 wing completed.

QANTAS’ first de Havilland DH50A in 1928 – G-AUER.

BELOW QANTAS newspaper ad, 1925. Fergus McMaster, Templeton, Michod and Fysh climbed into the Vulcan’s cabin for a demonstration flight. Eventually airborne, the single Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine struggled to keep the aircraft aloft. The manufacturer’s promise of climbing to 10,000 feet in 13 minutes was never going to be realised, so the Vulcan order was rejected. In the end a settlement was reached with Vickers NORMING: 1923-1959 in the sum of £1,000 in damages to With the first airmail service from Qantas, but there remained the problem Charleville to Cloncurry completed and of finding an appropriate addition to the unfortunate departure of the airline’s the fleet. The board reconsidered co-founder Paul McGinness, Hudson the available options and eventually Fysh, now head of operations, was approved the purchase of two DH9C responsible for settling the business into aircraft, but they would not arrive for a profitable, safe and routine operation. some time. And so, Fysh and Baird Keeping both Armstrong Whitworths, continued the juggling act of scheduled the Avro and the BE2e in the air fell to maintenance and damage repairs with engineer Arthur Baird. Rough landing dogged persistence. grounds, new pilots learning the ropes, In its first three years, Qantas a regular airmail service and ad-hoc successfully completed virtually every charters made for some bumps in the mail service, yet the operation could operation. In its first 10 years, Qantas not turn a profit. But by the end of clocked up, what was for the time, quite 1924, with the DH9Cs finally on-line, an enviable safety record. Covering Fysh was able to report to the board a over one million miles there were only profit for the year of just over £1,200, about 35 accidents (mostly minor) and the approximate cost of one of the 80 odd forced landings, the majority due recently acquired DH9C aircraft. Public to engine problems. Those events kept confidence in the local air service was Baird busy repairing aircraft damage and also growing. The news that pregnant replacing failed engines, sometimes in Mrs Armstrong had been urgently flown the most inhospitable of locations and to the base hospital to safely deliver her conditions. A brilliant innovator, Baird baby was the talk of the town. When a spent his spare time finding ways to local flood left 36 shearers stranded on augment the fleet’s performance to better one side of the Thomson River and a cope with the blistering summer heat. pub dangerously low on liquid stocks on In bidding for the airmail service, the the other, the sight of QANTAS ferrying board members had pinned their hopes men in one direction and beer and rum on the largely untested Vickers Vulcan, in the other was enough to silence even but the Vulcan’s performance proved to the loudest critic. be woefully inadequate in the western For QANTAS, the greatest battle Queensland environment. In the relative remained sourcing the right aircraft cool of a March morning in 1923, four to support the business. By late Qantas board members, Chairman 1923, de Havilland had embarked on

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 57 CIVIL AVIATION. QANTAS CENTENARY

a new era of development, designing Meanwhile, the first DH50, Iris, had remainder of the journey to England. aircraft for public transport, not just for entered a new role that would one day The negotiations for a long-term military service; enter the de Havilland see it immortalised on the Australian government contract to solidify the DH50. The DH50 was a watershed $20 note. For almost a decade, the route were extensive and protracted. advancement. Capable of a cruise speed Reverend had passionately Eventually, the Australian Government approaching 100mph with an enclosed campaigned for an aeromedical service accepted Qantas’ tender involving cabin for four passengers, it could – his ‘Mantle of Safety’ for the outback. a 50/50 arrangement with Imperial be powered by a number of different Finally, his dream came true when a Airways, to form Qantas Empire engine types. Once the purchase of contract was struck between the Civil Airways (QEA). The Australian its first DH50 was finalised, the board Aviation Authority, the Australian Inland Government awarded the five-year entered into a contract with de Havilland Mission and QANTAS with Arthur contract based on the new de Havilland to build its own DH50s under licence. Affleck as pilot and Dr St Vincent Welch DH86 four engined aircraft, with the The small (now heritage-listed) hangar at on board, Iris was pressed into service inaugural service scheduled to depart Longreach took on the added role of a in May 1928 from its new Flying Doctor from Brisbane on 10 December 1934. manufacturing workshop. home in Cloncurry. Qantas would The old Queensland And Northern With a new concrete floor, production continue in this role for almost 20 years Territory Aerial Services company was jigs, tooling and DH50 components until TAA took over the Royal Flying dissolved and QEA was born. arriving regularly, Baird took charge of Doctor Service contract in 1947. At the time of ordering, the DH86 an ever-increasing team of carpenters, With the dawn of the 1930s came was still at the conceptual stage fitters, mechanics and shop hands. ambitious expansion into international providing QEA an opportunity to make While Baird’s team churned out a flying. KLM was flying south east as far substantial contributions to the final new DH50 every six months, Fysh, as India and in 1931 design. Initially the DH86 was built with working in a small office in the corner launched a trial flight from Croydon in a single pilot cockpit, but Brain pressed of the hangar, managed the day-to-day England to Australia. The benefits of de Havilland to introduce a two-pilot operations, employing more pilots for connecting the two countries with an cockpit design to help alleviate fatigue the ever increasing services. Men such aerial mail service were readily apparent, on longer sectors. The DH86 was as Lester Brain and ‘Skipper’ Moody but again it came down to the right sleek, fast and streamlined and its cabin who would become giants of the choice of aircraft and some form of accommodated up to 10 passengers Australian aviation scene accepted their financial backing or joint venture. Qantas in spacious comfort, but later critics Qantas wings in this small office against put itself squarely in the middle with a decried its hurried introduction as the backdrop of hammers, band-saws view to being a substantial part of the potentially causal to several serious and Baird’s music player. overseas service. For three years, the accidents. For Qantas, the latter years of the governments and airlines deliberated ANA and Holyman’s Airways had 1920s was a period of expansion over how the final outcome would secured DH86 aircraft early in production and diversification. By September of transpire. Qantas, having no multi- and introduced them into service in 1929, six newly constructed DH50s engine aircraft was initially unable to Australia. With the first QEA service just graced the skies, and two of the even take on any over water services. For a weeks away, Brain arrived in Australia larger and faster DH61 aircraft had time, pilots would fly the mail as far as with the first DH86 at the end of a entered service flying from Archerfield Darwin where Kingsford Smith would flawless delivery flight, knowing a second to Charleville and competing directly take over in Southern Cross, flying on would follow shortly under the command with the railways. The larger seven to Koepang, Indonesia. There, the mail of an Imperial Airways pilot, Pendergrast. passenger DH61 added a new would again transfer, this time onto Meanwhile, DH86 Miss Hobart operated dimension to Australian skies that an Imperial Airways aircraft for the by Holyman’s Airways had disappeared could rival even Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek. With the introduction of the first Australian aeroplane washroom in regular service, finally, one could ‘go’ where no man has gone before’. Though flying remained a risky business – to the extent that the aircraft could not as yet be insured and passengers had to sign a waiver before boarding – a new breed of private pilots was slowly emerging. Meeting the demand for this ‘novel venture of aviation’, Qantas established flying schools at Longreach and out of the new Hangar 4 at Archerfield, under the control of Lester Brain.

58 | AUTUMN 2021 without trace between Launceston and Melbourne. Then, just after dawn on the 15 November 1934, a second disaster occurred. Pendergrast, with co-pilot Creetes, engineer Charlton and Shell representative Broadfoot aboard, entered a flat spin just a few miles short of the Longreach airfield at the end of their delivery flight, with the loss of all onboard. The DH86 was immediately grounded and other arrangements were made for the inaugural flight from Brisbane to Singapore. Under the watchful eye of the Civil Aviation Authority, extensive testing by Qantas staff including Brain, Fysh and Baird was undertaken to determine if the DH86 was safe to fly or whether a sinister problem lurked beneath its sleek exterior. In the end no immediate deficiencies were discovered, but some evidence was found that if the centre of gravity moved aft of its limit in flight, the underpowered tailplane and rudder could not provide sufficient control for the pilot to recover. The second DH86 had been carrying a spare engine in the cabin on its delivery flight, and this, combined with the discovery of Pendergrast’s body in the toilet at the rear of the cabin gave weight to the argument. With scrupulous adherence to its flight envelope and improvements to the rudder and elevator controls, the DH86 re-entered service. TOP The DH 86 introduced QEA to the world. It had been a dark beginning to the new ABOVE The passenger cabin of the DH 61. international operation, but with a new found respect for the aircraft, the DH 86 would continue safely in Qantas service DH-86 overseas signpost poster. RIGHT for many years. At the time, the flight to England was BELOW LEFT QANTAS DH61 with its smaller a dizzying array of transport changes brother, the DH50, in the background. for its passengers. Five different aircraft types - some flying boats but all unpressurised of course, two train

HARS Aviation Museum Highly acclaimed collection of lovingly restored aircraft as well as a selection of Australia’s Aviation Heritage aircraft. An incredible tour with a team of knowledgeable tour guides who provide outstanding commentary on your visit. Over 40 aircraft including: Well stocked shop with memorabilia • DHC-4 Caribou (A4-210, A4-234) from aviation history • F-111C (A8-109) • PBY-6A Catalina Award winning café with great coffee, • AP-3C Orion (A9-753) breakfast & lunch menus. Memorable private • CAC CA-27 Sabre (A94-901) functions & kids birthday parties • P2V-7 Neptune (A89-273) • Douglas C-47 (A65-94, A65-95, A65-90 High-tech conference & meeting rooms Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina and - now N2-90) with state of the art equipment C47 Dakota. Photo: Dick Simpson

Open 7 days from 9:30am – 3:30pm | 02 4257 4333 | hars.org.au | , Albion Park Rail NSW HARS Aviation Museum WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 59 Highly acclaimed collection of lovingly restored aircraft as well as a selection of Australia’s Aviation Heritage aircraft. An incredible tour with a team of knowledgeable tour guides who provide outstanding commentary on your visit.

Over 40 aircraft including: • -400 City of Canberra - famous for London to Sydney non-stop flight • Boeing 747-400 Premium Tour or Cockpit Tour hosted by Boeing 747-400 flight crews • Boeing 747-400 Wing Walk hosted by Tour Guide • Lockheed Super Constellation ‘Connie’ • F-111C Fighter Bomber & Southern Cross II Well stocked shop with memorabilia from aviation history Award winning café with great coffee, breakfast & lunch menus Memorable private functions & kids birthday parties High-tech conference & meeting rooms with state of the art equipment

Open 7 days from 9:30am – 3:30pm 02 4257 4333 | hars.org.au Regional Airport, Albion Park Rail CIVIL AVIATION. QANTAS CENTENARY

journeys, 31 stops and anything from 10 to 12 days to complete, it was a trip for the adventurous soul. Not merely a flight of convenience that cut the sailing time by two thirds, it was perhaps rightly described as a journey of mystic lands and peoples. Alexander Frater’s Beyond the Blue Horizon presents a commendable and comprehensive travel book on the subject. In the late 1930s, with the Australia to England contract up for renegotiation and a burgeoning load of mail and freight, QEA again needed to take a huge leap forward. By 1938, the service was carrying nearly 5,000 passengers and more than 400 tons of mail annually. With a view to streamlining the service and the eventual operation all the way to – Coolangatta, Cooee, Carpentaria, England in its own right, Qantas, entered Corio, Coogee and Coorong, carried 15 the flying boat era. Selecting the Shorts passengers, two crew and three cabin brothers S23, C Class, Empire Flying crew. They were twice as long and Boat for the renewed contract brought four times heavier than the DH86s they with it many challenges, not the least of replaced. Though they only reduced which was teaching its pilots how to sail. the journey time to England by a day, The route, dubbed the Kangaroo Route, they set a new standard in flying with had to be re-surveyed and sea bases greater space and comfort, full-service established. Qantas head office relocated meals, and maybe a game of quoits or to the Shell House in Sydney as Rose golf on the promenade deck afterwards. Bay became home for the Empire fleet. Introduced to the run in July 1938, Qantas was growing up. By 1938, the their opulent passenger appeal would airline had a paid-up capital in excess of be short-lived as they would soon be half a million pounds, a staff of 228 and pressed into a more important service - conducted everything from flying schools defence of the country. and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to The significant contribution and International operations. sacrifice of Qantas and its crews to Built in Rochester England, the six the wartime effort is too important and C Class aircraft under Qantas control extensive to be adequately encapsulated here, so the next article in this series will explore Qantas at war in more detail. For now, let’s taxi forward a little to 1945. As the war drew to a close in 1945, Qantas could have been forgiven for giving it all in and shutting up shop. A decimated and ageing fleet of aircraft gave little inspiration, but the 15-year contract to fly the Kangaroo Route signed in 1938 still had several years to run. In TOP Corio taking off. fact, throughout the duration of the war Qantas had maintained a secret CENTRE QEA DC4. with England using a fleet of Catalina ABOVE Christening Lockheed aircraft. Unfortunately, under the terms of Constellation VH-EAM. use, Qantas was forced to scuttle all the Catalinas at sea after the war. With little left of the Empire fleet, Qantas now went LEFT shopping for used military aircraft that Flying boat base, Rose Bay, Sydney. could be adapted to civilian service.

60 | AUTUMN 2021 Lancastrians went into service on the original contract to fly only British made Kangaroo Route to supplement what was aircraft on the Australia to England route. left of the Empire Flying Boats. You could Limited post-war production, however, take the improved flying boat service severely hampered the available options in six days to London, or a Lancastrian coming out of the . in under 70 flying hours – provided of Imperial pressure was on the company BELOW course you preferred sideways seating to accept the yet-to-be-proven Tudor QEA poster featuring L-749 cutaway. and windows only on the starboard side II airliner, while the Americans were of the aircraft. C47s were converted to already building and flying vastly superior DC3s and began operations into New aircraft and at competitive prices. As far BOTTOM Guinea, and Liberators flew to Colombo. as Qantas was concerned the Lockheed Southern Zephyr and Southern Aurora As more flying boats became available, Constellation met and exceeded their preparing to make history. flights to Noumea, Fiji and New Zealand every requirement. After continued were supported with second-hand lobbying, Prime Minister Ben Chifley Catalinas, while DC4s pressed operations approved the Lockheed deal and pilots, up into Asia as far as Hong Kong and engineers and maintenance staff began Japan. The successful operation of their training in Burbank, California. such a diverse fleet and network took The elegant Constellations transformed a dedicated team, a team that grew Qantas yet again. First-class service, together as a family. pressurised cabins and cruise speeds In 1947, the Australian Government around 300mph reduced the London bought all shares in the Qantas company. service to four pleasant days’ travel – Earlier in the year, Fergus McMaster had with two nights in the air and two in stood down as Chairman due to age and hotels along the way. For the first time, ill health, handing the mantle to Hudson Qantas employed female cabin crew. Fysh. Fysh was now both Managing Applicants had to be single, between 22 Director and Chairman of the government- and 27 years old, between 5’3’’ and 5’6’ owned company, and in charge of an tall, under 60kg weight and hold at least airline already taking its next big leap. a Nursing Certificate. Enter the . The Constellations expanded the In 1946, Qantas signed a contract network into Africa, Asia, Europe and with Lockheed to purchase the first America. By 1958, you could fly around of six L749 Constellations. Eight years the world with Qantas. Famously, later they would take a further 19 of on the 14 January 1958, two L1049 the larger L1049 ‘Connies’. Qantas had Super Connies taxied out at Melbourne been forced under the terms of the together – Southern Zephyr (VH-EAP) departing westward for London via the Kangaroo Route and Southern Aurora (VH-EAO) departing eastward on the new Southern Cross route. Two days later, the aircraft crossed paths in London before continuing their journeys arriving back in Australia 128 hours after departing. Qantas and Australia had come of aviation age, but this was the beginning of the end for the propeller era. WWII innovation and the inventive work of a square-jawed Coventry lad named Frank – the cherished son of Moses and Sara Whittle – would put pay to that. Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle’s jet engine would ring the death knell for large propellor , and Qantas would move into the jet age. To be continued next edition. Don Hill, Qantas Pilot & Director, Qantas Founders Museum

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 61 CIVIL. ROLLS-ROYCE

The switchboards distribute power to the active front end drives for the propulsion motors and bow thruster. A diverse enterprise The hybrid system provides an optimised and flexible power plant ROLLS-ROYCE CONJURES IMAGES OF featuring numerous fuel saving modes. PRESTIGIOUS CARS AND POWERFUL AIRCRAFT Driving the ship using electrical power ENGINES, BUT TODAY IT IS A DIVERSE ENTERPRISE while simultaneously powering the No.79 Squadron at Ubon. ship’s hotel services (lighting, pumps THAT INCLUDES SHIP DESIGN CAPABILITIES AND etc) and mission systems reduces the HYBRID ENGINE TECHNOLOGY. vessel’s fuel consumption and thus emissions. The mtu 4000 generators incorporate a selective catalytic OLLS-ROYCE HAS BEEN on a Rolls-Royce concept design, reduction system to ensure the an integral partner to armed the first time that design has been ship complies with the strict IMO III forces across the Asia Pacific implemented in the naval sector. emission guidelines. Maintenance costs for many decades, from Thanks to its bow shape, the ship of the hybrid-electric system are also Rpowering the RAAF Hawk aircraft to has greater seaworthiness, is more significantly reduced in contrast to a recent contract to power the FFX manoeuvrable and has particularly low a mechanically powered warship. Batch-III frigates in South Korea. water resistance, thus reducing fuel Rolls-Royce was also contracted to The Royal New Zealand Navy burn and emissions. integrate the critical power generation (RNZN) recently took possession of HMNZS Aotearoa’s entry into service sub-systems to support the high-power a new polar-class sustainment vessel, represented a significant milestone for capacity required for a polar-class ship HMNZS Aotearoa. With a displacement Rolls-Royce. Drawing from its world- to ensure sustained operations in the of 26,000 tonnes, Aotearoa’s primary leading range of power and propulsion cold Antarctic environment. duties are to provide global logistical equipment, the program has become a support to sovereign and coalition showcase for Rolls-Royce’s first naval maritime, land and air units. From hybrid propulsion system. inception through to entry into service, The combined diesel electric and Rolls-Royce has been intrinsically diesel (CODLAD) system is powered involved with the program, specifically by two Bergen B33:45L9P diesels the vessel concept design and hybrid supplemented by two electric power electrical and propulsion systems. take in motors and two controllable Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries pitch propellors. Electrical power is in South Korea, HMNZS Aotearoa has supplied by four mtu 4000 Series specialised winterisation capabilities diesel generators distributed by an for her operations in Antarctica. The electrical power management system innovative wave-piercing hull is based through 690v main switchboards. ABOVE HMNZS Aotearoa. Photo: RNZN.

62 | AUTUMN 2021 MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

A LASTING FOOTPRINT

A VISIT TO A UR COMPANY unknown time and relied on the chopper DELIVERED realistic always being able to extract them. REMOTE VILLAGE survival training to the public. That led to sloppy jungle safety and IN THE JUNGLE On one occasion we were survival protocols. Most were working askedO whether we could train some in unsuitable clothing and did not carry CONTINUES TO STIR geologists working for a mining company even basic survival equipment. Despite in Irian Jaya (now Papua), Indonesia. insisting the geologists introduce better REFLECTIONS ON The geologists were conveyed into standards, the company found difficulty LEADERSHIP, survey areas by chopper and winched gaining enthusiastic participation. into tight places to get assay samples. SELF-ENTITLEMENT The operation was carried out in the INTO THE WILD most remote locations. The terrain A month later we met our group of 10 AND THE VALUE was formidably steep with spectacular geologists at . We took them OF THE PUB TEST – chasms and covered in jungle. to a nice hotel, booked them in and asked Each chopper carried about three them to meet us in an hour. We told them 25 YEARS LATER. geologists who were winched down we were going into the jungle and they individually as the chopper covered a should wear and carry what they normally grid pattern and then winched back up took with them in the chopper. 30 minutes to an hour later. Between We loaded them into two four-wheel- winching episodes, the chopper left drives and took off down the road. They the immediate area. The weather sat there happily, chatting and looking was often chancy with low cloud, rain at the scenery as we drove. We were and thunderstorms. It could close in headed up into the Paluma Ranges, west rapidly, making extraction difficult or of Cairns. After 90 minutes, we stopped impossible. The worry was that there the 4WDs in the middle of quite a dense was a possibility the chopper, due to area of jungle. True to form, they were weather or technical difficulty, might dressed in what you might call casual not get back to the geologists in a clothing with next to no equipment. timely fashion to lift them out. All of a sudden it dawned on one of The geologists had become quite them: “Damn, we are being left here”. complacent about their risk of Questioning eyes looked at one another. becoming isolated in the jungle for an As the light slowly dawned around the

63 | AUTUMN 2021 WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 63 MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

group, the question was blurted out: “How long are we here for?” Surprise! “Your helicopter left you here one hour ago. It has not come back. The weather has closed in. We cannot tell how long before the chopper can get back in.” The looks on their faces were priceless: disbelief, consternation and nervousness. I felt a little uneasy about the subtle deceit we'd applied by not telling them the full story. Their first night and the next day were rather a survival disaster. There was plenty of discomfort, some hunger and thirst but very little organisation or in dense jungle. The area was dotted community that we took during the first focused action. Signs of them getting with small villages separated by huge hour we were there. The expression on together to plot the remaining days distance and mostly impassable terrain. their faces was priceless. were limited until one of the geologists There were no roads or infrastructure. showed a few bush skills. Sometimes a maze of rugged jungle FAIR EXCHANGE? I winched in to one village full of John had grown up in Papua New trails in a few places, but not all, trepidation. As the chopper left, we Guinea with the local population. He had allowed villagers to trek to other were met by a group of men who brought his favorite sling shot with him settlements, often involving arduous, looked very intimidating; bows, arrows, and was deadly accurate at about 20m. multiple day journeys. bones and a decidedly rugged look. In All of a sudden, the group’s interest was Some villages are as remote as it contrast, one of them carried a piece of grabbed when John started chasing a gets anywhere in the world; two were what looked like fruit. So, time for the bush turkey. All the group could see was much more than a day’s arduous trek opening gambit. I pointed at his fruit and food. Morale rose and so did the action apart. The people of those villages then held my hat floppy out toward him. on a survival plan. could often see and communicate by Maybe trading would bridge the gap. He With our input, they learnt to build voice across a ravine that seemed cracked a big smile as we exchanged a signal fire, milk water from their bottomless and was full of rushing our gifts. Then it was on for young and surrounds including the trees, rig water. I swear some of the villages old. Big smiles by all and much touching shelters from bush materials and gather were so remote that possibly the of his new hat and touching of “them and catch bush food. For the first time in people had never seen anyone from people from the sky”. After a couple of their lives, they experienced true hunger outside their community. hours, we said goodbye, winched up, and thirst. They had a hard time, but Amazing country but no wonder the fruit on board, and departed. Our last they succeeded step by step. mining company wanted improved sight was enthusiastic waving. Five days later, our geologists stood survival behaviors. We camped for the night in hoochies in the same clearing as on day one. We were there for more than a week. near another village about 10km away They had developed a new appreciation During that time, I was to experience across difficult terrain. I woke at dawn of being caught out in the jungle. We a surprising event. More than 25 years to a huge commotion and was surprised loaded into the 4WDs and headed back later, it still is strong in my mind. when one of the locals beckoned me. to the hotel. They had set themselves The mining company had a good-will I stepped out into the commotion rules and standards and were now a project visiting villages by chopper to to see my hat, last seen in the remote professional, organised lot. Team spirit experience their culture and possibly village, proudly worn by the villager had shot through the roof. contribute some tools and we went on some of those visits. I had traded with. He was clutching IRIAN JAYA The people were strikingly friendly, two pieces of produce. We went to visit the team in Indonesia somewhat timid but very caring. Most Somewhat taken aback, my two months later to experience their had no wheeled transport, no mod immediate thought was, how the day-to-day operations and see whether cons of any nature and were in awe of heck had he got here and had he we could add anything to their working a helicopter and the people in it. Some come to demand another hat? life and our training program. We places we could land at, others we had Had I shortchanged him? Would choppered out with them on their to winch into. my deal have passed the pub test? day’s work. On one visit we took a generator as With the help of the locals, I The terrain in which they operated well as tools and showed the villagers ascertained that he actually thought was mostly precipitous and covered some video of themselves and their exchanging a hat for just one piece of

64 | AUTUMN 2021 fruit was unfair and insisted I accept self-entitlement? In my daily life, I see and why we were going in the 4WDs. two extra pieces of fruit. After I, as politicians evidencing entitled behavior. Would that pass the pub test? graciously and humbly as I could, I hear of many scams. I see road rage. I have reflected on that situation accepted, he trotted off into the jungle I know of people ignoring COVID rules. all these years later. head held high. I could not believe I see fighting in supermarkets over Leadership often walks a pretty thin he had found us, presumably walking toilet paper. line. I think most people reactively look through the night, nor understand what My experience in Indonesia 25 at a leader’s motivation and see either had driven him to such lengths. years ago keeps causing me to ask of 'for the good of the group' or 'a glory or myself questions that provoke more power trip for the leader'. I believe our THE PUB TEST questions. Would I reactively trust, as a decision was for the good of the group. I have reflected on that event regularly compatriot, the local who traded for my Passing the pub test is such a ever since, marveling at the whole thing. hat? My word I would because of his good measure of leadership behavior. Incredible that even now when I am the demonstrated desire for fairness. Can I Pity we do not teach it in schools slightest bit resentful about going out of have the same reactive thoughts of the and community groups, let alone my way for another, I am quickly brought politicians in this country, or many large workplaces. We need people in back into line recalling my village friend. businesses, banks, lawyers and more? the world to make us reflect on our His was not a Western-learned or a Is our country heading in the wrong behavior. The village man with the workplace-regulated behavior. It was direction as people vie for power and hat has had a permanent effect on my a behavior bred way out there in the wealth instead of fairness, honour and life, as has the survival course and its middle of nowhere. empathy to give service to our nation? participants. Disparate peoples from Think about it: are we instilling those Those big questions leave me perplexed. remote Irian Jaya. Weird, the characters behaviors and leading by example in our The behavior of the man from the that come into your life and leave own family and social networks? Is our remote village passed the pub test for 'footprints'. society strong in that type of behavior? sure. It made me rethink my behaviour Peter Ring, Are we a society too influenced by in fooling the geologists about where Principal, Lingk

The RAAF Museum, located at Point Cook, is home to an amazing range of historic military aircraft. The Museum has a vast collection of historical material on show, including several hangars with static aircraft. It offers visitors an exciting experience and insight into the history of the OPENING HOURS: Royal Australian Air Force. Due to COVID-19, please check our Models, books, patches, clothing website and Facebook and mementos can be purchased page for reopening and booked attendance at the Museum shop. requirements.

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WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 65 PERSONAL FINANCE. ADVICE

THE STATE OF THE MOTOR MARKET

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING A CAR – NEW OR USED CAR, HERE IS SOME USEFUL INFORMATION AND ADVICE.

Whatever the state of the market, public transport and new car dealers NEW CAR GLOOM experience supply shortages. According The first half of 2020 saw the worst before you act, do your research, take new car market since the global your time, don’t be pressured, don’t to data from Moody’s Analytics, July financial crisis. The story didn’t change be afraid to walk away, be bold about 2020 used-car prices broke records for much until the last two months of asking for the best deal and try to seal a second successive month, recording the year, when the Federal Chamber the deal as close as possible to the end a 16.2 percent rise on pre-pandemic of Automotive Industries reported an of the month when sales figures are prices and a massive 30.8 percent increase of 12.4 percent in November about to be finalised. increase on prices experienced during compared to the same period in Also, don’t overlook the considerable the April 2020 slump. 2019 and an increase of 13.5 percent benefits of buying a new car in 2021 In addition, domestic air travel had in December 2020. with 2020 compliance and build plates. declined by over 90 percent by May Overall, according to CarAdvice, new In most cases, the older those “new” 2020 because many interstate travellers car sales for the whole of 2020 were cars become, the harder they are to decided to take a drive for their family the lowest in 17 years and it was the sell. Consequently, they will often holidays and business trips. As a result, first time the Australian new car market attract an additional discount just to demand for used cars outweighed dropped below one million since 2009. move the stock and will come with supply, making late-model, low- The signs are that the new car market a comforting new car warranty. kilometre vehicles harder to find. That will bounce back in 2021, but that has pushed up wholesale prices right depends on the course of the pandemic USED-CAR BOOM across the board. and its impact on consumer confidence The 2020 story of (mostly) doom and Valuers and auctioneers are reporting and the wider economy. gloom for new car dealers was quite the most in-demand used vehicles are Within the overall figures, some the opposite for used cars. SUVs and utes, especially those that brands have fared better than others According to CarAdvice, “pre-loved” have travelled less than 60,000km with with popular SUVs, utes and 4WDs cars were increasingly hot property low fuel consumption, a good service showing better sales results than in Australia, with a surge in prices history and some new car warranty conventional sedans. since April 2020 as buyers avoided remaining. The highest demand is for

66 | AUTUMN 2021 the likes of Toyota, Mazda, VW, Hyundai, Kia and Subaru, all of which 4 Be prepared to pay more for peace have reputations for reliability and 6 car buying tips of mind. Buying a poor-quality used reasonable maintenance costs. car, or a 'lemon', at a cheaper price will The same phenomenon has been 1 Have a pre-purchase mechanical and observed in the classic car market. body inspection. That must be non- usually end up costing more in repairs, For example, Gray’s Auctions negotiable and it must be independent. maintenance and frustration. recently reported the on-line auction If the seller won’t agree, walk away. 5 Late model used cars purchased from sale of a 1973 Ford Falcon XA GT dealers often come with a short statutory at a remarkable price of $300,909. 2 Check the car’s clear title and warranty period (usually three months). Shannons Auctions has reported accident history through your state Whether a statutory warranty applies or similar results, noting a “you only or territory motor registry website. live once” attitude of buyers during Otherwise, you might be buying a not, buyers are often convinced to buy a the pandemic. car that has an outstanding financial used-car warranty through an insurance The obvious question is, how encumbrance (loan or debt) or it might company on which the dealer is usually long will that last? Logic says the have been financially written off by an paid a commission. Alternatively, a policy used-car market frenzy will ease as insurer after an accident. The former can is “thrown in” to sweeten the deal rather more sellers come to the market lead to the car being repossessed. The than offering a discount on the list price. to take advantage of higher prices. latter, called a “repairable write-off”, may Those warranty policies are sometimes The trend may also moderate with not be eligible for insurance. best described as junk insurance because the withdrawal of most government they are often written in such a way financial support in March 2021. 3 Make sure the car has a strong and that claims are difficult to make and/or The key point is that if you buy documented maintenance history from limited in value. You can read more about a used car now, take your time, do new in Australia. If the car was imported lots of research, buy the best quality your consumer rights and warranties at from overseas later in its life, pay special vehicle rather than the cheapest one accc.gov.au. and set a target price beyond which attention to its history and country of 6 Purchase comprehensive car you’ll walk away. origin. Most overseas imports sell at insurance before you drive away. There That’s not dissimilar to buying real substantial discounts, reflecting the risks are many stories of newly purchased cars estate at auction. Just like houses, inherent in buying such a car (covered-up being damaged or written off within five there are plenty of cars out there and rust, dodgy repairs, stolen, non-genuine another one will come along, sooner parts and engines). minutes of purchase, so don’t risk it. than you expect.

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WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 67 CADETS. AAFC

WORDS Flying Officer (AAFC) Paul A Rosenzweig

GOLD AWARD additional training in transferring back to aerotow and respective procedures,” Tharane said. “My flying in the AAFC and with Adelaide Soaring Club helped for glider me learn from different instructors and gain experience in different environments and aircraft.” Her efforts to improve her knowledge pilot and ability in aviation contributed to the skills section of her Gold Award. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is N OCTOBER 2020, three the and the 53rd an enriching program in which young Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) anniversary of the end of the Indonesian people aged 14 to 25 participate in a members received a special Confrontation with . She also number of activities and non-formal certificate from the Governor led the 604 Squadron team to victory as education to qualify for Bronze, Silver Iof South Australia recognising their the best squadron in 6 Wing in the 2019 and Gold Awards. It was founded in completion of the Gold Award of the Catalina Cup competition. 1956 by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. As a leading Cadet, Tharane was of Edinburgh and now operates in more awarded a scholarship to undertake One of the three, Aircraftwoman than 130 countries and territories across flying training with the AAFC. She (AAFC) Tharane Thamodarar served the globe. trained in the DG1000S soaring sailplane with No.604 Squadron at Hampstead For more information, see aafc.org.au/ from Stonefield, Gawler and Balaklava Barracks, SA, rising to the rank of what-we-do/duke-of-edinburgh-award. airfields with 906 Aviation Training Cadet Flight Sergeant and holding roles Squadron, now known as Balaklava such as Recruit Flight Commander and Glider Training Flight – one of three ABOVE LEFT Tharane Thamodarar receiving Assistant Training Officer. centres of excellence that make up the A highlight of her service was being her Gold Award certificate at Adelaide Town Hall new Gliding Training School. from His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le Catafalque Party Commander for a “On 14 March (2020) I flew my first AC, Governor of South Australia. Photo courtesy service of commemoration marking solo flight at Gawler Airfield with the of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – the 59th anniversary of the end of Adelaide Soaring Club, after some South Australia.

S SQUADRONS RESUME PARADE NIGHTS, with Q appropriate precautions, there + have been opportunities to A Arecognise achievements. No.704 (City of Wanneroo) Squadron CADET PILOT at Madeley, WA, resumed parades during Term 3. The Squadron’s Acting Cadet Corporal Jack Shadwick has been approved to wear the prestigious AAFC First Solo Badge. During the squadron’s operational pause, Jack continued his powered flying training with an approved external service provider. He spoke to Wing Aviation Liaison Officer for 7 Wing, Pilot Officer (AAFC) Alex Hartner, about his impressions of flying solo. WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT THAT DAY? “It was 14 April 2020. I was excited knowing I was going to do what I

68 | AUTUMN 2021 love most. I was going to fly a plane, of time after each flight, along with the but today was not just some ordinary extensive aircraft cleaning inside and out. flight training. It would be the most READY TO fly “This is all in order to make the return to memorable day I would ever have. It normal operations and transition to flying was the day my instructor would put with Cadets again post-COVID as smooth DURING THE OPERATIONAL pause as possible.” the aircraft in my hands. I was going to in Cadet activities, the Elementary Flying Aviation Operations Wing delivers flying do my first ever solo, aged 15.” Training School (EFTS) of the AAFC has pathways through gliding and powered managed to keep flying. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF flying experiences and training. The EFTS “Unfortunately, it’s not the type of FLYING SOLO? comprises three flights, which will conduct flying – or as much flying – that EFTS "I jumped into the Cessna 172 with only powered flying activities based out of wants to be doing, which is to be 9.4 hours under my belt. My instructor, RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, RAAF inspiring the Cadets,” said Squadron handing over the controls, exited the Base Richmond, NSW, and Point Cook at Leader (AAFC) Scott Wiggins, Staff plane and left me to do just one circuit RAAF Base Williams, Victoria. Officer Operations for Aviation in the Jandakot circuit area. The Diamond DA40 NG was chosen to Operations Wing, AAFC. “Instead it’s "Full of excitement but with nerves provide a safe, comfortable and efficient the essential task of keeping our fleet of at the same time, I taxied out to the means of positively inspiring young DA40 NG aircraft serviceable and keeping runway and took off on 24L for one cadets’ interests in the aerospace and certain nominated pilots and flying technology industries. circuit with five people already in the instructors current on the aircraft type. air. It was a time that I needed to “There are many restrictions on these maintain focus the whole time. operations, like solo flights only and the "I did the one circuit, touched aircraft being quarantined for a period down, and the air traffic controller congratulated me as I exited off the runway. I had an absolutely great experience and a tremendous amount of fun. "I would just like to thank the Australian Air Force Cadets and Major Blue Air on making flying and learning aviation the best experience ever.”

DA40 NG VH-UEO on approach to Essendon OPPOSITE BELOW CCPL Jack Airport on 10 September 2020. Shadwick receives his first powered solo flight Photo courtesy of an aircraft spotters group commemorative patch from the Executive Officer at . of No.704 Squadron, FLGOFF(AAFC) James Firkins.

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WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 69 CADETS. AAL

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN AIR LEAGUE

The Australian Air League is a youth group for boys and girls aged eight years and older who have an interest in aviation either as a career or as a hobby. In the Air League they learn about aviation through classes in theory of flight, navigation, aircraft engines and a variety of subjects. The AAL also aims to enable them to achieve their full potential and Inspiring budding become better citizens who can effectively serve the community. AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS With Squadrons in most states, the AAL has been serving the N LATE 2020, the team from Cool When asked about the activities, community in Australia since 1934. Aeronautics, the STEM outreach Cadet Biggs said: “By doing this activity, program for the Royal Aeronautical I learnt that it is very important to only It is entirely self-funding and is Society, Australian Division (RAeS) make one change at a time. Then staffed by volunteers. Ipresented an interactive, aerospace test the design again before changing For further information, theory workshop titled Designing a anything else. By doing this we know see airleague.com.au, Better Airplane to the cadets of Forest what changes improve the design.” phone 1800 502 175 or Lake Squadron, Queensland. Cadets also experimented with email [email protected]. “My imagination was captured different wing shapes and sizes to as a six year old while watching the compare and contrast the effectiveness Thunderbirds,” said Sqn.Lt. Michael of their designs. in inspiring Hansen, Officer Commanding of Forest “It was a wonderful opportunity to the next Lake Squadron. “That is what inspired share my aviation experience with generation me to join the aerospace industry and the Australian Air League cadets,” of aerospace become an aeronautical engineer. But said Mal Benfer. “They all showed professionals. it takes more than just imagination such enthusiasm for the activity and Programs to design an aircraft. You need to I was impressed with their aviation such as Cool understand how aerospace engineers knowledge.” Aeronautics solve problems.” The squadron, which has boys and engage their During the session, facilitated by Mal girls aged eight to 16, encourages a imagination Benfer and Riley Purcell from RAeS Cool passion for aviation, along with curiosity and help show them how what they Aeronautics, cadets learnt about the and a desire to become a part of the learn at school, or at the AAL, can be application of the engineering design aerospace industry. applied in pursuit of their dreams. process in an aerospace context. In “We have children in our squadron For more information about RAeS Cool particular, the team highlighted the who are either considering, or have Aeronautics email [email protected]. importance of using models, both already embarked on, the first steps physical and computer generated, to in a career in aerospace,” said Sqn. measure the effects of changes so Lt. Hansen. “Some want to be flight ABOVE AAL cadets preparing their prototypes for design improvements can be made. instructors, others engineers, designers a test flight with the assistance of Mal Benfer. Cadets made paper gliders with or maintenance engineers.” movable control surfaces that they could Providing children with accessible change to measure the impact on the STEM (science, technology, engineering ABOVE LEFT Cadets taking part in an aerospace original configuration. and maths) activities is a vital first step theory workshop, Designing a Better Airplane.

70 | AUTUMN 2021 LAST FLIGHT. OBITUARIES

bayonet penetrating the leather between years later he was promoted to Air Corporal John Allan Tate the big and second toes! Commodore and posted as Director- Extra curriculum activities included General of the Tactical Fighter (Hornet) 9 September 1933 – 1 December 2020 boxing competitions and martial arts – Program. He served as leader of the interspersed with periodic brawls leading program until 1986 and said it was to periods of detention. He discharged his most satisfying posting. He was IN MARCH 1953, from the Air Force in September 1953. appointed a Member of the Order John was called John subsequently became President of Australia for his leadership up for National of the Newcastle Branch of the RAAF and performance. Service. He trained Association, an office he held for over On promotion to Air Vice-Marshal, as an engine fitter, 20 years until the branch became part Hans was appointed Commander graduating on 6 of the Fighter Squadrons Branch. During Integrated Air Defence System in August 1953 and that time, he single-handedly organised Malaysia-Singapore before returning to during that time the annual Battle of Britain ceremony in Canberra as Assistant Chief of the Air completed a course Newcastle and was a regular attendee at Staff –Materiel. He was subsequently at the School of Service ceremonies on the Central Coast appointed Assistant CDF (Personnel) Combined Land/Air Warfare. and in Newcastle. He was a stalwart of until his retirement in the early 1990s. He served much of his time in the the Association. Hans was chairman of several Air Force at Williamtown working on For his commitment to the conduct of industry associations and a member of Vampire aircraft, at No.77 Squadron and remembrance ceremonies and dedication several Australian and overseas boards, No.2 Operational Training Unit. to serving veterans, John was awarded including Eurocopter International His colourful character came to the RAAF Association State President’s Pacific.From 2000 to 2003 he was CEO the fore during one practice bayonet Certificate of Appreciation in 2017. In of Thales International Pacific Holdings. drill period when his instructor was 2018 he was presented with a Newcastle More recently he was a director of ADI so exasperated with him that he Volunteer Service Award by Federal Limited and Thales Australia Holdings. inadvertently stabbed Allan's foot - the Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon. To all who had the privilege of knowing him, in both military and civilian life, Hans was a true gentleman and the Canberra as a Personal Staff Officer, he epitome of a leader. They don't come Air Vice-Marshal Hans Jorg was posted to No.78 Wing Butterworth, any better. Malaysia in 1965, serving as a squadron Friederich Roser AM pilot and later Flight Commander in No.3 9 September 1933 – 1 December 2020 Squadron. He completed four tours Squadron Leader Bruce with No.79 Squadron in Ubon, . John Niblett On return to Australia, he completed a 20 October 1934 – 11 January 2021 HANS WAS Mirage OCU in 1968. RAISED in the In 1969, Hans was selected to undergo Freiburg region USAF F-4C training at Davis Monthan BRUCE, or Knocker of Germany and AFB, before completing a tour of duty in as he was known, emigrated with his South Vietnam at Cam Ranh Bay with the served in the Air family to Australia 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying Phantom Force as a navigator in 1949. In January aircraft on strike operations. For service and then as an air 1955, Hans entered with the USAF, Hans was awarded the defence intercept the RAAF College Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf director. He enlisted at Point Cook as a Cluster (US) and the Air Medal (US). in the Air Force on member of No.8 Course and graduated On return to Australia in 1972 19 March 1957 as a Pilot in December 1958. and completion of RAAF Staff College, and, after navigator His first posting was to No.23 he was promoted to Wing Commander training, served on No.11 Squadron at Squadron at Amberley and then to and served at Headquarters Operational RAAF Richmond, flying maritime patrol No.76 Squadron at Williamtown in 1960, Command. In January 1974, he missions in Neptune aircraft, then No.10 flying Vampires. He completed No.5 assumed command of No.75 Squadron Squadron in Longnose Lincoln and Sabre Conversion at No.2 Operational at Butterworth after which he returned Neptune aircraft in Townsville. He also Conversion Unit in 1961 and was a to Canberra, on promotion to GPCAPT, served at RAF Base Butterworth. member of No.76 Squadron when it re- as the Director of Air Force Plans. Bruce left the Airforce in 1964 but equipped with Sabres. Hans was appointed OC RAAF rejoined in 1972 and was posted to No.1 After a tour in Department of Air in Laverton in January 1979. Two Control and Reporting Unit (1CRU) and

WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 71 LAST FLIGHT. OBITUARIES

completed training as an Air Defence As a Sergeant, he attended No.2 Radio Controller on No.30 ACO course. When Douglas Raymond Leak, School in the UK in 1944, being promoted 1CRU was disbanded in 1973, he moved Legion of Honour to Flight-Sergeant on 14 April. He then to 2CRU at Darwin until Cyclone Tracy 17 June 1923 - 6 January 2021 completed Marconi and Morse training destroyed the radar station. He was and Advanced Wireless/Telegraph training subsequently posted to 3CRU at RAAF at No.9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit Williamtown. He served three years at DOUG, ONE OF at Llandwrog. RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia as the Air our last surviving He graduated to No.26 Operational Defence Liaison Officer before returning Bomber Command Training Unit at Little Horwood, and to 2CRU in 1986 as the Executive Officer veterans, was during 1944 trained in followed by a second tour as Executive born at Menindee, mark III, X and XVI long-range medium Officer at 3CRU. He age-retired in South Australia and bombers. He then joined RAF Bomber October 1989. passed away at the Command – attached to ‘D’ Flight of Bruce assisted ADI/Westinghouse age of 97. No.1669 Heavy Conversion Unit based in the successful tender to acquire a He was one of at Langar in Nottinghamshire from modern air defence system for the Air the few to wear 5 January to 9 March 1945, flying in Avro Force and was subsequently recruited the recently instituted Bomber Command Lancaster Mk II & III heavy bombers. by Boeing as an air defence specialist clasp to the 1939-45 Star. In 2015, Doug On 9 March 1945, Doug was posted and operations analyst, which included was appointed a Chevalier in the French as a Wireless/Telegraph Operator with a move to Seattle, Washington, for National Order of the Légion d’honneur. No.149 (East India) Squadron RAF at six years while he contributed to the Doug was an active member of Methwold, County of (Lancaster development of the B-737 Wedgetail Mitcham Branch of the Air Force Mk II & III bombers), and was promoted airborne early warning radar and control Association and in May 2015 received to Warrant Officer on 14 April. aircraft, now based at Williamtown. a certificate acknowledging 60 years of He participated in five operational On return to Australia, he worked for loyal membership of the SA Division. missions over Germany with ‘A’ Flight Plexys Interface Products, an American On 8 December 1941, Doug applied under Operation Pointblank (the Allied firm, before retiring to Stockton. for aircrew entry under the Empire Air Combined Bomber Offensive), as a Bruce joined the Air Force Association Training Scheme and progressed through mid-upper gunner on Lancasters. Each on 17 December 2009 and, following a No.4 Initial Training School at Victor mission lasted between five and seven period as Vice President, he was elected Harbor, No.1 Wireless and Air Gunner’s hours, and his aircraft took fire each time. President of the Radar Branch on 21 School at and No.3 Bombing The missions he took most pride in April 2017, an appointment he held until & Air Gunnery School at West Sale to were the humanitarian aid missions over his death. Bruce was well known for his qualify as a Wireless Operator on 10 Europe with ‘A’ Flight and from 1 May quiet and welcoming friendliness and his September 1943 and as an Air Gunner 1945, he participated in six food supply self-effacing nature. on 15 October 1943. drop missions over The Netherlands in

mill. From the age of six, he was sent No.3 Squadron in September 1945 to board at Knox Grammar School in and was back in Australia in time for Arthur William Pardey Sydney, where he met Chas Wannan, an his 21st birthday. 25 November 1924 - 31 December 2020 older prefect who later became a No.3 As a returned serviceman, Arthur Squadron Mustang Flight Leader. took advantage of government Arthur enlisted in the RAAF on educational support to train in flour mill 30 January 1943, aged 18, and was management. selected to be a pilot and posted for his In another coincidence, he worked initial flight training to Temora. for a flour conglomerate owned by the After further training at RAAF family of Nigel Love, a former No.3 , NSW, he departed for the Squadron pilot in the Australian Flying UK by ship in January 1944. Corps during WWI. By this stage in the war, there was Arthur was a great supporter of an over-supply of aircrew trainees and 3SQN Association, including a period as Arthur had the lucky break of getting NSW President. He had an interesting onto fighters instead of being sent to collection of war memorabilia, including Arthur with 3SQN Mustang fighter- Bomber Command. “operational” maps that he “magpied” bombers at Lavariano, Northern Italy, 1945. He was sent to Egypt and then to from the 3SQN Ops Caravan after the Northern Italy to join 3SQN at Cervia German surrender, which are now ARTHUR WAS BORN in Temora, NSW in the final few weeks of the war. He preserved with the Squadron where his father owned a large flour eventually shipped out from Taranto with at Williamtown.

72 | AUTUMN 2021 support of Operation Manna. After the He was in Darwin when Cyclone Tracy at and instructed German surrender, the squadron dropped destroyed the radar station. at No.1 Basic Flying Training School at supplies to former POWs and ferried Howie subsequently arrived in the Point Cook. On 7 December 1959, he many ex-POWs back to England from the Williamtown area when posted to was posted to the RAAF College, Point continent in Operation Exodus with 3rd 3CRU in February 1975 and served in Cook and served for two years during Group, RAF Bomber Command. that unit until his retirement from the the reformation of the College as the Doug was committed to the Anzac Air Force in April 1977. RAAF Academy. March in Adelaide, and was a regular Howie joined the Air Force Association From May 1962 to November 1971, attendee at Air Force Association on 14 May 1999 . He was secretary of he had a series of postings to Nos meetings and commemorative events. the Radar Branch for several years and 81 and 78 Wings, Nos 77, 3 and 76 served as a RAAFA Welfare Officer under Squadrons at RAAF Williamtown and the DVA/TIP scheme and on the NSW RAAF Butterworth and 79 Squadron Sergeant Howard Campbell State Council. He was a stalwart within at Ubon, Thailand. On 29 August 1966, the veteran community and was an Hughie underwent No.7 Mirage Course 25 November 1924 - 31 December 2020 untiring advocate for veterans, widows at No.2 Operational Conversion Unit, and families in the Central Coast area. RAAF Williamtown and was promoted In 2017 he was awarded the National to Squadron Leader on 1 January 1968. HOWARD, or President’s Commendation and was Hughie was the Team Manager and Howie, joined heavily involved with the Long Jetty Sub- spare pilot for the Deltas aerobatic the RAAF on 19 Branch of the RSL until he passed away. team in No.77 Squadron. The March 1957. His Deltas performed at displays around initial training was Australia celebrating the RAAF’s 50th conducted at No.1 Squadron Leader Hughie Anniversary in 1971. Recruitment Unit, Alexander Collits Following postings to Headquarters Williamtown and to No.25 Squadron, RAAF Richmond, 15 June 1932 - 26 January 2021 followed by a where he served as Commanding posting to the Officer for two years, Hughie retired School of Radio, Ballarat, Victoria to A TALENTED from the Air Force on 4 January 1974. train as a Radio Mechanic. However, SPORTSMAN, this did not appeal to him and he Hughie played in a remustered as a General Hand. In prominent Rugby Alexander Thomas Craig November 1957, he was posted to League club with 13 February 1922 - 17 January 2021 Base Squadron, RAAF Williamtown to a lucrative offer to assist with the formation of the Range play first grade in Control Section for the air-to-ground Sydney. However, DURING WORLD ranges at Saltash and Morna Point. he elected to join WAR II, Alex After seven months' compassionate the RAAF. served in the RAAF posting at No.2 Stores Depot, Enlisting on as a Fitter Driver Detachment D, at Dubbo, NSW, he was 28 September 1953, he joined No.15 Motor Transport posted to No.2 Airfield Construction Pilots' Course at No.1 Flying Training in the South West Squadron at RAAF East Sale in February School, Point Cook. Pacific from 17 May 1959 for four months before returning A posting to No.1 Basic Flying 1944 to 2 March the School of Radio to undergo No.7 Training, Uranquinty on 26 February 1949. He had Aircraft Plotters Course. 1954 was followed by four months' previously served Posted to No.1 Control and Reporting posting to Central Flying School at with the Citizens Military Force from Unit at Brookvale, NSW, Howie East Sale, Victoria. He graduated as 18 April 1942 to 16 May 1944. completed Part 2 of the Plotters a Sergeant Pilot. Alex joined Bundaberg & District course before postings to No.2 Control He was posted to No.2 Operational Branch of the RAAF Association on and Reporting Unit (CRU) at Darwin Training Unit (OTU) Williamtown 6 April 1991 and often made the three- and then to No.114 Mobile CRU at on 23 November 1954 to undergo hour round trip to attend meetings in RAAF Butterworth which was on No.20 Vampire Conversion course. Bundaberg until ill health intervened. Wartime Operational Status during the Following OTU and a short posting to Eventually he moved to a home in Indonesian Confrontation. No.22 Squadron, Hughie flew Sabre Emu Park where he was closer to family. Over the next 15 years Howie served aircraft with No.75 Squadron and was However, he maintained his membership at Nos 1, 2 and 3 CRUs as an Aircraft commissioned as a Pilot Officer on and interest in the RAAF Association. Plotter until his promotion to Sergeant 1 November 1956. The branch was saddened to learn he in November 1969, when he was Between July 1958 and December had passed away, less than a month shy reclassified to Air Defence Supervisor. 1959, he qualified as a flying instructor of his 99th birthday.

WINGS ISSUE 73 NO.1 | 73 BOOKS. REVIEWS REVIEW BY Bob Treloar REVIEW BY Bob Treloar REVIEW BY Bob Treloar

AIRMEN’S INCREDIBLE ESCAPES: PALESTINE DIARIES: The Light STERN JUSTICE: the forgotten story accounts of survival in the Second Horsemen’s own story, battle of Australia, Japan and the Pacific World War by battle war crimes trials

By BRYN EVANS By JONATHAN KING By ADAM WAKELING Pen and Sword Aviation, RRP $75 Scribe Publications, RRP $39.99 Penguin Random House, RRP $34.99 WHILE ALLIED AIR power made a PALESTINE DIARIES IS a remarkable THE END OF THE WAR with Japan decisive contribution to victory in the account of the Australian Light Horse signalled the commencement of war European and Pacific theatres of World deployed to the Middle East and the crimes trials by the Allies. Members War II, the cost in terms of aircraft battles it fought from the Sinai to of the Japanese Military Forces and and aircrew was horrific. RAF Bomber Damascus from 1916 to 1918. It provides the Japanese Cabinet whom the Allies Command suffered a 50 percent a strategic overview of the Middle East held responsible for committing or casualty rate for its aircrew. campaign and the rationale for it. sanctioning atrocities against Allied Bryn Evans has drawn together the Award-winning historian Dr Jonathan servicemen and members of subjugated accounts of British, Commonwealth King has been producing books and populations were put on trial. Much and American airmen who survived films about World War I since 1994 and to the chagrin of the Australian to provide a remarkable insight into lectured at the Government, the Emperor was not the challenges they faced after they for many years. included. The Allies had decided not to were shot down or blown from their Palestine Diaries contains diaries, try the Emperor, but to use him as a tool aircraft, often shocked and wounded. letters and photos which provide a to rebuild Japan as a democratic country. Each chapter ends with a statement wonderful insight into troopers’ daily As the wartime atrocities were made concerning the post-war life of the routines, their attitudes, fears and known, there was a violent anti-Japanese airman and sadly in many cases, of his aspirations. Told simply with an attitude sentiment in the Australian community. recent passing – a reminder that living that is purely Australian, it captures In London, Herbert Evatt, Attorney- history is slipping through our fingers the violence of the battles and records General and Minister for External Affairs Airmen’s Incredible Escapes provides troopers’ sentiments. in the Chifley Government, stated: “in its 37 self-contained chapters of individuals From the first battle at Romani, the demand that all Japanese war criminals be and groups of aircrews as they Australian Light Horse proved itself brought to trial, the Australian Government endeavoured to elude a determined a tough and effective fighting force is actuated by no spirit of revenge, but by enemy intent on their capture. which helped to expunge the bitter profound feelings of justice”. Commencing with engagements taste experienced when the 8th and Australia conducted 249 trials during the phony war – the air war over 10th Light Horse Regiments were throughout the Asia-Pacific region Burma and New Guinea, through to slaughtered at the Nek. between November 1946 and April the intense culmination of the bombing The strong attachment of the 1951, trying 949 suspects. The trials campaign against Germany and German troopers to their horses is obvious. The dealt mainly with crimes against forces in occupied countries, the actions resilience and stamina of those horses prisoners-of-war, downed aircrew and are presented in chronological order. is legendary and was instrumental in members of local populations. Of the The experiences of aircrews in Bomber the success of the Light Horse and defendants, 280 were acquitted and 644 Command provide many of the stories; ultimately, the success of the Middle convicted – 138 were executed and 498 some 10,000 Australians served with East campaign. were sentenced to prison. The acquittal Bomber Command during WWII and History has not accorded the rate of Australian tribunals was 29 3,486 were killed-in-action – Australia’s recognition deserved by the Australian percent, the highest of the Allies. highest casualty rate of the war. Light Horse and this book goes some Stern Justice is a most interesting Airmen’s Incredible Escapes is an way to correct that oversight. It is well account Australia’s role in the conduct anthology of human endeavour, individual written, absorbing and highly informative, of the Japanese war crimes trials and resourcefulness and the will to survive in and will appeal to those readers with an provides a balanced perspective, set situations of extreme adversity. interest in the history of World War I. within the standards of the time.

74 | AUTUMN 2021 Leasing opportunities now available.

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