MATT HALL Great Air Race AUSTRALIA's First RED BULL RACE PILOT
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WINTER 2019 WINGS 71 NO.2 VOLUME THE GREATEST SHOW IN THE AIR AVALON 2019 Back to base EXPLORING TWO OF AUSTRALIA’S EARLIEST AIR FORCE BASES RAAF Spitfires Over Normandy CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF THE MATT HALL Great Air Race AUSTRALIA'S first RED BULL RACE PILOT AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION defencebank.com.au 1800 033 139 At Defence Bank, you’re not just a number on a uniform, you’re a member. We’re here to make everyday banking easier and more convenient for you. Wherever you are. And we’re here for when you want to talk to us about a home loan, our low-rate credit card or our award-winning car loans. No matter where you go, we’ll be there. In fact, we have the largest network of on-base branches across Australia. Better banking? You can count on it. Defence Bank Limited ABN 57 087 651 385 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 234582. Defence Bank recommends you read the Defence Bank Products and Services - Conditions of Use for any product you choose to take. CONTENTS. From the editor WHAT’S NEW IN WINGS Welcome to the winter issue of a refreshed Wings magazine. We look forward to continuing the magazine’s great tradition for the Air Force Association with a new look and feel. While Wings has changed, it will continue to support veterans and their 20 families. We have retained all the popular subject areas and added some exciting new ones, outlined below. Bases - Each issue will feature an article about an ADF flying base and, as CONTENTS well as RAAF bases, we hope to feature Army and Navy air bases. Laverton and WINGS WINTER ISSUE 71 / NO.2 Point Cook, page 42, are our first. Museums – issue by issue we will explore the 30-odd aviation museums 4 FROM THE CAF around Australia, starting with the 5 FROM THE PRESIDENT fabulous RAAF Museum at Point Cook, 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR page 36. Waries and stories – every one has 8 MILITARY AVIATION a story to tell, and our first is by ex-CAF 14 INDUSTRY NEWS Jake Newham, page 40. This section is 20 COVER STORY not reserved for pilots and crew, it’s also Avalon Air Show report. about the people who support them. We are inviting readers to submit short 26 THE GREAT AIR RACE first-person accounts that will be of The epic flight from England interest to other readers – whether they to Australia. be amusing or hair-raising. 26 32 SPITFIRES OVER NORMANDY Letters to the editor – giving readers RAAF No. 453 Squadron’s the opportunity to share their thoughts D-Day operations. about the magazine and the AFA, or 34 CENTREFOLD brief items that will be of interest to Pull out and keep. other readers, page 6. Civil aviation – this will cover all 36 THE RAAF MUSEUM aspects, from heavies to lighties, starting Discover a fascinating collection. off with an article about Matt Hall, an 40 W ARIES & STORIES ex-RAAF fighter pilot who is making his A reader’s story of some hairy mark in sport aviation, page 48. tropical flying. Personal finance – a regular article 42 on personal finance, a critical but often ON THE BASE RAAF Williams-Laverton and neglected facet of our lives. While this RAAF Base Point Cook. 48 is principally aimed at younger serving 56 A SPORTING CHANCE members, older readers may learn a 46 LIFE ON THE BRISBANE LINE Helping veterans through sport. thing or two as well, page 62. A new interactive WWII display 58 AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CADETS Centrefold – each issue we’ll present for Charleville. 61 AUSTRALIAN AIR LEAGUE a pull-out picture of an exciting flying 48 THE CONSUMMATE AVIATOR machine, starting with a C-17 on page 34. Air race pilot Matt Hall. 62 PERSONAL FINANCE We wish you an enjoyable and Get to grips with superannuation. informative read. 52 AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION NEWS 64 LAST FLIGHT Sandy McPhie 54 VETERANS CASE STUDY Editor Practical help from the AFA. 66 BOOK REVIEWS WINGS ISSUE 71 NO.2 | 03 WELCOME. CAF'S MESSAGE From the Chief of Air Force HE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE and the Air Force Association (AFA) have a long shared history, ON THE COVER havingT both been formed in 1921. For many, the 2019 airshow was their first opportunity Understandably, our relationship has to see Australia’s new F-35 in a full display. always been close. AFA members Photo courtesy Avalon 2019. remain part of our extended Air Force family and I appreciate their strong and ongoing support of the RAAF. It is therefore a privilege for me THE NEW to welcome the new-look Wings magazine, a publication that has been WINGS TEAM a familiar sight for both serving and wider readership through increased WINGS MANAGER Ron Haack former RAAFies for some 75 years. distribution to all RAAF and other ADF EDITOR Sandy McPhie This new-look edition introduces a aviation bases, and to those within the ART DIRECTOR Katie Monin more modern appearance, improved community with a shared interest in ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Sue Guymer presentation and the addition of new aviation and their Defence Force. ASSISTANT EDITORS specialist columns, including segments The new-look Wings will be a Mike Nelmes (history) John Kindler, AO AFC (industry news) on Army, Navy and Civil aviation. valuable engagement mechanism for Bob Treloar, AO MiD (military aviation) The new personal finance pages the Association, for the broader Air Aaron Froud (personal finance) are a welcome initiative to remind Force family and for Defence aviation and educate members about this support elements, including industry. CONTACT too frequently neglected, but critical I have great pleasure in commending E [email protected] aspect of our lives. the AFA and Wings to you. W raafapublications.org.au The magazine will also enjoy a much Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO, CSC A RAAFANSW Publications Pty Ltd Salamander Bay LPO, PO Box 656 Salamander Bay 2317 THE AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Carl Schiller OAM CSM DIGITAL EDITION VICE PRESIDENT (ADVOCACY & ENTITLEMENTS) Richard Kelloway OBE MiD To read this publication online, go to GOVERNANCE Bob Bunney www.raafapublications.org.au/wings, or COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA Lance Halvorson MBE www.raafa.org.au/wings-archive SECRETARY Peter Colliver, [email protected] TREASURER Bob Robertson DISCLAIMER Information in the articles in this magazine was current at time JOIN THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION of publication but more recent developments should be checked Membership is open to serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force with the relevant Defence and other authorities for currency and any changes to conditions. Content appearing in this publication and Allied Armed Forces, their family members, current and former Air Force Cadets, does not necessarily reflect the views or have the endorsement Air League Cadets and members of the public who have an interest in aviation and who of the Department of Defence or the publisher. While every effort support the mission and objectives of the Air Force Association has been made to ensure accuracy and currency in the articles presented, reliance should not be placed on the information contained without reference to the relevant authorities. No part DIVISION CONTACTS TAS: 03 6200 9221 of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent [email protected]; raafatas.com of RAAFANSW Publications. No responsibility is accepted by the NSW: 02 9393 3485 publisher for the accuracy of advertisements or information. SA: 08 8227 0980 [email protected]; raafansw.org.au [email protected]; raafasa.org.au VIC: 03 9813 4600 WA: 08 9288 4000 [email protected]; raafavic.org.au [email protected]; raafawa.org.au ACT: 0428 622105 QLD: 0409 494 119 [email protected]; raafaact.org.au [email protected]; raafaqld.com AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION 04 | WINTER 2019 WELCOME. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Air Force also held a birthday reception Chief of the Air Staff RAF Air Chief at Duntroon House where Deputy Chief of Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier presented THE NEW WINGS Air Force Air Vice Marshal Gavin Turnbull the RAF’s retired Queen’s Colour to presented the Air Force Association the RAAF, which was received by CAF Trophy to Headquarters Air Combat Davies at an Avalon Air Show reception S NOTED IN THE Group. It was the second award of the at the Crown Palladium Ballroom, AUTUMN EDITION, trophy since it was reactivated in 2018. Melbourne. It was a spectacular and Wings is now being The NSW Division also commemorated historic event enjoyed by Australian and published by RAAFANSW the Air Force’s birthday at a ceremony at international serving military personnel, APublications Pty Ltd, a small not-for- the Martin Place Cenotaph, Sydney with former serving Air Force members and profit company owned by the Air guest speaker Air Commander Australia an array of people who had not before Force Association (NSW Division). The Air Vice Marshal ‘Zed’ Roberton. NSW witnessed this unique military ceremony. company has made its mark producing Division President Ron Glew and I laid high-quality Welcome handbooks for a wreath. With support from the NSW AFA MODERNISATION the air bases at Edinburgh, Richmond/ Police Band, the ceremony attracted PROGRAM Glenbrook and Williamtown (available many onlookers. The Association, which began as the at raafapublications.org.au). Australian Flying Corps (AFC) Association, In effect, Wings will now be published AVALON 2019 Avalon Air Show 2019 was also will celebrate its centenary in 2020. It has in house as part of an Association-wide a highlight for Air Force and the undergone several adaptations during this modernisation program.