Volume 15 Number 2 2004 Divisions at HMAS ALBATROSS Photography by PO PHOT Shane Camron by courtesy RANAS Photographic Section Published by the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia Inc Stand –in Editor: G Wise email :
[email protected] Print Post Approved - PP201494/00022 Slipstream FOREWORD As Commander Australian Navy Aviation Group, I take great pleasure in writing this forward for the Fleet Air Arm Associa- tion journal Slipstream. I congratulate David Farthing as the incoming national president and thank Toz Daswell on his ster- ling service as outgoing president. Recent years have seen the Fleet Air Arm engage in its most operational period since the Korean War. With a record num- ber of flights at sea and continuation of training the FAA has once again demonstrated its professionalism and commitment to providing an outstanding capability to the RAN fleet. All Squadrons have achieved a high serviceability rate and have had the most number of aircraft at sea since the carrier HMAS MELBOURNE. Cmdre G.A. Ledger RAN 723 Squadron has continued to provide excellent training, not CNAG only to pilots, observers and aircrewman but also to the fleet. During the past 12 months 723 Squadron has had a total of 12 detachments at sea ranging from participation in the Minor War Over the 12-month period 817 Squadron and flights participated Vessel Fleet Concentration period in Darwin and Cairns, to a in eight operations and exercises both in Australia and abroad. three month detachment to South East Asia and support of 817 Squadron is the operational response Squadron over the Operation RELEX.