On 7 November 2009, No. 38 Squadron hosted up to a thousand members of Air Force's Caribou community, past and present. The event celebrated 45 years of service to the nation by the Caribou.
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Members of No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) march with the 38SQN Colours during a parade held on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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The Colours of No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) and No. 35 Squadron (35SQN) are proudly displayed in front of a Caribou aircraft during a parade held on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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The No. 35 Squadron (35SQN) Colours are displayed as two RAAF Caribou aircraft pass by overhead during a parade on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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(L-R) The No. 38 (38SQN) and 35 Squadron (35SQN) Colours are marched past a RAAF Caribou during a parade on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Members of No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) stand to attention as a RAAF Caribou acts as a backdrop for a parade held on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Members of No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) stand to attention as a RAAF Caribou acts as a backdrop for a parade held on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Members of No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) stand to attention with the No. 35 Squadron Colours during a parade on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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The No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) Colours are held up during a parade held by 38SQN on the RAAF Townsville apron.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Past and present - Ray Piggott, an engine fitter who served with RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam on its inception from 1964-1965, with current No. 38 Squadron aircraft technician Corporal Evan Boyt-Cullis. Ray recalled an intense work schedule during the deployment to Vung Tau in Vietnam: "We flew them, worked in them, and slept in them. We had six Caribou - but the Americans used to think we had 26, with the amount of work that we accomplished. And it didn't matter what happened the night before, we had them airborne at sunrise."
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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At the controls - from left, Bob Costello, formerly a radio technician with 38SQN from 1970-1979, with John Coote, whose son William is an aircraft technician with 38SQN.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Back in the saddle - Wing Commander Rod 'Rocky' McGregor (retired), former Caribou pilot who flew in Vietnam with 35SQN (1968-1969) and was later Commanding Officer of Air Movements Training and Development Unit.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Don Payne and wife Lyn look through photo albums at Caribou End of Era festivities. Don was an engine fitter who served with the Caribou in Australia, Vietnam, Kashmir and PNG. The photo they are looking at is of Don as a Leading Aircraftman at Vung Tau Air Base in Vietnam, during a visit by then-Prime Minister Harold Holt in 1966.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Sergeant Dave East, a Flight Engineer with No. 38 Squadron, looks over a wall of 45 years-worth of clippings from Air Force News regarding the Caribou's service to Australia.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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A No. 38 Squadron DHC-4 Caribou, A4-152, flies its approach to RAAF Base Townsville having completed the last handling display of a Caribou in Air Force service.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Home to roost - a pair of No. 38 Squadron DHC-4 Caribou return from having conducted a ceremonial flypast for a Squadron Parade at RAAF Base Townsville. Visible on the right are ceremonial markings applied to the tail of Caribou to celebrate the aircraft's service to Australia.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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A pair of No. 38 Squadron Caribou stand on the apron at RAAF Base Townsville during Caribou End of Era festivities.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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A pair of No. 38 Squadron Caribou stand on the apron at RAAF Base Townsville during Caribou End of Era festivities.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Members of the Air Force Band work with the unique backdrop of two No. 38 Squadron 'mounted' Caribou - from left, Corporal Greg Gear on piano, Corporal Steve Temple on bass guitar, Corporal Jeff Vague on tenor saxophone, Corporal Ralph Whiteoak on alto saxophone, and Leading Aircraftman Andrew McNaughton on Trumpet.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Pilots of No. 38 Squadron (38SQN) of past, present and future: from left, Flying Officer Belinda Beatty, who is posted to 38SQN in 2010 to fly the King Air; Flying Officer Matthew Sullivan, current 38SQN Caribou pilot; Stu Cooper, Caribou pilot who served with 35SQN and 38SQN between 1966-1969; and Flight Lieutenant Rob Proctor, current 38SQN Caribou pilot.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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Flying Officer Amanda Castle, Administration Officer for No. 38 Squadron and the unit's youngest current member, cuts a ceremonial cake with Squadron Leader Jock Cassels (retired), a former Caribou pilot.
(Date taken: 07 November 2009)
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