Flying flag in Timor

By CAPT John McPherson

LEUT Ben Crowther at the controls of an Army Black Hawk helicopter at Forward Operating Base Moleana in Timor Leste (formerly East Timor).

Photo: WO2 David French

When trainee pilot LEUT Ben Crowther was grounded for three years after injuring his back in a car accident in 1999 (one year into his pilot training) it appeared his aspirations of being a Navy pilot might well be over.

However, such was not the case and 30-year-old Ben is now in the rather complex situation of being a Navy pilot who has never flown for the Navy and who is currently flying Black Hawk helicopters for the Army in Timor Leste (formerly East Timor).

Ben is one of only two Navy members serving in Timor Leste.

It all began when Ben joined the RAAF as an 18-year-old avionics technician in 1992 and then transferred as a direct entry pilot to the Navy in 1997.

“I’d dreamt of being a pilot since I was 13-years-old,” said Ben “Eventually my dream became a reality about 15 years later after much heartache and a lot of help!”

Ben commenced pilot training at the 2nd Flying Training School at RAAF Base, Pearce (WA) in January 1998 but his dream hit a brick wall in January 1999 as a result of his car accident.

“I worked for CAPT Vince Di Pietro at HMAS Stirling while I was grounded and had a great time,” said Ben. He recommenced flying duties in January 2002 at the Army Helicopter School at Oakey, Queensland, and was finally awarded his wings in June 2002.

Ben completed a Black Hawk conversion course and was posted to the Townsville-based 5th Aviation Regiment which is currently flying the air support for 6RAR at Forward Operating Base Moleana, Timor Leste.

Arriving in Timor Leste on February 23, Ben is due to fly out on May 26 to return with the Black Hawks to Townsville.

Born and raised in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, Ben did most of his secondary schooling in the Adelaide hills at Birdwood before completing school at Salisbury East High School in 1990.

Ben and his wife, Melissa, “don’t have any children but we have two Japanese Akita dogs named Koko and Kuma… sort of like a cross between a husky and a Samoyed.”

And there are exciting times ahead for Ben. “For the remainder of the year we are expecting to reconstitute the squadron following our extraction from Timor Leste and then redevelop our airmobile capability by day and night,” he said.

“This has been difficult to maintain given that we’ve had three aircraft and crews in Timor Leste for almost five years.

“We’ll also take part in numerous exercises in support of Three Brigade and I am very excited about being posted to HMAS Albatross at the end of this year for a conversion onto a naval helicopter.”

It is also obvious that Ben is not one to let the grass grow under his feet in his downtime.

His favourite pastime is surfing although he says he enjoys all watersports.

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