Distribution
of awards disappointing
CONGRATULATIONS
to all the recipients of honours and awards for Op Falconer, however
I have some concerns in regards to how these, the Queen’s Birthday
and Australia Day honours and awards are distributed and why they
are awarded.
I, like many others who have discussed this subject, find it a
little disappointing that out of the 24 individual honours allocated
for Op Falconer, only two could be given to non-commissioned personnel.
A few more noncommissioned personnel (or a few less commissioned
personnel) among the awards, would be welcomed by many. I am sure
that every one of our personnel serving in Op Falconer have done
– and continue to do – an outstanding job.
If some of them are perhaps a little puzzled (as I know that they
are) at the imbalance of the medal allocation between the ranks,
one can understand why.
I’ve noticed that year after year the Air Force does not appear
to do honours and awards with the same enthusiasm as, for example,
the Army (is there an RSM/ SSM/CSM out there without an OAM, CSC
or CSM?) or even civilians (OAM for services to lawn bowls etc).
Some may say that this is a good thing as it shows that our honours
and awards are not dealt out to all and sundry (and some would
say this is the case) and therefore our honours and awards are
more valued.
On the other hand, some may say that perhaps it shows that we
either don’t recognise or can’t be bothered recognising the outstanding
individual performances by our personnel often enough – especially
in the junior ranks.
My comments will no doubt inspire some emotive retorts from a
minority, however before you all rush off to fi re in your responses,
understand that I am just the messenger relating similar comments
made to me by other personnel – from those who have deployed and
those who have not.
May I suggest that when individual honours and awards are being
handed out in future, a more detailed account of the recipients
deed or deeds be published so that we may better understand why
some individuals are more deserving of recognition than others
doing the same or similar job.
Instead of medals, perhaps commendations are a more fitting recognition
in many cases. It might just help explain the situation a little
better and be more acceptable to all concerned instead of being
perceived as a lottery prize for the lucky few.
WOFF
Mick Smith
A43 SUPOPS3
HQAC
Official
response
THE
issue of honours and awards has long been debated in tea rooms,
crew rooms, hangars, warehouses, flightlines, unit BBQ areas etc,
by Air Force personnel of all ranks for years and in all likelihood
will remain a contentious issue for years to come.
In responding to WOFF Smith’s letter, I would like to give my
perspective and make comment as Warrant Officer of the Air Force.
Without trying to sound a little trite, to be a recipient of an
Australia Day, Queen’s Birthday or other (eg Op Falconer) award,
a person has to be nominated.
For the past two years that I know of, CAF, DCAF and myself have
been “banging the drum” about nominating worthy people.
It would seem, from an AFHQ perspective, this message is not getting
through to supervisors and managers.
However, to be fair, I only see nominations that have been endorsed
at the two-star level so I don’t have visibility of the number
of nominations that fail to make it to this level.
There is also a quota system in place for Australia Day and Queen’s
Birthday awards – see DI(G) PERS 31- para 8, 9 and 19. In essence
each Service’s allocation is based on the size of the permanent
force plus active reservists.
Therefore Army’s allocation is much greater than the Air Force
allocation, however as a general statement the Army is culturally
more likely to “write up” their people than Air Force (“he/she
is only doing their job!” is a typical statement).
Operational awards do not have a hard and fast quota system. Normally
the CDF and the Secretary would determine the number.
These awards are usually given for specific deeds during the operation,
unlike the Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday awards, which are
given for significant service over a considerable period of time
(two or more postings in the case of the Order of Australia awards).
I am actively working to increase the number of nominations received
at AFHQ. If you are a manager or supervisor I strongly urge you
to put in the effort and nominate worthy personnel and help get
the people who deserve to be rewarded awarded appropriately.
WOFF
RAAF Peter Hall
AFHQ
Vega
information and photos sought
A
MODELLING colleague and I are researching the history of the
RAAF’s sole Lockheed Vega (A42-1). While there is a reasonable
amount written on this particular aircraft and a number of photographs
in its civilian guise, there is little written about its RAAF
career, and certainly no photographs of the aircraft in wartime
camouflage.
This lack of material and photographic evidence can probably
be attributed to the fact that the Vega spent very little time
in operational service.
We know from the excellent Lockheed site that the aircraft was
impressed in November 1941 and was ferried from Perth to Laverton
on November 11, 1941, where it was accepted at No. 1 Aircraft
Depot.
It is interesting to note that the Vega was taken on charge
by the Air Force on November 12, 1941, as A42-1 and “was painted
in
camouflage and issued to Northern Area Headquarters to whom
it was delivered in late December 1941”.
The Vega was ground-looped at Cairns on June 17, 1942, and received
serious wing damage.
The aircraft was trucked to Townsville where it was stored by
No. 24 Squadron and later by No. 33 Squadron.
In October 1942 it was delivered to Aircrafts Pty Ltd at Archerfield
for repair under contract.
With the repairs completed, the Vega was issued to No. 3 Communications
Unit on November 24, 1943.
On March 9, 1944, it was issued for disposal, having been declared
surplus by the RAAF.
On September 17, 1945, the Vega was approved for conversion
to components and on October 12 that year it was dismantled
and trucked to No.2 Central Recovery Depot at Richmond for conversion
to components.
By October 15, 1945, the Vega had been chopped up with axes
at RAAF Base Richmond.
In about four years of service, the aircraft spent three years
undergoing repairs or in storage.
Air Force News readers may be able to able to assist us in our
search for further information on the Vega’s service, as well
as photographic evidence of her wartime colours. I can be contacted
on lambertr@epa.nsw.gov.au
or (02) 9871 4453.
LTCOL
Roger Lambert (retired)
Carlingford, NSW
