By
FLGOFF Georgina Lowe
Volume 48, No. 5, April 6, 2006
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Mrs
Jo Dunbar, Senior Vice President of the WRAAF Radar Association,
with CPL Todd Gordon from the Surveillance and Control Training
Unit, in front of the WWII radar commemorative plaque unveiled
at the RAAF Memorial Grove in Canberra.
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Photo
by CPL Simone Liebelt
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GENERATIONS
of old and new came together last month to recognise the contributions
of men and women who served in RAAF ground radar units during
World War II.
A RAAF Radar Commemorative plaque, dedicated by the Surveillance
and Response Group (SRG) on behalf of the RAAF Radar Association,
was unveiled at the RAAF Memorial Grove in Canberra on March 22.
The unveiling of the plaque was a chance to commemorate SRG history
and recognise the RAAF Radar Association and its members.
Ground-based early warning radar operations commenced in November
1941, and by the end of hostilities in 1945, several RAAF ground-based
radar units had been established.
Deploying to New Guinea in 1943, the personnel of the RAAF radar
stations worked in hostile and difficult conditions.
They made a significant contribution to the Allies’ eventual
victory in the Pacific and set the highest standards of professionalism
and commitment for the following generations of Air Force personnel.
Unveiling the plaque, Commander SRG AIRCDRE Tim Owen said that
it was a fitting tribute.
“Those men and women played an important role in the defence
of our country and set very high standards of professionalism
and commitment for the following generations of Air Force personnel,”
AIRCDRE Owen said.
He went on to say the Air Force’s Air Defence Ground Environment
still strives to meet the standards set by the WWII veterans.
“We are very proud of our heritage and are ever mindful of
the achievements and sacrifices of those who have gone before
us.”
The Air Force’s ground radar capabilities have improved greatly
over the past six decades.
SRG’s new microwave radar, the TPS-77, planar phased array
radar, is one of the most advanced air defence systems anywhere
in the world.
Moreover, the Air Force’s air defence capabilities will receive
another major boost with the arrival in 2007 of the first of its
Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft.
Fittingly, AIRCDRE Owen said “despite our advanced equipment,
our biggest asset is our people.”
