92WG air and ground crew right in the spirit of the occasion.

Twenty years ago Royal Australian Air Force P3 Orion crews spent hours flying low level over the South China Sea and surrounding region searching for Russian vessels and other ships of interest.

Today, in the 20th anniversary year of No. 92 Wing Detachment A's presence in Butterworth, Malaysia, the Orion crews are conducting the same operations - just without the additional stresses created by the Cold War environment.

In fact, during the official anniversary week - 30 January to 6 February - the crew on deployment came across a Russian Udaloy ship while conducting a routine surface patrol.

This find brought back many fond memories for former 92 Wing Detachment A members who flew to Malaysia for the anniversary celebrations.

In September 1984, the RAAF POCOM Band visited the RAAF School at Butterworth.

It was real world stuff back then. The Cold War and everything that went with that meant for truly exciting times,' said Mr Con Maros, who was the first full-time Operations Officer to work within the Detachment.

'Just reading the debriefs after missions was exceptional. There was stuff you wouldn't see when working out of Edinburgh.

'I know that things have now slowed down a bit but it is still very important information that the crews are gathering. Unfortunately they probably don't see as much as we did in the old days. Back then we were right on top of things.'

Mr Maros, who served in Malaysia as a Reservist on full-time duty, was 'terribly sad' when it came time for him to return to Adelaide.

Prime Minister Gough Whitlam greets onlookers after arriving at Butterworth in January 1974.

Another man who felt similar sorrow when departing 'Butts' was Wing Commander Reg Carruthers, who led the Detachment from 1996 to 1998.

'It was disastrous for the family and for me when it was time to leave,' said WGCDR Carruthers, who is currently a member of the Australian Command and Staff College directing staff.

'Both children were in tears the day we left. It was really the end of something we didn't want to finish.

'We were glad to be going back to Australia but Butterworth and Malaysia were in our blood.'

However, the main reason the then Squadron Leader Carruthers didn't want to come home was because the work at Det. A was 'so professionally rewarding'.

'It was probably the best job, bar being CO of one of the squadrons,' he said.

'I think it is a great achievement for us to be still here doing a meaningful job after 20 years.

'There are a lot of people who say it is not as good as it used to be, and certainly, the flying has changed, but in terms of the best training and the best flying that anybody could hope for with a crew, Butterworth still provides some of the most challenging flying that 92 Wing performs.

'We maintain a meaningful presence, not just a diplomatic one.'

At the 20th anniversary dinner, attended by current and former members of the Detachment, the Officer Commanding 92 Wing, Group Captain Steve Huckstepp reflected on the Wing's significant contribution to the international community.

'It is unparalleled for an Australian military operation to run for 20 years and we certainly did not want to let it pass without a celebration,' said GPCAPT Huckstepp.

He said during the detachment's first nine years, crews were 'in the air mixing with a whole bunch of people - and not always pleasantly'.

'The crews certainly earned their keep and it was a very serious business and the intelligence product that we collected was for very serious purposes.

'The truth is that this region has always been a very impressive intelligence collection ground for us and still is.

GPCAPT Huckstepp also highlighted the excellent relationship between Australia and Malaysia, and commented on the impressive work of all the 92WG personnel who have deployed to Butterworth over the years.

Rescue team from RAAF Butterworth enjoying the seasonal weather in flood-ravaged Malaysia, April 1984.

And it hasn't been all surveillance work during the Detachment's history. 92WG personnel have also worked closely with the Integrated Air Defence Systems, involved in a range of exercises with the United Kingdom, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. They have also participated in several search and rescue operations.

Mr Peter Jabornicky, a retired Wing Commander who now works as the Australian Customs Service Coastwatch Supervisor Standards, made many significant contributions to the detachment when he was its commander from May 1984 to the end of 1985.

A highlight of his tour was coming up with the 92 Wing slogan 'The Quiet Achievers'.

'I'd say the most exciting part of being here for the anniversary celebrations was arriving at the detachment and seeing "The Quiet Achievers" sign out the front,' said Mr Jabornicky.

And while 92 Wing personnel may be 'Quiet Achievers', there is no doubt that the international community has appreciated their dedication to duty while serving in Malaysia.

Story by Deanna Nott
Anniversary photographs by CPL Pete Gammie