Airmen in fire fight

WOFF Huey Dixon was among the RAAF personnel on hand during the 'Black Christmas' bushfire emergency in NSW. WOFF Dixon is pictured just inside the perimeter of RAAF Base Glenbrook, doing his bit to protect the Base. Behind him, the wall of flames. The fires burned up to the fence line on three sides of the Blue Mountains Air Force Base. Photograph by LAC Gary Moore.

The fighting spirit of the Royal Australian Air Force was alive and well over Christmas as fire ravaged parts of NSW.

Men and women from RAAF Glenbrook and Richmond were called in from leave and separated from loved ones, to provide vital support in the 'Black Christmas' bushfire emergency.

And they did so, at times putting their own safety in jeopardy, without hesitation.

RAAF Glenbrook

While bushland was ablaze around the State in the lead up to Christmas, it was 24 December when fire struck with a vengeance in the Blue Mountains.

According to Temporary Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Olaf Thiel, within minutes of the fire being spotted just 200 metres from the Base, Glenbrook's Emergency Response Flight was on the job, rounding up a team of 22 people already in the vicinity. Donning yellow overalls of varying sizes and fit, the RAAFies began what would become a three-day shift.

Protecting the fence line and assets, including the Air Commander's residence, Briar Cliffe, just inside the Base perimeter was the initial focus of efforts, with Air Force people fighting the approaching blaze alongside members of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

'For those facing walls of flames up to 30 feet high - I have no doubt it was terrifying,' SQNLDR Thiel said. 'We were all extremely worried.'

Once the immediate threat had abated, RAAF Glenbrook moved into support mode, becoming Command and Control Headquarters for the RFS in the area and a haven for exhausted firefighters.

The Base's small heliport was used for refuelling helicopters and the oval a refuelling point for the now renowned helitanker, Elvis. Two Royal Australian Navy Sea Kings delivered a number of fuel bladders to Glenbrook on Boxing Day.

In addition to the Base kitchen, a mobile canteen was set up and between them fed hundreds of people.

Car parks were lined with up to 60 fire trucks at a time and every inch of shelter was good enough to sleep under.

RAAF Communications staff, just six months in the job, were a valuable asset for the RFS, manning radios and plotting the path of the fire.

'I am proud of our people,' SQNLDR Thiel said. 'They did a wonderful job on the Base itself and when working with the Rural Fire Service.'

'It really was a team effort, with Air Force, Army and Navy personnel, RFS members and civilian contractors working side-by-side and working tirelessly.'

RAAF Richmond

Although not on the front-line, RAAF Richmond provided vital logistic support behind the scenes throughout the bushfire emergency.

Boxing Day saw fires escalate in the Hawkesbury and the Sydney Air Force Base tasked to support a naval contingent of two Sea King hevilift helicopters and a Squirrel.

Richmond's 86 Wing then flew to Townsville to transport a refuelling bladder and team of Army personnel from Townsville's Army Aviation back to Richmond.

According to Acting Base Commander, Wing Commander Gil Schilling, Richmond was a hive of activity, with fixed wing water bombers operating out of the Base and Rural Fire Service helo water bombers refuelling there.

During the emergency, RAAF Richmond supplied more than 1200 hot meals to the Hawkesbury Fire Service.

Meanwhile, up to two-dozen members of the RAAF's 386 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron provided important hands-on assistance at the Hawkesbury Fire Control Headquarters, Wilberforce.

'Rostered members helped with the receipt, storage and issue of Rural Fire Service equipment and stores.'

'In addition to the members called in from leave, a lot of RAAF personnel are volunteer firefighters and while on leave were at work fighting the fires,' WGCDR Schilling said.

'And those on the Base were doing everything they could to support the RFS, such as the Base firefighters who shared their facilities with their civilian counterparts.'

When asked to comment on RAAF Richmond's contribution, WGCDR Schilling, also a volunteer firefighter, couldn't speak more highly.

'It's been fantastic - even though we weren't on the front-line, we were helping those trained to be there,' he said.

'It is a good feeling to know that we were in some way helping and we will continue to do what we can.'

By Rebecca Codey