Mogadishu memories

The Ambidji Group is involved in a project to rehabilitate the aviation sector in Somalia.

This week, in Nairobi, I had the pleasure of meeting several of the Somali controllers currently providing air traffic services for the Mogadishu FIR.

They were quick to tell me of the great professional and social interaction they had had with the Air Force during the time Australian troops were in Mogadishu.

I was regaled with numerous anecdotes - some of which the subjects may not want repeated too often - but the strong impression I was given was one of gratitude for professionally delivered services and genuine friendship.

The guys in Nairobi and Mogadishu asked that I pass on their regards to their Australian military friends.

I will shortly be returning to East Africa to continue the project activities.

I am most willing to pass on messages any Air Force controllers wish to give to me before departure. Contact should be via e-mail on mgahan@ambidji.com.au or mobile phone on 0416 058 099.

Mike Gahan
WGCDR (ret)
General Manager Aviation
The Ambidji Group Pty Ltd


For the record

IN THE April 25 issue of Air Force News it was reported that the Hawker Siddeley Trophy for the most efficient RAAF Base in 2001 had been awarded to RAAF Base Pearce for which all members of that base are undoubtedly and justly proud.

While not detracting anything from this story, I thought I should write and point out - for the sake of the record - a reporting ("typo") error with regard to the history of this award including the date of its inaugural presentation.

The year 1976 is indicated in your article as the year when this award was inaugurated by Hawker de Havilland to not only commemorate a long association with the Royal Australian Air Force but to also mark the Air Force's 50th birthday celebrations.

As this 50th birthday occurred in 1971 the record could be simply adjusted by amending the 1976 as above to 1971.

I am not sure which base was the inaugural winner - perhaps it was RAAF Base Richmond?

However, I do recall quite vividly that RAAF Base East Sale won the award in 1972, where I had the privilege at that time of serving as Administrative Staff Officer to the then Officer Commanding, Group Captain Jim Wilson (Ret'd) AFC ED, who, many will recall who served under him, not only commanded the acclaimed most efficient base for 1972 but also the happiest.

E. Ilton
WGCDR (Ret'd)
Banora Point, NSW


Aerial pruning

Your cartoon in the March 28 issue makes me believe that someone has been reading Ron Raymond's (himself a Caribou pilot) log book.

Back in our Air Force apprentice days when he, Ron Croft and myself were flying Tiger Moths out of Wagga we pounced Raymond's Tiger over the North Wagga training area.

Raymond made straight for the deck, did a tight turn around a gum tree and was confronted by a 60 foot pine tree. Up came the nose too late: he trimmed the pine a bit.

On landing at Wagga airfield the undercarriage folded up, breaking the propeller. Raymond claimed a heavy landing. When Eric Condon, the club's chief flying instructor and aircraft owner, opened up the engine cowl out fell a sizeable bit of pine tree.

Being apprentices we had little money to pay for repairs. Instead Eric made us redope and paint his whole Tiger fleet, extracting about 300 maintenance hours out of us.

Good experience and good memories, but I didn't know we still use aircraft to lop trees!

R.A. Kee AO
AIRCDRE (Ret'd)


Cost comparison

I would like to hear from any Air Force (or other service) members who travelled by their own means on removal/posting and have found that the funds provided, on a cost comparison basis, were insufficient to completely cover their total costs.

This would also include those persons who found they had to budget in cheaper levels of accommodation and cheaper meals than they would normally.

My reason for this request is to further an ROG which, if successful may more fairly apportion funds to members travelling on "own means" on removal.

Replies may be e-mailed to me at david.dean1@defence.gov.au

FLTLT Dave Dean
ATC Oakey