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Top
Stories
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Unit’s
proud record
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Above: Flight Lieutenant Alan White parades the 21SQN colour
banner.. Photos by SGT David Grant.
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Visiting
No. 600 (City of London) Squadron unit historian Flight
Lieutenant Robin Van Greene receives a No. 21 RAAF Liberator
Squadron flag from Squadron Leader Bob Schouten.
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Principal
award recipients Aircraftman Geoff Marsh, Aircraftwoman
Eliana Camp and Sergeant Ian Thomas.
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In the
face of change over their future roles, members of No. 21 Squadron
at RAAF Base Williams, celebrated the unit’s 67th Annual Presentation
Parade and Dining-In night on October 5.
The parade reviewing officer was Councillor John So, Lord Mayor
of Melbourne. Victorian Governor John Landy was the guest of honour
at the capacity attendance dining-in night.
In a special briefing to 21SQN members, Combat Reserve Wing Executive
Officer Wing Commander Grant Buggy said that through the rationalisation
and planning process of the Combat Reserve Wing, the Squadron was
in future “likely to be more focused on expeditionary combat
supply, in line with the ‘wartime establishment’ plans
for 2003”.
While numbers are unlikely to be reduced, 21SQN will remain a provider
of operational support, as part of the Combat Reserve Wing, for
the Combat Support Group. Members will almost certainly face change
in their job roles, particularly those in the engineering cell.
The parade and dining-in night were among the final official duties
of Squadron Leader Bob Schouten, who left the post as 21SQN Commanding
Officer on October 9. SQNLDR Schouten said he was delighted with
the professionalism of the parade and honoured to have the Governor
of Victoria in attendance for the dining-in festivities.
“With battle honours that span the years of war in the Pacific
and a proud record of operational support to the ADF, members of
21SQN paraded with pride and displayed a mood of optimism, typical
of the unit’s dedication and attitude since 1936,” he
said.
The parade featured presentations of three 2002 graduation certificates,
two medals and three 2001 proficiency awards.
Flight Lieutenant William Atkin was awarded the Officers Training
School Junior Officer Initial Course graduation certificate. Aircraftman
Philip O’Connor and Aircraftman Ricky Spooner were awarded
No. 1 Recruit Training Unit, RAAF Active Reserve Recruit Course
graduation certificates.
Group Captain Alex Cato received the Australian Active Service Medal
Clasp East Timor and Sergeant Willem Van Belkom received the Anniversary
of National Service 1951-1972 Medal.
Aircraftwoman Eliana Camp was presented with the 2001 Wing Commander
Peter Isaacson Award for the recruit with the highest aggregate
score for recruit courses.
Sergeant Ian “Chalky” Thomas received the 2001 Squadron
Leader John Duncan Memorial Trophy for outstanding contribution
to service and 21SQN.
As reviewing officer, Councillor So presented the 2001 Lord Mayor’s
Trophy for the most improved AC or AC/W to Aircraftman Geoff Marsh.
21SQN’s global arms reached out to No. 600 (City of London)
Squadron with a presentation of a No. 21 RAAF Liberator Squadron
flag from 1945 when the Squadron saw service at Balikpapan in Borneo
during the South West Pacific campaign.
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