Proud history marked

Ground crew members give an F/A-18 Hornet a thorough pre-flight check before a mission.

ABOUT 100 personnel on deployment to the Middle East with the Combat Air Lift Unit joined with collocated United States Military members to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force on March 31.

In a moving service highlighting the heritage of the Air Force and the sacrifices made by so many of its members, Commander of Australia’s Air Lift Element Group Captain Glen Steed spoke of the significance of the unit’s current duties and location.

GPCAPT Steed pointed out that Iraq was the modern name for Mesopotamia, where the Half-Flight of No. 1 Squadron deployed in 1915.

“This day, members of CALU do not stand here in the sand, dust, wind and heat as a tape recording of the past, but they make a significant and valued addition to our heritage,” he said.

The Royal Australian Air Force, one of the oldest independent Air Forces in the world, was born at RAAF Base Point Cook in 1921.

The Air Force’s proud history was stressed to everyone attending the service.

Among the overseas contingent was the Commanding Officer of 64th Air Expeditionary Wing and the location’s senior officer, Brigadier General Will Scott, who was joined by Command Chief of the 64th AEW Chief Master Sergeant Bill Houghton.

The service featured readings by the most junior person deployed with CALU, Aircraftwoman Lauren Arnol, of No. 386 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron, and Wing Commander Ron Irons, the Commanding Officer of 386ECSS.

Towards the end of the ceremony, GPCAPT Steed presented WGCDR Irons with an Australian flag, which had accompanied a No. 36 Squadron crew on a mission into Iraq.

“This flag is symbolic in that the mission, or any other mission flown by CALU, would not have been possible without the steadfast support of the ECSS to 36SQN on this deployment,” GPCAPT Steed said.

For the Half-Flight story, see Page 15

.