Pilot Officer Benjamin Miedecke is following his grandfather, Squadron Leader George Miedecke (below), into service with the Air Force. Main photo by CPL Gary Dixon

By FLGOFF Nigel Harrington
What motivates Australia’s men and women to undertake some of the most intensive and arduous training to become military aviators?

For some it is a lifelong dream of flying, for others it is the lure of ADF recruiting campaigns. For 22-year-old Pilot Officer Benjamin Miedecke it was learning of his grandfather’s time as a RAAF pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

PLTOFF Miedecke achieved his goal of becoming a pilot on June 6 when he and 14 of his classmates from No. 194 Pilots Course graduated with their wings from No. 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce.

He learnt of his grandfather’s time as a pilot when, at a young age, he would look through family photos of wartime images and would also listen to stories about the war from his parents and relatives.

Squadron Leader George Brunton Miedecke, DFC, joined the Air Force at the outset of WWII.

He completed initial pilot training on the Tigermoth at EFTS, Archerfield, and trained further on aircraft that included the Demon, Anson, Moth Minor and Wirraway.

From early 1941 until 1943 SQNLDR Miedecke flew the Sunderland aircraft for the RAF’s No. 10 Squadron in a role that included fleet escort duties, anti-submarine and anti-surface missions and searching for the enemy.

In March 1943 he returned to Australia to fly Catalinas in the south-east Pacific area of operation, where his role centred around the laying of sea-mines. SQNLDR Miedecke was made CO of No. 42 Squadron in April 1945 and retired from the Air Force in Febuary 1946.

Today, as a pilot himself, PLTOFF Ben Miedecke looks through his grandfather’s flying log book with a greater appreciation and understanding of the role he performed.

PLTOFF Miedecke, who has been posted to No. 36 Squadron to fly the C-130H Hercules, is ready to embrace his own military aviation career by making the most of the opportunities as a member of an operational unit. He looks forward to obtaining his captaincy of the C-130H as well as the work and travel that a pilot’s career entails.

Also graduating on No. 194 Pilots Course were 12 other Air Force pilots and two Navy pilots. It was the first graduation for 2FTS in 2003, and the first under the new command of Wing Commander Gareth Neilsen.

The Reviewing Officer, Air Commander Australia Air Vice-Marshal John Kindler, welcomed the graduates to the profession of arms.

AVM Kindler told graduates they were more than likely to be deployed on operations shortly after their conversion to type, and that while exciting this would entail continued hard work and perseverance.

There were seven separate award winners for the course.

They were Officer Cadet Beau Pitcher (dux of the course and highest academic marks), Pilot Officer Tim Oldfield (navigation), Pilot Officer Andrew Habersberger (most improved), Pilot Officer Kevin Baker (aerobatics), Officer Cadet Kartik Maharaj (most proficient pilot), Pilot Officer Christopher Bassingthwaite (most proficient instrument flying) and Pilot Officer Christopher Lowrey (leadership).

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