By
WGCDR Richard Lennon
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Enjoying
their refurbished surrounds are personnel and family from
33 SQN in hangar 522 as part of the 20th anniversary.
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Sergeant
Brett Penberthy and Corporal Kevin Hicks take a trip down
memory lane while inspecting display boards at the 20th
anniversary event.
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Former
and current members of 33 SQN at the anniversary dinner:
(L-R) LACW Amanda Vince, FLGOFF Megan Bowden, FLTLT Karen
Breaden, LACW Rori Coakley, FLTLT Michael Summers, CPL Tanya
Buxton and CPL Alisha O’Brien.
Photos by LAC Colin Dadd
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BOEING
707 aircrew and “groundies” assembled from near and
far to reunite with mates and reminisce over the part they played
in Air Force history at the 20th anniversary celebrations of No.
33 Squadron.
About 300 people gathered at RAAF Base Richmond on August 16 to
reflect on the milestone since 33SQN was re-formed on July 1,
1983, to provide VIP transport to the Government.
The squadron has carried every prime minister since then, Her
Majesty the Queen and Pope John Paul II.
Since those heady days, 33SQN has shifted focus to air-to-air
refuelling, chalking up significant achievements in Kyrgyzstan
and winning the RAAF Maintenance Trophy in 2002.
Part of the celebrations included the re-opening of the squadron’s
maintenance hangar following extensive refurbishment this year.
CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston unveiled a plaque to commemorate
the occasion. AIRMSHL Houston noted the significant improvements
of recladding, new workshops and a facelift.
In an address to past and present members and their partners,
CAF acknowledged some important milestones, saying the exemplary
deployment conducted by the squadron in 2002 had assured the future
of 33SQN.
After CAF unveiled a plaque to re-open the maintenance hangar,
the throng sat down to fine food and wine accompanied by the music
of the Air Command Band’s Jazz Ensemble.
Entertained by Corporal Stephanie Lambert, the gathering danced
long into the cool Richmond night. The atmosphere was alive with
fellowship and tales of adventures.
While the B707 is showing the effects of a long, productive service,
the future of33SQN is bright.
The squadron will soon re-equip with a new tanker transport under
Project Air 5402. A Request for Tender has been let and the announcement
of a successful tenderer is expected in early 2004, ensuring 33SQN
will live to provide many more years of combat support to the
ADF and Australia.
If
this Coat of Arms could talk
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Commanding
Officer of No. 33 Squadron Wing Commander Richard Lennon
shows off the Coat of Arms unveiled at the official re-opening
of the 33SQN hangar.
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IN
1979, the Air Force acquired two Boeing 707-338s from Qantas for
the conduct of special-purpose flights.
As time went by, the fleet grew to six and carried every prime
minister since Malcolm Fraser. Fitted to the prime minister’s
compartment was a large Australian Coat of Arms, which “listened
in” on many profound conversations and decisions which have
affected this nation.
When the Minister for Defence decided to transfer No. 33 Squadron’s
special-purpose role on May 27, the Coat of Arms needed a new
life.
And so, in the year that the squadron’s maintenance hangar
was refurbished, it was deemed fit to dedicate the Coat of Arms
at the re-opening of the hangar.
CAF unveiled the plaque on August 16 to mark the re-opening, perpetually
preserving the Coat of Arms that faced so many prime ministers
in the years from 1979 to 2003.
Remarkable
transformation
By
FLGOFF Adam Bowling
NO.
33 Squadron’s maintenance hangar, Hangar 522, has undergone
significant refurbishment.
The squadron had pursued refurbishment as its asbestos-based cladding
presented an occupational health and safety concern.
In co-operation with Corporate Support Infrastructure Organisation
Richmond, Air Lift Group was also able to expand the scope of
works within the funding cap to address other OH&S issues.
Provision of much-needed workshops for avionics, life support
and structures; storage for aircraft configuration equipment such
as seating and galley units; new lighting and refurbished office
areas were top of the list to make a safer environment.
The refurbishment also brought the hangar up to standard in accordance
with the latest building codes, requiring an upgrade to the fire
alarm system, exits, insulation and ventilation.
For the first time, modification to the hangar roof now allows
the B707 to be towed completely inside and the doors closed to
exclude the climatic extremes at RAAF Base Richmond.
When CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston officially re-opened the hangar,
he noted the remarkable transformation, but acknowledged that
the resident pigeons still needed further persuasion to move on.
The refurbished hangar provides a safer and more efficient workplace
for 33SQN maintenance personnel and is a facility of which they
can be proud.
Lost
but not forgotten
ON
October 29, 1991, a Boeing 707-368C, A20-103, from No. 33 Squadron
was lost with all crew on board, 43km south of East Sale, Victoria.
The crash was attributed to a simulation of asymmetric flight
resulting in a sudden and violent departure from controlled flight.
Killed were aircraft captain Squadron Leader Mark Lewin, co-pilot
Flight Lieutenant Tim Ellis, third pilot Flight Lieutenant Mark
Duncan, flight engineer Warrant Officer Jon Fawcett and loadmaster
Warrant Officer Al Gwynne.
Lost, though not forgotten, the crew is remembered by a rose garden
with accompanying plaques at the entrance to the Base Chapel at
RAAF Base Richmond.
It was appropriate that this crew received special mention at
the 33SQN 20th anniversary dinner when CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston
called on all present to reflect on the lives lost.
CAF and all present were delighted that Kay Ellis, wife of FLTLT
Tim Ellis, was one of the many guests at the commemoration dinner.
