Pay rise carries a cost

THE recent pay rise we were just granted: was it an actual pay rise or a pay decrease?

The reason I ask is that as a Sergeant on Pay 5/0, I received a rise of $48.32 in salary but out of this comes $32 in tax, so I received $16.32.

Now take out MSBS – 5 per cent of $5.22 – it becomes $11.10 take home.

Ah, but wait, we forgot about the Annual Review of Housing Related Allowances and Charges. So a 3BR B1 was $259 a fortnight, it has now gone up to $271.20 – a rise of $12.20.

Now take that $12.20 off my new pay rise of $11.10 and I am out of pocket $1.10. But that is not all.

Family Allowance is affected because I am now earning $1260 more a year.

So the question I asked, did we actually get a pay rise or was it a pay decrease?

SGT William Jackson
AVMED
RAAF Base Edinburgh

Kittyhawk error

I AM writing to correct a statement in the July 31 edition where you have a picture of Group Captain Steve Fielder strapping in to a Kittyhawk aircraft.

The caption below the photograph says that GPCAPT Fielder became the first serving Air Force officer in more than 50 years to fly a Kittyhawk. This statement is not correct as in fact I flew Kittyhawk VH-KTH, owned by Mr Colin Pay on July 14, 1992, as a serving member.

I am not sure that I was even the first serving member to fly one following the aircraft’s withdrawal from service all those years ago as the Kittyhawk was flying in the USA and may have been made available to USAF test pilots courses where serving RAAF test pilots as students of the USAF course may have had the opportunity to fly the aircraft.

I do not wish to detract from GPCAPT Fielder’s achievement however, as it is truly a marvellous experience to have the opportunity to fly an aircraft that played such a major part in the RAAF’s history.

SQNLDR P.C. Frawley
STANDO/WFSO
No. 78 Wing
RAAF Base Williamtown

All credit to Historical Society

I WAS delighted to read the article “Tribute to the fallen” in the Air Force News of June 5.

My particular interest stems from the fact that as a trainee pilot at Cunderdin when it was the base of No. 9

Elementary Flying Training School I was asked to be the historian member of the Cunderdin Aviation Expo Committee that planned and organised the successful Cunderdin Easter Air Show 2003 (I am also a local Cunderdin life-time citizen).

I was overseas at the time of the Liberator crash but when asked to do some research I was given a copy of Paul L. Mallard’s account of No. 25 Squadron’s activities at Cunderdin in 1945. It was most fascinating reading, particularly
the story of the A72-124 Liberator crash.

I was disappointed that the story in Air Force News had some discrepancies and, I believe, an important omission.
The operation was a sea search for survivors of SS Peter Sylvester which had been sunk by German submarine U-862.

When I heard the story I asked the local Historical Society if they would like to do something about commemorating the event at our Air Show. They readily agreed and followed up with weeks of researching and planning.

RAAFWA were invited to participate to which they readily agreed and assisted with finance for the memorial plaques
and took leadership roles in the memorial service which was attended by RAAFWA members, 25SQN personnel, RAAF veterans and many local people (about 200 people in all).

The whole event was a credit to the Cunderdin Historical Society for their initiative.

About 10,000 people attended the two-day Air Show which was well supported by RAAF veterans, personnel and all types of flying enthusiasts. The next Cunderdin Air Show will be held in 2005.

Ex-FLGOFF Frank Carter
Cunderin
Western Australia

A struggle to accept motto’s redefinition

THE members of the Ballarat Royal Australian Air Force Association were disappointed to read in the July 31 edition of Air Force News that, after 82 years, the RAAF’s motto has been changed from “Through Adversity to the Stars” to “Through Struggle to the Stars”.

It is noted that the committee offered other interpretations such as “hardship”, “labour” and “toil”. “Hardship” we like and have used on occasions, but please not “struggle”.

Our congratulations to the RCAF who have accepted and use “adversity”.

No doubt we will “struggle” to accept this new translation.

Stan White
Branch Secretary
Ballarat RAAFA

 

Have your say on issues relating to the Air Force by writing to Air Force News at raafnews@defencenews.gov.au or R8-LG-043, Russell Offices, ACT 2600

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