Edinburgh celebrates

Aircraftman Adrian Ward, Leading Aircraftman Adam Williams and Leading Aircraftman Derek Lamb, above, with their commemorative medallions sitruck to mark RAAF Base Edinburgh’s 50th anniversary.

Air Commodore Graham Bentley, former base member Neil Pearson and Aircraftman Recruit Mathew Stanford join forces to cut the birthday cake. Photos by LAC Mike Lucas

A commemorative gold medallion has been struck to mark the 50th anniversary. Anyone wishing to purchase one should send $6 plus $3 postage and handling to: Corporal Emma Kay, HQ CSU-EDN, RAAF Base Edinburgh SA 5111, or phone (08) 8393 3228.

SERVING and former personnel came together at RAAF Base Edinburgh on March 22 to share memories and celebrate the base’s half century.

Surveillance and Response Group Commander Air Commodore Graham Bentley opened the official celebrations by recalling the base’s history and the various units that have served there in the past 50 years. Citing its heritage significance, he called for this history to be recorded properly for future generations of Air Force members.

Chaplains Pat Woods and Jim Larkham rededicated the original base plaque with a prayer for the safe keeping of all who have served, are serving and will serve at Edinburgh.

AIRCDRE Bentley, the most senior Air Force officer in South Australia, Neil Pearson, a former Warrant Officer Barracks Warden who served at Edinburgh from February 1955, and recent ACR enlistee Mathew Stanford cut the birthday cake.

After the ceremony those present caught up on old times and shared old yarns. One involved the growing of vegetable gardens on the top of dirt revetments at the side of the hangars. That was until a watermelon smashed to the ground and showered two passing engineering officers in red pulp.

An ex-supplier, Rob Keelan, admitted to leaving his own time capsule concreted into one of the old railway platforms. The location will be identified and marked for posterity.

Photographs depicting the various stages of the construction and setting to work of the base from the National Archives, newspaper, unit history, sections and personal collections were displayed, as were photo albums from Nos 24, 492 and 292 Squadrons and the Base Squadron era.

Of particular note was the change in styles of dress, uniform and motor vehicles over time. There were calls for their return.

Warrant Officer Mark Townsend, the Base WOD, said the photographic displays and unit and squadron history albums “were a joy to browse through”.

“They are a very effective and necessary medium that should be enthusiastically embraced by all units at RAAF Base Edinburgh so they may continue to record significant events in their history, as well as provide for the future a visual reference of that unit’s past,” WOFF Townsend said.

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