Meeting up with an old mate

By Flight Lieutenant John McCourt

WHEN Group Captain Warren Ludwig was piped aboard HMAS Kanimbla for the official launch of Exercise Kakadu VII he walked back into history.

The first man to greet him was Navy’s Captain Stephen McDowall. And the last time the two men had seen each other was 28 years ago in Year 12 at Heatley State High School, Townsville.

The former school colleagues were in Darwin at the start of an exercise that would see each commanding sea and air operations – Captain McDowall as the Combined Task Group 628.14 commander and Group Captain Ludwig as the Combined Task Group 628.13 commander.

While it was all so long ago, both officers knew back then that their future careers were decidedly military.

“I was always interested in the Air Force and particularly maritime flying, as No. 10 Squadron with Neptune aircraft was based in Townsville until 1977,” Group Captain Ludwig said.

“I had also been a member of the Air Training Corps as a teenager in Townsville. Steve always had a liking for the Navy.”

Captain McDowall went to the Navy College at the start of 1978, while Group Captain Ludwig worked with the Commonwealth Bank in Townsville before joining the RAAF in early 1979.

“With me having had a career largely associated with P-3 Orions, and noting the close relationship P-3 aircrew have with the Navy, it is strange that we have never physically crossed paths until this exercise,” Group Captain Ludwig said.

Onboard the Kanimbla, both men recalled how they had often noted with interest each other’s names associated with various activities within Defence.

Captain Steve McDowall is currently the Commander Australian Surface Task Group in Maritime Headquarters, Sydney. Group Captain Ludwig is the Officer Commanding No. 92 Wing at RAAF Edinburgh.

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