All
the news that’s fit to print
Look
back through the 23 editions of AIR FORCE News and we’ve
packed a lot of action, excitement, happiness and, sadly, tragedy
in over the past 12 months from bases and locations around the
world.
The
news cycle
January
ON January 21, two Roulettes were involved in a collision. One
aircraft was destroyed, the crews survived with only minor injuries.
Air Force deployed to assist with Operation Sumatra Assist following
the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami. No. 324 Combat Support Squadron at
Butterworth was directly affected with a sergeants’ spouse
killed while holidaying in Thailand.
Assets deployed included aero-medical evacuation logistics, six
C-130s, a B707 and a King Air 350 plus support elements, staff
from No. 3CSH, air traffic controllers, Air Force engineers (with
Army’s 1st Combat Engineer Regiment), and No. 1 Air Terminal
Squadron.
February
IN February, Defence signed the contract to provide Air Force
with five new A330 MRTT tanker aircraft to be operated by No.
33 Squadron.
March
IN March, the first two upgraded Hornets under Phase 2.2 of the
Hornet Upgrade (HUG) program were delivered from Boeing.
April
APRIL 2 and three Air Force medical personnel were killed in the
crash of Navy Sea King Shark 02 on the island of Nias in Sumatra
after the devastating earthquake that triggered Operation Sumatra
Assist II.
The Joint Offshore Protection Command was established. It is tasked
to protect Australia’s offshore assets such as oil rigs.
Orion aircraft are assigned to Command tasking.
June
IN June, a No. 10 Squadron Orion on a surveillance mission over
the northern Persian Gulf clocked up the 5,000th hour flown by
Orions in support of Operations Catalyst and Slipper.
Personnel were reminded that unused leave outstanding since June
2002 would be lost if not used. The introduction of a new policy
resulted in testing for illegal substances being renewed.
New Iraq and Afghanistan medals were announced and pay rises across
the board were announced on June 2.
Volunteers to participate in surveys regarding the F-111 deseal/reseal
matter were sought.
August
IN August, all personnel were reminded of the necessity to undergo
post deployment medical and post-deployment psychological screenings.
The ADF remembered the 60th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific
Day with a weekend of activities beside Lake Burley Griffin, including
one of the largest gatherings of Word War II veterans outside
Anzac Day.
During the commemorations, No. 75 Squadron celebrated its 53rd
anniversary and the anniversary of the Battles of Milne Bay and
Port Moresby.
Also in August, the F-111s testfired the first of the new generation
AGM-142 ASMs designed to give them extra stand-off punch to the
end of the aircraft’s useful life.
In August and September, the remains of the aircrew of a Dakota
that crashed in Papua New Guinea in 1945 and a Lancaster that
crashed in Germany in 1944 were laid to rest.
September
EARLY in the month, Prime Minister John Howard congratulated all
ADF personnel for their hard work over the past few years. AIR
FORCE News secured an exclusive interview with Mr Howard.
The Government announced a $21 million compensation package to
F-111 deseal/reseal veterans. Approval was given for the construction
of the new Joint Operations Command headquarters at Bungendore.
October
ANOTHER terrorist attack on Bali and Air Force bases and personnel
were again involved in bringing the injured back to Australia
through Operation Bali Assist II.
November
IN November, sweeping changes to the military justice system were
reported following the release of the report of the Senate Committee’s
inquiry.
Regulations were changed to permit recognition and equal conditions
of service for persons in same-sex relationships.
Colour
and Movement
Excellence and Achievement
Changes in command
Action, agony and glory
Operations and Exercises
Colour
and Movement
AIR
Force Band and support personnel were involved in the Edinburgh
Military Tattoo in Sydney in February.
In March, the Roulettes, F-111s, Hawks and Hornets took to the
skies over Melbourne in flypasts for the Avalon International
air show.
Four Airfield Defence Guards were assigned to the Army Training
Team-Iraq to assist with training the new Iraqi army.
The Hornet turned 20 and, to mark the occasion, a No. 2 Operational
Conversion Unit aircraft was painted in a new paint scheme, designed
by Sergeant David Turnbull from No. 3 Squadron.
Meanwhile, the first Wedgetail aircraft generated excitement and
interest when it made an operational visit to RAAF Base Williamtown
during the month. The first fully operational aircraft is scheduled
to arrive in November 2006.
In April, AIR FORCE News explored the ethereal when it looked
at the ghosts of Point Cook.
In June, Air Force personnel took gold in the Arafura Games and
later in September in the Adelaide Masters games. They also won
an impressive number of lesser medals.
In July, three Air Force personnel were assigned with ADF ground
forces at Al Muthanna in southern Iraq.
In September, Corporal Lia Halsall won a bodybuilding championship.
She was getting herself as fit as possible to donate a kidney
to her seriously ill father. Her husband Corporal Daniel Halsall
also entered the competition to support her.
In October, Corporal Russell Osment organised a charity tractor
rally in South Australia which raised $30, 000 for Camp Quality,
while in the same month Leading Aircraftman Graham Turner and
his wife participated in the annual Camp Quality esCarpade from
Bathurst to Ballarat in another VW Bug. The rally raised $535,
000.
Excellence
and Achievement
 |
IN
March, Warrant Officers Rudy Mech and Cecil Boshammer with No.
36 Squadron clocked up 13, 000 and 13, 490 hours respectively,
the equivalent of some 3 million miles.
Also, Leading Aircraftman Greg Koenig and his wife (from RAAF
Base Amberley) received a commendation for their participation
in a program nurturing future working dogs for the Air Force.
In late 2004, Flying Officer Kathleen Gibson assisted in the rehabilitation
of villages in Peru as a charity volunteer. AIR FORCE News ran
her story in March.
In May, Squadron Leader Ruth Elsley became the first Air Force
female commander of an ADF force operating under UN control, when
she led a team into the Sudan.
Also in May, Leading Aircraftman Rhys Boehm received an Air Commander’s
Commendation for his successful rescue of a teenager injured in
a jet ski accident and on May 13, Flight Lieutenant Brad Clarke
from No. 36 Squadron received the prestigious Pathfinder Award
for outstanding qualities and professionalism.
Meanwhile, Squadron Leader Darrern Olsson and Flight Lieutenant
Wayne Langford from the No. 44 Wing Detachment Darwin received
the Royal Aeronautical Society Field Award for Flying Safety for
their professional assistance to a Cessna 206 in difficulties
in bad weather over the city.
In June, Leading Aircraftman Michael Barr from No. 37 Squadron
was declared the Airman of the Year for 2005, while Squadron Leader
Glenn Pascoe won the prestigious Stewart Memorial Prize, awarded
by the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine and Kings College London.
Changes
in command
 |
 |
|
AVM
Geoff Shepherd was promoted to AIRMSHL at the dining-out
night for ACM Angus Houston who was appointed CDF.
|
ON
July 4, Air Marshal Angus Houston was promoted Air Chief Marshal
and succeeded General Peter Cosgrove as Chief of the Defence Force.
On the same day, Air Vice-Marshal Geoff Shepherd was promoted
Air Marshal and appointed as Chief of Air Force, while Air Vice-Marshal
John Blackburn became the new Deputy Chief of Air Force in December.
On
June 24, Air Commodore John Quaife was promoted Air Vice-Marshal
and appointed as Air Commander Australia.
In June, Air Commodore Greg Evans handed over command of the ADF
contingent in Iraq to Commodore Geoff Ledger.
Action,
agony and glory
 |
|
Volleyballers
showed their stuff in the inter-Service volleyball finals
in Victoria on August 10-11.
|
CORPORAL
Gary Ewart broke two records at the ADF track and field championships
in Geelong from January 28-30.
In March, RAAF Base Wagga ended a long drought when they won the
Kapooka 12s Australian football competition.
Leading Aircraftwoman Nicole Simon took gold in the 10km road
race and cross country in the Australian and New Zealand Police
and Emergency Services games, held in Adelaide from April 9-16.
Also in April, Air Force Rugby League won the ADF inter-Service
rugby league competition with convincing wins over Army, 52-20,
and then traditional rivals Navy 24-22.
The Arafura Games in Darwin from May 14-21 again gave Air Force
athletes a chance to shine and they didn’t disappoint.
Of the 54 medals won by the ADF, Air Force took 21 gold, 16 silver
and 17 bronze.
Air Force netballers in early August took out the NSW inter-Services
competition for the fifth year in a row with wins over both Army
and Navy.
The volleyballers then showed their stuff by following suit in
the inter-Service volleyball finals in Victoria on August 10-11.
Mount Hotham was the venue for the Air Force win in the inter-Services
Nordic and Biathlon championships held from July 31 to August
12.
A return to warmer climes saw Air Force sailors in the top 10
of the 2005 Tasar World championships, while in October, RAAF
Base Amberley won the Air Force rugby league carnival, Air Force
won the Top End judo competition and the NSW inter-Services cricket
carnival.
Operations
and Exercises
