Bird’s eye Bersama

Volume 48, No. 8, May 18, 2006

Makinga point: 79SQN take a moment out from Bersama Shield to record the moment for posterity at RMAF Butterworth.

Photo by CPL Matthew Epis

79SQN stepped back in time when it deployed to Butterworth on April 19.

The squadron deployed six Hawks and 53 personnel for the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) air defence exercise Bersama Shield conducted in the skies and seaways around Malaysia and Singapore.

Bersama Shield, held between April 26 and May 4, was the latest in the annual series of exercises held under the FPDA. Assets from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom participated.

The Hawks conducted maritime strike activity against participating ships.

79SQN was last in Butterworth when it flew Mirages there between 1986 and 1988.
Squadron Public Relations Officer FLTLT Basil Bradford said the Squadron operated from the same flightline it had used then and with some of the same personnel.

The Hawks departed RAAF Base Pearce on April 19 and arrived at Butterworth the next day after an overnight stop in Indonesia.

“The experience of an international transit, with associated language barriers and weather, provided an excellent learning experience for the junior aircrew,” FLTLT Bradford said.

With the aircraft safely on the ground, support personnel swung into action and had them ready for action by the end of the day.

“The performance of the Hawk and the Squadron was outstanding,” he said.

“We achieved 100 percent of exercise sorties and mission objectives, with only one three-ship mission instead of four.

“Thanks to the excellent escort provided by the F/A-18s, the Hawks were not intercepted by any ‘enemy’ aircraft. The aircraft integrated seamlessly with other national Services and the Aussies were warmly received.

“The exercise provided an invaluable experience for junior pilots in operating out of unfamiliar aerodromes and in challenging weather.”

The aircraft’s limited range required it to stage through the Malaysian base at Kuantan. Consequently, the Squadron assigned two support personnel there to assist with refuelling and other mid-flight assistance.

“The deployment gave our people a solid introduction to Malaysian and Singaporean culture and life,” FLTL Bradfor said.

Interaction with personnel from other nations included aircrew attendance at a party hosted by the Singaporeans and an invitation from the Malaysians to view a MiG 29 aircraft.

A highlight was a challenge by the Malaysians to a game of volleyball. “We pushed them to five sets, but after leading 23–20 in the last, went down 25–23. We found the humid conditions at Butterworth challenging after Pearce.”

CO 79SQN WGCDR Steve Cook described his personnel as “outstanding”.

“I could not be more pleased with how they conducted themselves, both at work and socially,” he said.”

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