By FLTLT Glenda Preston
Volume 48, No. 19, October 19, 2006
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HAPPY RETURNS: CO 2SQN WGCDR Michael Price cuts the cake with youngest squadron member, FLGOFF Derryn Harvie. |
A TANGIBLE link to its illustrious past featured recently at 2SQN’s celebration of its 90th anniversary.
A Lockheed Hudson bomber of the type flown by the squadron in WWII and an English Electric Canberra Bomber painted in 2SQN colours flew from the Temora Aviation Museum to RAAF Base Williamtown on September 21 to form a back-drop for the squadron’s anniversary dinner.
Formed in Egypt in 1916 at the height of WWI, the squadron has enjoyed a colourful history, having being disbanded and reformed over its 90 years.
The squadron was active in both world wars, in South-East Asia and in Vietnam, where its personnel received the highest accolades from the US Government and Air Force as one of the most capable flying squadrons in the Vietnam theatre.
It flew over the trenches of the Western Front in WWI and disbanded in 1919. Reformed in 1939, by early 1942, it was heavily engaged against Japanese forces invading Indonesia and the islands north of Australia. In 1943, it was awarded a United States Presidential Citation for its actions.
Disbanded in 1946, 2SQN reformed again in 1948, and in 1958, deployed to the then-RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia. It followed this deployment with service in Vietnam between 1967 and 1971, where it received the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and a United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Commendation, making it the most highly-decorated unit in the RAAF.
It disbanded in 1982, but stood up again in January 2000 as the designated Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) squadron.
To mark the anniversary, 2SQN held a special dinner in its hangar.
CAF AIRMSHL Geoffrey Shepherd, ACAUST AVM John Quaife and Commander Surveillance and Response Group AIRCDRE Tim Owen joined 170 past and present squadron members, 2SQN Association guests and representatives of the South Lake Macquarie RSL and Virgin Blue at the event.
In his address to the guests, AIRMSHL Shepherd spoke about 2SQN’s proud traditions, and how the squadron’s new Wedgetail capability will be a key element of Australia’s national defence for decades to come.
2SQN will continue its proud traditions as it begins operations with the Wedgetail aircraft over the next two years.
