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87SQN’s first bite
By FLGOFF Claire Carpenter
Volume 49, No. 14, August 09, 2007 |
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WELL DONE: 87SQN CO WGCDR Richard Keir with the winner of the Max Cowin trophy, FLTLT Chris McInnes, alongside SQNLDR Max Cowin (ret’d) at the 87SQN first anniversary dining-in night at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
Photo by LAC Casey Smith |
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WELCOME: CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd signs the official visitors book.
Photo by LAC Casey Smith |
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SEATED: Dinner is about to be served.
Photo by LAC Leigh Cameron |
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No. 87 Squadron has taken its first “Mossie” bite into history after celebrating the first anniversary of its reformation.
FLTLT Chris McInnes received the inaugural SQNLDR Arthur ‘Max’ Cowin Award at the special all-ranks anniversary dining-in night at the RAAF Base Edinburgh Officers’ Mess on July 6.
FLTLT McInnes was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the squadron and his implementation of the Intelligence Graduate Development Program (IGDP).
The award commemorates SQNLDR Max Cowin (ret’d) for his contribution to Air Force intelligence.
87SQN CO WGCDR Rick Keir said: “SQNLDR Cowin’s capabilities and leadership in Air Force intelligence provided the intellectual foundation behind the renaissance of Air Force intelligence, and as such, sparked the development of an intelligence capability now known as 87SQN.”
The award will be presented each year on the anniversary of 87SQN’s reformation to the member who makes the most significant contribution to the squadron through the successful implementation of innovative methods and practices.
SQNLDR Cowin was on-hand to present the award and described FLTLT McInnes as a credit to 87SQN.
WGCDR Keir said 73 personnel from 87SQN attended the dining-in; a good figure given that the squadron comprised 147 permanent and reserve personnel, was spread over six RAAF bases and had a large number of personnel deployed at any one time. He said of the unit’s 29 intelligence officers, 20 per cent were deployed, 20 per cent had just returned from deployment, and 20 per cent were preparing to deploy.
“While we are still struggling in some quarters for manning, overall, however, our collective effort has allowed Air Force intelligence to develop and prosper in many ways,” WGCDR Keir said.
“I believe our collective strength has achieved more than had we been fully manned, but penny-packeted around the Air Force as we were until a year ago.
“We must remember this salient point when times are tough and resources are thin. We are more than the sum of our parts and our unity is our greatest strength.”
CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd, who was the guest of honour, said it was “a great night of RAAF fellowship and RAAF family”.
“Intelligence is at the heart and core of everything we do,” AIRMSHL Shepherd said.
He said the work of 87SQN personnel brought Air Force intelligence together into “a coherent whole” and commended 87SQN’s first CO, WGCDR Rick Keir, for being “an ardent advocate of Air Force intelligence”.
87SQN provides dedicated Air Force intelligence, combat targeting, counter-intelligence, imagery exploitation and imagery management capabilities.
| Mossie story |
| 87SQN operated Mosquito aircraft from 1944-1953, which is why the Mosquito insect was selected as the insignia for the reformed 87SQN (pictured on above badge). |
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