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All the buzz in Hobart
By WGCDR Ken Llewelyn and LAC Aaron Curran
Volume 49, No. 18, October 04, 2007 |
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RARE SIGHT: 79SQN Hawks from RAAF Base Pearce fly over Hobart as part of commemorations for the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Photo by LAC Aaron Curran |
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WARRIES: 79SQN CO WGCDR Steve O’Halloran swaps stories with former 80SQN WWII pilot George Ingledew at Hobart Airport, where the Hawks were on public display.
Photo by LAC Aaron Curran |
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SOCIAL SCENE: Guests of the Battle of Britain Commemoration dinner at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, from left, CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd, Anne Shepherd, AIRMSHL David Evans (ret’d), Gail Evans, Felicity Scully and AVM Peter Scully (ret’d).
Photo by LAC Aaron Curran |
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STAND TALL: LAC Rian Toyer from the Federation Guard forms part of the catafalque party at the Hobart Cenotaph.
Photo by LAC Aaron Curran |
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If you were in Hobart on September 15 or 16, you would have noticed a ‘buzz in the air’.
On both days, three 79SQN Hawks flew low in formation over the Cenotaph in the city to mark the 67th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The fly-over was one of the five activities held to remember the pivotal air battle above Britain that saved the country from an imminent Nazi invasion.
More than 25 Australian pilots fought in the battle that raged in the skies above Britain for 112 days.
One of those pilots was FLTLT Richard Darcy from Tasmania.
FLTLT Darcy, who flew Spitfires in Europe prior to being posted to the Pacific, was killed when his Lightning fighter exploded prior to landing at Manus Island.
FLTLT Darcy’s sister, Marjorie Fitzpatrick, was delighted when two 79SQN Hawks flew over her house in Launceston on September 15 in honour of her brother.
Mrs Fitzpatrick was also one of the guests of honour at the formal dinner held at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
Guests included his Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, Mr William Cox, CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd, former Chief of the Air Staff, AIRMSHL David Evans (ret’d), and WOFF-AF Ray Woolnough.
Australia’s Federation Guard entertained the guests with a performance on the front lawn of the club as the sun went down over the bay behind them.
Inside, the Air Force Central Band took centre stage.
Earlier, a church service was held at St David’s Cathedral, conducted by Principal Air Chaplain-Anglican, AIRCDRE Royce Thompson. AIRCDRE Thompson was one of the speakers at the Cenotaph service, as was the president of the RAAF Association – Tasmanian Division, AVM Peter Scully (ret’d).
“The success of the commemoration was ensured by the presence of 79SQN Hawks, the Air Force Central Band, the Federation Guard, 1AFDS, the support of No. 29 (City of Hobart) Squadron CO WGCDR Charles Hill and the exceptional efforts of SQNLDR Alan Robertson,” AVM Scully said.
As well as the formal commemorations, the public were invited to view the three Hawks at Hobart Airport.
79SQN CO WGCDR O’Halloran and B-Flight Commander SQNLDR Ray Simpson treated the visitors to a show-and-tell of the aircraft.
Visitors included Air Force Cadets and many Air Force veterans from around Tasmania, who shared their own flying experiences with the 79SQN pilots.
Among them was John Isles, from Hobart, who brought along his grand-daughter Sarah Norris, 12, – evidence that the memory of the Battle of Britain would not fade away with the old veterans, but be carried on by their families for future generations. |
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