PNG – CONTACT magazine

Bomana War Cemetery, located near Port Moresby, is the final resting place of more than 3300 Australians. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

Bomana visit a moving moment for ADF members

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2895 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Operation Wantaim, PNG, WWII

Two ADF members paid a special visit to their relatives’ graves at the Bomana War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea

PNG Minister for Finance Thomas Opa and a Royal Australian Air Force officer unveil the new sign at the opening of the Aviation Heritage Centre at the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photos by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Historic aircraft find new home in PNG heritage centre

12/09/202513/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3339 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, PNG

Papua New Guinea’s aviation heritage can now be proudly displayed following the opening of the purpose-built Aviation Heritage Centre at

An Australian Army member from the Parachute Training School descend into Sir Hubert Murray Stadium from a PNG Defence Force aircraft during the Military Tattoo at Port Moresby. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Jack Pearce.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Military Tattoo showcases unity for PNG50

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3713 Views 0 Comments PNG, PNGDF

Music, culture and fireworks lit up Sir Hubert Murray Stadium as Papua New Guinea hosted a Military Tattoo in the

Australian Army personnel from the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, join PNG Defence Force members in a ceremonial gun salute during the Fleet Review at APEC Haus, Port Moresby. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Jack Pearce.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Fleet review, open day salute PNG independence

05/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6130 Views 0 Comments 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, HMAS Childers, HMAS Choules, PNG

Thousands lined the waterfront at APEC Haus in Port Moresby this week as naval crews stood to attention and ships

US Navy ship USS Pearl Harbor alongside at Lae, PNG, as the Republic of Korea Ship II Chul Bong departs during Exercise Pacific Partnership. Photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

ADF provides valuable contribution to US-led exercise in PNG

07/08/202509/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2939 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pacific Partnership, PNG, US Navy

The Australian Defence Force has concluded a successful deployment of personnel to Papua New Guinea as part of Exercise Pacific

Australian Army officer Major Liam Clarke, from 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, and Papua New Guinea Defence Force officer Captain Cyril Gerari, from Igam Barracks Engineer Battalion, on Exercise Puk Puk, in Lae, Papua New Guinea. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Australian Army News Pacific

Brothers in arms and construction in PNG

11/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2236 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Puk Puk, PNG

Combat engineers from five nations executed four major and two minor projects in eight weeks during Exercise Puk Puk in

Left to right, Corporal Lowana McDougall, Aircraftwoman Emily Harman, and Private Hope Hutchins from the Australian Defence Force Women's Rugby League team pay respects at the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Captain Jon Stewart. Photos by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Overseas

ADF players honour fallen heroes

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4595 Views 1 Comment ADF Sport, Kokoda Track, PNG, PNGDF, WWII

The Australian Defence Force Women’s Rugby League team visited the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby as part of an

Australian Army Private Kamarga Rogers, from 3rd Close Health Battalion, discusses medical techniques with Lieutenant Susami Shiori of the Japan Self-Defense Force during Operation Render Safe. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

ADF People Australian Army Overseas

Army medic relishes first deployment

17/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3088 Views 0 Comments 3rd Health Battalion, Japan Self-Defense Force, Operation Render Safe, PNG, unexploded ordnance, WWII

In the tropical terrain of East New Britain, Australian Defence Force personnel are working with international partners to help make

Royal Australian Air Force personnel from Australia's Federation Guard and 100 Squadron carry the caskets of Warrant Officer Russell Grigg and Warrant Officer Clement Wiggins in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Squadron Leader Karyn Markwell. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha Katz-White.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

World War II aviators laid to rest after eight decades

06/06/202517/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2006 Views 0 Comments Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force (HUWC-AF), No. 100 Squadron, PNG, WWII

The remains of two aviators from 100 Squadron Beaufort A9-186 were laid to rest in a moving committal service on

The crew of the A2-487 Iroquois, at a village near Garaina, PNG, seek witnesses to the crash of a RAAF Caribou in August 1972.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

Air-rescue bravery rewarded 40 years after event

31/01/202502/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3143 Views 4 Comments No. 5 Squadron, PNG

Nine Royal Australian Air Force crew members who risked their lives on a rescue mission for one of the worst

Australian Army Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award recipient Lieutenant Lachlan Maill meets local villagers in Rabaul, PNG, during a historical battle tour. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget

Aspiring to lead in the spirit of Kokoda’s heroes

08/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2250 Views 0 Comments Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award, Kokoda Track, PNG, WWII

When Lieutenant Lachlan Maill heard cries for help near a shopping centre escalator, he didn’t hesitate. CAPTION: Australian Army Jonathan

Australian Army Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award recipients follow Lark Force’s withdrawal route through the jungle between the villages of Dodul and Maranagi in East New Britain, PNG. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Walking in the footsteps of their forefathers

06/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2001 Views 0 Comments Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award, PNG, WWII

When the order “every man for himself” was given, Australian soldiers of Lark Force faced a grim choice – stay

A CH-47F Chinook from 5th Aviation Regiment flies over Karkar Island during Exercise Helicon Luk in PNG. Story by Major Carolyn Barnett. Photos by Warrant Officer Class Two Miranda Buckley.

Australian Army News Overseas

PNG terrain tests flying skills

05/11/202410/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2550 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, 5th Aviation Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, Exercise Helicon Luk, Exercise Wantok Warrior, PNG

CH-47F Chinooks of 5th Aviation Regiment took to the skies over the Papua New Guinea highlands for high-density altitude training

Air Force Squadron Leader Jacob Ralph, of 37 Squadron, waits to meet Pope Francis prior to boarding a C-130J in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. Story by Tastri Murdoch.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF carries Pope in PNG

27/09/202428/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2509 Views 0 Comments C-130J Hercules, No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AMES), No. 37 Squadron, PNG

It’s not every day you get to meet the Pope. CAPTION: Air Force Squadron Leader Jacob Ralph, of 37 Squadron, waits

Corporal Monique Jeynes and Corporal Amanda Wintle on the ramp of a RAAF C-27J Spartan prepare to airdrop supplies over the Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, as part of the Defence Pacific Air Program.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Resupply on the Kokoda Track right on target

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2694 Views 0 Comments 35 Squadron, C-27J Spartan, Defence Pacific Air Program (DPAP), Kokoda Track, PNG

Though target practice is usually the preserve of Air Force’s fast jet squadrons, for members of 35 Squadron a recent

Warrant Officer Rodney Wallace and Squadron Leader Jamie Stirling (fourth and fifth from left) with the other 11 Squadron personnel at Owens Arch along the Kokoda Track. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Trekking for history and self

09/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1822 Views 0 Comments Kokoda Track, No. 11 Squadron, PNG, WWII

The Kokoda Track was always in the back of Squadron Leader Jamie Stirling’s mind during his more than 25 years

Lieutenant Donna Nabure, from the Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Diseases Institute team, talks with a Papua New Guinea Defence Force member and his child during a health survey. Photo by Corporal Samuel Miller.

ADF News Pacific

Scientific team surveys health in PNG

25/05/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2614 Views 0 Comments Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, PNG, PNGDF

Bringing science to the heart of Papua New Guinea, the ADF Malaria and Infectious Diseases Institute spent several weeks conducting