Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Craftsman Amber Toner, left, and Craftsman Cameron Powell, from 1st Aviation Regiment, with Emily and Oliver Taaffe and a 70mm rocket from the Tiger helicopter during the Exercise Pitch Black open day at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Winnall. Photo by Corporal Kylie Gibson.

Up close with personnel and their flying machines

07/09/202207/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1639 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, F-35A Lightning II, Open Day RAAF Darwin, RAAF Darwin

Crowds have flocked to see aircraft and meet personnel from Australian and international air forces at the Exercise Pitch Black

Lance Corporal Jesse McMah, from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) guides an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank over a medium girder bridge during training at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Engineers bridging the gaps

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2094 Views 1 Comment 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Gallipoli Barracks, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Soldiers from 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) conducted a series of bridging and rafting exercises at Gallipoli Barracks during

Lance Corporal Rick Milosevic's partner, Kelly Walton, and their daughter lay a wreath at 'Rick's Jump Up' memorial in Quilpie. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Major Roger Brennan.

ADF People Lest We Forget

Community pays respects to fallen soldiers

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1483 Views 0 Comments 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry), Afghanistan, Gallipoli Barracks

For locals in the regional town of Quilpie, reaching the knoll on Warrego Highway overlooking the Western Queensland countryside is

Major Waldo Britz prepares test equipment on a 5th Aviation Regiment MRH90 Taipan helicopter at RAAF Base Townsville. Story by Lieutenant Akhil Kambil and Captain Carolyn Barnett. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

ADF People

Engineers put flight principles to the test

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 944 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment

Major Waldo Britz has a job that few in Army know about and far fewer perform. CAPTION: Major Waldo Britz

Chau Giang Phan prepares to depart for a flight in an EC-135 aircraft at HMAS Albatross. Story b y Lieutenant Commander Karen Dwyer. Photo by Leading Seaman Ryan Tascas.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

A wish takes flight

06/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1665 Views 0 Comments EC-135, Fleet Air Arm, HMAS Albatross, MH-60R Seahawk, No. 723 Squadron, No. 725 Squadron

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) was privileged to grant the wish of 13-year-old Chau Giang Phan, who visited HMAS Albatross

Meg, Sally and Cath from the Red Cross Lifeblood Centre with the Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Chris Smith as he donates plasma at the launch of the 2022 Defence Blood Challenge. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

Defence Blood Challenge open to new donors

06/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1896 Views 0 Comments Red Cross Blood Challenge

Defence personnel will be presenting their arms to give more than 11000 blood or plasma donations as part of the

Australian Defence Vessel Reliant docked at Brisbane International Cruise Terminal for its flag-raising ceremony. Story by Lieutenant Brendan Trembath. Photo by Sergeant Ben Dempster.

News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

ADV Reliant ready for Pacific support role

06/09/202208/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2644 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Pacific Engagement

A vessel that will support Australia’s Pacific family through an almost constant presence has joined the Royal Australian Navy fleet

Family and friends welcome home their loved ones on board HMAS Canberra as the ship returns to Fleet Base East following a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Able Seaman Callum Davis.

News Royal Australian Navy Videos

Home for Father’s Day

06/09/202208/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1715 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Supply, MV-22 Osprey, Regional Presence Deployment, Render Safe, RIMPAC, US Marines

The families of hundreds of ADF personnel lined the wharf at Fleet Base East on Father’s Day to welcome home

WO2 Simon Lovell, centre, is presented with a Federation Star for 40 years of service by Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart at Randwick Barracks, in the presence of his wife, Teresa Lovell. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal James Davison.

ADF People

Forty years well engineered

06/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1632 Views 0 Comments Corps of Engineering, Defence Force Recruiting, Federation Star, Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Six years into his ADF career, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Simon Lovell had a new job lined up and

The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Robert Chipman (left), and PNG's Chief of Defence Force, Major General Mark Goina, at the service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Air Force Caribou A4-233 crash in Port Moresby. Story by Wing Commander Ivan Benitez-Aguirre. Photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

50 years since RAAF’s worst peacetime crash

31/08/202203/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3559 Views 0 Comments DHC-4 Caribou

Fifty years ago, 25 Papuans and Australians were killed in the crash of Royal Australian Air Force Caribou A4-233. CAPTION:

A RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft performs an aerial display during the Pitch Black Flypast over Mindil Beach, Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Winnall. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA Videos

Pitch Black flypasts wow crowds in Darwin

31/08/202203/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2801 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, MV-22 Osprey, RAAF Darwin

Thousands of people attended the Pitch Black flypast at Mindil Beach in Darwin, with multinational aircraft putting on an hour-long

Participants in the 2022 Air Force Women in Aviation Program and their guides on the ramp of a C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Corporal Melina Young. Photo by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Inspiring young women to fly

31/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2263 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, RAAF Amberley, Women in Aviation Program, women in the ADF

What could give a teenager the chance to fly in a military aircraft, train a service puppy, and handle firefighting

Army riflemen from the 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment fires a .50 cal heavy machine gun during an Integrated Gun Line Practice. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Videos

Heavy weapons light up the night

31/08/202201/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2837 Views 0 Comments 6RAR, 8/9RAR, DFSW

A range of heavy weapon and anti-armour capabilities were developed by the 6th and 8th/9th Battalions, the Royal Australian Regiment,

Australian Army soldier Corporal Hayden Guilfoyle. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello. Photo supplied.

ADF People

Brave soldiers recognised

31/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2138 Views 0 Comments Townsville Floods 2019

Creating a rope handrail between a parked armoured vehicle and signpost in strong flowing water, a pair of soldiers helped

From left, Malaysian Armed Forces Battery Commander Major Fahmi A. Razak, Australian Army Command Post officer Lieutenant Toby Exton and Malaysian Armed Forces Forward Observer Captain Shauqi. Story by Major Megan McDermott. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Asia Australian Army News USA

Malaysian artillerymen lob in for Ex Predators Run

31/08/202201/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2177 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, 8th/12th Regiment, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Malaysian Armed Forces, Predators Run, Royal Australian Artillery, US Marines

When 102 Battery, 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, received a call for fire on a target of opportunity, it was

Leanne Caban (centre) with the captain, Stephen Smith, and crew of HMAS Courage after participating in the Battle of the Boats at the Henley on Todd Regatta in Alice Springs. Story by Leading Seaman Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.

News Royal Australian Navy

Navy drops anchor for outback regatta

31/08/202211/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1534 Views 0 Comments HMAS Arunta, HMAS Coonawarra, Navy Band

Royal Australian Navy sailors from both South Australia and the Northern Territory reinvigorated a long-standing tradition when they converged on

Able Seaman Manuel Grundy-Quay runs the ball as the Navy Tridents play Fire and Rescue NSW in the Community Cup Rugby League game at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

News Royal Australian Navy

Trident rookies under fire

31/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1402 Views 0 Comments

Fire and Rescue NSW were too strong for the Navy Tridents in a tough encounter at the annual Community Cup.

Lieutenant Commander Wesley Truscott in the sick bay on board HMAS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

ADF People

From junior recruit to senior health officer in Navy’s largest ship

31/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1499 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

At the age of 15, junior recruit Wes Truscott had no idea he would become the Senior Health Officer on

Four RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets prepare for a mission at Eielson Air Force Base for Exercise Red Flag Alaska. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello. Photo by Captain Benjamin Tait.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Complex combat training at Red Flag Alaska

26/08/202229/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2298 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag, F/A-18F Super Hornet, US Air Force

RAAF aviators experienced complex combat missions and deployed operations with the United States Air Force during Exercise Red Flag Alaska from

Vehicles from the School of Armour fire on target during the firepower demonstration at Puckapunyal Military Area on August 17. Story by Major Carrie Robards. Photos by Private Michael Currie.

Australian Army News

Pucka community brought up close to action

26/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2656 Views 0 Comments ASLAV, Combined Arms Training Centre, M113, M1A1 Abrams, M777 Howitzer, Puckapunyal

For soldiers, explaining their role to their biggest supporters – their close friends and family – can be difficult. CAPTION: