Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Commanding Officers of No. 460, 462 and 464 Squadrons, alongside World War Two veterans at the Bomber Command Commemorative Day Wreath Laying Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power.

Modern Air Force pays respect to its heritage

08/06/202213/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2658 Views 0 Comments AWM, Bomber Command, WWII

Bomber Command was commemorated in ceremonies across the country where modern Royal Australian Air Force remembered the sacrifice made by

Commander Air Combat Group Air Commodore Timothy Alsop (right) presents Squadron Leader Daniel Grealy with an oversized replica patch on attaining 4000 flying hours in F/A-18 type aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Bronwyn Marchant. Photo by Sergeant Peter Borys.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Fighter pilot’s ‘huge achievement’ of 4000 hours

08/06/202222/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 4079 Views 0 Comments F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 77 Squadron, No. 82 Wing Training Flight, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Williamtown

In a first for the Royal Australian Air Force, No. 82 Wing Training Flight fighter pilot Squadron Leader Daniel Grealy

Corporal Daniel Orders (left) and then Sergeant Geoff Britton conduct a fluorescent liquid penetrant test on an aircraft component under ultraviolet light in 2016. Story by Squadron Leader Barrie Bardoe. Photo by Corporal Brenton Kwaterski.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Aviation safety gets a revamp

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2119 Views 0 Comments Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA)

The Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) has been restructured following a review that identified shortfalls in its service. CAPTION: Corporal

Royal Austrailan Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Riley Forde arrives in Honiara, Solomon Islands on a KA350 King Air, on 7 May 2022, for Operation SOLANIA: Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

King Air conducts air patrols in the Pacific

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2149 Views 0 Comments KA350 King Air, Operation Solania, Solomon Islands

A Royal Australian Air Force KA350 King Air and three pilots arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands in early May, in

Squadron Leader Michael Veitch and President of the No. 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighter Association Bruce Robertson at the No. 30 Squadron anniversary dinner. Story by By Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Petty Officer Rick Prideaux.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Former Beaufighters squadron turns 80

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2310 Views 0 Comments No. 30 Squadron, RAAF East Sale, WWII

It has been 80 years since Air Force’s No. 30 Squadron was established at RAAF Base Richmond before deploying to

A soldier from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment fires an 84mm Carl Gustav at the Townsville field training area. Story by Trooper Zoë Shipley. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

Asia Australian Army News

Cavalry turns up the heat to prepare for deployment

08/06/202217/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1909 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, Carl Gustav, F1 grenade, M72A1 rocket launcher, SL40 GLA

Troopers from 3rd Brigade’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment turned up the heat during “high explosives week” at Townsville field training area

Australian Army soldiers from 1 RAR train with Royal Tongan Marines on urban clearance drills at Lavarack Barracks. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

Australian Army News Pacific

Forces combine in lead-up to Rimpac

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2286 Views 0 Comments 1RAR, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, RIMPAC

Rehearsing urban clearance drills like a well-oiled machine, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) and His

Military Working Dog Handlers from the Australian Army’s 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment and the Royal Australian Airforce at the National Military Working Dog Day commemorative service, Wacol, Queensland, on June 7. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Warrant Officer Class 2 Kim Allen.

ADF Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Honouring our four-legged heroes

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2336 Views 0 Comments Military Working Dogs, National Military Working Dog Day, Service Dogs

Since World War I, Australian Defence Force dogs have shown enormous courage, unwavering loyalty and commitment to hard work during

Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley speaks with deployed Australian personnel in the newly named Hurley’s Hangar at Camp Baird in the Middle East. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Madeline Edwards.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Camp Baird hangar named in honour of Governor-General

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2472 Views 1 Comment Camp Baird, Governor-General, Middle East Region

Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley recently took time out from his official schedule during his visit to the Middle East

Digital renderings of the Boxer CRV using the MAK ONE suite. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree and Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army News Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Fighting threats, real and imagined

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2309 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers will be able to operate vehicles not yet in service, and fight enemies they’ve never faced, thanks to incoming

Sergeant Rana Chandan operates a Ghost Robotics quadruped robot using a novel brain-computer interface during a demonstration at Majura training area. Story and photo by Sergeant Matt Bickerton.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Brain waves control robot dog’s moves

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2509 Views 0 Comments 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, 5th Combat Service Support Battalion, DSTG, Ghost Robotics quadruped robot, Robotics

While biological dogs respond to voice commands “sit”, “fetch” and “stay”, robotic dogs might soon take instruction via a person’s

Australian Army MRH90 Taipan from the 5th Aviation Regiment prepares to land behind the CH-47F Chinook during Exercise Vigilant Scimitar at Ingham Airport, Queensland. Story by Captain Carolyn Barnett. Photo by Corporal Jarrod McAneney.

Australian Army News Videos

Battle group takes to the skies

08/06/202208/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2543 Views 0 Comments 16th Aviation Brigade, 5th Aviation Regiment, ARH Tiger, aw, CH-47F Chinook, MRH-90 Taipan, Vigilant Scimitar

Combined aviation mission sets were the focus of Exercise Vigilant Scimitar this year. CAPTION: Australian Army MRH90 Taipan from the

(L-R) Italian Air Force Defence Attaché Colonel Salvatore Trincone, Canadian Defence Attaché Colonel Richard Raymond, and German Deputy Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel (GS) Dominic Vogel, try food at HMAS Stirling. Story by Kristi Cheng. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Tour of bases fosters international ties

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2187 Views 0 Comments Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station, Henderson WA, HMAS Stirling, No. 2 FTS, RAAF Base Pearce, RAAF Learmonth

Foreign military officials have been able to tour Defence bases in Perth and Exmouth, now that Western Australia’s borders are

Tim Burnell, Chief Executive Officer of INCAT takes members of the Service Attachés and Advisory Group through the company's ship building facility in Hobart. Story by Kristi Cheng. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Tasmanian Defence industry in the spotlight

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1621 Views 0 Comments

In a first, foreign military officials who are part of the Service Attaches and Advisors Group (SAAG), visited Defence industries in

Pictured is the new Australian Signals Directorate cyber and foreign intelligence facility in Canberra, An early warning system for cyber attacks is one of the new innovations to be pitched in the D.Start Ignite program’s upcoming online showcase. Story by Edwina Callus.

ADF Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Innovative ideas ignited in innovation showcase

08/06/202208/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2138 Views 0 Comments DSTG

Budding entrepreneurs are set to pitch their ideas to potential Defence and Defence industry customers in an online innovation showcase.

Royal Australian Navy pallbearers carry the casket after the Service Funeral for Rear Admiral (retd) Geoffrey James Alexander Bayliss, held at HMAS Watson Chapel, Sydney. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

ADF People History

Service and family – a life intertwined

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2045 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, HMAS Creswell, HMAS Watson

The Service Funeral of Rear Admiral (retd) Geoffrey James Alexander Bayliss, was held at the HMAS Watson Chapel on the

Pilot Flight Lieutenant Angus Wheeler, from No. 292 Squadron, plans the departure and arrival for an upcoming mission in the flight deck of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Corporal Veronica O'Hara. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

ADF People

Poseidon pilot living the dream

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1832 Views 0 Comments AP-3C Orion, No. 292 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon, PC-21, RAAF Edinburgh, rim

As a child, Flight Lieutenant Angus Wheeler thought it would be cool to work underground in mines or be flying

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Defence remembers leading scientist, 30 years on

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1538 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, DSTG, No. 35 Squadron, No. 77 Squadron

This year marks the 30th anniversary since Defence experienced the tragic loss of one of its scientists, Michael Howlett, who

Private Carson Gardiner and Military Police Dog Petra from the 1st Military Police Battalion conduct a building clearance exercise at RAAF Security and Fire School, RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People

Dogs more of a wrench for mechanic

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1520 Views 0 Comments 1st Military Police Battalion, Military Working Dogs, RAAF Amberley, Service Dogs

Qualified mechanic Private Carson Gardiner originally enquired about joining the ADF as a vehicle mechanic before learning about the role of

Able Seaman Ned Dibella takes measurements of a green sea turtle while taking part in a turtle conservation project. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

ADF People

Navy aviation technician dives in to help turtles

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1823 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, No. 808 Squadron

Growing up in Cape York and other far north Queensland locations down to Port Douglas, Able Seaman Ned Dibella was