History Archives - CONTACT magazine

Visitors at the first public open day of the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre. Story. by Squadron Leader Karyn Markwell. Photos by Flying Officer Casie Scott.

Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre reopens

20/08/202523/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 615 Views 0 Comments RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC)

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell officially reopened the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC) this month after

The signing of the surrender document by Allied personnel and representatives of the Japanese forces aboard the United States battleship Missouri, September 2, 1945. Story by Rosalind Turner. Photos from Australian War Memorial.

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

Commemorating 80 years since Victory in the Pacific

15/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 780 Views 0 Comments Victory in the Pacific, WWII

On the morning of August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan publicly announced that Japan would accept the Allies’ ultimatum

Major Brian Moore receives his Federation Star from Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, right, in the presence of family members. Story and photo by Major Carolyn Barnett.

ADF People Australian Army History

Career comes full circle

12/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 10880 Views 0 Comments 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment

For Major Brian Moore, life has come full circle. CAPTION: Major Brian Moore receives his Federation Star from Chief of Army

Centenarian and World War 2 Air Force veteran June Hunter cuts her birthday cake with help from Aircraftwoman Molly Blanch and Leading Aircraftwoman Nicole Webb. Photos by Group Captain Gregory Weller.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Celebrating the life of a WWII air force veteran

07/08/202518/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 866 Views 0 Comments WWII

The life of World War II veteran June Hunter (nee Hitch), who died in late July, was a story that

Suanne Prager, airlifted to Australia under Operation Babylift as a child, meets 37 Squadron Association president Col Coyne at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Operation Babylift crews reunite with passengers

31/07/202503/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1267 Views 0 Comments AWM, Vietnam War

Royal Australian Air Force and Qantas personnel who flew hundreds of Vietnamese orphans out of harm’s way were reunited with

Former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Townsville II makes her final journey to her new home at the Townsville Maritime Museum. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Martin.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Honouring a Fremantle-class legend at Townsville

30/07/202511/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 933 Views 0 Comments

On a bright north-Queensland morning, the former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Townsville II made its final journey up

ADF People History

Tradition in every stitch

15/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1015 Views 0 Comments Colours

Self-described “maker, manager, inventor and cleaner”, Umit Erturk, 73, and his wife Evangelia Erturk, 74, have handcrafted bespoke ceremonial regalia

RAAF Base Richmond, a major hub for Air Force operations, marks its centenary this year. Photo by Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Richmond marks centenary as NSW’s biggest airbase

11/07/202513/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1327 Views 0 Comments RAAF Richmond

The Royal Australian Air Force marked the 100th birthday of RAAF Base Richmond on June 30, celebrating the oldest RAAF

Major Andrew Penhaligon, 133rd Battery Commander, 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, receives the battery flag from former battery commander, Major Allan Harrison (Retired), during the Regiments Locating Artillery Centenary Parade at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera. Story by Major Carolyn Barnett. Photo by Leading Aircraftsman Luke Donegal.

Australian Army History News

Regiment marks historic milestones

11/07/202511/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 647 Views 0 Comments 20th Regiment RAA, Gallipoli Barracks

The 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (20 Regt RAA), marked four milestones in a ceremonial parade last month at Gallipoli

History

The RAAC’s First Days: Brian Agnew’s Service

11/07/202511/07/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 863 Views 0 Comments WO2 Brian Agnew

Introduction ‘Baby Boomers’ come from the generation born between 1946 and 1964. I’m one of them. The generation before us

The Navy detachment from Harman Naval Station marches to the parade ground at the Australian War Memorial on Anzac Day in 1951. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo from Australian War Memorial 134448.

History News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Harman – a ship without water

04/07/202504/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1815 Views 0 Comments AWM, HMAS Harman

About 120km from the nearest ocean sits Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Harman, outside of Canberra. CAPTION: The Navy detachment from

World War Bomber Command veterans Howard Hendrick and Ray Merrill attend the 2025 Bomber Command Commemorative Service in Adelaide. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Adelaide honours legacy of Bomber Command

27/06/202502/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 698 Views 0 Comments Bomber Command, WWII

Royal Australian Air Force personnel joined dignitaries, veterans and the broader community in Adelaide to honour Bomber Command aviators and

Soldiers of the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on parade with Army reconnaisance helicopters from 1st Aviation Regiment during the Battle of Binh Ba commemoration service held in Darwin. Story by Captain Nicholas Marquis. Photo by Corporal Madhur Chitnis.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Battalion marks Battle of Binh Ba anniversary

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1123 Views 0 Comments 1st Aviation Regiment, 5/7 RAR, Robertson Barracks, Vietnam War

Soldiers and officers of 5/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5/7RAR), commemorated the Battle of Binh Ba with a parade

From left, former crew members of Centurion 169041, Barry Hodges, Graham Munsell and Ray Arthur out the front of 1st Armoured Regiment at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Chris and Jan Fenton.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

The story of Australia’s ‘atomic tank’

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1250 Views 2 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment, Centurian tank, RAAF Edinburgh, Vietnam War

It’s believed a Centurion tank sitting in front of the 1st Armoured Regiment is the only tank in the world

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 2958 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

Air Force aircraft technician Corporal Leigh Gammie discusses the F-35A Lightning II aircraft with veterans from the Merewether Hamilton Adamstown RSL sub-Branch at 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People History News Royal Australian Air Force

RSL meets today’s RAAF

20/06/202522/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1198 Views 0 Comments No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown, RSL

Members of the Mereweather-Hamilton-Adamstown Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub-Branch attended RAAF Base Williamtown in May to experience today’s Royal