History Archives - CONTACT magazine

Petty Officer Jean Metcalf on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide before scattering his father's ashes from an MRH-90 Taipan. Story by Lieutenant Emma Anderson. Photo by Leading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

Father’s legacy honoured with special flight

25/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 329 Views 0 Comments 5th Aviation Regiment, HMAS Adelaide, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

A Navy member honoured his father’s legacy in a special way thanks to aircrew from Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment embarked

Captain Damien Freeman talks about captured enemy weapons during a display by the Australian Army History Unit at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis. Photo by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army History News

History unit puts ‘fear weapon’ on display

15/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 871 Views 0 Comments 6th Battalion RAR, Australian Army History Unit (AAHU), AWM

Described as a terror weapon, the Soviet-made LPO-50 flamethrower had a range of 100m in good weather. CAPTION: Captain Damien

History

Classified gear now museum pieces

15/11/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1413 Views 0 Comments

Dear Editor, Please find attached an image of a 72 EW SQN crow logo from 1986. The crow logo was

Seaman Elizabeth Dowler with her proud father, Petty Officer Musician Raymond Dowler, after graduating at the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School, HMAS Cerberus, Victoria. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

ADF People History

Daughter inspired by father’s Navy career

11/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 191 Views 0 Comments Australian Navy Cadets, HMAS Cerberus

Inspired by her father’s rewarding 42-year career in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), year 12 graduate Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Dowler signed up

Commander Antony Ladomirski in front of the Sea Power Centre Australia in Canberra. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

ADF People History

Much to see over 50 years

08/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 368 Views 0 Comments Navy Reserve, Sea Power Conference Centre

Travelling overseas, when it was still done by sea-liner, inspired Commander Antony Ladomirski to join the Royal Australian Navy in

Vietnam veterans catching up at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Group Captain David Fredericks.

History News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

Vietnam veterans reminisce

05/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 723 Views 0 Comments Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, RAAF Amberley, Vietnam veterans

A retreat for 85 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Vietnam veterans and their family members was recently held at the

A member from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force participates in a combined activity with members of the other forces at the live-fire range in Sydney before embarking on Exercise Kokoda Wantok. Story by Major Dan Mazurek. Photo by Corporal Sagi Biderman.

Australian Army History News

Kokoda trek a sober reminder

23/10/202228/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 639 Views 1 Comment Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, WWII

Don’t be fooled by the breathtaking jungle beauty. The famed 100km Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is no

An RAAF Roulette PC-21 aircraft from the Central Flying School, RAAF Base East Sale, thrills visitors during Navy Day 2022. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Stephen Hunter. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

History News Royal Australian Navy

A day to sell the dream

23/10/202225/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 308 Views 0 Comments MH-60R Seahawk, Navy Band, PC-21

The return of Navy Day Victoria on October 9, after a pandemic hiatus, coincided with the 80th anniversary of HMAS

Wing Commander Adrian Burge, from 32 Squadron, at the completion of 10,000 military flying hours, in front of a B350 King Air at RAAF Base East Sale. Story by Flying Officer Ellis Mitchell. Photo by Flying Officer Nathan Howarth.

ADF People History

10,000 hours in the sky

19/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 303 Views 0 Comments B-350 King Air, No. 32 Squadron, RAAF Reserve

32 Squadron recently celebrated a significant flying milestone by qualified flying instructor reservist Wing Commander Adrian “Boggy” Burge, who has

Jessie Strike-McClelland and Flight Lieutenant Justin Kelly with her 100th Birthday gift from the Australian Embassy at San Clemente Villas by the Sea, California. Story by Leading Aircraftwoman Cath Kelly.

ADF People History Veterans

Dedicated servicewoman celebrates centenary

19/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 371 Views 0 Comments WWII

World War 2 Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) veteran, Jessie Strike-McClelland, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 23. CAPTION:

Squadron Leader Steve Cook, back left, a paramedic, Leading Aircraftwoman Hayley Edwards, front left, and Flying Officer (now Wing Commander) Kim Davey carry a Bali bombing victim from a C-130 Hercules. Story by Flight Lieutenant Suellen Heath and Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Sergeant Troy Rodgers.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Bali bombings 20th anniversary: resilience meets tragedy

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 868 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan

On October 13, 2002, a small team of Air Force personnel thought they were embarking on a standard aeromedical evacuation

Leonard McLeod visits a memorial garden at Kokoda Army Barracks. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

ADF People History Veterans

Return to Canungra evokes memories of service

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 439 Views 0 Comments C-47 Dakota, Canungra, WWI, WWII

Despite watching his father die from respiratory problems after being gassed in WW1, a young Leonard McLeod was determined to

World War 2 veteran Arthur Leggett returns the sporran badge to 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment. Story by Ray Galliott. Photo by Lt-Col Leigh Partridge.

ADF People History Veterans

Adventures of a ‘souvenired’ sporran

07/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1110 Views 0 Comments 16th Battalion RWAR, WWII

After 87 years of unauthorised possession, travel and survival, Arthur Leggett OAM, a 103-year-old veteran of WW2 recently returned a

Catafalque party members from No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit march from their post at the conclusion of the Battle of Britain commemoration ceremony at Torrens Parade Hall, Adelaide. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Battle of Britain commemorated in Adelaide

05/10/202210/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 531 Views 0 Comments Air Force Cadets, Battle of Britain, No. 41 Wing, WWII

To mark the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Royal Australian Air Force and Air Force Association (South Australia)

The Air Force Roulettes perform an aerobatic display over the air traffic control tower for the Air Force Roulette's 50th anniversary family open day at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria. Story by Flying Officer Brent Moloney. Photos by Richard Prideaux.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Roulettes reminisce on 50 years

05/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 558 Views 0 Comments Central Flying School, No. 100 Squadron, PC-21, RAAF East Sale, Roulettes

Friends and family of Central Flying School (CFS) belatedly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Roulettes Aerobatic Team with a

91-year-old Mr Derek Olley volunteers in the Restoration Support Section of Air Force’s History and Heritage Branch. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

ADF People History

Fond memories of an RAF career

27/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 699 Views 0 Comments Heritage, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, RAF

When Mr Derek Olley started his apprenticeship with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1947, George VI was the King

Army nursing officer Lieutenant Lorraine Cheesewright pays her respects at the grave of her great uncle, Corporal Frederick Cheesewright at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Videos

Keeping Kokoda memory alive

27/09/202230/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 357 Views 0 Comments 16th Battalion RWAR, Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, WWII

Corporal Frederick Cheesewright’s new stripes were barely sewn to his uniform when a sniper’s bullet abruptly ended his life on

The Governor-General, General (retd) Sir David Hurley, attaches the Streamer, East Timor 1999-2003, to the Princess Anne banner during the 1st Signal Regiment honours parade at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Story by Captain Jessica O’Reilly. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army History News

Theatre Honour presented to 1st Signal Regiment

09/09/202213/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1454 Views 0 Comments 1st Signal Regiment, Gallipoli Barracks, Governor-General

Two prestigious commendations were awarded to the 1st Signal Regiment during a parade at Gallipoli Barracks this week. CAPTION: The

Warrant Officer Kevin ‘Skeet’ Parker, left, removing the dome nut from a propeller in the paint shop at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Flight Sergeant Michael Hartley.

ADF People History

Half a century maintaining Australia’s aircraft

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 305 Views 0 Comments RAAF Reserve, RAAF Townsville, RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC)

After serving with Air Force for more than half a century, Warrant Officer Kevin ‘Skeet’ Parker now spends his retirement

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 1784 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:

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