History Archives - Page 5 of 24

A C-130J Hercules from 37 Squadron flies over the assembled guests and visitors at RAAF Base Glenbrook during the 75th anniversary celebrations. Story by Flight Lieutenant Robert Cochran. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.

‘Operational heart’ of RAAF celebrates 75 years

18/10/202418/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1864 Views 0 Comments C-130J Hercules, Headquarters Eastern Area Command, No. 37 Squadron, RAAF Glenbrook

The ‘operational heart’ of the Royal Australian Air Force celebrated its 75th birthday on October 10 with special events, a

Commander 9th Brigade Brigadier Tim Orders presents World War 2 veteran, Glen Dobie, with his Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasp 'PNG'. Story and photos by Captain Peter March.

ADF People Australian Army History Veterans

WWII digger receives service medal at 99

17/10/202418/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1856 Views 0 Comments WWII

Glen Dobie was 18 when he, like many other young Australians, answered the call to arms during World War II.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell and Warrant Officer – Air Force Ralph Clifton unveil the plaques commemorating the loss of 100 Squadron members who perished while serving on Beauforts A9-186 and A9-374 in 1943, at RAAF Base Point Cook. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell..

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Honouring devotion to duty

11/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1503 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, No. 100 Squadron, RAAF Point Cook, WWII

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, along with dignitaries and family members, attended the memorial service and plaque

Air Force aviators and an Australian Air Force Cadet stand as part of the catafalque party during the Battle of Britain commemorative service held at Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide, SA. Story by Group Captain Gregory Weller. Photos by Garry Petts.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

The few who enabled the many

04/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1148 Views 0 Comments Australian Air Force Cadets, Battle of Britain, commemorations, No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit (1RSU), RAAF Edinburgh, WWII

In a moving ceremony, those that became known as ‘the few’ were remembered during the Battle of Britain commemorative service

Squadron Leader Stephen Bihary exits a 79 Squadron Hawk 127. Story by Squadron Leader Stephen Bihary. Photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Longest-serving jet pilot leaves the cockpit

02/10/202405/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1864 Views 0 Comments Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter, No 79 Squadron, RAAF Pearce, RAAF Reserve

The longest-serving Air Force fighter pilot and fast-jet instructor Squadron Leader Stephen Bihary has retired from the cockpit after 48

Australian Army soldiers deployed in East Timor in 2008. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People Australian Army History Overseas

‘Small actions can make a big difference’

27/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1292 Views 0 Comments East Timor, INTERFET

Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) David Buckley was attacked with rocks and slingshots while deployed to East Timor (now Timor-Leste),

Flight Sergeant Barry Day from Heavy Air Lift Systems Program Office is presented his fifth clasp to his long service medal by Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nicole Thomson-Pride. Photo by Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Maintaining aircraft for 40 years

27/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 942 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, Federation Star

When Flight Sergeant Barry Day enlisted in the RAAF in June 1984, Air Force still operated basic piston engine aircraft

Colonel James Murray in East Timor in 1999. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People Australian Army History

Proud of East Timor connection

27/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 874 Views 0 Comments East Timor, INTERFET

Colonel James Murray was recalled to work on East Timor’s ‘D-Day’, September 20, 1999, when he learnt that Australia would

Then Flying Officer Harvey Reynolds, second from left, during his INTERFET deployment with 2 Airfield Defence Squadron on a routine patrol of Atauro Island, East Timor. Story by John Noble.

ADF People History Overseas

Aviators remember ‘significant moment’ in peacekeeping

20/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1472 Views 0 Comments Timor-Leste, UN Peacekeeping

In September of 1999, the world’s attention was firmly fixed on East Timor as it sought to restore its independence.

Admiral Victor Smith, seated, as air operations officer on board HMS Tracker operating in the Atlantic and Arctic in 1943. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photos courtesy Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

A legacy to remember

18/09/202418/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1078 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force, Chief of Navy, Fleet Air Arm, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Melbourne II, HMAS Sydney III, WWII

Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper ‘VAT’ Smith led the first mass torpedo strike against a major warship at sea, survived

Photos of Lieutenant McWilliam, foreground right, and Captain McWilliam, foreground left; his diary, back left, and his midshipman’s journal, back right. Story and photo by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

Extraordinary tale behind extraordinary documents

18/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1041 Views 0 Comments AWM, WWI

The story of coincidence, persistence and happenstance – a set of historic documents uncovered at the Australian High Commission in

Representing the Chief of Air Force, Air Commodore James Badgery lays a wreath at St David's Cathedral in Hobart during the Battle of Britain National Commemoration service. Story by Flying Officer Wendy Pyper. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Brett Sherriff.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

A determination to serve and defend

18/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1112 Views 0 Comments Battle of Britain, Chief of Air Force, WWII

In a speech to the House of Commons in August 1940, then Prime Minister Winston Churchill defined the fierce battle

(L-R) Lieutenant Colonol Justin Meyer, Master Sergeant Emily Luzum, Debbie Wadwell and Group Captain Paul Jarvis with a shadow box for the Russell family, at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson. Photos by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

ADF People History

B-2 Spirit delivers important overseas mail

13/09/202415/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1046 Views 0 Comments No. 82 Wing, RAAF Amberley, RSL, US Air Force, Vietnam War, WWII

When sending important packages overseas, most people look for a fast and secure carrier – and no other provider can

Members of ship's company of HMAS Broome prepare to march past during the vessel's decommissioning ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan White. Photos by Able Seaman Jackson Dowling.

History News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Broome decommissioned

10/09/202419/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1197 Views 0 Comments decommissioning, HMAS Broome, HMAS Coonawarra

After 17 years of proud service, HMAS Broome has decommissioned in Darwin, in front of former commanding officers, crew, families

Air Force's C-130J Hercules aircraft number A97-464 flies over the Hawkesbury area in NSW. This was the first of 12 delivered to RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Tastri Murdoch.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Hercs reach 25-year milestone

10/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1222 Views 0 Comments Air Mobility Group (AMG), C-130J, HADR, No. 36 Squadron, No. 37 Squadron, RAAF Richmond

Bigger, faster, stronger … that was the hope 25 years ago for Air Mobility Group’s addition of 12 C-130Js at

100 Squadron English Electric Canberra bomber TT heritage aircraft flies over the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre in Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kristi Adam. Photo by Aaron Turvey.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Canberra bomber soars in Queensland skies

03/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1846 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, Vietnam Veterans’ Day

Crew of the 100 Squadron Canberra bomber put on a display above the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre on Vietnam Veterans’

Captain Brett Westcott and members of the catafalque party attend the anniversary memorial service for the sinking of HMAS Canberra 1. Story. by Lieutenant Angela Faulkner.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Battle of Savo Island service honours courage and sacrifice

30/08/202431/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1566 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra (I), Royal Navy, US Navy, WWII

On August 9, 1942, HMAS Canberra I was hit 24 times in less than two minutes, resulting in the loss

Governor of South Australia Frances Adamson, right, presents Elizabeth Buchanan with a Medal for Gallantry, which was posthumously awarded to her father, the late Pilot Officer Warren Frank Cowan, for his actions on July 22, 1942. Story by Flight Lieutenant Robert Cochran. Photos by Sergeant David Cotton.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Heroic WW2 acts awarded 82 years on

30/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1000 Views 0 Comments Medal for Gallantry, WWII

Medals of Gallantry have been awarded to members of 32 Squadron who were killed in action during World War 2.

Army Captain Blake Parbery holds his grandfather Gordon Wells' service medals, outside Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland. Story and photo by Captain Peter Nugent.

Australian Army History News Overseas

Exercise continues support of South Korea

28/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1771 Views 0 Comments 3rd Battalion RAR, Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield, Gallipoli Barracks, Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division, Kapyong, Korean War

Members of Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division travelled to South Korea in August for Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield for the next

Lieutenant Jonathan Wills visits Henricus Avenue, Colombo, once home to his mother's family and which now bears the family name. Story by Lieutenant Commander Emma Anderson. Photos by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

ADF People History Overseas Royal Australian Navy

A golden opportunity in Sri Lanka

28/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1233 Views 0 Comments Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Navy Reserve

A deployment to Sri Lanka was like an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? for public affairs officer