CONTACT BLOG SPOT Archives - Page 3 of 74

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.

Adelaide honours legacy of Bomber Command

27/06/202502/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 654 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

An Australian Army trooper from the 1st Armoured Regiment remotely controls a weapon system on an optionally crewed armoured vehicle during a demonstration in Puckapunyal, Victoria. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

Letters to the Editor

The ‘Combat Experimentation Group’

26/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 1977 Views 0 Comments

On 29 Aug 24, an article in The Australian Defence Magazine [ADM] stated that: “The Army has re-roled one squadron

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 1097 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 1207 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

Centurion tanks from 1st Armoured Regiment, and armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, move along the main road of Binh Ba village. Over three days, armour and infantry dislodged a strong North Vietnamese Army group that had entered the village, for the loss of one Australian killed in action. AWM BEL/69/0389/VN. Binh Ba.

Letters to the Editor

1st Armoured Regiment’s Legacy

23/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 806 Views 2 Comments

Prior to returning from Vietnam, the Commanding Officer of 4RAR/NZ, Lt Col Jim Hughes, MC (later Maj Gen) wrote to

2nd Cavalry Regiment M1A2 Abrams tanks, conduct a live-fire danger-close serial at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, on 7 June 2025. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Letters to the Editor

Sometimes when we copy what others do, we get it wrong…

20/06/202522/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 1229 Views 0 Comments

This is what has happened with the new role that the Chief of Army designated for the 1st Armoured Regiment.

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 2791 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 1172 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

Royal Australian Navy physical training instructors participate in the Push-Up Challenge at Fleet Base East Gymnasium in Sydney, NSW. Story by Amy Seedsman. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Military Fitness Royal Australian Navy

Pushing for an important cause

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 772 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, mental health, Push-Up Challenge

Navy personnel across the country, and even those deployed at sea, have been pushing themselves to the limit of peak

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, meets local man Erik Adriaensen at the graves of fallen aviators from 464 Squadron at Eindhoven, Netherlands. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan.

ADF People Europe History Lest We Forget

RAAF salutes dedication to WWII graves

20/06/202522/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 697 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, Netherlands, WWII

A Dutch family who tend to the graves of Australian aviators have received personal thanks from Chief of Air Force

Defence and civilian agencies handle simulated mass casualties from a truck-on-train crash scenario in rural Victoria. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photos by Private Nicholas Stoewer.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Train-wreck drill tests emergency response

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 667 Views 0 Comments

Smoke, screams and chaos set the scene as a truck ploughed into a train packed with football fans during a

An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment talks to a British Army soldier from 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, about emerging technologies during Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PCC5) in Fort Irwin, California, 9 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor

Open letter to CO and RSM, 1st Armoured Regiment

19/06/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 11917 Views 31 Comments

Dear Commanding Officer and RSM, 1st Armoured Regiment You may not be aware, but the Army and (surprisingly) the Armoured

An Australian Army Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tank during a live-fire serial as part of a qualification course for Royal Australian Armoured Corps soldiers at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Minister About 3 Bde Being Incomplete

15/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 1054 Views 0 Comments

Dear Minister, Congratulations on your Government’s return to Office. As a Vietnam veteran who continues to take an interest in

Captain Brendan Nguyen engages with a student during mental health training in Ho Chi Minh City. Story and photos by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Overseas

Army psych values training first-hand in Vietnam

13/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1662 Views 0 Comments UNMISS, Vietnam

Australian Army psychologist Captain Viet (Brendan) Nguyen returned to the homeland of his parents to assist in preparing Vietnam People’s

An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment demonstrates hyper-teaming with uncrewed aerial systems on Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California, on 11 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor

How was the Decision Made That Stripped 1st Armoured Regiment of its Tanks?

12/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 1472 Views 3 Comments

Dear All, Did it just happen? Did the Chief of Army suddenly have a vision and tell the RAAC Head

The 2nd Cavalry Regiment welcomes its second tank squadron at a T4 (D Squadron) Raising Ceremony at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland. Photo by Private Jessica Gray.

Letters to the Editor

Is 3 Brigade a Fully Capable and Equipped Armoured Brigade?

10/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 1405 Views 0 Comments

A recent radio broadcast emphasised that Australia is fully equipped and prepared to fight from and defend its northern bases,

An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Armoured Regiment with an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a prototype communications system and experimental drone launcher during Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor

Why is 1st Armoured Regiment Still an RAAC Unit?

09/06/202509/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 1224 Views 0 Comments

The Chief of Army has stripped 1 Armd Regt of its tanks, reduced it in size by two thirds, and

Letters to the Editor

Comments on the Demise of 1st Armoured Regiment

07/06/2025 Bruce Cameron 5121 Views 2 Comments

A number of articles have been published in Contact Magazine as part of a campaign to have 1st Armoured Regiment

Members of HMAS Canberra's Standing Sea Fire and Emergency Party conduct damage control training with Chief Petty Officer Andrew Gibson from Sea Training Group during a transit to Wellington, New Zealand. Story by Lieutenant Michael Wilson. Photos by Petty Officer Jarrod Mulvihill.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

First responders in seaborne damage control drills

06/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1185 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Sea Training Group

HMAS Canberra crew became their own first responders in damage control exercises off the coast of NSW, en route to

Royal Australian Air Force personnel from Australia's Federation Guard and 100 Squadron carry the caskets of Warrant Officer Russell Grigg and Warrant Officer Clement Wiggins in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Squadron Leader Karyn Markwell. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Aiesha Katz-White.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

World War II aviators laid to rest after eight decades

06/06/202517/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 931 Views 0 Comments Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force (HUWC-AF), No. 100 Squadron, PNG, WWII

The remains of two aviators from 100 Squadron Beaufort A9-186 were laid to rest in a moving committal service on