CONTACT BLOG SPOT Archives - Page 47 of 70

At the Central Flying School. Lieutenant George Merz is seated (second row from front) second from left, Captain Henry Petre is seated third from left and Lieutenant Eric Harrison is seated fourth from left. Story by Wing Commander Mary Anne Whiting. Photo by Australian War Memorial.

History Royal Australian Air Force

Baptism of fire for fledgling air force

22/04/202122/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1416 Views 0 Comments

This year, Air Force marked its centenary, but the service was born in the Army and had a baptism of

Participants at the inaugural Puckapunyal parkrun at the Puckpunyal Military Area, Victoria. Story by Major Carrie Robards.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing

Pucka Parkrun off to flying start

19/04/202122/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1823 Views 0 Comments

The Puckapunyal Military Area has become the first restricted access military base in Australia to introduce a weekly Parkrun event

Warrant Officer Andrew O'Shea shows off his beard at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story by Petty Officer Lee-Anne Cooper. Photo by Petty Officer Lee-Anne Cooper.

History Royal Australian Navy

Uncovering a hairy history

19/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1744 Views 0 Comments

Beards have had a long association with sailors and in recent years there has been a growth in all things beard-related.

Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Christopher Smith with Navy chaplains and support staff at HMAS Penguin in Sydney. Story by Chaplain Richard Quadrio. Photo by Leading Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Navy

Navy chaplains congregate

19/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2313 Views 0 Comments

Chaplains from across Navy congregated at HMAS Penguin in Sydney for the 2021 Navy Chaplaincy Branch conference, offering an opportunity for

Aircraftman Bailey Gray sporting a bump cap while undertaking maintenance checks on the GENFLY 1 training aid at the RAAF School of Technical Training, RAAF Base Wagga. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell. Photo by Corporal Kylie Gibson.

Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Air Force

Hats on for safety

16/04/202119/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1881 Views 0 Comments

Baseball-style padded ‘bump caps’ adopted by technical trainees at RAAF Base Wagga have led to a dramatic decrease in head injuries.

Leading Seaman Dion Cray on board HMAS Supply. Story by Lieutenant Jessica Craig. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

ADF People History

Following in his great-grandfather’s footsteps

13/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1905 Views 0 Comments

Apart from joining the Royal Australian Navy, Bulahdelah local Leading Seaman Dion Cray is sharing another milestone with his great-grandfather.

Sergeant Andrew Turner, accompanied by wife Susan, is presented with a Federation Star for 40 years service in the Australian Defence Force, by Commander Forces Command Major General Matt Pearse. Photo supplied by family.

Letters to the Editor

Sergeant Andrew Turner – 40 years service

12/04/2021 Darren Barnfield 2025 Views 0 Comments

Sergeant Andrew Turner is presented with a Federation Star for 40 years ADF service, by Commander Forces Command Major General Matt Pearse.

Photo by Leading Aircraftman Aaron Curran

Thought provoking

Anti-ADF Sentiment – Echoes of The Past

12/04/2021 Luke Ross 2614 Views 4 Comments

We are entering a new era of defence bashing – society may be on a path that we have seen before that lead to negative impacts for defence.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove with Australian Victoria Cross recipients (from right), Keith Payne VC, Corporal Mark Donaldson VC, Corporal Daniel Keighran VC and Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, and then Chief of Army Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, on a visit to Australian troops in Baghdad, Iraq (August 2015).

Letters to the Editor

Lou needs some autographs

11/04/2021 Luciano (Lou) Dei-Rossi 2793 Views 1 Comment

I served in the army for 37 years and saw two tours on the middle east. Over the last couple

Australian 'Rats of Tobruk' dug in for the fight.

Australian History Middle East News

80th anniversary of the siege that spawned ‘The Rats of Tobruk’

10/04/202110/04/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2292 Views 0 Comments

On 10/11 April 2021, we commemorate 80 years since the start of a port siege in Libya – and the birth of ‘The Rats of Tobruk’.

A Lancaster bomber of 463 or 467 Squadron RAAF over England in 1945. File photo.

History Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Top 10 Iconic RAAF Aircraft – 8: Avro Lancaster

08/04/202107/05/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 3978 Views 0 Comments

As the Royal Australian Air Force celebrated its Centenary on 31 March 2021, they have compiled their Top Ten most

Claire Withrington at her Royal Military College - Duntroon appointment ceremony in Brisbane.

ADF People History

Fourth generation to join the Army

08/04/202114/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1878 Views 0 Comments

Wynnum local Claire Withrington is following a well-worn path to lead others in the Australian Army. CAPTION: Claire Withrington at

The RAAF Roulettes fly under the sun. Photo: Mike Hughes.

Personal stories

RAAF Centenary airshow – a locals viewpoint

06/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2035 Views 0 Comments

Organising and then running an airshow is a daunting and frustrating task and if the stars align and the wind

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, left, his wife Louise Hupfeld, Warrant Officer of the Air Force Fiona Grasby, and Leading Aircraftwoman Victoria Farell lay wreaths at the Air Force memorial. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.

History Royal Australian Air Force

Family’s story of loss is one of many

06/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1824 Views 0 Comments

The last time Margaret Radford saw her brother, Flight Sergeant Elliot Burton, he was waving goodbye through a train window

Air Force personnel representing all specialisations and musterings form the number 100 with all in-service RAAF aircraft and ground assets at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Nicci Freeman.

History Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Awesome snapshot in time and history

06/04/202107/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2464 Views 0 Comments

As they stood in the shape of the number 100 under grey skies and light drizzle, the assembled Air Force members’

Uncle Harry Allie, left, and Aircraftman Steven Ahoy at the Australian War Memorial during the Welcome Ceremony for Air Force’s Centenary commemorations. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

History News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Shells, soil and sand from around Australia enshrined at AWM

06/04/202106/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1488 Views 0 Comments

In a symbolic gesture, shells, soil and sand collected from around the country were placed at the For Our Country

Les Tanna, left, Ashley Saltner, Glen Thomas, Flight Lieutenant David Williams holding soil from Wulgurukaba land, Virginia Wyles and Wing Commander Mathew Green at RAAF Base Townsville. Photo by Corporal Luke Garner.

History Royal Australian Air Force

Soils a feature of symbolic ceremony

06/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1790 Views 0 Comments

Known as the Guardian of the North, RAAF Base Townsville in North Queensland is strategically located as a forward operating

Letter to the Editor re Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for Fiji

Letters to the Editor

OP Fiji Assist – Overseas Humanitarian Service Medal

03/04/2021 James R 4009 Views 0 Comments Fiji Assist

Do you know anything about about members of the ADF who served on OP Fiji Assist 2016 receiving the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal?

Senior Australian Defence Force Officer RAAF Base Amberley Group Captain Iain Carty presents Air Force veteran Mary Collins with an Air Force 2021 commemorative memento in celebration of her 100th birthday. Photo by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

ADF People History

Blazing a trail to serve the country

01/04/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2126 Views 0 Comments

When Mary Collins (nee Ladlay) applied to join the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), her father was furious she

2 Sqn Royal Flying Core S.E.5A's at the Western Front WW1. Video screen grab.

History Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Top 10 Iconic RAAF Aircraft – 9: S.E.5A

28/03/202107/05/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2804 Views 0 Comments

As the Royal Australian Air Force celebrates its Centenary on 31 March 2021, they have compiled their Top Ten most