WWII Archives - CONTACT magazine

Japanese Ambassador to Australia, Yamagami Shingo, lays a wreath during the Battle of Coral Sea 80th anniversary commemorative service at Russell Offices in Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg. Photo by Nicole Mankowski.

Battle of the Coral Sea 80th anniversary

17/05/202217/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 251 Views 0 Comments Battle of the Coral Sea, HMAS Coonawarra, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, US Army, US Navy, WWII

The 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea was commemorated across Australia early this month. CAPTION: Japanese Ambassador

Chief of Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld and Major General Mark Goina (right), Chief of Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shake hands after signing an aviation safety memorandum of understanding at Air Transport Wing in Port Moresby. Story by John Noble.

History News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Helping restore air capability in PNG

06/05/202212/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 737 Views 0 Comments PNGDF, WWII

Australia is lending a helping hand in getting the air arm of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) back

Air Force personnel who trained as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme in World War II have been depicted on murals commissioned as part of the Air Force 2021 Centenary at RAAF Base Wagga. Photo by Wing Commander Tony Wennerbom.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Wagga honours Empire Air Training role

18/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 673 Views 1 Comment RAAF Centenary, RAAF Wagga Wagga, WWII

A memorial honouring the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) is nearing completion at the entrance to RAAF Base Wagga, in

Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus Captain Ainsley Morthorpe, centre, and Chaplain Matthew Campbell salute as Able Seaman Luke Glasson sounds the Last Post during the HMAS Yarra II commemorative service. Story by Commander Helen Ward. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Sinking of HMAS Yarra II remembered

10/03/202210/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 242 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Yarra, WWII

Navy personnel recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of one of the darkest periods of WWII. CAPTION: Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus

Post Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12163, James Maughmer, lays a wreath during a service held in Fremantle commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Loss of HMAS Perth I remembered

04/03/202204/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 232 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth I, Thai-Burma railway, WWII

HMAS Perth III visited Fremantle recently for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Perth I and

Soldiers re-enact the Bombing of Darwin during an 80th anniversary commemorative ceremony in the Northern Territory. Story by Paul McAlonan. Photo by Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.

ADF History News

The day WWII hit home

23/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 601 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, WWII

Ceremonies were held on February 19 to mark the 80th anniversary of the first attack on the Australian mainland. CAPTION:

Commanding Officer Naval Headquarters Tasmania Commander Andrew Wright and Commanding Officer HMAS Launceston Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Graney at the Teddy Sheean VC memorial in Ulverstone, Tasmania. Story by Petty Officer Ian McGiffen.

History News Royal Australian Navy Veterans

New plaque honours Teddy Sheean VC

21/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 791 Views 0 Comments HMAS Armidale I, Victoria Cross, WWII

A new memorial plaque honouring Ordinary Seaman Edward “Teddy” Sheean VC was unveiled in Shropshire Park in the Tasmanian town

(Australian War Memorial Director Mr Matt Anderson and Captain Anita Nemarich, RAN, with one of the donated red kangaroo funnel insignia from HMAS Parramatta at the Treloar Technology Centre, ACT. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Red kangaroos donated to Australia War Memorial

07/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 643 Views 0 Comments AWM, HMAS Parramatta II, HMAS Parramatta IV, WWII

EIGHTY years to the day since HMAS Parramatta (II) was lost, the red kangaroo funnel insignia from successor ship Parramatta (IV)

Australian Army soldier Corporal A, from the 1st Commando Regiment, talks with Second World War British Army veteran Mr John Morris in the garden of his home in Merrylands, Sydney. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin.

ADF People History Veterans

World War II veteran joins Chelsea Pensioners

07/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 594 Views 0 Comments SAS, WWII

After decades living in Australia, a World War II Special Air Service (SAS) and Battle of Britain veteran was escorted home

Army Sergeant Paul Waples is shown unexploded demolition techniques by United States Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Molly Mcgrath while observing Task Force Koa Moana in Palau. Story by Captain Michael Trainor.

Australian Army History News Pacific USA

Soldiers build partnerships in Palau

26/11/202101/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 569 Views 0 Comments Palau, USMC, WWII

Specialist observers from the Australian Army joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in Palau recently as part of the

The No. 22 Squadron Standard is prepared to be marched out during a replacement and laying up ceremony at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney. Story by Flying Officer Robert Hodgson. Photo by Corporal David Said.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Colours consecrated in cathedral

26/11/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 616 Views 0 Comments 22 Squadron., Colours, Victoria Cross, WWII

NSW Governor Margaret Beazley has presented No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron with a replacement Squadron Standard with additional battle

Commander Combat Support Group Air Commodore Veronica Tyler lays a wreath at the Hobart Cenotaph. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kate Davis. Photo by Sergeant Tanya Russell.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Wartime valour remembered in Tasmania

29/09/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 553 Views 0 Comments WWII

The 81st anniversary of the Battle of Britain was commemorated in Hobart on September 11 at a remembrance service at

Air surveillance operators, from No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit, RAAF Base Edinburgh, make up the catafalque party for the Battle of Britain 2021 Commemoration held at Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide. Story by Squadron Leader Bruce Chalmers. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Stewart Gould.

History News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

Many remember ‘the few’

29/09/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 668 Views 0 Comments WWII

Eighty-one years since the “few” saved so many in the Battle of Britain, the famous World War II air battle

A computer-generated image showing HMNZS Kiwi ramming Japanese submarine I-1 in Guadalcanal on 29 January, 1943. CREDIT: Watertight Productions.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific Veterans

75 years since only Japanese code books of WWII captured

29/01/201827/01/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4398 Views 0 Comments WWII

Today marks the 75th anniversary of an heroic New Zealand naval engagement – the destruction of a Japanese submarine by