WWII Archives - CONTACT magazine

Flying Officer (retd) John 'Blue' Bailey, left, and Commanding Officer of 25 Squadron Wing Commander Paul Taylor pose in a world war jeep replica at RAAF Pearce. Story by Peta Magorian. Photo by Squadron Leader Roger Buddrige.

Back to base for centenarian

23/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 640 Views 1 Comment RAAF Pearce, WWII

Flying Officer (retd) John ‘Blue’ Bailey, a former 25 Squadron pilot, celebrated his 100th birthday with a special visit to

Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Billy Winkler-Sheean holds a portrait of Teddy Sheean VC with Commanding Officer HMAS Stirling Captain Gary Lawton after his promotion ceremony. Story by Warrant Officer Bill Mansfield. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.

ADF People History

Sailor inspired by hero relative

21/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 148 Views 0 Comments Fleet Support Unit – West (FSU-W), HMAS Stirling, Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean, Victoria Cross, WWII

After being inspired to join the Navy by a very well-known relative, Seaman Boatswains Mate Billy Winkler-Sheean was promoted to

Australian Army soldier Corporal Jake Bostock talks with Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

ADF People History

Corporal continues family’s Gallipoli legacy

16/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 345 Views 0 Comments Gallipoli Barracks, WWI, WWII

The Australian Defence Force has a rich history of family legacies being carried on through the generations. CAPTION: Australian Army

32 Squadron and Squadron Leader (retd) Ted McConchie with a 100 Squadron Lockheed Hudson aircraft and 32 Squadron B350 King Air aircraft. Story by Flying Officer Ellis Mitchell. Photo by Petty Officer Richard Prideaux.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

32 Squadron celebrates 80 years

07/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 368 Views 0 Comments B-350 King Air, No. 100 Squadron, No. 32 Squadron, RAAF East Sale, WWII

32 Squadron celebrated its 80th anniversary in November at RAAF Base East Sale with unit members, families, local community members

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 722 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

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 491 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:

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 520 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 1257 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 630 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)

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 440 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

Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Partridge, commanding officer of the 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment, lays a wreath during a dawn service commemorating 80 years since the start of the Battle of Brigade Hill, along the Kokoda Track, in Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News Videos

Remembering Kokoda

23/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1097 Views 1 Comment 16th Battalion RWAR, 39th Operational Support Battalion, Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea, WWII

Several events have been organised to mark the 80th year since the Kokoda Track Campaign in Papua New Guinea during

Air Commodore Robert Lawson, Director-General of History and Heritage – Air Force, addresses family members and friends of Flight Sergeant Richard Hobbs, crew member of Catalina A24-50. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Sergeant Gary Dixon.

ADF People Lest We Forget

Special Memorial for fallen airman’s family

07/09/202211/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 438 Views 1 Comment Aviation Heritage Centre, Catalina, WWII

A commemorative service was recently held at the Aviation Heritage Museum in Perth for the family members of Flight Sergeant

WW2 veterans Harold “Hiram” Ristrom and Margaret Hattersley receive handmade quilts from the Quilts of Valour Foundation during a lunch held at the Bentleigh RSL, Victoria. Story by Corporal Melina Young. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

History News Royal Australian Navy Veterans

WW2 veterans honoured for valour

26/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 537 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kanimbla, RSL, WWII

Three World War 2 Navy veterans instrumental in supporting General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines, cracking enemy codes, and

HMAS Canberra’s (III) Ships Company parade on the flight deck of during a commemorative service for 80th anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

Sunset service for 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I)

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 661 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, WWII

Eighty years after HMAS Canberra (I) sank in the Battle of Savo Island, more than 500 members of HMAS Canberra (III)

Mr Des Jones commemorates the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I) as the last remaining survivor, held at the Naval Chapel, Garden Island, Sydney. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo: byLeading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Commemorating the Battle of Savo Island

09/08/202209/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 436 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra (I), Solomon Islands, WWII

The last surviving crew member of HMAS Canberra (I), 99-year-old Des Jones, remembers how he narrowly escaped death when his

Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF Lest We Forget News Pacific

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 647 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence

Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill and Sergeant Steven Banks, from the School of Armour, present WW2 veteran, 101-year-old Bertram (Bert) Sutton, with an Aussie Hero Quilt at his home in Numurkah, Victoria.

ADF People History Veterans

WW2 veteran honoured with hero quilt

29/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 839 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, School of Armour, WWI, WWII

World War 2 veteran, Private Bertram (Bert) Sutton, has been honoured with the presentation of a hero quilt by the

Commanding Officers of No. 460, 462 and 464 Squadrons, alongside World War Two veterans at the Bomber Command Commemorative Day Wreath Laying Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Modern Air Force pays respect to its heritage

08/06/202213/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1119 Views 0 Comments AWM, Bomber Command, WWII

Bomber Command was commemorated in ceremonies across the country where modern Royal Australian Air Force remembered the sacrifice made by

Squadron Leader Michael Veitch and President of the No. 30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighter Association Bruce Robertson at the No. 30 Squadron anniversary dinner. Story by By Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Petty Officer Rick Prideaux.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Former Beaufighters squadron turns 80

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 840 Views 0 Comments No. 30 Squadron, RAAF East Sale, WWII

It has been 80 years since Air Force’s No. 30 Squadron was established at RAAF Base Richmond before deploying to

The Kuttabul ferry sinking in Sydney Harbour in May 1942. Story by Lieutenant Brendan Trembath.

History Japan Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

80th anniversary of submarine attack

03/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 916 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kuttabul, WWII

A memorial service at HMAS Kuttabul has commemorated the 27 lives lost in an Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarine attack

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