ADF’S FIRST SPACE UNIT

ADGs’ vital security role at Kandahar

Ex Northern Phoenix over Kakadu

RCEAIR F May 21, 2015 CENTENARY OF FLYING CORPS OPERATIONS

Our first air campaign

SPECIAL LIFTOUT

Just a month after the Anzacs landed at

Gallipoli, Australian Flying Corps’ Half

Flight confronted Turkish forces

SPECIAL LIFTOUT Page 3Page 7

No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit renamed No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit and takes on a role that is out of this world

AIRF RCEVol. 57, No. 9, May 21, 2015 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

FLTLT Gene Elliott and SQNLDR Paul Kemp, of 1RSU, examine the path of space debris.Photo: SGT Michael Dean.

Centrespread

DirectorDavid Edlington: (02) 6265 4650

Acting EditorAurora Daniels: (02) 6266 7707 aurora.daniels@defencenews.gov.au

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THIS EDITIONFighter pilots put through their paces Page 4

Joining forces for joint Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines Page 5

Explosive detection dog handler is Combat Support Group airman of the year Page 8

Personnel recall Operation Babylift, evacuating children in the Vietnam War Page 15

RCEAIR F

Living the Air Force Values: RESPECT – EXCELLENCE – AGILITY – DEDICATION – INTEGRITY – TEAMWORK

2 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FNews

Budget bonusLS Jayson Tufrey

AIR Force will benefit from increased funding for new capa-bility, operations and pay under the 2015-16 Budget announced on May 12.

Since last year’s budget a further $5 billion in new pro-vision investments has been approved for Defence.

This wil l include two addit ional Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs, new personal protective equipment, deploy-able air traffic control systems, transportable satellite termi-nals and P-8A Poseidons and MQ-4C Tritons.

A complete program of cap-ital investment in new capabili-ties will accompany the 2015 Defence White Paper.

Until the White Paper is released, the government will continue to approve the most urgent capability projects, pro-vided they are affordable and supported by strong business cases.

A significant portion of the 2015-16 Budget funding will support ADF operations in Iraq.

Operation Okra will be sup-ported by $359.8 million addi-tional funding in 2015-16 and $381.6 million in the forward estimates between 2015-16 and 2017-18.

This takes the total funding to $390.8 million in 2015-16 and $418.3 million between 2015-16 and 2017-18.

In total, Defence will ben-efit from an additional $752.7 million in 2015-16 and $802.4 million over the forward esti-mates.

I n c l u d i n g p r ev i o u s l y approved funding, this takes the total operations fund-ing to $910.7 mill ion in 2015-16 and to more than $1 billion over the forward esti-mates.

As previously reported, CDF ACM Mark Binskin and the government applied to the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal in April seeking to improve the ADF pay offer.

Subject to approval by the

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

CapabilityTwo additional Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs to bolster the existing fleet of six strategic lift aircraft.New and improved personal protective equipment including new-generation body armour.Deployable air traffic control systems to better support humanitarian and disaster relief operations.Transportable satellite terminals that allow our deployed forces to use the Wideband Global Satellite system to communicate back to Australia.Acquisition of P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft and MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft.

Tribunal, the decision to increase ADF pay to 2 per cent a year will be effective from March 12, 2015.

Additional funding has also been approved for the Sir John Monash Centre, an Australian interpretive centre at Villers-Bretonneux, near the site of the Australian National Memorial on the Somme.

A further $18 million in 2015–16 and $89 million in the forward estimates will be added to the ini-tial project funding of $2.8 mil-lion to complete the project.

Defence Minis ter Kevin Andrews said the first responsibil-ity of a government was the safety and security of its people.

“I take this responsibility very

seriously,” he said. “The budg-et delivers on the government’s promise to grow, rather than cut, the Defence budget.

“The government remains firm on its commitment to increase Defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP within a decade.”

Overall, Defence will receive $31.9 billion in the 2015-16 financial year and $132.6 billion between 2015-16 and 2018-19.

This is an increase of $9.9 bil-lion compared with the four-year estimates announced in the 2014-15 Budget.

For more information, visit www.defence.gov.au/Budget/15-16/

The government has announced financial support for ADF operations, capability and pay in the 2015-16 Budget. Photos: SGT Ray Vance and SGT Pete

OperationsIraq (Operation Okra)Operation Okra contribution includes up to 330 military personnel to the international building partner capacity training mission at Taji to help build the capability of the Iraqi Security Forces to reclaim and hold territory from Daesh.

The government has agreed to additional funding of $359.8 million in 2015-16 and $381.6 million over the Forward Estimates. Afghanistan (Operation Highroad)Operation Highroad is Australia’s military contribution to the NATO-led train, advise and assist Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Resolute Support is currently planned for a two-year period as NATO’s military mission

in Afghanistan is scheduled to end in 2016.

The government has agreed additional funding of $115.1 million in 2015-16 and $134.4 million over the Forward Estimates.

Afghanistan (Operation Slipper)Australia’s contribution to the International Security Assistance Force campaign in Afghanistan under Operation Slipper ceased on December 31, 2014, and the military contribution to Afghanistan is now provided under Operation Highroad.

While Operation Slipper has ceased, there is $121.9 million in 2015-16 and $225.8 million over the Forward Estimates for repair of equipment returned to Australia and two further US$80 million contributions to the sustainment of the Afghan National Security Forces.

Gulf States Supporting Operations in the MER (Operation Accordion) Operation Accordion covers ADF operations in the Gulf States of Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in support of Operations Highroad (Afghanistan), Okra (Iraq) and Manitou (Maritime Security including counter piracy in the Middle East Region).

Australia has around 400 personnel deployed under Operation Accordion based across the wider Middle East Region.

The government has agreed to additional funding of $189.3 million in 2015-16 and $191.3 million over the Forward Estimates. Including previously approved funding, this takes the total funding to $191 million in 2015-16 and $193 million in the Forward Estimates.

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3May 21, 2015RCEAIR F News

CONSTRUCTION of the $1.5 billion New Air Combat Capability Facilities at RAAF Base Williamtown has started.

The new assets will support the introduction, operation and deployment of the F-35A Lightning II.

Turning of the first sod on May

6 marked the start of a project that will provide facilities for the aircraft at 10 bases across the country.

Of this, the RAAF Base Williamtown facilities are expected to bring about $950 million worth of work into the Newcastle region, according to Defence Minister Kevin Andrews.

Facilities to support the F-35A Lightning II aircraft will also be constructed at RAAF Bases Tindal, Townsville, Scherger, Darwin, Curtin, Learmonth, Pearce Edinburgh and Defence Establishment Myambat.

The first F-35A will arrive in Australia in late-2018.

F-35A facilities started at RAAF Base Williamtown

An artist’s impression of what the new facilities at RAAF Base Williamtown for the F-35A will look like on completion.

Image courtesy of Coffey

FLGOFF Nat Giles

TROPICAL Cyclone Olwyn brought about a change in name and location for a biannual Hawk pilot exercise.

Exercise Western Phoenix was renamed Northern Phoenix and moved from RAAF Base Learmonth to RAAF Base Darwin due to the cyclone’s dam-age to the Western Australian base in March.

Exercise Northern Phoenix is the consolidation phase of the No. 49 Introduction to Fighter Course.

Aircrew will be performing forma-tion flying and navigation exercises

from May 1-21 as part of their Hawk training.

No. 79 Squadron flew six Hawks to Darwin for the exercise while about 90 personnel and equipment were trans-ported north on a KC-30.

CO 79SQN WGCDR Jus t in Fitzgerald said the logistics convoy from RAAF Base Pearce to Darwin took five days and transported three trucks of additional maintenance and support equipment, with the remainder of the equipment transported on the KC-30.

“I have been very impressed with the efforts of our logistics team in get-

ting this equipment to Darwin at such short notice,” he said.

“We made the decision to change the location of the exercise at short notice after the cyclone hit Learmonth and the efficiency of the team in getting this convoy under way is impressive.

“Diverting this exercise to Darwin has given us the opportunity to add another element to the exercise for the aircrew.

“One of the aims of Northern Phoenix is to provide an unfamiliar environment for the aircrew to fly in, adding another level of complexity to the course.

“This has also given our support personnel an opportunity to practise deploying.

“We also have maintenance per-sonnel working on shifts at RAAF Base Tindal so this is definitely a more complex deployment than our usual exercise to Learmonth.”

Kakadu National Park is the largest national park in Australia, covering almost 20,000sqkm. It is home to 280 types of birdlife and 2000 plant spe-cies. With its spectacular rocky out-crops, waterways and bushland it has made for some jaw-dropping scenery during the training exercises.

Commander Air Combat Group AIRCDRE Steven Roberton said Exercise NP15 was a vital part of Hawk pilot training.

“It provides the pilots with the skills required to fly into unfamiliar airfields,” he said.

“It is the first time the aircrew fly fighter mission profiles away from their home base.

“This will also be the major opportunity for budding fighter pilots to refine their formation flying skills, which is fundamental to fighter flying.”

Hawks fly north for exercise

A Hawk MK127 taxis out of the hangar at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Northern Phoenix. Photo: LS James Whittle

A Hawk MK127 jet aircraft flies along the coast of the Northern Territory while on Exercise Northern Phoenix. Photo: ABIS Nicolas Gonzalez

A Hawk MK127 conducts flight manoeuvres over Kakadu National

Park in the Northern Territory. Photo: ABIS Nicolas Gonzalez

4 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FNews

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CAPT Dom Sander

CREWS on Operation Nepal Assist have returned home after two C-17A Globemasters delivered much-needed aid to Kathmandu in Nepal.

From April 29-May 3 two C-17As flew 54.5 hours over eight missions, delivered 340,517lb of cargo and carried 322 pas-sengers, including a RAAF Aero Medical Evacuation team, specialist Defence logis-tic staff and Australian and foreign nation-al evacuees.

FLTLT Andre Lovett, the pilot of one of the two C-17As, said the purpose of the mission was to deliver humanitarian and disaster relief stores and get Australians back home.

“We were there to establish a shut-tle between Bangkok and Kathmandu to take in aid and evacuate Australians out of Kathmandu,” he said.

FLTLT Lovett said the operation meant long days for everyone involved and his crew worked hard to deliver support and get Australians and approved foreign nationals back home safely.

“It was good to see the smiles on the faces of our passengers as they boarded our plane,” he said.

“Obviously they had been through a lot and it was good to see they still had a posi-tive attitude.”

Nepal Assist wraps up

Personnel load a C-17A Globemaster with ADF medical stores at Bangkok International Airport in

Thailand during Operation Nepal Assist.Left, Australians on board a C-17A Globemaster

after being evacuated from Kathmandu. Photos: LCPL Kyle Genner

AIR Force personnel took part in Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines to help improve multinational tactical training outcomes from April 6-30.

Defence personnel f rom the Republic of the Philippines, US and Australia conducted the highly suc-cessful exercise on the islands of Luzon and Palawan.

Balikatan means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Filipino.

Commander Australian contingent CMDR Mark Jarrett said the exercise was successful in refining the abilities of the three nations to work together on regional security and humanitarian civil aid projects.

“The ADF contributed about 70 personnel and one Air Force AP-3C Orion patrol aircraft to fill a range of headquarters, command post exercise, field training and civil aid activities,” he said.

“We provided support that includ-ed mentoring and training to Armed Forces of the Philippines counterparts and local communities.”

CMDR Jarrett said two ADF medi-cal officers took part in lectures during a health symposium and exchanges at local hospitals.

“Australian Army engineers also worked alongside US Seabees in the construction of a multi-purpose room for a school in the Palawan region,” he said.

“Our 2 Commando Regiment per-sonnel conducted combined field train-ing and RAAF personnel flew out of Clark Airfield to improve tactical inter-operability in the aviation environment.

“Overall we were able to cooper-ate across a range of capabilities and improved our interoperability for the future.”

Joining forces for Exercise Balikatan

FLTLT Kevin O’Sullivan, a chaplain with the Combined-Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force on Exercise Balikatan, offers religious services to civilians and service members of the Philippines and US armed forces at Sabang Elementary School in Palawan, Philippines. Photo: SSGT Jason Fudge

Nick Brunninghausen, of Bondi Beach in Sydney, was busy making a documen-tary in Nepal when he got caught up in the earthquake near Kathmandu.

Mr Brunninghausen said it was a hor-rifying experience and he was glad to be safe.

“I still cannot believe that I have been through all of this,” he said.

“To see a plane ready and waiting just for us on the tarmac was almost too good to be true. It’s amazing being in a stable and safe place now and it has been a while since I had a good sleep.”

He said he was grateful to the Australian government and Defence for the evacuation.

“It’s good to see that the ADF can come to our aid right when you need it most,” he said.

“This was a truly amazing experience and a real eye-opener for me.”

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5May 21, 2015RCEAIR F News

He’s one in a hundredJaimie Abbott

NO. 5 Flight members have been recognised with a Chief of Air Force Commendation for their efforts to support the Heron Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in Afghanistan.

Seventeen past and present 5FLT members have been commended.

CO 5FLT WGCDR Jonathan McMullan said in June 2014 Heron Detachment members were preparing to fly what they believed was their fourth-last mission in Afghanistan when the Prime Minister made a decision to again extend the com-mitment – this time by another five months.

It took just 30 days for 5FLT to have a new rotation of members ready to go.

“We recruited, trained, force-prepped and deployed 40 personnel in those 30 days, when it would typi-cally take nearly four months to do that,” he said.

“It was such a rapid response to a short-notice deployment, and this was a team effort right through from the instructors to the admin staff. The team was able to conduct refresher training from Woomera for those aircrew who had previously deployed with Heron, as well as Ground Mission Station collective training for the intelligence officers and air intel-ligence analysts.”

Commander Surveillance and Response Group AIRCDRE Chris Westwood presented the commen-dation on May 7, during his visit to RAAF Base Amberley for the Heron Airworthiness Board.

5 Flight gets CAF award

AWARDEDWGCDR Jonathan McMullanSQNLDR Jarrod FosterSQNLDR Matthew LunnayFLTLT Steven EdwardsFLTLT Catriona DowlingCAPT Carson ChoyCAPT Bradley HardimanWOFF Peter RobertsWOFF Anthony StysFSGT Sean McClureFSGT Malcolm SempfSGT Stanislav BudulicaSGT Justin HaydenSGT Euan GrantSGT Allison StephensonLACW Kristie JacksonLACW Cindy Hill

FLGOFF Tom Maclean

A MILITARY working dog puppy has a big future ahead after being named Anzac, in recognition of the Centenary of Anzac which runs from 2014-2018.

When he grows up, Anzac will have to pass some

tough tests to qualify to work with a han-dler protecting Air Force personnel and assets.

Anzac will use his sense of smell

and speed to detect and catch intruders.His first official duty was

in Ipswich where he marched with a handler on Anzac Day. He was carried part of the way when his little legs got too tired.

Anzac is a Dutch shepherd and Belgian Malinois cross.

CPL Sam Luck of the Canine Breeding Section

of the Security and Fire School, said Anzac’s mother was brood bitch Bonnie and his father was Otto, one of the best military working dogs with 2 Security Forces Squadron, at RAAF Base Amberley.

“He’s a well-natured dog, but loves to run and chase people and things,” she said.

A n z a c wa s b o r n o n February 17 and is the only male in a litter of six.

Each new litter is named after a letter. The breeding section has now gone through the alphabet fives times. Being part of the fifth Alpha litter, all of Anzac’s sisters also have a name starting with A.

Anzac has plenty of per-sonality and loves to wrestle with his sisters, “especially Aria, but he can defend him-self” CPL Luck said.

CPL Luck said training military working dog puppies

was an amazing job. She har-nesses each dog’s boundless energy and natural chasing instinct.

“He’s been getting a lot of attention from everybody,” she said.

“I think he’s going to be living up to the name well. We’ve got a lot in store for him and it’s going to be great to see this dog’s journey.

“There’s a lot of signifi-cance for little Anzac with the centenary.”

Stephen Cannon, the Canine Breeding Section manager, said Anzac would be required to protect his han-dler and also safeguard ADF assets.

“A n z a c ’s f u t u r e h a s already started in earnest. We do behaviour shaping, imprinting behaviour and extensive socialisation at this age,” he said.

Military working dog handler CPL Samantha Luck plays with Anzac at the RAAF Canine Breading Section, RAAF Base Amberley. Below, SQNLDR Craig Scott parades Anzac, the military working dog puppy, in the Anzac Day Brisbane city march.

Photos: CPL Shannon McCarthy

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6 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FNews

New skills fill the gapsCPL Aaron Curran

LESS than a year ago most of the Air Force Gap Year trainees would not have seen them-selves carrying around a 7kg F89 Minimi light support weapon, let alone firing it.

The 54 trainees, have been doing just that and more at the RAAF Security and Fire School (RAAFSFS) at RAAF Base Amberley.

After arriving there on April 13, the trainees are undertaking a 12-week course in Security Forces training, which consists of Air Force Security governance, legislations, physical security and weaponry.

Air Force Gap Year course coordina-tor SGT Chris Campbell said the Air Base Protection mustering required them to undergo extra weapons training with the F88 Austeyr, 9mm Browning pistol and the Minimi.

“They are doing well,” he said.“They are motivated and most want a

career in the Air Force after their gap year, which is good to see.”

SGT Campbell said most of the chal-lenges the trainees faced and overcame were at No. 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU) and they came to RAAFSFS with open minds.

“I have instructed Permanent Air Force recruits and I see no difference between them and Gap Year recruits,” he said.

“They are here for a reason, whether it be personal or professional and have displayed a professional attitude from the start.”

ACW Hannah Geyer and AC Riley Kerr were at RAAFSFS and both agreed the training on the weapons was a highlight for them.

“My favourite part was live firing,” ACW Geyer said.

“Training has been challenging but rewarding and not as hard as everyone said it would be.

“Although being away from family and friends and some elements of it are tough, I have grown as a person and my parents have said my confidence has increased.”

ACW Geyer said after her gap year she wanted to become a military working dog handler.

“My course mates are like a big family and we look after each other,” she said.

AC Kerr has also enjoyed RAAFSFS.“I like RAAFSFS because it has more

physical hands-on components than 1RTU,” he said.

“We concentrate more on the job we are actually going to be doing.

“The firing range was good fun and I never thought I would be firing a weapon a year ago.”

AC Kerr said since starting the Gap Year course he has become a lot more organised.

“I recommend doing it,” he said.“I got the impression the instructors

wanted to be here and wanted us to do well. “When I finish I would like to do engi-

neering in the Air Force.”

Gap Year trainee ACW Hannah Geyer goes through her F89 Minimi handling drills at the RAAF School of Fire and Security, RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: CPL Aaron Curran

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7May 21, 2015RCEAIR F News

Guardian angels in MER

THE first set of production wing kits for Air Force’s Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) smart bombs was delivered by Boeing on April 30.

Manufactured by Boeing Defense, Space and Security, JDAMs provide an all-weather precision strike capability for Air Force.

The Defence Materiel Organisation’s Head of Helicopter Systems and Guided Weapons Division, RADM Tony Dalton, said one aspect of the JDAM enhance-ment program had been to test, certify and manufacture a range-extending wing kit for the smart bomb.

“This successful project has taken an Australian idea and, through an interna-tional collaboration, has turned it into

BOEING will update two Air Force maintenance trainers better support the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.

Boeing Navy Training program manager Tom Lavender said the update would make Australia’s two Integrated Visual Environment Maintenance Trainers specifically applicable to the Growler.

“Using the same software in both the trainer and the aircraft allows Super Hornet technicians to perform mainte-nance tasks exactly as they would on the actual aircraft,” Mr Lavender said.

Director General Capability Planning – Air Force AIRCDRE Michael Kitcher said the upgraded trainers would support technicians working on both platforms and provide them with a key tool to qualify as Super Hornet and Growler technicians.

“This update is especially important for the new skill-set technicians will require to perform advanced work on the EA-18G Growler, ensuring its read-iness to support all branches of the ADF

Boeing updates trainers

Smart bombs enhanced

when it comes into RAAF service,” AIRCDRE Kitcher said.

The work, which will be done under a US Navy foreign military sales agree-ment with Boeing, will be performed at RAAF Base Amberley and the upgrades will be complete by the end of 2016.

A RAAF F/A-18A Hornet (foreground) and a RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet (rear) on Operation Okra. Boeing is updating maintenance training software to suit the two-seater Super Hornet variant. Photo: SGT Shane Gidall

FLTLT Daniel Phillips

A SMALL group of Australians are flying the flag in Afghanistan provid-ing vital security at Kandahar Airfield.

SGT Daniel Kerr is the sen-ior member of the Airfield Defence Guards embedded with the US Air Force 451st Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron as part of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.

“There are six ADGs deployed to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan,” he said.

“We’re working side-by-side with the US Air Force Security Forces to provide a security effect in support of the train, advise and assist mission to allow that to continue.”

SGT Kerr said although Australia’s mission in Afghanistan had changed from combat operations to the train, advise and assist mission, there was still a present danger in the work the ADGs were doing.

“There is potential for it to be a dangerous role,” he said.

“We have a constant threat of indi-rect fire from rockets coming from outside the base as well as the threat of ground attack.”

The ADGs are providing tradition-al airfield security as well as expand-ing their role, which LAC Brett White said the team found rewarding.

“We’re in a force protection role here at Kandahar Airfield,” he said.

“Essentially that’s made up of flightline security, vehicle check points, vehicle searches, and mounted and dismounted patrols inside the wire.

“Being embedded with the USAF has actually been a great experience, learning what their capability is, and what ours is, and then putting it all together.”

OIC USAF Security Forces USAF

CAPT Pete Terry said the Australians were more than meeting expectations and were providing a vital role in the security of Kandahar Airfield.

“Right now the Australians fall into the overall structure by providing lead-

ership, and working closely on our posts, static and mobile, on the air-field,” he said.

“We have a shared border with Afghanistan that they man and control entry and they’ll also ride in and con-trol mobile posts such as the gun truck.

“We generally man the Quick Response Force, which the ADGs man with us, so they may be a driver one day then be a gunner the next, and they control the entire airfield with those resources.”

CAPT Ter ry a l so sa id the Australians were performing roles not normally required of ADGs by provid-ing close protection at the airfield.

“From time-to-time we’ll also inte-grate them into our guardian angel program where they’ll provide secu-rity to key leader engagements and any time there’s something going on outside of the flightline itself where personal security is a risk,” he said.

CAPT Terry said both teams were gaining a lot from the joint operations.

“I feel like sometimes we’re getting the better end of the deal and we’re learning quite a bit form the Aussies,” he said.

“They bring a different bit of train-ing than traditional US security forces training, much more specific to air base defence, and we’re just thrilled to have them and work with them and learn from them every day.”

Airfield Defence Guard LAC Ben Reyer (left) and US Air Force Security Force member Senior Airman Jonathan Gaines conduct a vehicle search at a Kandahar Airfield entry control point. Photo: CPL David Cotton

a reality,” RADM Dalton said. “These range-extending wing kits almost triple the baseline range of the current smart bombs.”

Test and evaluation flight trials of the new extended range smart bomb were successfully conducted at Woomera last December, with the weapons landing within metres of their designated targets.

JDAM bombs will soon be enhanced with wing kits.

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AN EXPLOSIVE detection dog (EDD) handler has received the prestigious Combat Support Group (CSG) Airman of the Year Award. LAC Jesse White is proud and grateful to be recognised for implementing improved EDD methods that are making ADF personnel and bases safer.

“It is something I’m very passionate about, so to be recognised for doing something I love is a great honour,” he said.

LAC White began his Air Force career as a military working dog handler in 2009. He spe-cialised as an EDD handler after his graduation.

“I saw it as a challenge and an opportu-nity to further my skills and knowledge, and something I felt I could contribute to and help evolve,” he said.

Commander CSG AIRCDRE Scott Winchester said LAC White’s colleagues were impressed by his ability to manage large work-loads with limited supervision while resolving complex issues that would normally be handled by a SNCO.

“Jesse White is a worthy recipient of the CSG Airman of the Year Award. He is a tremen-dously professional and dedicated airman who continues to achieve terrific outcomes to pro-gress Air Force’s EDD capability,” AIRCDRE Winchester said.

LAC White worked with the Australian Federal Police EDD teams during the CAF Air Power Conference 2014 in Canberra.

He then teamed up with the senior Army dog handler from the School of Military Engineering and conducted a joint recruiting

assessment of dogs from the NSW Police Force. During this activity LAC White assessed

and procured a high-quality recruit dog for Air Force. He also travelled to Melbourne to assess potential dogs from a private breeder. His knowledge and experience allowed him to assess that none of the dogs offered were of an acceptable standard, thus ensuring the RAAF’s operational capability was not diminished.

In May 2014, LAC White was attached to Garden Island Defence Precinct for a trial evaluating enhanced identification, search and seizure security measures at five major Defence sites across Australia. The trial looked at ways to reduce the risk from armed attackers or peo-ple or vehicles carrying improvised explosive devices.

LAC White then helped establish the EDD capability within No. 1 Security Force Squadron. Now there are vehicle and person-nel bomb searches on entry to RAAF Base Williamtown, which were not previously avail-able.

“The one career achievement that stands out for me is setting up the EDD capability at RAAF Base Williamtown, in which I received a silver commendation,” LAC White said.

“Being the sole member of the EDD section at 1SECFOR for the first part of last year I was responsible for initial establishment of the capa-bility and all tasks associated with that.

“I enjoyed the extra responsibilities and gained a lot of confidence, not only in myself, but in knowing that the RAAF EDD capability is heading in the right direction.”

Dogged effort awarded

CSG Group Warrant Officer Rob Ettles, Combat Squadrons Association President Rob Whadley and OC CSG AIRCDRE Scott Winchester present explosive detection dog handler LAC Jesse White, of 1SECFOR, with the CSG Airman of the Year award. His EDD, Lucy, is by his side. Photo: CPL Peter Borys

Missing crew rememberedSQNLDR Malcolm Grieve

THE crew of a No. 43 Squadron Catalina Black Cat missing in action since December 1944 was remembered in a ceremony at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in the Philippines on April 23.

Following years of research by Paul Baker from the Australian Embassy in Manila, the daughter of a crew member was identified and invited to attend the unveiling of a memorial to her father and his crew mates.

Wendy Duke along with her two sons, Michael and Peter, the daughter and grandchildren of SGT James Robert Robinson, another crew member of Catalina A24-64, travelled to the event from Australia.

The nine crew and their aircraft disap-peared while trying to evade anti-aircraft fire following an operation to lay mines off Manila Harbour and Balabac Strait – intended to deny Japanese naval forces the ability to attack an Allied invasion on the island of Mindoro the next day.

The target was known to be well defended, though exact positions were not known. It was reported during a post-mission briefing that an explosion was observed, which might have been the last sighting of the ‘Dabster’, named by the crew as a dab hand, referring to an expert.

The aircraft is thought to lie in the waters off Alas-asin Point, near the acad-emy.

Members of No. 92 Wing laid a wreath on behalf of the Air Force.

THE DABSTER CREWTHE nine crew members had flown a number of missions together before they disappeared. They were:

FLTLT Herbert Cunningham Roberts of Perth, Western Australia

FLTLT Frank William Silvester of Collaroy, NSW

FLTLT James Henry Cox of Warren, NSW

FLGOFF Robert Carlisle Barbour of Coburg, Victoria

FLGOFF Raymond Harold Bradstreet of South Yarra, Victoria

SGT John Charles Macdonald of Manly, NSW

FSGT David John Albert of Auburn, NSW

SGT James Robert Robinson of Watson’s Bay, NSW

SGT Harold Stanley Goodchild of Mukinbudin, Western Australia

The crew of a 43SQN Catalina Black Cat missing since 1944 has been honoured with a plaque in the Philippines. Photo: CPL Seth Starr, US Marine Corps

8 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FNews

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Some home comfortsA

QUILT covered in pineapple designs that arrived in the Middle East for FSGT Pete McGarry

represented an unexpected tribute to his Queensland heritage during his deployment.

A friend of FSGT McGarry took the liberty of placing one of the strangest requests the people at Aussie Hero Quilts had received.

“My mate thought I should get a quilt since he was getting one for himself,” FSGT McGarry said.

“Since I’m from Queensland I said ‘I’d like something in Queensland colours’. Somehow that got turned into pineapples.”

Aussie Hero Quilts have been making laundry bags and quilts for deployed personnel since 2011 to thank them for their overseas ser-vice.

Jan-Maree Ball, who founded the organisation, served 15 years in the RAAF, mostly as an air traffic controller.

FSGT McGarry, who is part of the contract management team at Australia’s main base, used the

quilt to make his workspace more comfortable.

“I put it on my chair for the last few months,” he said.

“It’s the cushion between me and the chair so I don’t stick to the leather.”

His quilt, made by Irene Story from Hodgson Vale in Queensland, was one of the most well-received in the Middle East.

“Everybody shows them around; they love them,” he said.

“I don’t know exactly why that is, but they seem to be a memento of the time spent on this deployment.

“A lot of people are tapping into it now.

“I didn’t know they did them before I got here.

“They also put a little insignia on them to say they’re made by Aussie Hero Quilts.”

FSGT McGarry has already made plans for his quilt when he returns home.

“I reckon I’ll lay it on one of my chairs that I sit on at home all the time. It might be good for the rocking chair,” he said.

“I’ll definitely show it around to my friends when they’re visiting.”

FeatureRCEAIR F May 21, 2015 9

One deployed Queenslander is enjoying a taste of Australia thanks to a pineapple-covered quilt, CPL Max Bree reports

‘FSGT Pete McGarry with his Aussie Hero Quilt decorated in pineapples. Photo: SGT Ray Vance

Everybody shows them [quilts] around;

they love them.– FSGT Pete McGarry,

contract management team member at Australia’s main

Middle East base

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11May 21, 2015RCEAIR F Flightline

WOFF Brett West returned to the grave of Australia’s first indigenous fighter pilot – WOFF Len Waters – during a tour with the Air Force Balloon.

He had been flown up from RAAF Base Williamtown to attend the funeral, as part of a contingent representing No. 77 Squadron, in August 1993. It had been a turning point for WOFF West to think more

about his Aboriginality within his Air Force roles.

“Since then I’ve looked for opportunities to increase awareness of Aboriginal culture within Air Force and to encourage indigenous people to look at Air Force as a possible career path,” WOFF West said. Words: FLTLT Tritia Evans

Photo: CPL Ben Dempster

FSGT Chris Moore, SGT Paul Hogarth, FLTLT Shayne Hohensee, SGT Nick Hurn, FSGT Andy Bowen and FLTLT Franz Pulikkottil escorted the Australian flag out in slow time onto the oval in front of a sell-out audience of more than 50,000 people at the 100th Year Anzac Day commemoration pre-match ceremony at the Adelaide Oval for the Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn AFL match. They are joined here by Redgum band members Hugh McDonald and John Schumann.

Operation personnel capability specialist CPL Natalie Riggs provides operations administration support to No. 33 Squadron. Photo: CPL Ben Dempster

Avionics fitter LACW

Shaylene Macartney carries out

maintenance on a KC-30A

Multi Role Tanker.

Photo: CPL Ben Dempster

Memories come flooding back

WWII veteran and retired Air Force member Blue Connelly has been captured by his son, Adrian Connelly in this portrait that is now on show at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. People can vote for finalists in the National Photographic Portrait Prize at www.portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/national-photographic-portrait-prize-2015

12 13RCEAIR F May 21, 2015Centrepiece

Satellite monitoring system comes online in September

Joint force tracking items orbiting Earth

‘

The new No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit is at the cutting edge of radar, and now space, technology. The unit joins international networks and will usher in three major new systems to monitor the tens of thousands of objects orbiting Earth, Jaimie Abbott writes

FIRST SPACE OPERATIONS UNITS

URVEILLANCE and Response Group has marked a significant milestone in Air Force’s history with the renaming of its No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit to No. 1 Remote

Sensor Unit (1RSU) to mark the establishment of the first space operations unit for the ADF.

CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown unveiled the name change during a parade and fam-ily open day at the RAAF Edinburgh-based unit, on May 2.

First formed in 1992, 1RSU has a long and illustrious history of being on the cut-ting edge of technology and innovation in the realm of high frequency Skywave over-the-horizon-radar (OTHR) operations.

This change of name reflects 1RSU’s growth beyond high frequency radar to become a key contributor to Australia’s stra-tegic defence posture as well as a key con-tributor to the Space Situational Awareness Network.

“No longer are wars and conflicts fought on just the land, sea and in the air.

“Space and cyberspace are the new domains, where the weapon of choice is information, and the networks that move information are vital,” AIRMSHL Brown said.

“1RSU’s role in this regard will become key in helping the ADF and its allies employ combat capabilities to their full poten-tial.”

CO 1RSU WGCDR Chris Robson said that thanks to some

new systems, 1RSU members would be able to see objects up to 36,000km into space.

They will be working with other space operations agencies in the US to ensure orbiting objects don’t collide with each other.

“There are well over 20,000 objects floating around in space and every day a differ-ent country will launch a new satellite into space and some-times portions of these will break off, some of them will lose battery

life and just continue to orbit around space,” he said.

“You can imagine the domino effect if there is a small collision between even the tiniest portions of these objects in space.”

1RSU has around 110 personnel and many are already dual-trained on the OTHR and space technology systems.

Over the next two years there will be three major systems introduced into opera-tions at 1RSU.

The are: the Australian Mission Processor, which uses US Air Force-derived space-based infra-red systems satellite data and will provide enhanced force protection and battle-space awareness to the ADF; the space situational awareness sensors includ-

ing a C-band radar; and a new space sur-veillance telescope, the only one of its

type in existence. “It is rare that a single unit would

be the recipient of three major capa-bilities in just a few short years,” AIRMSHL Brown said.

“Yet this is occurring simultane-ously at 1RSU right now, and it reflects the rapid transformation in Air Force interoperability that Plan Jericho strives for.”

WGCDR Robson said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“It’s probably the most exciting thing I’ve been involved in since I joined the Air Force,” he said.

FLTLT Gene Elliott

AIR Force will introduce a new force protection tool to the ADF in September when the

Australian Mission Processor (AMP), which uses information from a US Air Force satellite system, achieves opera-tional capability.

This constellation of satellites, known as space based infra-red systems (SBIRS), provides global coverage capable of detecting events of high infra-red intensity, such as the launch of a ballistic missile or battlespace aware-ness events.

The AMP will connect to existing information networks and will signifi-cantly reduce the notification time of events to ADF decision makers.

While this capability is another first for Air Force and 1RSU, it’s not the first exposure to SBIRS for operators. Air Surveillance Operators and Air Combat officers (air battle managers)

have been, and continue to be, part of an exchange program with the USAFs 2nd Space Warning Squadron (2SWS) in Colorado.

This exchange program has enabled the knowledge and skill of space opera-tors to be developed to a high standard over the years with those personnel return-ing to Australia to plan the introduction of the AMP at 1RSU.

1RSU Space Operations Flight Commander SQNLDR Paul Kemp said that the AMP was a culmina-tion of years of effort.

“Having served as a crew commander at 2SWS in Colorado, the idea of devel-oping this capability at home seemed paramount for the protection of our forces,” he said. “It feels a little surreal seeing that thought turned into

reality and it’s an honour to be involved in its inception.”

The AMP will be operated from 1RSU at RAAF Base Edinburgh by the newly established Space Operations Flight.

The rapid growth of ADF space capa-bilities and operations will open up new career opportunities for Air Force person-nel. The development of a space operator cadre plan will pro-vide a roadmap for people interested in pursuing a career where space will

make a significant and real impact on how all ADF operations are supported and conducted.

FLTLT Gene Elliott

ONE of 1RSU’s key missions is the contribution to the US global Space Surveillance Network (SSN), which is

made up of a range of sensors located across the globe to monitor objects in orbit around the Earth.

Project AIR3029 phase 1 (C-band radar) and phase 2 (space surveillance telescope (SST) are the capabilities being delivered to 1RSU to contribute to the SSN.

These systems will be used to detect and monitor space objects from the ground and maintain an accurate global catalogue of their positions.

Having the C-band radar and SST on the west coast of Australia pro-vides coverage in a region not tra-ditionally covered by SSN sensors, filling a “blind spot” for Australia and its allies.

SQNLDR Paul Kemp, the first Space Operations Flight Commander in the ADF, said that 1RSU space surveillance capabilities were critical enablers to the success of the com-bined space operations.

“The Air Force is stepping fur-ther into an international coalition of responsible space actors,” he said.

“Conducting and monitoring activ-ity in the space domain is challeng-ing, but under the premise of Plan Jericho, 1RSU is able to rapidly develop and provide significant capa-bilities and expertise.”

Both the C-band radar and SST are collaborative projects, jointly operated by the RAAF and the US Air Force.

This partnership allows Australia to take giant leaps forward in its contribution to the global space community at a fraction of the cost,

when compared with developing an organic capability. The C-band radar has been relocated from its previous home in Antigua in the Caribbean to the Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station near Exmouth in Western Australia.

The space surveillance telescope is a one-off project, developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and is the only sen-sor of its kind in the world.

The Space Operations Flight per-sonnel are made up of air surveillance operators and air combat officers (air battle managers).

The GBAs will operate the C-band radar, SST and other space systems from 1RSU at RAAF Base Edinburgh from May 2016, forming a solid con-tribution to Australia’s space situa-tional awareness.

‘

It feels a little surreal seeing that

thought turned into a reality and an honour to be involved in its

inception.– SQNLDR Paul Kemp,

Space Operations Flight Commander,

No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit

CPL Tania Wollaston and FLTLT Gene Elliott, of No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit, review the space weather for the day in preparation of briefing the unit for daily space operations.

Photo: CPL David Gibbs

CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown witnesses CO No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit WGCDR Chris

Robson signing the change of unit certificate. Photo: CPL David Gibbs

No.1 Remote Sensor Unit personnel; left, members of the unit march on parade at the renaming ceremony. Photos: CPL David Gibbs

Top, C-Band radar construction at Harold E. Holt nearing completion; above, looking through the eye of the space surveillance telescope.

There are well over 20,000 objects floating around in space ... You can imagine the domino

effect if there is a small collision between even the tiniest

portions of these objects in space– WGCDR Chris Robson,

CO No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit

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May 1989Back in...Tindal opensTHE opening of RAAF Base Tindal was splashed all over the cover of RAAF News in May 1989. Tindal was the RAAF’s biggest airbase constructed since WWII and was the “central link” in a series of six air bases from Learmonth to Townsville. It was ideally placed for training and far enough inland to be away from tropical cyclone activity.

Roulettes get PC-9AIR Force’s Roulette aerobatic team began transitioning from Macchi jets to propeller driven PC-9 aircraft. This meant the five-aircraft Macchi Roulette team that had performed since 1971, wouldn’t be seen again. A new PC-9 Roulette team was planned to be ready for performances by early 1990, but numbers of aircraft were not

confirmed. The PC-9s would be quieter, have a better rate of roll and power response than the Macchi.

F-111 successAUSTRALIA’S F-111 Strike Reconnaissance Force returned from Exercise Red Flag in Las Vegas. The aircraft went in armed with their Pave Track laser-guided weapons system and terrain-hugging capability. It was reported the F-111s repeatedly struck their tasked targets while avoiding enemy ground and air threats.

New systemsTHE Air Force gained a computer-aided drafting system that was hoped would increase the level of service from the RAAF drawing office. At a cost of almost

$2 million – almost $4 million today – the system was based on Apollo hardware in which each node had its own computing capability and disk.

HistoryRCEAIR F May 21, 2015 15

Remembering Op BabyliftYoung airmen in Vietnam found themselves nursing sick orphans on last-minute mercy flights, SGT Dave Morley writes

THE 40th anniversary of one of Air Force’s more unusual tasks passed quietly in April, perhaps overshadowed by the centenary

of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli.Operation Babylift was the evacu-

ation of hundreds of orphans from Saigon just days before the city fell to the communist North Vietnamese Army (NVA).

The operation started in late March 1975 when an ad hoc transport unit, known as Detachment S (‘S’ for Saigon) was formed at RAAF Base Richmond to respond to the humanitar-ian crisis rapidly unfolding in South Vietnam.

Initially the unit comprised two C-130s from No. 36 Squadron at Richmond and two C-47 Dakota air-craft from Butterworth in Malaysia. It expanded to eight C-130s a fortnight later, which included aircraft from No. 37 Squadron.

The aircraft were initially based at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport, but as the NVA advanced and conditions dete-riorated, they were based in Bangkok and flown into Saigon each day.

Assistant Inspector-General ADF GPCAPT Ian Frame, who was then a flight lieutenant, said his understand-ing was the detachment was to conduct any relief missions agreed to by the Australian embassy in Saigon and if the situation worsened, assist with evacu-ations.

To facilitate this co-ordination, GPCAPT Lyall Klaffer with LACs John Collier and William Charlton were embedded within the Australian Embassy in Saigon.

“The detachment concentrated at Saigon and spent much of the next cou-ple of weeks flying food and other relief supplies into An Thoi airfield on Phu Quoc Island, off to the south-east, to feed a mass of refugees who had fled from Danang,” he said.

“We had to go to Bangkok to pick up much of the aid as most civilian air-craft had stopped flying into Saigon.

“This relief task took the bulk of our effort, mainly flying rice, fuel, meat, canvas shelters, and the odd vehicle and aid worker.”

GPCAPT Frame said the first air-craft participated in the evacuation of people from Phan Rang to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. The personnel were finally called upon to transport evacu-ees out of Vietnam and on April 4, 194 children were transported from Saigon to Bangkok.

On April 17, a further 77 orphans were transported.

“ABC TV has some stark foot-age of people trying to get on the aircraft, throwing babies to load-masters from the back of the crowd,” he said.

GPCAPT Frame said while there had been much external focus on the Babylift flights, what was not generally acknowledged was there were no special flights.

“The baby flights were just another task in a long string of tasks both before and after,” he said.

“On April 17, our departure was delayed for nearly 90 minutes, awaiting the arrival of embassy and Red Cross officials from Bangkok.

“The babies became hungry so it was all hands to feeding, result-ing in the iconic photo that is now in the AWM, of Ian Scott, Hugh Howell and I with the babies.

“We were all unmarried early

20-somethings with zero baby experience.”

At Bangkok the babies were put on Qantas charter flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

The operation was carried out under the auspices of the UN – Australia had withdrawn its combat forces from Vietnam during 1972 and was a neutral party during the April 1975 relief task.

Operation Babylift was a US-led operation that attracted significant opposition at the time and legal appeals in recent years.

The US Air Force lost a C-5A Galaxy aircraft on April 4, 1975, while participating in the opera-tion. Of the 313 people on board, 153 died, including 78 of 243 orphans, after the rear doors of the aircraft failed in flight.

Two Adelaide women, who had volunteered as civilian escorts for the children, were killed in the US C-5A crash.

Qantas was flying wardFORMER Qantas chief steward Brian

Leary, now 80, flew into Saigon on dozens of charter flights carrying

Australian diggers to and from Vietnam during 1969-71, was also involved in Operation Babylift.

“When North Vietnamese artillery began falling on the outskirts of Saigon in late March, the South Vietnamese authorities asked Australia to help evacuate orphans out of the country by any means possible,” he said.

“The kids were loaded onto flat-bed South Vietnamese army trucks at the orphanages and driven to Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport.

“But as the trucks drove through Saigon, people came out of their houses and threw their kids onto the trucks because they knew wherever the trucks were going would have be better than staying behind.”

Mr Leary said Qantas staff took charge of the kids once they arrived in Bangkok aboard Air Force C-130s.

“We had hundreds of them on one flight, with no passports and in a hell of a mess, in a row of shoe boxes, some only three or four days old, and some close to dying from dehydration,” he said.

Mr Leary said they turned the upstairs first-class section of the Qantas 747 into an intensive care ward for the flight back to Australia.

“There were 17 different infectious dis-eases among the kids, many had dysentery, and we had no nappies on board,” he said.

“When the kids arrived in Australia they were quickly adopted out and went on to lead successful lives as part of the Australian community.

“I’m still in touch with a few today and they’re now in their 40s.”

Above, FLTLT Ian Frame feeding a baby before they were evacuated out of Vietnam and taken to Bangkok and then Australia in 1975. Below, orphaned children are taken aboard a C-130 in Saigon.

Photos courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

GPCAPT Ian Frame, who participated in Operation Babylift, catches up with Suanne Prager, who he transported as a child from Vietnam during the war in 1975. Right, Suanne when she was evacuated.

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16 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FPersonnel

APRIL TRIAL RESULTSAll Court Martial and Defence Force Magistrate trial results are subject to command review and appeal.

The results are of trials across the ADF.

ORDefence Force Magistrate3 x theft – DFDA s 47C(1)The Member was accused of the theft of certain Commonwealth property. The member pleaded guilty to the charges and was found guilty of the charges. The member was severely reprimanded and fined $1000 (to be paid in instalments).

Defence Force Magistrate18 x misuse of a Commonwealth credit card DFDA s 61(3) and Financial Management and Accountability Act s 60(1)The member was accused of using a Commonwealth cred-it card to obtain goods total-ling $2985.08 in value that the member was not entitled to receive. The member pleaded guilty to the charges and was found guilty of the charges. The member was sentenced to 49 days deten-tion and ordered to pay repa-rations totalling $2985.08 to the Commonwealth.

NCODefence Force Magistrate1 x theft – DFDA s 47C(1)The member was accused of the theft of certain Commonwealth property. The member pleaded guilty to the charge and was found guilty of the charge. The member was severely reprimanded and fined $1000 (to be paid in instalments).

Defence Force Magistrate1 x act of Indecency without consent DFDA s 61(3) and Crimes Act (ACT) s 60(1)The member was accused of committing an act of inde-cency on another member by inappropriately touching the other member. The member pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty of the charge. The member was reprimanded.

Defence Force Magistrate15 x theft – DFDA s 47C(1)The member was accused of the theft of certain Commonwealth monies and property. The member pleaded guilty to the charges and was found guilty of the charges. The member was sentenced to 49 days deten-tion and ordered to pay reparations totalling $629.30 to the Commonwealth (to be paid in instalments).

Defence Force Magistrate1 x act of Indecency without consent DFDA s 61(3) and Crimes Act (ACT) s 60(1)The member was accused of committing an act of inde-cency in the presence of another member by inappro-priate physical conduct. The member pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty of the charge. The member forfeited seniority in rank and was fined $1000 (to be paid in instalments).

Belinda Duke

THE ICT Service Desk takes more than 100,000 calls a year for help.

Senior Manager Defence ICT Service Desk team Simon Brettell said it was faster and easier to access this help online.

“Many people think they can get services and items fast-er if they request them through the ICT Service Desk,” Mr Brettell said.

“This just isn’t true. “You can now get help,

order ICT hardware or soft-ware, request access to web-sites, or even unlock your DRN account online.”

The Se rv ice Reques t Catalogue, password reset tool and other self-service tools are all available from the ICT Services icon on the desktop.

The ca ta logue a l lows orders to be created and tracked from approval to deliv-ery. Personnel can request a website be unblocked, get access to an Objective group or SharePoint site, order a phone, or request any number of the

hundreds of items listed in the catalogue.

Members who register to use the password reset tool, will be able to immediately unlock the DRN account without any help, anytime they want.

The Se rv ice Reques t Catalogue will also allow someone to lodge an order or request for someone else, so support staff can order on behalf of their boss or col-leagues.

To access the catalogue go to http://ciogintranet

Help gets easier

Time to vaccinateAIRMEN and women are encouraged to get their annual flu shot to help protect themselves and their colleagues. The flu is a highly contagious virus that causes mild to severe illness. The flu commonly results in hospitalisation or serious health complications in susceptible members of the community. Influenza is spread by coughs and sneezes or by direct contact with respiratory secretions. Every year it causes illness and absence in the Defence workplace. Combined with good hand hygiene, the yearly flu shot is the safest and most effective method of preventing influenza infections. Commanders are encouraged to support voluntary vaccination. Contact your local Defence health centre to arrange a vaccination.

Rewarding achievementENTRIES are open for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. The awards are open to women in all states and territories, providing them with opportunities to meet, mentor and support other aspiring business women. In the past five years, nine ADF women have been recognised as winners and finalists. Women in the ADF can enter the Government and Academia category. Nominations can be made at www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/entry-242.aspx or by calling 1800 817 536. Entries close on June 29.

IN BRIEF

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17May 21, 2015RCEAIR F New Horizons

On song with what’s rightSQNLDR Michelle McPhail

SIX months after instating monthly sergeants’ meetings, the Air Force Band (AFBAND) is pleased with the progress.

AFBAND SNCO SGT Adam Schlemitz said the meetings, which look at unit and personal performance against the Code of Conduct and set the SNCO Expectations framework, had given him and the band’s other ser-geants an opportunity for group and leadership development.

“Our monthly meetings give us con-fidence as SNCOs to back our judge-ment, knowing that we have support up the chain,” he said.

In the midst of a busy performance schedule AFBAND has managed to keep on song and on track with these meetings and their other commitments to New Horizon.

Since redeveloping their Code of Conduct in 2012, AFBAND have intro-duced a number of values-based initia-tives, including the monthly meetings, which started in October 2014, and a culture of asking “Is this right?” which serve as a health-check for whether band members and band business are walking the talk.

CO AFBAND SQNLDR Mathew Shelley said he was proud of the ongo-ing commitment that all band mem-bers, particularly SNCOs, made to their code of conduct in the high-tempo environment.

“No matter where we are, when a decision needs to be made, firstly all members now ask themselves and

their colleagues ‘Is this right’?” he said.

“This enables routine decisions to be made within a values-based framework, considering both individual and organi-sational needs and interests. It reminds us there is a moral dimension at the forefront of every decision we make.”

After the code of conduct review,

AFBAND developed two follow-on initiatives in 2013: the specific set of expectations for the band’s SNCOs and the AFBAND Leadership Development Forum, which placed a focus on man-agement, leadership and professional development within the unit.

SQNLDR Shelley said the expecta-tions of AFBAND SNCOs compelled

them to consider the moral dimension of their decisions and to also hold him to account for his decisions.

“I expect them to speak up when things do not seem right,” SQNLDR Shelley said.

He said the AFBAND Leadership Development Forum was created to not only refresh skills and discuss local

management and leadership issues, but to invite other experts and senior airmen to the unit to share their expertise. The next forum will be held in July.

“Importantly, it has enabled the sharing and evolving of ideas around New Horizon within AFBAND,” he said.

“The forum has included formal briefs from legal officers, profession-al development sessions with Warrant Officer Disciplinary (WOD) staff and Executive Warrant Officers with regular internal discussions between AFBAND SNCOs and Command.”

SGT Schlemitz said the forum had assisted him and his peers with skills development such as dealing with bystander and unacceptable behaviour and had brought the SNCOs together as a management team.

“The presentations, in conjunction with personal mentoring by a WOD, have given me greater confidence to be an effective leader and manager in a professional and dynamic workplace,” he said.

RAAF Col lege Commandant GPCAPT Ross Jones said AFBAND’s initiative and commitment to embrac-ing New Horizon served as an example to other Air Force Task Group and Air Force units.

“What Air Force Band is demon-strating is what all Air Force members know about integrity and values,” he said.

“That is, we do what is right, wher-ever we are, and no matter who is – or isn’t – watching.”

Air Force Band has been working hard to implement strategies to improve culture under the New Horizon program. Inset, a Leadership Development Forum that has been started to help build better leaders within the band.

Main photo: CPL Cam Scott

These products are issued by Australian Defence Credit Union Ltd ABN 48 087 649 741 AFSL and Australian credit licence number 237 988. The Product Disclosure Statements (“PDS”) for these products are available at www.adcu.com.au/retirement. Please read the PDS when deciding whether to acquire or to continue to hold the product.

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18 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FAir Force Improvement

WGCDR Julie Canterbury

A NEW database developed to capture and track all of Air Force’s initiatives and projects is now live and is being used by Air Command.

The comprehensive Air Force Initiative and Reform Monitor (AFIRM) database was built in SharePoint and developed to capture all initiatives and projects being undertaken or planned across the Air Force Improvement Program.

Endorsed and mandated by the Air Command Board in late 2014, the AFIRM site enables Air Commander Australia to have visibility of the level of reform across all domains and a method of capturing data on the benefits to Air Force.

HQAC Project Manager WGCDR David Worrall said these benefits were identified within the ADF strategic framework of workforce, capability, economic and reputation.

“This is the first time we have a comprehensive view of the brilliant ideas and projects across the organisation aiming at embedding our continuous

improvement culture” WGCDR Worrall said.

“A principal design feature of its business rules is all units will capture ideas so a collective intelligence on lessons learned and benefits realised is visible across the command.”

More work is being undertaken to better develop AFIRM’s full potential by defining its reporting parameters and design in line with those of the Air Command Board and subsequently the Air Force Reform Board.

WGCDR Worrall said many improvement projects spanned Force Element Groups and often included DMO partners in the various System Program Offices.

“HQAC is working closely with DMO, Army and Navy to align the reform reporting requirements with the plan,” he said.

“This is to amalgamate all reform activities into one database, enabling significant efficiency in developing and tracking improvement initiatives.”

To see and access the AFIRM website on the DRN visit http://caas/Areas/RAAF/aico/IRDashboard/Lists/Initiatives/AllInitiatives.aspx

Air Command can now capture data on Air Force initiatives and projects to see what stage they are at. Photo: LS Jayson Tufrey

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20 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FFinance

CHOOSING the right financial adviser is an important deci-sion. Spending time research-ing and comparing a number

of advisers will improve your chances of finding the right one for you.

Financial advisers registerBefore you decide to work with

an adviser, you should check ASIC’s financial advisers register.

This new register contains a list of people who provide personal advice on investments, superannuation and life insurance.

The register tells you: the adviser’s experience and employ-

ment history; what product areas the adviser can

provide advice about; whether the adviser has been the sub-

ject of disciplinary action by ASIC; the name and number of the

Australian Financial Services licence holder who employs or authorises the financial adviser to provide advice; and details about who owns or controls

the licence holder.

If the adviser is not operating under a licence, do not deal with them. They are breaking the law and you will have little protection if things go wrong.

From mid-2015 the register will also contain information about an adviser’s qualifications, training and professional membership details.

QualificationsA financial adviser can be qualified

to give advice only after meeting mini-mum training requirements.

To increase the chances of getting advice that is right for you, look for an adviser who also has a diploma, an advanced diploma or degree in a relevant discipline such as finance, economics, accounting or financial planning.

ExperienceAsk the adviser about their typi-

cal clients. This will help you judge whether they have the experience to deal with people with similar issues and goals to you.

For example, are the adviser’s other clients planning for retirement or are they young families wanting to save for their children’s education?

The amount of experience an advis-er has is also relevant. For example, an adviser who has recently graduated may be highly qualified, however, they may not be as experienced as an older adviser with fewer qualifications.

Financial productsCheck that the adviser can provide

advice about the financial products you currently have.

This is important as the adviser may not be able to give you advice about your current investment prod-ucts if they’re not on the adviser’s ‘approved product list’.

Professional developmentLike other professionals, it’s impor-

tant for an adviser to keep up with industry or regulatory changes that might affect their clients.

An adviser should participate in regular training activities such as courses or seminars run by universi-ties, industry associations, professional bodies or registered training organisa-tions.

Association membershipCheck to see if the adviser is a

Research before you get adviceDo your homework before choosing a financial adviser, says Australian Securities and Investment Commission chairman Greg Medcraft.

member of an industry association and/or professional body. Most associ-ations require members to participate in ongoing training, have a code of conduct for members to follow and a mechanism for handling complaints.

For more information, including a list of questions to ask before you engage an adviser, visit www.moneysmart.gov.au

Disclaimer: This article describes useful general principles regarding choosing a financial adviser. Members of the Defence community should make use of the ADF Financial Advice Referral Program at www.adfconsumer.gov.au in the first instance. The ADF program incorporates many of those principles but also excludes financial advisers who operate with remu-neration-based conflicts of interest.

Photo: LS Jayson Tufrey

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21May 21, 2015RCEAIR F Health & fitness

Preparation is key to passEnsure your regular fitness routine adequately prepares you to pass your fitness assessment, CPL Nick Wiseman reports.

FITNESS assessments are part of life in the ADF, but the varied lifestyles and postings can impact on

fitness routines.Therefore, it’s important to ensure

you’re at your best when it’s time for a PFT.

The fitness assessment consists of a 2.4km run, 5km walk, a push-up or flexed-arm hang and sit-up component with pass marks varying depending on your age.

Russell Offices PTI CPL Laurie Iljazov says the assessment is designed to test basic fitness and members should always be prepared to pass.

“Taking a week or two off physical activity would not normally be a detriment to your fitness,” he says.

“But you need to watch out for longer absences from work, such as over Christmas, and make sure you keep active during those rest times.”

Local PTIs can be a wealth of information and assistance if you require a remedial fitness program after a long absence from physical activity and most of the training can be done at home without equipment.

Most local gyms will have programs available for you to take part in or instruction sheets that you can take and do in your own time.

CPL Iljazov says it is important to look after yourself and ensure you’re in the best shape for the actual assessment.

“If you do PT every day then it might be a good idea to have a rest the day before your assessment,” he says.

“It’s recommended you don’t do a fitness assessment, or any physical training, within 24 hours of receiving inoculations.

“It’s also advisable to stay clear of any alcohol the night before.”

As with any physical training, a warm-up and cool-down session is recommended.

However, CPL Iljazov says it is crucial to watch your technique throughout the assessment.

“Take notice of the examples before each component of the test,” he says.

“Not only will you be marked down if you display incorrect or unacceptable technique but it could potentially cause an injury.”

He says to watch for poor

technique, which can happen due to having weaker muscles.

Planking and upper back and other strengthening exercises can ensure you have the strength required to perform the best techniques to pass your assessment.

For more information, speak to your local PTIs.

Officer cadets and midshipmen take the Initial Fitness Assessment. Photo: John Carroll

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Have a rest from training the day before your assessment.

Don’t do any fitness training or assessments within 24 hours of an immunisation.

Avoid alcohol the night before your assessment.

Watch your technique throughout.

Keep active while on leave from work.

22 May 21, 2015RCEAIR FSp rt

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Winter sports compsAPPLICATIONS are open for personnel to enter the 2015 Air Force Ski Championships and National Inter-Service Cross-Country and Biathlon; Exercise Coolshot.

The competitions will be held at Mount Hotham from August 2-14. For more information go to http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/afnba/comweb.asp?page=48303 or email RAAF.Nordic@defence.gov.auApplications close on May 30.

IN BRIEF

SGT Dave Morley

THE ADF women’s netball team white-washed the New Zealand Defence Force in a series of games played in Western Australia either side of Anzac Day.

The games were played at Busselton on April 20 (ADF 47 – NZDF 32) Albany on April 22 (33 – 28) and at HBF Stadium in Perth, after the West Coast Fever vs Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic ANZ Championship game, on April 26 (41 – 26).

ADF Netball Association publicity officer CMDR Steve Wall said the ADF team was represented by four Air Force, six Army and two Navy players and was selected from the ADF carnival held in Sydney in October 2014.

“Army CPL Mick Kiker coached the team, assisted by CPL Dean Burke with LEUT Lauren Eggins acting as team manager,” he said.

“The New Zealanders got off to a great start in the first game, but LS Mel Lavelle, playing in an unfamiliar role, pegged them back.

“Some strong play in the second half by the ADF ladies allowed them to pull away with some strong play in the defensive third by Air Force CPL Lisa Merriman.”

Coordinator of the Air Force team members FLTLT Amy Brewster said touring with the Kiwis was an amazing experience to commemorate the Anzac centenary.

Netballers shoot to the top

“It is always great to get to know our NZ allies,” she said.

“Playing at HBF stadium in front of such a large crowd was a highlight for the team.

“It was a very proud moment for everyone to have our service publicly

recognised at half-time during the Fever vs. Magic game and to have the oppor-tunity to play after the Fever vs. Magic game at such a great venue with a large crowd.”

CMDR Wall said the second game proved a close and tense struggle with

strong defensive work from both sides keeping the scoring to a minimum.

“LS Lavelle was again great for the ADF side, with team captain, CAPT Jessica Luciani leading the way in defence,” he said.

“The result was in doubt until the

last minutes when the ADF Ladies defence put the clamps on the NZDF shooters to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Series.”

Both teams returned to Perth and had a busy Anzac Day, attending the Dawn Service and march in Fremantle.

They headed to HBF Stadium on April 26 for the ANZ Championship match where all the players and staff were introduced to the crowd of about 1000 at half-time.

CMDR Wall said the stage was set for an exciting game after the Fever defeated the Magic by 55-49

“In the final game the ADF con-solidated their previous wins with a strong performance, led by LT Karmen Sampson in the midcourt and supported well by PTE Shannon O’Grady in the goal third converting many of the turno-ver opportunities created into scores,” he said.

LT Karmen Sampson was awarded most valuable player of the series with the NZ co-captain LEUT Keri Hayden named runner up.

F LT LT B r ew s t e r s a i d C P L Merriman proved once again to be very strong in defence.

“Without a strong defensive end, such large wins would not have been possible,” she said.

“CPL Merriman also showed great team spirit on and off the court always cheering on her team mates.”

Lace up those skates, ice hockey an official ADF sport

CAPT Jessica Luciani (front), LS Melissa Lavelle (back left) and LT Karmen Sampson (back right) take the trophy from the New Zealand Defence Force team.

Eamon Hamilton

AIRMEN and women soon have the chance to hip-check and take slap-shots with impunity as ice hockey joins the ranks of officially recog-nised sports within the ADF.

The ADF Ice Hockey Association (ADFIHA) vice-president SQNLDR Simon West said the association has grown to 147 members, and held its first training camp from March 30 to April 1.

“We do have a significant por-tion of ex-patriots or lateral transfer members, or those who lived overseas when they were younger,” SQNLDR West said.

“But the majority of members are currently playing in Ice Hockey Australia leagues around the country.”

Seventy members attended the Sydney training camp that began with skills training and practice matches before the final match was played between the top 20 players in front of the Commissioner of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), a semi-professional Ice Hockey league and the highest national level of competition.

SQNLDR West said the Chair of the ADF Sports Council approved Ice Hockey as an ADF Sport on February 24, and the immediate goal for ADFIHA was to gain full mem-bership within Ice Hockey Australia.

“This will allow ADF teams to participate in leagues, tournaments and other events around the country,” SQNLDR West said.

“This is likely to include ADF

teams in regular Tournaments for open, masters and women’s catego-ries.”

The association plans to hold its first inter-service competition in November.

More information is available at ADF.IceHockey@defence.gov.au or www.facebook.com/ADFIHA Or contact your local representative: Brisbane – CFN Connal Maskell; Adelaide – FLTLT Mitchell Brown; Canberra – COL Joel Dooley; Perth – LS Josh Nevermann; Melbourne – SQNLDR Brad Holland; Newcastle – LT Curtis Tofa; Sydney – CAPT Matt Seabrook and LS Scott Tunnard; Northern Territory and north Queensland – FLTLT Pete Cunningham.

FSGT Ross Tindale in the exhibition game after the ADF Ice Hockey Training Camp. Photo: Peter Podlaha

23May 21, 2015RCEAIR F Sp rt

Futsal teams give it their allCPL Aaron Curran

AIR Force men’s and women’s futsal teams put in a strong performance at the ADF Futsal Championships held at Sydney University on March 14.

For most of the five-a-side players on both teams it was their first time playing for Air Force with the men’s team coming close with a 5-all draw against last year’s champions, Navy and a 9-4 loss to Army.

The Air Force women were unlucky to be up against a strong, experienced Army side, losing 15-4.

In a repeat of their first match, the Air Force women’s team improved, but went down again 13-3 to Navy.

Air Force Futsal coordinator SGT Dion Johnston said it was fantastic to see Air Force field a women’s side for the first time.

“The men’s side was unlucky to not have had better results,” he said. “Both teams will be stronger next year for the experience.”

CPL Ben Mann and FLGOFF Laura Haw were voted most valuable players by their respective teammates.

CPL Mann said the competition was a lot of fun and was played at a really high standard.

“Our strengths were on the defensive end

and counter attack. Our weaknesses were few (passing and positioning) that stemmed from a lack of preparation having only trained together once before the competition. As long as we can keep this core group together we can only get better,” he said.

FLGOFF Haws said the competition was well run and she hoped the competition con-tinued to grow so they could keep developing women’s futsal.

“I enjoy the skill and speed of futsal,” she said. “We had a strong turn out. The majority of us had played soccer before, but many were new to Futsal. As a result, an obvious weakness was our experience levels, understanding of creating rotational movement.”

FLGOFF Haws said the attitude, aggres-sion and intensity demonstrated by the girls was first class.

“I think as the day went on, our ability to keep possession, create scoring opportunities and man-mark the opposition increased expo-nentially,” she said.

Men shine in Anzac clash

What stars!

LEUT Matthew Cavedon and LS Jayson Tufrey

THE ADF Australian Rules Men’s All Star representative side scored a nail-biting win against an old foe in the dying stages of an Anzac Day AFL curtain-raiser.

Backing up from last year’s win against the Australian Combined Emergency Services (ACES) side, the ADF team took out the match at Adelaide Oval in the warm-up game of the AFL Blockbuster between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.

After a five year period the ACES dominance was ended in 2014 and the ADF were determined to keep the Anzac Challenge trophy where it belonged, in their trophy cabinet.

The 100 year anniversary of the Anzac legacy, added to the internal performance expectation of the ADF team.

No. 75 Squadron’s AC Patrick Gallery said it was a fantastic experi-ence to play in the curtain raiser for such a prestigious game.

“I ran on, on the wing, and felt like I had a good game – it was great to be a part of a side with so many skilled players,” he said.

The ADF team benefited from a week preparing for the game at the Port Adelaide AFL football club.

Port Adelaide club legend Russel Ebert was instrumental in provid-ing the ADF players with a top-to-

bottom understanding of how Port Adelaide football club functions and what is required of an AFL player at the highest level.

The talented and experienced ACES side intensely took it up to the ADF team from the first bounce.

In front of about 30,000 people, with the scores tied and approxi-mately 10 seconds remaining in the game it was SMN Brayden Wilson, from HMAS Sydney, who slotted the winning goal fulfilling every foot-baller’s childhood dream and sealing a ‘heart-stopping’ win for the ADF.

AC Gallery said the day would stay with him for a long time.

“It was amazing to play in front of so many people,” he said.

“The conditions were pretty greasy out there after a day of driz-zling rain, but the surface of Adelaide oval was immaculate, great to play on.

“After a hard hitting four quarters, and with the score still pretty low, it was looking like being a draw – it was a relief when we kicked the win-ning goal in the dying seconds.”

Although the rivalry is intense between the two sides it is played with a focus on sportsmanship and respect, the ADF team are already looking forward to the next instal-ment in 2016.

For detailed game results go to the ADFAR webpage www.adfar.org or follow ‘ADF Aussie Rules’ on Facebook.

MAJ Felicity Hamblin and CPL Aaron Curran

THE ADF Women’s All Stars Australian rules football team have tasted success for the third year in a row with a two-point victory against the Victorian Women’s Football League All Stars in the annual Anzac clash played at Shepley Oval, Dandenong, Melbourne.

CPL Eliza Oates, who was voted the players’ player, said she was proud of all the girls’ efforts to fight hard on the field, and once again hold on to the Geoff Ledger Cup.

“The team did really well consider-ing the tough conditions and short train-ing time. Every member of the team put in 100 per cent and their hard work definitely paid off for us,” she said.

The ADF team, who were picked following the National Carnival held in March, had a slow start against the Victorian side, but, after a motivating speech from Coach, MAJ Dani Glatz, the team managed to turn around the VWFL’s three point lead and finish off the game, 3.9.27 to 4.1.25.

“Much like last year the game was

very stressful, but it depends on attitude and I’m really proud that when it came down to it the girls had the right attitude when the pressure was on,” MAJ Glatz said.

Best on ground awards went to PTE Louella McCarthy and PO Tricia Muller, who both had an outstanding game.

“The quality we were up against was the best we have seen and the talent of the ADF players was the highest stand-ard that I’ve ever played with across the board,” PO Muller said.

With a mainly Army and Navy team, MAJ Glatz talked about the important contribution from the two RAAF play-ers.

“RAAF has had a long enduring part to play in Women’s ADF footy; and our RAAF players really stood up today and had a great game,” she said.

“FLTLT Debbie Herberz took a free kick 40 metres out and under immense pressure kicked the goal that put us in front, while CPL Lauren Cooper gave it her all from start to finish.”

FLTLT Herberz said she received a high knock to her right eye early into the last quarter as she was attacking the ball.

“After being awarded the free kick I looked back at the goals and the score-board and knew the team really needed that goal,” she said.

“One of the girls gave me a great pep talk before the kick. She told me to take it easy, take my time, kick to a target and not to worry – it was just a kick. It was a great feeling to be a part of the ADF side. It was more than just representing our own service; it was about coming together as one team and playing for the ADF.”

In the lead up to the big game, the team was given the honour of playing an exhibition nine-a-side match on the MCG during the half-time Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood.

“It was outstanding playing on the MCG – the second they stood on that raceway with 91,0000 people cheer-ing, the adrenalin was pumping. Words can’t describe how amazing it was,” MAJ Glatz said.

The players will now go back to training with their normal clubs until the ADF Aussie Rules National Carnival meets again next year.

ADF All Stars team members tackle an Australian Combined Emergency

Services player during the Anzac Day 2015 AFL clash. Photo: CPL Colin Dadd

AC Patrick Gallery and FLTLT Lachlan

Lawrence on the field before the game.

CPL Lauren Cooper takes on Victorian Women’s Football League players in the Anzac clash in Melbourne.Photo courtesy of AFL Victoria

SP RTMay 21, 2015

ADF Aussie rules teams win their Anzac Day clashes

– Page 23

LEUT Kiz Burtenshaw

ON THE eve of the Anzac centenary, the Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) team lined up against the New Zealand Defence Force in a unique commemoration to all who have served and those who serve today.

For FLTLT Arthur Iconomou it wasn’t a game he will easily forget.

“It was an honour and a privilege to play for ASRU in the Anzac centenary test,” he said.

“I was honoured to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent Australia and do my part to help people remember those who have given their lives for this great country.”

The teams fought for the title in the curtain-raiser to the Brumbies and Hurricane Super Rugby at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

The Kiwis triumphed 25-13 in an intense game.

The passion was evident from the outset as the Kiwis performed a stirring haka before an advancing line of Australians with arms linked in solidarity.

ASRU put points on the board first with a penalty awarded in centre field. PTE Mahn Darley coolly kicked the ball over the cross bar.

New Zealand gathered the troops in-goal and whatever was said had impact as they immediately had the Aussies on the back foot.

The ASRU team held on admirably, but the onslaught metres off their own line became too much. The Kiwis crossed for the first try of the night and successfully converted to make it 7-3.

The New Zealand team scored one more try in the first half and PTE Darley managed to skilfully slot another penalty for ASRU.

While the Kiwis went into the half time break with a 15-6 lead, it was still anyone’s game.

ASRU head coach WO Tony Doherty pulled positives from the first half, but said the strengths in the opposition needed to be nullified.

“The highlight for ASRU in the first half was the scrimmaging of the

forward pack that provided the backs with opportunities to attack,” he said.

The standout player of the first half was CAPT Jason Squires who dominated his larger opponent, particularly in the scrum.

WO Doherty acknowledged the New Zealand team was more urgent to win the ball at the breakdown and capitalised on their opportunities.

After a five-minute half-time turnaround, the game restarted at a more controlled pace.

The ASRU Warriors managed to implement their game plan, resulting

in a try to winger FLTLT Arthur Iconomou.

“This was on the back of some spectacular one-handed lineout takes by AB Aaron Loudon, resulting in good driving mauls from the forwards,” WO Doherty said.

As the game wore on, fitness became an issue for the ASRU team.

Captain FLTLT Robbie Harlow said the team would be working on stamina for future events.

“In our lead up to the International Defence Rugby Competition the teams needs to ensure their

preparation and work-up for the UK tour is the highest standard,” he said.

“We want to be hitting peak performance. This will mean that when all members come into camp, the team can focus on playing well as unit as our fitness will already be there. It is then that I think we will be a force to be reckoned with.”

WO Doherty echoed FLTLT Harlow’s sentiment.

“The take-home message from the game is that there was improvement from when the ASRU team last played in Darwin, last year,” he said.

“This was evident in the players’ understanding of the game plan and ability to execute it at times during this match.

“Working on our fitness in the lead up to the IDRC and the ability to have a few extra days in camp will assist the players knowing each other and learning to play together.”

The award for ASRU’s best player went to CPL Craig Rogerson.

Final score: New Zealand 25, ASRU 13. Point scorers for ASRU: PTE Mahn Darley one conversion and two penalties, FLTLT Arthur Iconomou one try.

FLTLT Robbie Harlow, of 28SQN Combat Communications Support

Flight, kicks the ball for the Australian Services Rugby Union

against the New Zealand Defence Force Rugby team. Photo: LCPL Kyle Genner

GAME OF THE CENTENARY

RCEAIR F May 21, 2015 CENTENARY OF FLYING CORPS OPERATIONS

Our first air campaign

SPECIAL LIFTOUT

Just a month after the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli, Australian Flying Corps’ Half

Flight confronted Turkish forces

A BE2c with some of the mechanics

3RCEAIR F May 21, 2015 2 CENTENARY OF AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPS OPERATIONS

Dawn of our air campaignsA month after the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli, the deployment of the Australian Flying Corps’ Half Flight to Mesopotamia marked the beginning of the first air campaign by Australian airmen, the Office of Air Force History reports

JUST a month after the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli a second, but much smaller, multinational force, that included Australian and New

Zealand military personal, deployed on operations against the Turkish forces. This deployment began at Basra, Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and included members of the Australian Flying Corps’ Half Flight – so called due to its diminu-tive size of only four officer pilots and 41 other ranks.

When the Mesopotamian Half Flight launched its aircraft on a reconnaissance mission on May 31, 1915, it marked the beginning of the first air campaign under-taken by Australian airmen.

As Australia commemorates the cen-tenary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli, it is timely to also mark the 100-year anniversary of Australia’s entry into the war in the air.

In 1915, Mesopotamia was under the control of the Ottoman Empire, a German allies in WWI. After British forces seized the town of Basra to secure the oil terminal there, British authori-ties in India planned an invasion to drive the Turks out of Baghdad. Because the British government was preoccupied with the Western Front, raising and equip-ping such an expeditionary force would have to be done locally. For this reason Australia and New Zealand were asked to assist in raising an aviation unit.

By early 1915, the Australian Army had a fledgling military flying school, with only seven qualified pilots and no

aircraft to spare. It nonetheless agreed to supply a contingent of four officer pilots and 41 other ranks, including 18 mechan-ics.

On arrival at Basra in May 1915, the Half Flight joined an 18-strong party of Indian Flying Corps personnel (just two British pilots), and the sole pilot sent by New Zealand, LT William Burn. Thus the Mesopotamian Flight, Royal Flying Corps, came into being.

The aircraft initially available to get the unit airborne were three frail and under-powered Maurice-Farman biplanes suitable for reconnaissance work but lit-tle else. A month later came two Caudron aircraft, which had more powerful engines, but were only marginally more reliable.

Later still, the Flight received single-seat Martinsyde Scouts – still not much of an improvement but sufficient for the Mesopotamian Flight to be re-designated No. 30 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

Some Royal Naval Air Service sea-planes also arrived, forming a separate flight for army cooperation and artillery spotting. Not until the long-promised delivery of four BE2c machines at the end of October did the squadron finally possess somewhat effective aircraft.

By October a steady advance up the Tigris River brought the British expedi-tionary force to within 50km of Baghdad.

During the advance, the Australian pilots flew repeated reconnaissance mis-sions.

On some of these a limited bombing role was added when 2-pound hand-

bombs were thrown out over the side to cause panic among the enemy.

When 20-pound (9kg) bombs were received, it was found that the bomb-racks supplied were useless, so on later occasions bombs were generally dropped by hand through a hole cut in the cockpit floor.

At this time there were no enemy aircraft to contend with and even ground-fire proved to be a lesser danger to the airmen than the heat and sand-laden winds, which created constant risk of engine failure.

Forced landings behind the Turkish lines resulted in the capture of several pilots, including LT Harry Treloar, an Australian, on September 16.

An earlier such incident, on July 30, resulted in the death of another Australian and his New Zealand col-league near Abu Salibiq. LTs George Merz and William Burn were killed by hostile Arabs after their aircraft came down in unfriendly territory. While the remains of their aircraft were later recov-ered, the bodies of LTs Merz and Burn were never found. The pair became the first Anzac airmen war casualties.

Australian CAPT Thomas White and his British observer were captured on Baghdad’s north-western outskirts on November 13, during a daring mission that involved landing to sever the main telegraph line into Bagdad. Their valiant attempt succeeded in cutting the Turkish communications with their headquarters in Constantinople (now Istanbul), but the wires were soon repaired.

After enduring a long ordeal in Turkish captivity, CAPT White eventu-ally escaped and made his way back to England and then Australia. The story of CAPT White’s escape has a romantic ending, as while in England he met and became engaged to Vera Deakin, the daughter of the former Australian prime minister Alfred Deakin.

Landing accidents also reduced the number of aircraft that were available to keep check on enemy movements and map their positions. By the time the British made the attempt to turn the Turks out of Ctesiphon on November 22, just two serviceable aircraft remained. When the British attack failed, the expe-ditionary force was obliged to fall back to Kut-el-Amara where it was surrounded.

With the town besieged, all undam-aged aircraft and airmen were ordered away. One of the two remaining land planes that left on December 7 was flown by the last remaining Australian pilot, CAPT Henry Petre, one of the first and most senior of the Australian Flying Corps’ pilots.

Left behind were several pilots and observers, and 44 NCOs and men of No. 30 Squadron – including nine Australian mechanics. When Kut-el-Amara fell to the Turks, all were captured.

Throughout the siege, attempts were made to keep the garrison resupplied by air, despite the limited payload possible with the available aircraft. CAPT Petre was among the pilots who flew such missions, and the air bridge was ably supported by the Australian mechanics

back at the Basra base who made linen parachutes for the safe dropping of medi-cal supplies and other necessities. Their efforts were all in vain.

The garrison surrendered in April 1916 after five arduous months. Only two of the nine Australians who fell into Turkish hands survived their ordeal. Indeed, of the 13,000 troops who went into captivity, only 2000 were eventually recovered alive. Fortunately, both officer pilots captured before Kut also made it home to Australia after the war.

Early in 1916, while the Kut siege was still under way, the remaining Australian mechanics at Basra were sent to Egypt to join a new unit of the Australian Flying Corps, No. 2 Squadron, that was being raised for operational service.

CAPT Petre fell ill and was eventu-ally repatriated to his native England.

The Mesopotamian campaign con-tinued, without any further Australian involvement in air operations, but with the presence of Australian Army signal-lers. The number of Australians who served in the theatre during WWI eventu-ally reached around 670.

The trials of the Half Flight have since entered the annals of the RAAF, principally on account of its members who subsequently achieved senior rank in the new air service formed in 1921 – men such as the future Sir Thomas White, later RAAF group captain and federal government minister and AVM George Mackinolty, who became the Air Force’s senior equipment officer.

Aerial view of the Half Flight camp at Basra in mid-1915.

The result of the desert winds. Despite being tied down these three Shorthorn aircraft were written off in May 1916.

The Mesopotamian Half Flight before its departure.

The remains of LTs George Merz’s and William Burn’s aircraft after recovery.

One of the Half Flight Caudron aircraft at the hangar at Basra. To the right is a Longhorn aircraft and, to the left, a Shorthorn. By late 1915, Aircraft Park had become quite sophisticated with steel frame hangars and good workshops.

RCEAIR F May 21, 2015 CENTENARY OF FLYING CORPS OPERATIONS

CAPT Thomas WhiteTOMMY White joined the Aus-tralian Flying Corps as one of the first student pilots at Point Cook in 1914. In April 1915, he was appointed captain and adjutant of the Half Flight and arrived in Basra for flying duties.

He and his fellow Australians began flying in May and soon developed a reputation for daring and skill. CAPT White pioneered the use of aerial photography in Iraq, although its success was limited.

It was CAPT White’s other aerial adventures which remain enduring. On October 22, engine trouble forced CAPTs White and Frank Yeats-Brown, an Indian Army observer, down near Zeur. CAPT Yeats-Brown, armed with only a rifle, acted as guard and

navigator while CAPT White taxied the aircraft back across the rocky ground.

The audacity of the move must have stunned the Turks, who never fired a shot. After taxiing for 24km, the engine picked up and they were able to fly home. It was a remarkable escape.

In early November, CAPT White rescued MAJGEN George Kemball, the chief of staff to the commander who had been forced down in enemy territory when one of the Short seaplanes in which he was a passenger de-veloped engine trouble. Landing close by, CAPT White returned the general to camp, leaving the seaplane pilot and a salvage crew to get the seaplane out.

On November 13, 1915, CAPT White, in a Longhorn with CAPT Frank Yeats-Brown, volunteered

for a mission to cut the main tele-graph line running from Turkey into Baghdad. Carrying necklaces of guncotton and extra tins of fuel and oil, the pair discovered that the telegraph wire ran westward from Baghdad along the main road and not out into the desert as the maps depicted.

As Turkish troops were constantly moving along the road, it was inevitable they would be caught. Although landing in a spot where the surface looked smooth, the aircraft crashed into a telegraph pole and was badly damaged. Despite the arrival of an armed party, CAPT Yeats-Brown managed to blow up the wires while under fire as CAPT White refuelled the aircraft, hoping to taxi it to safety as he had done previously. But his efforts were to no avail, and they were captured and interned.

CAPT White later escaped after two-and-a-half years in captivity, recalling his story in his book Guests of the Unspeakable. In July 1918, he escaped from a train in Constantinople (now Is-tanbul), travelled through Ukraine and Russia and eventually made his way to England aboard a car-go ship, arriving in December.

After the war, he turned to politics and served the Lyons government as Minister for Trade. Taking leave from Parliament, he joined the Citizen Air Force and served as a group captain in WWII.

Post-war, he returned to pol-itics as Minister for Air and Civil Aviation in the late 1940s.

He ended his working life as Australia’s High Commissioner in London. He was knighted for his services in 1952 and died in South Yarra in 1957.

MAJ Henry PetreHENRY Alloysius Petre was an English solicitor who had earned his pilot’s wings in 1911.

Petre, whose name is pronounced Peter, came to be known as Peter the Monk because of his quiet and introverted demeanor.

Responding to an advertisement in the paper for an aviator to set up a flying school in Australia, he applied, was accepted and commissioned honorary lieutenant in the Aviation Instructional Staff, Australian Military Forces.

In 1913, he set about founding the flying school at Point Cook in Victoria.

After the Indian government requested Australia provide aviators for Mesopotamia in early 1915, Petre was appointed to command the Half Flight. By June 1915, the flight was in action with Petre leading from the front.

After the fall of Kut in 1916, Petre was the last remaining Australian pilot.

The Half Flight was officially dis-banded in December 1916, replaced by No. 30 Squadron Royal Flying Corps.

Petre became ill with enteritis, transferred to India where he recov-ered and eventually returned to En-gland to command No. 29 (Training) Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, at Shawbury.

In 1918, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps where his final

posting was to command No. 75 (Home Defence) Squadron.

For his service, Petre was award-ed the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross and was Mentioned in Dispatches three times.

After the war, he returned to his law practice and only briefly visited Australia and Point Cook in 1961. He died in London in 1962.

LT George Pinnock MerzLT George Merz was Australia’s first military aviation war casualty and his loss was a tragedy for the Half Flight in more ways than one.

He had graduated from Mel-bourne University in 1913 with a medical degree, and so as well as being one of Australia’s first military pilots, was greatly valued as a doctor.

He had joined the Melbourne University Rifles, but transferred to the Flying Corps as a member of the first pilot’s course at Point Cook.

Upon graduation, he, CAPT Eric Harrison and four other ranks were sent to New Guinea with the Austra-lian Naval and Military Expedition-ary Force to assist with the capture of the German outpost. The aircraft that accompanied them was never used, so they returned to Australia without having seen action.

On July 30, after completing a reconnaissance of Nasiriyeh in a Caudron, LT Merz and LT William Burn, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, as observer landed in the desert near Abu Salibiq with engine trouble.

The pair went missing and, after sighting flares, LT Wilf Wills SSGT Cyril Heath, an Arab river pilot and two Indian soldiers used a ‘bellum’ – a form of flat-bottomed boat – to

investigate. For this effort, SGT Heath was later awarded the only AFC Distinguished Conduct Medal for the war. His citation read,”For considerable pluck and determina-tion in Mesopotamia on 1st August 1915, when he assisted to pole a bellum 28 miles in 12 hours, in most intense heat, in order to rescue aviators who had been forced to descend in the enemy’s territory.” Despite his and LT Wills’ efforts, LTs Merz and Burn were never found.

According to Arab reports, the missing aviators were attacked by

marauding Arabs and although the pair put up a good running fight covering more than 8km using their service revolvers in defence they were killed. Their hacked apart aircraft was located two days later and was returned to the depot for salvage.

While much is made of the Gallipoli Anzac spirit, unheralded is the fact that Australia and New Zealand’s first air casualties were LT Merz and LT Burn who died together, beginning the close relationship the two air forces still share today.

Making history

CAPT Tommy White in the cockpit of a Half Flight Longhorn aircraft with LT Wilf Wills, the equipment officer, as passenger.

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