Bruce Mouatt. Fighter Combat Instructor and Bronco Forward Air Controller Vietnam

GROUP CAPTAIN (retired)  BRUCE MOUATT

Fighter Pilot, Vietnam Veteran, Fighter Combat Instructor.

In 68/69, Bruce flew  Sabres operationally in Butterworth, Malaysia and in Ubon, Thailand.

In 1969,  he transferred to  Mirages at Williamtown and also trained as a  Forward Air Controller.  As a result, in 1971, Bruce was posted to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller flying OV10 Broncos.

Returning to flying duties on Mirages, Bruce was posted to the UK for a Weapons Course followed by a Fighter Combat Instructors Course at Williamtown.  He then trained new fighter pilots.

Bruce then had a change of pace and did an exchange tour with the USAF flying A7D Corsair 2 aircraft out of Davis Monthan Air Force Base at Tucson Arizona.

In 1977, now a Squadron Leader, Bruce returned to Mirages, Williamtown and in 1979-1980, his skills were used to set up the RAAF Weapons School.

In 1981 Bruce completed the RAAF Staff College and was promoted to Wing Commander.

Then came a long association with F18 Hornets.  In 1982 to 1985, Bruce joined the  F/A18 Hornet Acquisition Project  and in 1986 became the Commanding Officer of the first RAAF operational Hornet squadron.  In 1988, he returned to Canberra as a Group Captain to run the F/A18 Hornet project, and finally in mid 1990, he commanded the new Hornet Base at Tindal in the NT.

Bruce left the RAAF in August 1994 after more than 30 years, and joined the world of private enterprise.