Ad Astra Aviator Podcasts

Vern Roberts WW 2. Witnessed signing of the Surrender in Morotai

Vern Roberts reaches 100 in October! He is possibly the oldest living person who witnessed the signing of the Surrender in Morotai with General Sir Thomas Blamey and the Japanese Generals on September 9^th 1945 .

He was born 25^th October 1924 in Footscray in Melbourne.  At 18 he joined the RAAF in November 1942 and reported to Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne for uniforms.

Vern, V.F. Roberts RAAF 120410 LAC Fitter, was stationed at East Sale air base only a matter of weeks after it first opened in 1943.  He was in a B-24 Liberator Squadron which was attached to 82 Wing of 21, 23 and 24 squadrons.  He spent time in Tocumwal, NSW and Darwin NT.

The signing of the Instrument of Surrender was carried out on Morotai on September 9^th, 1945 where he was present along with many other servicemen.  The General in Charge with his other Officers, was General Sir Thomas Blamey.  Japanese Generals were brought over to Morotai from the islands for that great occasion.

Every ANZAC Day, he walked in the Parade to the Shrine of Remembrance along with a very few remaining gentlemen from his Squadron.  At 94, it was the last time he participated in the march and now watches the ANZAC service on television.

Since 1994 he was heavily involved in the restoration of a B24 Liberator in Werribee, Victoria.  This restoration is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and accredited by the National Trust.

 

Air Commodore (ret) John Oddie AM, CSC - Operations in War, Border Protection, Peace Keeping, Humanitarian Disaster Relief

Introducing AIR COMMODORE (ret) JOHN ODDIE AM, CSC

During over 38 years’ service with the Army Reserve and the Royal Australian Air Force, John accrued substantial experience flying helicopters, heavy transport and training jets.   He was a qualified flying instructor and commanded a range of units and operations in war, border protection, peace keeping, humanitarian disaster relief and for the protection of Australians in dire circumstances. John has served on the Defence Airworthiness Board and in 2013 published a book on military service, family and society – Flight Command (Allen& Unwin).

Throughout a range of Command roles John was responsible for leading or providing critical support to a wide range of security, peacekeeping, combat and humanitarian assistance missions across Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East. 

Taking up duty as Director General Aerospace Development (2006 – 2008), John was responsible for over 100 projects including replacement transport aircraft, helicopters and training systems.  He also held leadership of the development of Defence’s force level electronic warfare program..

Commanding Air Lift Group (2008 – 2010) John drove substantial performance reforms.

John subsequently deployed as Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 from early 2011 with responsibilities for operations and sustainment for Australian forces across the Middle East.

Since retiring from military service, moved to live in a very rural environment and has engaged in manufacturing and energy systems development.  He has also rejoined the NSW Rural Fire Service where he recently qualified as a structural fire fighter for offensive fire attack and rescue and became Deputy Captain of the Robertson Brigade.

Greg Hood. A Wealth Of Experience in Aviation and Aircraft Accidents

Air Force Association welcomes Mr Greg Hood AO  to our Podcast Program.

Greg has more than 41 years’ experience in aviation, beginning his career with almost a decade of service with the Royal Australian Air Force.  Post his Air Force time, he had a wide range of operational, training and leadership roles across the civil aviation industry.

From 2016, Greg served for 5 years as Chief Commissioner and CEO of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Australia’s national transport safety investigation agency.  During this tenure, he inherited the search for MH370 producing 530 investigation reports, personally attended a number of tragic multiple fatality accidents including Essendon airport and Renmark, and attended the loss of the fire-fighting C130 near Cooma.

Greg holds qualifications as a glider and powered aircraft pilot, and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Freeman in the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, and a Life Member of the Qantas Founders Museum.

Phil Eldridge From Western Suburbs Boy to F35A Driver and Commanding Officer 2 OCU

Introducing Wing Commander Philip Eldridge.  In Phil’s words, his initial claim to fame is that he successfully navigated an interesting and (at times) exciting childhood in Sydney’s western suburbs.  A visit to the RAAF Richmond Air show in the 80’s sealed his fate. At the time he was a student of the excellent Hurlstone Agricultural High School, but had less than optimal academic focus resulting in barely scraping a pass in his HSC.

Phil joined the RAAF in November 1987 as a Direct Entry Pilot, graduating from No. 149 Pilots Course in December 1989. Posted to fast jets, he commenced his fighter training at 76 Squadron. This was followed by F/A-18A conversion in 1991 with his first tour, at 75 Squadron, beginning in 1992.

Fighter Combat Instructor course in 1994 was followed by tours as 75 Squadron Fighter Combat Instructor, 81 Wing as Standardisation Officer, Fighter Combat Instructor Course Director and Executive Officer 77 Squadron.

In 2005, Phil separated from Defence but served in the RAAF Active Reserve at 2 Operational Conversion Unit for the next 8 years. He then re-engaged in the RAAF in 2015 through the Specialist Aircrew scheme.  Phil resumed his career as Executive Officer once more at 2 Operational Conversion Unit seeing out the FA-18 Classic before transitioning to F-35s in 2020.

Aviation highlights in his career are many but include over 3600 hrs in the Classic Hornet, operational flying tours in Operations Falconer (2003) and OKRA (2016), and now flying the F35A Lightning - which is a beast!

 

Warrant Officer (retired) John McDougall. From Caribous to F111s. A demanding life

Warrant Officer (retired) John McDougall.  John had an Air Force engineering and flying career spanning 25 years.  John completed three tours on Caribous in Vietnam between August 64 and April 68.  Also, John was deployed frequently to the difficult flying environment of Papua New Guinea.  He had many other notable deployments over his career including Kashmir, Sumatra, Sacramento and Idaho.

He joined the RAAF in 1960 as Apprentice Engine Fitter.  Within a very short time after graduation from technical training, he was serving on the first deployment of Caribous with RAAF Transport Flight in Vietnam.  John’s stories about the dangers, trials and tribulations of the first few months and then his ongoing deployment for 3 Vietnam tours are fascinating and inspiring.  His first 2 tours were as an Engine Fitter and his third tour was as Aircrew performing the very diverse and challenging duties of a Caribou Loadmaster/Engineer.

Following this, John became an Instructor for Pilot and Loadmaster / Engineer Conversion courses.

John was then posted to 482 Squadron. Amberley.  Numerous deployments were made from there including four months in Sacramento doing Cold Proof Load Testing on F111-C aircraft and accepting four ex United States Air Force F-111A model aircraft to replace four that the Australian Air Force had lost.

In 1983, John was posted to Number 1 Sqn. as Warrant Officer Engineer.  He had numerous deployments from there including Bomb Comp at Mount Home Air Force Base Idaho, then to Eglin Air Force Base Florida for aircraft trials.

ANZAC Day Oratory 2023

An Oratory from Gareth McCray OAM for ANZAC Day 2023

Brian Richards, Wallaby Air Lines Vietnam Veteran

Brian Richards, ex Australian Air Force Engine Fitter and Vietnam Veteran Caribou Loadmaster/Flight Engineer.

Brian graduated from the RAAF School of Technical Training in 1959.  He signed up for 15 years when only 16 years old.

By August 1963, Brian had completed 4 years in aircraft maintenance jobs and then signed on as a Loadmaster on DHC4 Caribous.  Brian departed for Toronto, Canada in March 1964 for Conversion course and to participate in ferrying the second three Caribous to Australia.  The ferry flight took 4 weeks, arriving RAAF Base Richmond, June 1964.

In August 1964, Brian was posted for 12 months to RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam as a Loadmaster, Caribous.  It was the first deployment of Caribous into Vietnam and the establishment of operations placed the unit under huge pressure where resourcefulness and hard work made what became known as Wallaby Airlines a very successful and renowned unit amongst Aussies and Allies. 

In September 1965, Brian travelled to Toronto Canada again to ferry another Caribou to Richmond.

Brian began another testing adventure in January 1966 when he joined the newly formed RAAF Detachment A, PNG.

He then resumed his Air Force career as an Engine Fitter, culminating in March 1971 with a posting to RAAF School Technical Training as a Technical Training instructor.  He was back where he started but this time imparting his knowledge.

Brian discharged from the RAAF in January 1973 at the end of his 15 years.

He then work with Transavia, building the Transavia Air Truck and then became a Cummins Diesel instructor.

In 1977, Brian joined the NSW Bush Fire Brigade and is still a member.

Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO DSC Recent Chief of Air Force Reflects

Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld AO DSC   Recent Chief of Air Force Reflects

Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO  DSC  joined the Royal  Australian Air  Force as an Academy  Cadet in January 1980, winning the Flying Prize for his year.

Mel’s early career was spent in a variety of flying positions on Mirage and F/A-18 aircraft, before qualifying as a Fighter Combat Instructor in 1989, followed by a period of executive appointments in Fighter Squadrons.

In 1997, Mel attended the Royal Air Force Staff Course, graduating with a Master of Arts  in Defence Studies from King's College in London, before taking up a post as Deputy Director in the Aerospace Development Branch.

In 2001, Mel took command of No 75 Squadron and led the Squadron in the Middle East on Operations BASTILLE and FALCONER.  In 2003, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his performance as Commanding Officer 75 Squadron on Operation FALCONER, and 75 Squadron was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation.

On promotion to Group Captain in 2004, he was appointed Director Aerospace Combat Development before accepting appointment as Officer Commanding Number 81 Wing in January 2006.

Promoted to Air Commodore in 2007, Mel became the Director of the Combined Air Operations Centre in the Middle East Area of Operations, before returning to Australia to various Senior appointments including Director General Air Command Operations, Commander of Air Combat Group and then Air Commander Australia in 2012.

In 2015, Mel was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments.

After appointment to further very senior roles including Chief Joint Operations, he was appointed Chief of Air Force in July 2019.

Air Marshal Hupfeld is married to Louise, and his interests include mountain biking, running, fishing, light aircraft, and sailing.

Neil Lindsay, WW 2 Bomber Command and Prisoner of War Part 3

Acknowledgement: This account by Mr Neil Lindsay was recorded by AVM  Peter Scully (retired) on 5th December 1996.

 

In Part 3 of this series, Neil talks about:

 

His time as a Prisoner of War in Germany

His association with the Great Escape

His forced march through Germany in bitter weather before his liberation and return home.

Neil Lindsay, WW 2 Bomber Command and Prisoner of War Part 2

Acknowledgement: This account by Mr Neil Lindsay was recorded by Air Vice Marshal  Peter Scully (retired) on 5th December 1996.

 

In Part 2 of this series, Neil talks about:

Australian aircrew on RAF stations.  

83 Squadron on Lancaster Bombers

106 Squadron and operations over Europe in Lancaster Bombers.   An account of Flying with Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar  who was best known in connection with the famous Dambusters