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Episodes
An initiative by RAAFA NSW to capture the recollections and experiences of both retired and serving Air Force personnel
Episodes
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Introducing Air Commodore Tim Alsop
Air Commodore Tim Alsop currently serves as Commander Air Combat Group, based at RAAF Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW. Air Combat Group is responsible for the development and preparation of Australia’s Air Combat force for operations. It encompasses some 2000 personnel, six aircraft types and a special operations Combat Control capability.
Tim joined the RAAF in 1993, after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. He trained as a pilot and has served at all three operational F/A-18A squadrons, as well as instructing on PC-9/A, Macchi and Hawk 127 training aircraft.
He currently flies the F-35A Lightning II.
In 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan with the Australian Special Operations Task Group as the Offensive Air Support Planner. Later that year, he moved to the United Kingdom and completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course and a Masters of Arts with Kings College London.
As the embedded Director of the 609th Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, in 2018, Tim oversaw the planning and execution of all Coalition air power in the US Central Command area of responsibility, encompassing Syria, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf and Afghanistan. The geostrategic landscape during that period can best be described as ‘quite complex.’
In 2019, he completed another 12 months of study at the Australian War College and became a Fellow of the Defence Strategic Studies Course.
AIRCDRE Alsop is the Patron of both the Air Force Nordic Biathlon Association and the Royal Victorian Aero Club’s Young Eagles program – a volunteer organisation that encourages youth to pursue a career in aviation through regular presentations and free introductory flying.
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Welcome to Wing Commander Tim Ireland, Commanding Officer No 77 Squadron
Tim was born in Bega, NSW, in 1980. He grew up in the country towns of Cowra and Port Macquarie before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1998, graduating with distinction from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2000.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Physics) from the University of New South Wales, graduated from 190 Pilot’s Course in 2002, F/A-18A Hornet Operational Conversion in 2005, became a Qualified Flying Instructor in 2008, and converted to F-35A Lightning II in 2020.
He was awarded Category A qualification on the F-18A in 2017, has flown more than 50 missions and 350 combat hours over Iraq and Syria, and is an F-35A Mission Instructor and is Mission Command Qualified.
Tim has served at all operational fighter squadrons. He was a Flight Commander at No 3 Squadron during 2012-2015, and Executive Officer of No 75 Squadron during 2015-2017.
Tim deployed to Afghanistan as an Air Liaison Officer on Operation SLIPPER in 2008. He subsequently deployed twice to the Middle East Region throughout 2015-2016 on Operation OKRA as Executive Officer Strike Element of the Air Task Group.
Tim has staff officer experience in Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group and Air Force Headquarters as the Deputy Director Air Combat Transition Office 2018-2019.
He was Executive Officer, No 81 Wing before taking command of No 77 Squadron in December 2020. He has been selected as Staff Officer to Chief of Air Force in 2023.
Wing Commander Ireland is married to Sarah, an Air Force Legal Officer, and they enjoy caring for their rescue greyhound, Audrey. He is also keenly interested in travel, keeping fit, and music.
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Introducing Brian Lawrence. ex Air Force Warrant Officer
Brian joined the Air Force in January 1961 and qualified as an Engine Mechanic and then as an Engine Fitter. He was posted to No 2 Aircraft Depot.
In July 1964, Brian was posted to 38 Squadron and then onward to Vietnam. Besides 1ots of paperwork and passports, he was issued with a World War 2 tin hat, pocket knife and lanyard
On arrival at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Brian was amazed at the number of aircraft on the ground. In his words “Thousands”. He said “A Caribou was there to take us to Vung Tau. We soon got rid of our old tin hats and were taken to the United States Army store and issued with Yankee tin hats and new M14 rifles with 4 magazine’s”.
Work was 7 days a week at first to maintain the aircraft. Later when more troops arrived a night shift was started.
After many adventures, trials and tribulations in Vietnam, Brian returned to 38 Squadron in Australia. He was again selected to go back to Vietnam in September 1965 but he then had the opportunity to go to New Guinea instead.
On return from New Guinea, he was posted to No 3 Aircraft Depot at Amberley working on Sabre Aircraft.
Brian elected discharge in January 1967 and then reenlisted in July 1969.
In January 1972, Brian was posted to 482 Squadron Amberley working on Phantom Aircraft.
In July 1973, he was attached to McClellan Air Force Base for the acceptance and the second ferry of F111’s to Amberley.
He retired as a Warrant Officer Engineer.
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Introducing John Lindner, A Life of Adventure and Excitement as an Air Force and Commercial Transport Pilot.
John joined the RAAF as a trainee pilot in 1961.
Following graduation, he was posted to 38 Squadron on DC-3 Dakotas.
In 1964, John participated in the first ferry of the new Caribou aircraft from Canada to Australia.
He then joined the second Caribou Ferry later in 1964 but this aircraft was delivered to Vung Tau via Greenland, Iceland, and Europe.
John then joined the RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam in Vung Tau mid-Oct 1964, among the pilots of the first group. His tour in Vietnam provided plenty of adventures and on the edge flying. He finished this tour in June 1965.
John then did a 3rd Caribou Ferry in August 1965. This time he flew across the Pacific.
John says “Between Honolulu and Canton Island, we had to shut down an engine due to loss of oil from the propellor and then proceeded for 7 hours on one engine to Canton Island”. Stressful!!
In Sept 1966, John began flying the C-130E Hercules at 37 Squadron, Richmond. Beginning October 1966, John then participated in two ferrying flights of C130s from Atlanta to Richmond. He then flew the C-130E until he left the RAAF in late July, 1969.
John then began a life of civilian flying: Twin Otters in the Arctic for Interior Airways of Fairbanks, Alaska. Qantas 707s but left after a big lay-off of pilots in late 1971. Beech Queen Airs for Masling out of Cootamundra and a Cessna Golden Eagle, based in Cardiff, Wales, for a wealthy Welshman.
In August 1973, Qantas began taking furloughed pilots back, and he moved on to DC 4s.
In May 1774, John moved to Auckland and joined Air New Zealand. He was with them nearly 20 years on the DC-8, then the DC-10, and then the 747. He gained a command in 1986 and flew then as a Captain on the 747 until leaving Air New Zealand in late 1993.
John spent the next 10 years flying the 747 for various small operators around the world, and retired from big aeroplanes in mid 2003.
A life full of variety and challenges.
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Introducing Air Commodore (retired) Kevin Henderson, Master Defence Studies.
Learning to fly on Tiger Moths and Chipmunks at Newcastle Aero Club while he was still at school, Kev had his pilot’s licence 12 months before he was legally able to drive a car.
Kev completed the RAAF pilots course in 1962 after which he gained experience on the Dakota transport aircraft.
Kev was a 22 year old flying officer when he flew into Vung Tau, South Vietnam in a Caribou short field transport aircraft as part of the original RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam. This tour was eye opening and challenging and he returned to Richmond in 1965 a changed and much more mature person than when he left in the previous year.
After Vietnam, Kev flew two ferry flights of Caribou across the Pacific – earlier ferries had been across the Atlantic.
In late 1965, he flew in Papua New Guinea establishing Caribou operations there.
A posting to 37 Squadron followed, flying the new C130E Hercules until 1970. Ken spent a lot of this time on freight shuttles and medevac flights between Vung Tau and Richmond.
1970 saw Kev on posting with the United States Air Force at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina flying the Hercules C130E tactically. He later used that experience when he became Commanding Officer of 36 Squadron in 1979 to introduce the new C130H.
Kev spent two years with the Army’s Headquarters 1 Division at Enoggera in the mid 1970s as the Army’s first Divisional Air Liaison Officer.
Kev also spent three years in the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in the mid 80s as Air Attache.
His long and broad career saw him retire in 1992 as one of the RAAF’s most experienced tactical air transport operators.
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Introducing WARRANT OFFICER RAYLEE SCOTT, AM.
Warrant Officer Raylee Scott joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a Switch Board Operator in 1986 and then re-mustered to an Electronic Data Processor Operator. Raylee later became a Communication Information Systems Controller.
In 1996, Raylee was posted to the RAAF Network Operations Agency where she was a founding member of the implementation team installing what became the Defence Restricted Network and the Defence Switched Network around Australia.
Raylee also had postings to Defence Support Group, where she worked on the strategic communication networks. and worked as a System Administrator at Williamtown, Wagga Wagga, and Townsville along with several expeditionary roles with deployable networks.
In 2008, she was posted to Headquarters Joint Operations Command where she worked for several years as the team leader for Multinational Communications Interoperability Program which focused on Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief with Pacific Nations.
In 2012, Raylee was posted to No 1 Combat Communications Squadron Amberley Flight, and in 2015 she took up the position of Squadron Warrant Officer. Most recently she was posted to Air Force Headquarters Cyber Warfare and Networks where she was the Mustering Capability Advisor.
In 2019, she was appointed Wing Warrant Officer 44 Wing at RAAF Base Williamtown followed by Force Element Group Warrant Officer Air Mobility Group.
During her career, Raylee’s deployments include; Operation Relex 2001, Operation Falconer 2003, Operation Catalyst 2005, Operation Slipper 2010 and 2011, Operation Southern Indian Ocean 2014, Operation Okra 2014 and Operation Accordion 2017.
Raylee was admitted as a Member (AM) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List. In addition, she has received an ADF Gold Commendation, an Air Force Silver Commendation, an ADF Bronze Commendation and a Meritorious Unit Citation.
In 2022, Raylee assumed the role of Air Command Warrant Officer and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Air Commander Australia.
Raylee enjoys the challenges, innovation and new perspective that prevails in transforming the RAAF into a technologically-advanced 5th generation Air Force.
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Introducing Flight Lieutenant Suska Denham
Flight Lieutenant Suska Denham commissioned into the Royal Australian Air Force as a direct entry through Officers’ Training School in 2017. She joined as a Security Police Officer and completed her Initial Employment Training at the Defence Force School of Policing, Holsworthy Barracks.
After posting to No. 1 Security Forces Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown, Suska performed the role of Base Security Officer before transitioning to the Squadron Operations and Plans Officer in 2019. During this time, she completed a number of broadening qualifications including a Diploma of Security Risk Management.
Suska deployed on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 as the Officer-in-charge Force Protection Flight, Rockhampton.
In 2020, Suska was posted to No. 2 Security Forces Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal, as the Officer-in-Charge Security Flight Tindal. This role has direct responsibility to the Regional Security Commander Northern Territory for the management of Security Forces encompassing Air Force Security Military Working Dog Handlers and Security Operations personnel, the Military Working Dog capability, Air Force Gap Year, Protective Security and Governance, and Weapons Training Section.
In 2021, Suska was selected as the Aide-de-Camp to Air Commander Australia, Air Vice-Marshal Vincent Iervasi, followed by Air Vice-Marshal Darren Goldie.
Flight Lieutenant Denham deployed on Operation COVID ASSIST19 as the Operations Officer for Joint Task Force 629.
After completing her posting at Headquarters Air Command, RAAF Base Glenbrook, Suska posted to the Joint Military Police Unit as the Executive Officer for Joint Military Police Station Brisbane, Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera.
Flight Lieutenant Denham holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours Class 1) and prior to joining the Australian Defence Force was a teacher with the NSW Department of Education and Training. Whilst at university, she participated in a Global Exchange Program teaching English as a second language in Kerala, India.
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Introducing Wing Commander (retired) Michael (Mick) Stone. Mick joined the Air Force as an apprentice in 1968. He became an electrical fitter at Williamtown working on Mirage and Sabre aircraft. In 1971, Mick went to Butterworth Malaysia working on Search and Rescue Hueys. This was his first involvement with helicopter aircrew: most were Vietnam veterans.
In 1975, Mick was selected for pilot training. He was then posted to United Nations Emergency Force 2 flying helicopters on peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert.
After that Mick continued flying helicopters in Australia until he was trained as a flying Instructor for new pilots. He then became a Flying Instructor on Hueys and the newly introduced Squirrel chopper.
In 1985, there were more helicopter adventures in the Sinai Desert but this time as an instructor.
Following this, Mick was posted to Fort Rucker Alabama as one of the first 2 Black Hawk instructors and then to introduce that helicopter into the RAAF at 9 Squadron.
Mick resigned from the Air Force in 1990 and took up a position with Lloyd Helicopters as a Search and Rescue captain at Williamtown flying Bell 212 helicopters. Mick was recruited to the Active Reserve as an Operations officer and Range Safety Officer.
In October 2001, Mick re-joined the Air Force and took up various position in the Air Transport world including Commanding Officer 285 SQN Richmond. 285SQN was a new concept The squadron’s responsibility was to conduct all training, both ground and aircrew, that occurred at Richmond.
Age retirement forced Mick to leave the Air Force in April 2006. He was again recruited for full time service in 2007 as Operations Officer C130s in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was farewelled from the RAAF on 1 April 2018, 50 years and 2 1⁄2 months after joining and 1 day before his 67th birthday.
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Introducing Group Captain Jason (Easty) Easthope, recent Chief of Staff, Air Combat Group
Easty joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the age of 18 and began flying jets at only 19 years of age. In 2002 he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force where he spent most of his time flying and instructing on the F/A-18 Classic Hornet.
Easty flew F18 Hornet-02 in a single-ship display as a celebration of and a fitting end to the aircraft’s career of more than 35 years and 408,000 flight hours.
His first operational posting was on the A4k Skyhawk with No 75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, based at Ohakea.
During his first tour on Skyhawks he exercised throughout South East Asia flying with the Singapore, Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian Air Forces.
In 1996 he went to the UK on exchange for 3 years with the Royal Air Force flying Jaguars. He conducted many exercises, operating the Jaguar in Norway (off the snow!), Germany, Denmark, Italy, France, Malta, Spain, Jordan, Oman, USA, Canada and Alaska. Whilst flying with the Royal Air Force, he was required to conduct operations in support of UN and NATO forces.
In 2002 he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force
Easty has over 6000 military flying hours, mostly in single seat fast jet aircraft, and will pretty much fly anything with wings.
Military jet aircraft flown include; F/A18 Hornet, SEPCAT Jaguar, McDonald Douglas A4K Skyhawk, BAe Hawk Mk1 and 127, Aermacchi 339C and Albatros L-39C.
Easty has Commanded two Fast Jet Squadrons during his career. He was CO of Number 2 Squadron RNZAF early 2000s, a Skyhawk squadron –which was actually based at Naval Air Station Albatross, Nowra; and of course Number 77 Squadron RAAF Williamtown 2018-2020 flying the F/A-18 Classic Hornet.
Easty enjoys the opportunity to give adventure seekers a small taste of military or high performance flying while conducting adventure rides in aircraft like the Strikemaster, L39 Albatross, Extra300. He is also a qualified low level aerobatic display pilot and enjoys show casing various aircraft at air shows around Australia.
Easty is happily married to Gillian (his school sweet-heart!) and has adult boys.
Unsurprisingly, in his spare time, his hobby is flying planes.
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Introducing Wing Commander Don Pollock.
Don joined 41 Pilots Course, RAAF in 1961. Previously he had been an Industrial Arts Teacher in NSW.
After graduation Don was posted to Transport Aircraft and in 1964 joined the first Air Force contingent to Vietnam on Caribous. He has some tales to tell about those early days in Vietnam. A lot of “by the seat of your pants get the job done”, short or almost non existent runways, plenty bullets, long hours, lots of flying, often scary, and a very different social life.
From Vietnam then to New Guinea. Similar flying to Vietnam except no bullets.
Don had a big change of pace in 1967 when he became a flying instructor on jets.
After that a few more adventures were in store on choppers at RAAF Fairbairn including how Don describes it as “one and a half crashes”.
Don then had a series of postings on choppers and finally Air Force Staff College.
From 1979 to 1982, he was Advisor to Chief of Air Force on Air Transport Operations.
Don resigned from the Air Force in 1982 with the rank of Wing Commander.
His time after leaving the Air Force reads like a whirlwind from School Teacher to Managing Snack Bars to Ag Pilot (more crashes) to Flight Instructor, managing many Air Displays and Flight Safety.
Don’s other Interests are Bushwalking, Gold Prospecting, Aviation History, Aviation Stamps, Flying Displays, Collector of Aviation Memorabilia, Skiing (Cross Country), Reading History and Survival training.