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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
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Air Commodore Chris Sawade, CSC, joined the Royal Australian Air Force in January 1974 and on graduation from pilot training he was posted to fly helicopters with No 5 Squadron.
Between 1976 and 1988, Chris completed operational and flying instructional tours throughout Australia, the South West Pacific and the Middle East, flying Huey and Squirrel helicopters and CT4 and Macchi Trainers.
In 1988, Chris was posted to No. 38 Squadron where he served as Training Flight Commander and Executive Officer flying Caribou.
He served as the Australian Member of the Air Standardization Coordinating Committee located with the United States Air Force Headquarters in Washington DC from 1997 to 2000.
Chris Sawade was promoted into the position of Deputy Director Aviation Capability Improvement Team in February 2003. In March 2004 he took over the position of Director of Flying Safety - ADF / Director of Air Force Safety.
He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2006 for his efforts in the introduction of the Safety Management System into the Air Force.
In January 2006 he was appointed to Officer Commanding Air Training Wing.
Air Commodore Sawade was then appointed as Commander of Combat Support Group in 2008.
From March to November 2012, he deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations as the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force 633 covering an area of joint operations from Afghanistan, through the Middle East and Indian Ocean to the Seychelles. He was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for his efforts in that position
He retired from the Permanent Air Force in Feb 2013 and took up the Reserve position as Head of Air Shows
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Introducing Air Commodore (retired) Chris Beatty DFC. AFC. A Notable Flying Career
Chris’ flying career started when he learnt to fly light aircraft with the Air Force cadets at Parafield in 1963. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1966 graduating on No 64 Pilots.
In 1968, Chris saw a significant expansion of the Australian Forces in Vietnam which included No 9 squadron’s helicopters. Half of his pilots course were converted onto helicopters and all posted to fly Iroquois helicopters in South Vietnam. The Squadron was based in Vung Tau Phuoc Tuy Province as part of the 1ST Australian Task Force.
In Vietnam, Chris flew both Assault and gunship versions of the Huey sometimes under interesting combat conditions.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as a helicopter Gunship pilot with No 9 Squadron in the Vietnam conflict
In 1975, Chris had a three year assignment as a flying training advisor to the newly established Singapore Air Force.
Chris has flown in three aerobatic and formation display teams including the Roulettes as Roulette 4 on Macchi jets and was leader of the 1981 Chinook Diamond Jubilee Display Team.
He introduced the RAAF Balloon into service in 1990.
He left the permanent Air Force in 1987 to take up a position as Chief Pilot for Bell Helicopter but rejoined the RAAF in 1989.
He spent five years in the Operational Requirements/Force Development Branch of the ADF which included a three year assignment to the Pentagon in USAF Plans and Operations Division.
Throughout his military career he held a number of senior appointments most notably as the Director of Flying Safety for the Air Force and ADF and the Commanding Officer No 12 Chinook Squadron. He was awarded an Air Force Cross flying Chinooks with No 12 Squadron.
In 1999 he was promoted to Air Commodore to take command of the RAAF’s Combat Support Group which was responsible for operating Dili and Bacau airfields during the East Timor campaign.
His final assignment was as the Commander Air Forces Training Command.
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Group Captain Peter (Spike) R Davies, CSC, Chief of Staff, Air Combat Group
Peter Davies enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1988 as a direct entrant Air Defence Officer.
Following Air Defence Controller Course, he served with No 3 Control and Reporting Unit and No 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit before qualifying as a Fighter Combat Controller in 1992. After instructing at 3 Control and Reporting Unit, Peter was selected for Airborne Warning and Control System training with No 8 Squadron RAF, qualifying as an Boeing E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning And Control System Weapons Controller and Fighter Allocator.
Peter commanded No 1 Radar Surveillance Unit from 2009 to 2012, receiving a Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2013 Australia Day honours. He later commanded No 41 Wing, responsible for the Air Defence Ground Environment, Over-the-Horizon Radar and emerging space surveillance capabilities.
Peter’s operational service includes flying as AWACS aircrew on NATO operations for the independence of Bosnia-Herzegovina, completing over 100 missions and receiving the NATO Medal with Former Republic of Yugoslavia clasp.
Staff appointments include wing-level appointments, Capability Development Group, Headquarters Surveillance and Response Group, and Air Force Headquarters.
Peter also has overseas experience serving with the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force.
He is a Distinguished Graduate with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the United States National War College at Fort McNair, Washington DC. GPCAPT Davies is married to Catherine and has three adult children.
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Introducing Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Retired)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus (Allan) Houston was born in West Kilbride, a very small place to the south-west of Glasgow in Scotland overlooking the Firth of Clyde.
His father was a Royal Air Force officer who was shot down at a place called Handzame in 1943. He was captured by Belgian collaborators and was handed over to the Germans. He became a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, “The Great Escape” camp.
Sir Angus saw an Australian Air Force life of Rotary Wing Flying in many types and operated in many challenging and sometimes dangerous roles.
Sir Angus was promoted to Air Marshal and took over as Chief of Air Force on 19 June 2001. Over four years, he led an extensive change in culture to put ‘People First’. He was also the first Chief of Air Force to achieve a zero fatal accident rate during his tenure.
Sir Angus was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal and appointed as Chief of the Defence Force in July 2005. During this time, he oversaw the successful deployment of 65,000 defence force personnel over 58 different operations.
Sir Angus retired from the military, as Chief of the Defence Force, in July 2011 after 41 years of service.
On his retirement from the Defence Force, the Government appointed Sir Angus as Chair of the Anzac Centenary Advisory Board which provided strategic advice to the Australian Government in relation to the planning and implementation of the Anzac Centenary 2014-2018.
In 2012, he was appointed as Chair of Air Services Australia, a role he held until mid- 2018 and Chair of the Defence SA Advisory Board, replacing the role held previously by General Peter Cosgrove.
In 2014, Sir Angus was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to lead Australia’s efforts to help recover, identify and repatriate Australians killed in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster.
Today, Sir Angus continues to work in a number of major roles including as Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast and Chair of the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
Sir Angus is also the Patron/Ambassador for numerous not-for-profit and charitable organisations, which he generously provides his time.
Sir Angus is married to Liz and they have three sons and three granddaughters.
AUSTRALIAN HONOURS
1980 - Awarded the Air Force Cross for an open sea rescue in gale force winds in 1979.
2001 - Centenary Medal for outstanding service as Chief of Air Force.
2015 - Knight of the Order of Australia for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia, through distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force, continued commitment to serve the nation in leadership roles, particularly the national responses to the MH370 and MH17 disasters, and in a variety of roles in the community.
Saturday Sep 24, 2022
Saturday Sep 24, 2022
Air Marshal (retired) Geoff Brown AO
Air Marshal Geoff Brown joined the RAAF in February 1980 after completing an Engineering degree.
He graduated from No.111 Pilots' Course in 1981 and has since had many and varied flying roles.
He has operated Chinooks, been a Flying Instructor, been a member of the Roulettes aerobatic display team, operated Hornets in the roles of squadron pilot, flight commander and executive officer and Commanding Officer 3 Squadron.
He then completed F-111 conversion and assumed the position of Officer Commanding No.82 Wing in December 2000.
In 2003 he commanded all F/A-18 and C-130 operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and a Legion of Merit for his service in the operation.
He commanded Air Combat Group throughout 2006 and then from Jan 2007 until Jun 2008 he was Director-General Capability Planning in Air Force Headquarters. He was the Deputy Chief of Air Force from 30 June 2008 to 3 Jul 2011.
Air Marshal Brown was appointed Chief of Air Force on the 4 July 2011 and served in that role until July 2015. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) during his term as Chief of the Air Force.
His main sporting passion is Sailplane racing.
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
AIR VICE-MARSHAL (retired) Bob RICHARDSON AO AFC
Bob Richardson qualified as an RAAF fighter pilot in 1962, and flew Sabre aircraft with 77 Squadron in Malaysia, Singapore, and Labuan North Borneo for nearly three years during the Indonesian Confrontation crisis.
He was also attached to 79 Fighter Squadron in Thailand four times for SEATO air defence operations.
After a tour as a flying instructor, he qualified at the United Kingdom Empire Test Pilots' School in 1968, and subsequently spent 13 years on experimental and developmental test flying activities and supervision at the RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit, including several years on Sabre, Mirage and Macchi acceptance testing.
He was actively involved in the evaluation of the Mirage replacement, culminating in the selection of the F/A 18 Hornet fighter in 1981. He was the first Australian to fly the prototype Hornet in 1980.
He was promoted to Director-General Manning-Air Force 1988, after which he completed the 1991 Royal College of Defence Studies course in London. He was then appointed Air Officer Commanding Training Command in 1992, leaving early in late 1983 to be the sole military author of the 1994 Defence White Paper ‘Defending Australia’ for the Keating Government, working directly to Defence Minister Robert Ray. After further appointments as Chief of Air Force Personnel and Budget and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, he transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 1997 and retired after 41 years in 2002.
Bob flew over 5000 hours in 25 RAAF, Army and foreign military aircraft, and 250 hours in sailplanes.
Saturday Sep 03, 2022
Saturday Sep 03, 2022
Air Marshal Gavin Neil "Leo" Davies, AO, CSC is a retired Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Born and raised in country Victoria, Air Marshal Leo Davies was attracted to aviation from primary school and consequently pursued the Air Force for pilot training.
He joined the RAAF in 1979, as a navigator and flew P3B and P3C Orions for six years, learning a lot about airmanship and real world maritime operations. He then retrained as a pilot, flying F111s of all types. He commanded No. 1 Squadron and No. 82 Wing.
In Sep 1990, Leo was posted to the 523rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base to fly F-111D with the USAF and then back to Amberley in Dec 1992.
In 2007, Leo was posted on operational deployment to the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in the Middle East.
Air Marshal Davies was posted as Air Attache to Washington DC in June 2010 and on returning to Australia became Deputy Chief of Air Force in December 2011. He was promoted into the Chief of Air Force position on 4 Jul 2015.
He retired from the RAAF in 2019.
Air Marshal Davies has been awarded an Officer in the Order of Australia, a Conspicuous Service Cross, a Singapore Meritorious Service Medal, the US Legion of Merit - Commander and the French Legion of Honour.
Air Marshal Davies retired in Sep 2019 after 40 years in uniform and he says he owes a heck of a lot to his wife Rhonda, daughter Erin and son Jacob.
Friday Aug 19, 2022
Friday Aug 19, 2022
Air Vice Marshal DAVE ROGERS AM RAAF (Retd)
Dave Rogers from Cadet Under Officer in to Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
In between these two events he had many different adventures from:
Flying Sabres on operational missions during Confrontation with Indonesia.
Serving in Ubon, Thailand as part of Australia's contribution to SEATO and Vietnam.
Instructing on Vampires in Perth.
Completing the first F-111 training in the USA.
Converting to the F-4E Phantom and flying the delivery flight from St Louis to Amberley.
Commanding Officer of 6 Squadron on the F-111 and the newly-modified RF-111 reconnaissance version.
Ejecting from the F-111 near Auckland NZ.
Going back to the USA as the Hornet Project Manager in Washington DC.
And in 1994 his final appointments were on promotion to Air Vice Marshal being appointed as Deputy Chief Air Staff and Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Development) until he retired in July 1998.
Since then he has served as Patron of the Pathfinders, 30SQN Beaufighters, a five year term as the Chairman of the Air Force Cadets National Council and other organizations. He is currently enmeshed in the historic car movement in the ACT.
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Introducing Group Captain Terry Wilson, AM AFC
Terry grew up in the Swan Valley. Vampires from Pearce Air Force Base constantly flew overhead and along with the prevalence of lots of material about World War II air exploits (not to mention Biggles books), Terry was bound to be very keen on all things aviation.
Terry graduated the dux of his Air Force apprentice engine fitter course in December 1960,
In 1964, Terry start his long-coveted pilot training. He felt at home when he got to do flying training on the same Vampires from his childhood.
Terry’s squadron flying on Sabres started out at RAAF Butterworth with 3 Squadron. Terry was lucky enough to be one of two ‘boggies’ selected to fly one of of eight 3 SQN Sabres from Butterworth back to Williamtown in February 1967.
His Sabre flying at Butterworth also involved detachments to No 79 Squadron at Ubon in north-east Thailand, associated with the Vietnam War.
After conversion to the Mirage in 1968 Terry continued flying fighters through until the end of 1973 when by then he was a Category A Mirage Fighter Combat Instructor.
Surprise, surprise, Terry then moved to a career on Iroquois helicopters. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for flood rescue work.
In November 1977 Terry started a six-month stint on peacekeeping helicopter operations in Egypt as Executive officer with AUSTAIR UNEF at Ismailia on the Suez Canal in Egypt.
In late 1981 Terry began working as the chief planner and commander-elect for a possible ADF deployment to a peacekeeping operation with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai. When that deployment was confirmed in early 1982, Terry had to form a new joint unit comprising eight Iroquois helicopters and get it to the Sinai to be ready by 25 April 1982.
Terry was made a member of the Order of Australia for his work on this operation.
Terry then became Commanding officer of No 9 Squadron at RAAF Amberley.
After leaving the RAAF in October 1990, Terry spent six years at the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation in Canberra. He then moved to a senior management position in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Terry was then asked to be Head of Flying Operations for Impulse Airlines (now Jetstar Airways).
Since 2008 Terry has been a volunteer member of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Introducing Warrant Officer Gerry Mapstone OAM.
Gerry joined the RAAF 1966 and in 1967 became an Airfield Defence Guard and was posted to South Vietnam.
On arrival in Vietnam, having previously lead an Aussie life, Gerry was told that the weather was fine and there was only light to moderate ground fire.
He was given the opportunity to become an Iroquois Door Gunner with 9 Squadron. His duties were to assist in medical evacuation, loading and unloading of stores and personnel and to protect, by the use of twin M60 machine guns, his side of the aircraft. He flew missions such as sniffer missions, psychological warfare, leaflet dropping, VlP missions, Command and Control, Special Air Service patrol insertions and extractions and generaI hash and trash.
The highlights of that time were flying in support of the Tet Offensive near Saigon and the battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral.
Gerry particularly enjoyed dustoffs as he felt that 9 Squadron did some great work retrieving soldiers and civilians from the battlefield and taking them to safety and to hospitals.
In early 1973, he again joined 9 Squadron who had returned from Vietnam. 9 Squadron were known as the nomadic ninth as they shifted from one place to another. Main tasking was Army operations, Search and Rescue, and Survey operations from Sumatra to lrian Jaya. Gerry also flew in Papua New Guinea with the Pacific lsland Regiment.
Gerry flew in weather from the tropics to the snow.
ln 1974, he was involved in flood rescues all around lpswich, Brisbane and the areas up to Toowoomba. The rescues consisted of rooftop rescues, ferrying people and goods to and from areas which were inundated and “flying past our families who were trapped by floodwaters in the married quarters”.
Operations were often dangerous but it was satisfying work. “We lost a pilot in a crash in lrian jaya in the seventies”.
I was twice posted to United Nations Emergency Force in Sinai Egypt.
These are snippets to the life of a helicopter crewman. Listen to Gerry for his accounts of a dangerous but thrilling life.