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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 Apr 11, 2022
Wednesday Apr 06, 2022
Wednesday Apr 06, 2022
Introducing Huck Ennis DFC (Garry Ennis)
Huck says: “I spent 15yrs growing up on Tamborine Mt, riding a horse to school, the longest being some 9 miles from Camp Cable to Logan Village aged 8yo. Thank God I am a Country Boy."
After, becoming an Apprentice in the Post Master General's Department in 59, I lasted 2 years and joined the Air Force.”
In 1961, Huck joined the RAAF, 10 Squadron, as a Rad Tech Air.
In 1965 he applied for Pilots Course, graduating to Fighters in 1966.
He spent the next 5 yrs as a Single man bouncing between Williamtown and Butterworth flying Sabres and then Mirages.
He was posted to Vietnam in 69 as a Forward Air Controller, flying the O-1 Birddog, then OV-10.
Huck was awarded the British DFC for his efforts.
Posted to RAF College of Air Warfare at Manby, Linc, to undertake the 6 month course in Weapons Employment!
Joined Aircraft Research and Development Unit, Laverton as the Weapons Officer to assist in assessing two Mirage Projects.
Huck spent the next about 10 years flying and on projects associated with Fighters.
He resigned in 1996 to join Pel-Air Target towing out of HMAS Albatross Nowra.
Saturday Apr 02, 2022
Saturday Apr 02, 2022
CAPT the Hon PETER COLLINS AM RFD QC
Peter Collins joined the ARES (then CMF) aged 17 yrs and served 5years finishing as a Commando officer. His then CO was the legendary Harry Smith SG MC ( Delta Company commander at Long Tan). He earned his Parachute wings in 1969.
He joined the Naval Reserve in I975 where he would serve 37 years, mostly in Intelligence and Legal.
After leaving the NSW Parliament in 2003, he became the first reservist to act as Fleet Legal Officer for five months in 2003&2004.
In 2007 , he became the first former Minister-State or Federal- to see active service in Iraq where he led an ADF legal team in Baghdad.
He also served as Honorary Colonel of 1st Commando Regiment, the first postwar Special Forces unit in the Australian Army, from 1995-2000. He is the only serving Naval officer- permanent or reserve-to have this honour accorded by the Army.
He wrote the history of Australian Commandos STRIKE SWIFTLY in 2005.
He left the Navy as a Captain in 2012.
His lifelong interest in the ADF includes his time as a television journalist at ABCTV where he was the first journalist to fly in the F-111 in Australia; also flying in the Navy’s A-4 Skyhawk and S-2Tracker; several types of naval helicopter.
He has been aboard over 250 warships, Australian and foreign; this includes four carrier landings and catapault launches on US carriers. He witnessed the last broadside fired from a battleship off the Australian coast ( USS NEW JERSEY 1988).
He went to sea on the two most recent classes of Australian submarine; also to sea on 33 other surface warships.
The Services run in the Collins family:
Grandfather Charles Collins served in battleships 1904-8; uncle Keith served in HMAS ANZAC off Korea; cousin Gordon survived HMAS VOYAGER sinking off Jervis Bay in 1964.
Peter’s father Ron served with No 22 Squadron ( Richmond NSW) as a Navigator in Beaufighters 1944-46 operating from Morotai through to the Occupation of Japan. Ron Collins was demobilised as a Flying Officer in 1946 after returning from Japan.
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Introducing Wing Commander (ret'd) Pete Bennetts
In 1966, Pete Bennetts joined the Australian Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller. Air Traffic Control is a vital function in keeping the Air Force Fleet safe and operational. It is often edge of the seat work and on occasions extremely demanding.
He served as an Air Traffic Controller at many locations including Sydney International.
He was well promoted and served in many senior officer postings including Examining/Standardisation Officer, Operational Requirements, Senior Air Traffic Control Officer, Air Force Office, Monash/Mt Eliza Business School, Joint Services Staff College and Management Development Branch. He retired from the RAAF in 1993
He then worked with the Civil Aviation Authority and Air Services Australia until he again retired in 2005.
He then started a career in volunteering, joining Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, National Seniors Australia (Coffs Coast Branch) and Air Force Association Coffs Harbour & District Branch. As with his Air Force Career, he was very active, earning respect and many accolades and awards, gaining a NSW Government Community Service Award in 2019.
Onya Pete
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Introducing Flight Lieutenant Peter Nuske
In 1961, Peter started work as a trainee Metallurgist at BHP Newcastle.
Peter could see Mirages taking off at Williamtown and in 1967, he joined the RAAF as a trainee pilot and graduated to fly Canberra Bombers.
Peter was posted to 2 Squadron in Phan Rang, Vietnam in 1969. He flew 233 bombing missions.
In 1970, he returned to Williamtown for fighter training, and got married. He was posted to 76 Squadron on Mirages. He completed an Advanced Navigation course and then joined 77 Squadron.
After this, he completed the much sort after Fighter Combat Instructor course, and then instructed new fighter pilots at Operational Conversion Unit Williamtown.
In 1976, he flew an F15 Eagle at Williamtown. Yes an F15 at Williamtown.
In 1977, Pete resigned and bought a banana plantation in Coffs Harbour. He also built his own house using recycled materials.
Pete then took a job managing a galvanising plant in Coffs Harbour and commenced a degree in Mathematics and Computing. Subsequently he joined Commonwealth Public Service in Coffs Harbour, finished his degree and secured a job in Canberra as an IT programmer.
In 2002, he took retirement, built a home in Coffs, restarted a previous job as a contractor, commuting Coffs – Canberra for 12 months before in 2005 taking permanent retirement at Coffs.
Over the last 12 years he has been a Rural Fire Service volunteer, and 3 years ago joined Veterans Centre Mid North Coast as Secretary.
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Introducing the Hon David Elliott MP.
In 1995, David Elliott joined the Australian Army and commenced his officer training at Royal Military College, Duntroon, attaining the rank of Captain.
Taking 18 months' leave, he worked as Press Secretary for the Hon. Peter Collins, QC MP who was the NSW Leader of the Opposition.
During 1999, David was Director for the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy campaign against the referendum for Australia to become a republic; for which he was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 for service to the constitutional reform debate.
Returning to the Army in 2000, David served in peace-keeping forces in Bouganville, Papua New Guinea and was awarded the Australian Service Medal.
David then worked as State Operations manager in Saint John Ambulance (NSW), before commencing as Executive Officer and then Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Hotels Association. In 2008, David Elliott became Chief Executive officer of the Civil Contractors Federation and held this position until his election to Parliament.
From 2015 and on to 2022, David Elliott held Ministerial portfolios in the Baird Ministry, Berejiklian Ministry and finally the Perrottet Ministry. These. Included Veterans Affairs, in which he was active in the refurbishment of the Hyde Park War Memorial and inviting Prince Harry to bring the Invictus Games to Sydney, Police, Emergency Services, Corrections, Counter-Terrorism and Transport.
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Wing Commander Al Taylor. Flying is in his Blood. Fighter Pilot Extraordinaire
Al grew up during WW2 years: Blackout curtains, gas bags on buses, coupons. In 1942, he saw 4 x P-39 Air Cobras carry out mock attacks against the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. He was five and very, very impressed. Growing up, he built and flew control line model aircraft and studied model radio controlled aircraft. In 1952, Al had a Joy ride in a Tiger Moth.”
By 1958, Al had joined No 22 City of Sydney Squadron operating Wirraway, Vampire and Meteor followed by Sabres F86 operating in Malaya.
Then twice the speed of sound Mirages fighters came into his life. This culminated in him leading the Mirage display team.
Al was appointed Commanding Officer of the renowned 77 Squadron
In 1981, Al joined civilian Aerospace contractors.
Still seeking adventure, Al bought a powered hang glider and attempted to fly around Australia for Fred Hollows Foundation.
He followed this with more fun and games on Model radio controlled aircraft together with Flight simulation on computers linked with pilots around the world: Spitfires in a Battle of Britain scenario, F/A18 from carriers and UH-1H in a Middle East scenario
All good stuff.
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Introducing Wing Commander John Landale AFC.
John started his working life as a maths/science teacher at Gulargambone Central School but after 18 months, applied for RAAF pilot training, graduated to fly helicopters and was soon with 9 Sqn Huey Helicopters in Vietnam where he served for 12 months.
He then had a change of pace and after a Search and Recuse stint, took up flying instructional duties in both Australia and Singapore. He then continued his service with choppers at 5 and 9 Sqns in Senior Squadron positions.
After attending the RAAF Staff College in 1980, he was posted to Defence in Canberra as managing Operational Requirements for Helicopters before a posting to the Sinai Desert in 1984 as Australian Contingent Commander.
Another change of pace took him to Central Studies Establishment in Defence Central where he also completed his BSc majoring in Computing Science.
In another significant change, he joined the Commonwealth Public Service in a middle management systems analysis role and served in a number of Departments before finishing with the Health Insurance Commission leading teams to restructure claims processing systems for Medibank Private and Pharmaceutical Benefits.
Retired in 2001 and moved back to Coffs Harbour to become a 'tree hugger' and mediocre golfer.
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Introducing Wing Commander Peter Spurgin (Retired). Peter has had a wide variety of Air Force Operations from flying fighters in Malaysia and Thailand to peacekeeping operations in the Sinai Desert and lastly with Care Flight.
He joined the RAAF in 1963 and graduated as a Fighter Pilot.
He was posted on 3 occasions to Malaysia serving on Sabres and Mirages.
Pete also served in Ubon, Thailand during the Vietnam War on fighter alert for incursions from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and was also on fighter duty during Indonesian Confrontation.
In 1970, he completed the sort after Fighter Combat Instructor Course but then in 1974, he had a huge change of direction and was posted to Huey choppers.
He served with the United Nations in the Sinai Desert twice. One as Commanding Officer Austair UNEF 2 and for the second time with Multinational Force and Observers both involved with Huey Helicopters patrolling the Sinai Desert
In 1980, he continued his chopper career as Commanding Officer of 9 Squadron, well known for its vital operations in Vietnam.
Peter retired from the RAAF in 1985.
He has spent the rest of his flying career as Chief pilot Careflight (now Lifeflight) and then as Safety & Risk Manager.
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Introducing Group Captain Paul McLeod, Intelligence Officer.
Paul was born in Melbourne into an Air Force family. After attending a number of schools across Australia and overseas, he completed his secondary education at Erina High School and later attended Sydney University, where he studied economics, philosophy, and a little Japanese.
After a short time as an infantryman in the Sydney University Regiment, Paul joined the RAAF in1978 for training on 105 Pilot’s Course.
Paul was later commissioned into the Intelligence category. In 1981 he completed basic Chinese language training at the ADF School of Languages and was later posted for advanced language study at Hong Kong University.
During his career, Paul was seconded to the British garrison in Hong Kong where he worked with British and PLA forces to support the reversion of sovereignty to China.
He also served as Australia’s Defence Attaché in Vietnam and Laos (2003-05), and China (2008 to 2010).
Since retiring from the RAAF, Paul moved to Coffs Harbour, where he keeps busy with volunteer work as a boat crew member and radio operator with Marine Rescue. He is also President at a local Rotary Club, Vice-President of the local RAAF Association, and he is President at the Veterans’ Centre Mid-North Coast.