Ad Astra Aviator Podcasts

Pete Spurgin. A life of Variety. Fighter Combat Instructor. Malaysia, Thailand, Sinai, Careflight

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.

 

 

Paul McLeod. Intelligence Officer. Lots of Angles to his Career.

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.

Warrant Officer Ken Robertson OAM. One of the Warrant Officer Catalysts that are so Important to Communication across All Ranks

INTRODUCING WARRANT OFFICER KEN ROBERTSON,  OAM

Meet Warrant Officer Ken Robertson, OAM.  Ken enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force in 1995 from Western Australia as a Personnel Capability Specialist.

Warrant Officers have a very important role in the Air Force as they are the catalyst for communication across all ranks and officers.  Ken’s career has exemplified that role.

During his career in the Air Force, Ken Robertson has had many diverse roles.  He has been an Administrator, a Weapons Instructor,  a Military Skills Instructor, a Personnel Capabilities Specialist Instructor and performed these roles in Fighter Squadrons, in Technical Training establishments, in Combat Support Group, in Surveillance Group and on various bases at a Senior Level.

Ken was deployed on Operation Slipper at the Multi-National Base Tarin Kot.

Ken was awarded an Air Force Silver Level Commendation.

Ken was a student on the Australian Army, Regimental Sergeant Major Course in 2016 and subsequently deployed to the Middle East Region in 2017 for twelve months as the Command Warrant Officer (CWO) of Joint Task Force 633.   Ken Robertson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his efforts on this deployment.

In 2019, Ken deployed to Nellis AFB (Nevada, USA) as the Australian Task Group WOFF for Exercise Red Flag.

In Sep 2019, Ken was appointed ‘Air Command Warrant Officer’ with responsibility to Air Commander Australia as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader & Advisor.

In 2022, WOFF Robertson will take up the appointment of ‘Warrant Officer Joint Operations’ with responsibility to Commander Joint Operations as the Joint Operations Command, Senior Enlisted

Ken enjoys West Coast Eagles, Basketball and spending time with his family.

Wing Commander (ret) Sandy Main. The Challenging, Exciting and sometimes Dangerous Life of a Chopper Pilot.

Sandy Main has unique experiences on Helicopters from Vietnam to Papua New Guinea and then with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.  He did 2 tours with the United Nations on Helicopters

He was also involved with the introduction of the Black Hawk into the Australian Army.  He finally flew choppers commercially.

Sandy Main joined the RAAF as a pilot in 1968 and was posted to fly Iroquois (Hueys) at 5 Squadron.

In 1969, was posted to 9 Squadron Vietnam flying mostly Gunships.

Vietnam was a big and exciting challenge.  His next challenge was different and in Papua New Guinea Sep choppering bridge materiel.  Papua New Guinea is renowned for very difficult terrain to fly in.  These were the start of a long career in helicopters.

Listen to Sandy as he tells you about the challenging, exciting and sometimes dangerous life of a Chopper Pilot.

Wing Commander (ret) Jack Lynch MBE. A Life of Front Line Aviation

JACK LYNCH, MBE, Wing Commander (Ret)

Jack Lynch  a Fighter Pilot, Huey Gunship pilot, RF 4C Phantom and F111 pilot, and  Aviation Services business owner.  A life of aviation with many sometimes dangerous, always exciting, challenges but also with a lot of job satisfaction.

In the Australian Air Force, Jack operationally flew:

·      Iroquois helicopters (1 year in Vietnam, mainly on gunships);

·      Sabre and Mirage jet fighters;

·      RF 4C Phantom jets with the United States Air Force; and

·      F/RF-111C jets.

 

In his business, he specialised in aerial photography, charter/commuter, and aviation consulting.

He now lives in Brisbane, pursuing a career as a writer, aviation consultant and pilot mentor. He is now in the process of qualifying as a Remote Pilot for commercial drone operations.

 

For contributions to Aviation, Jack was awarded an MBE and a Master Air Pilot Certificate by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, London.

 

“Dick” Cresswell DFC - 1920 to 2006. WW2 and Korean War Fighter Pilot

RICHARD “Dick” CRESSWELL  DFC - 1920 to 2006.  Fighter Pilot.

 

Dick, was a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force.  He held command of No. 77 (Fighter) Squadron during World War II and again during the Korean War.

He was credited with being the first RAAF pilot to shoot down enemy aircraft at night over Australian soil,

The only person to serve as Commanding Officer of an RAAF Squadron on 3 occasions during wartime,

The first person to lead a jet-equipped Australian squadron in combat.  

His performance in Korea earned him both the Commonwealth and the United States Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Dick joined the RAAF at Point Cook in July 1938.  By 1942, he was promoted to Squadron Leader and commanded the newly formed  77 Squadron at Pearce, Western Australia.  The Squadron was flying P-40 Kittyhawks.

At 21, he was younger than most of his personnel. 

Initially, he was responsible for the air defence of Perth. 77 Squadron then transferred to Batchelor Airfield near Darwin in August 1942, becoming the first RAAF fighter unit to be stationed in the North-Western Area.

77 Squadron then moved to another of Darwin's satellite airfields, Livingstone.  

Dick led the squadron in the defence of Darwin against Japanese raiders and claimed the first aerial victory just after 5 a.m. on 23 November 1942, when he destroyed a Mitsubishi "Betty" bomber. 

It was the first "kill" for an Australian squadron over the mainland, and the first night victory over land.

In February 1943, 77 Squadron was transferred to Milne Bay  in New Guinea.   The Japanese attacked Milne Bay on 14 April, and Cresswell claimed one of four bombers credited to 77 Squadron. 

The next month, 77 Squadron began island hopping, firstly to Goodenough Island.

He was Wing Leader of 81 (Fighter) Wing in New Guinea from May 1944 to March 1945, simultaneously commanding No. 77 Squadron for a second time between September and December 1944.   During this command, the wing flew 1,125 sorties against Japanese buildings, stores and transport.

The Late Ken Wilkinson recalled his first encounter with Dick Cresswell:   “We were told that Wing Commander Cresswell the C.O. wanted us to report to him in his tent.  He was sitting in a director style chair, dressed in non-regulation clothing and black high boots [not flying boots].

He said, ‘You have joined the best fighter squadron in the R.A.A.F., you have received the best training possible in a wartime situation and we have recently been equipped with the latest model Kittyhawk P40-N25 and N30, aircraft, so if any of you dare prang one of them, back home to your mother's you will go”.

After World War 2, 77 Squadron moved to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) and were still there on the declaration of hostilities between North and South Korea.   After the death of the CO of 77 Squadron, Lou Spence, on 9^th September 1950, Dick was sent to replace him and became the Squadron’s longest serving commanding officer in the Korean War and commander of 77 Squadron in combat for the third time.

He oversaw its conversion from P-51 Mustangs to Gloster Meteors, becoming the first RAAF commander of a jet squadron in war. As well as Meteors, Dick flew F-80 Shooting Star and F-86 Sabre jets in combat while on attachment to the United States Air Force in Korea. He handed over command of No. 77 Squadron for the last time in August 1951, but flew six more missions as a Meteor pilot in 1953.

Dick resigned from the RAAF in December 1956 and was discharged on 30 April 1957 so ending the service career of one of Australia’s finest. 

Dick Cresswell holds a special place in the RAAF historical record.

In 2006 He was the guest speaker at an Aviation Club Lunch.  He gives a very modest account of his exploits in the Air Force containing humour, drama and frankness.

 

Wing Commander (retired) Ken Mitchell, DFC. He flew Big Beasts, Fast Beasts and Slower Little Beasts

Wing Commander (retired) Ken Mitchell,  DFC.   He flew Big Beasts, Fast Beasts and Slower Little Beasts

Ken kicked off his Air Force Career flying Lincolns, Dakotas and Neptunes.

He then totally changed his flying career when he was posted to Fighters.  This included flying Sabres in Malaysia during Indonesian Confrontation and in Ubon, Thailand during the Vietnam War.

He then completed a tour on Mirages at 76 Squadron.

In 1968, he was posted to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller returning to fly Mirages again including a tour in Malaysia.

He then had a series of ground jobs in Airforce Office Canberra, at Staff College and at the Joint Intelligence Organisation.

Ken joined Customs in 1984 to introduce 3 Nomad Aircraft into service.

After this, he bought a business in Coffs Harbour and finally retired there.

Wing Commander Ruth Taylor: an extraordinary life in the Australian Air Force

Ruth Taylor, Wing Commander (ret) has lived a very different life to most.  She has travelled the World succeeding in many challenges, taken on a role in, at that time, a male dominated Australian Air Force, flown frequently in fast jets, escorted Royalty, been promoted to Senior Rank, worked closely with the, at that time, Chief of the Air Force and mixed up in all these challenges, been a Mum.

Later in her career, Ruth filled the position of Special Projects Officer in the Office of the Chief of Air Staff.  She regarded this position as the pinnacle of her career as she was in charge of all Special Projects involving the Chief both in Australia and Overseas.  She organized the RAAF 70th Birthday Celebrations including:

·      launching the RAAF Hot Air Balloon,

·      organizing RAAF Events in every capital city,

·      setting up RAAF involvement in the Grand Prix,

·      setting up the RAAF Art Awards,

·      liaising with a Publisher for books on RAAF history,

·      escorted Senior RAAF Officers to the Paris and Farnborough Airshows and

·      the most rewarding project of taking the Battle of Britain Pilots to the UK for their 50th Anniversary Celebrations.  This latter task has remained a highlight of Ruth’s life in meeting these wonderful pilots and their ladies, managing their trip on the RAAF 707 via Hawaii, Canada and Washington until they were presented to Her Majesty the Queen in the front of the Palace.  The Red Arrows and the Spitfire commenced a parade of aircraft up the Mall to the Palace. After the Church Service, she went to the Cliffs of Dover to witness the mock air battle.  This brought tears to the eyes.

 

“Listen up” to find out from Ruth more about her adventures.

David Robson. Fighter Pilot, Vietnam Veteran, Test Pilot, Author and Artist.

Wing Commander (retired) David Robson

David was born in1944 in suburban London.  Kept in a crate under the kitchen table when the ‘Doodlebugs’ were overhead.  He was left with a visual memory of the Spitfires and later revelled in the stories of the fighter pilots. 

His family migrated to Australia in 1950. 

He loved Comics and radio serials - Biggles, Hop Harrigan and made Balsa models

With his family, he returned to UK in 1958.

He attended the Farnborough Air Show and watched 111 Squadron flying black Hawker Hunter aircraft (the Black Arrows).  He saw prototype Vulcan, Victor and Valiant aircraft flying as well as Javelin and Sea Vixen and many others.

He joined the Air Training Corps and went gliding and flying and parachuting. 

He won a flying scholarship and learnt to fly up to solo standard in Chipmunks at RAF Biggin Hill (the most famous fighter base from the Battle of Britain). 

David’s family returned to Australia in 1962.

He could not stay out of the air and in 1964, he joined the RAAF as Aircrew.

Listen in: David has had an astounding and colourful life in Aviation and associated roles, including being a Test Pilot,.  More varied than a patchwork quilt.

 

 

Richard Kelloway‘s Adventures: Sabres, Mirages, Birddogs and F111s, and others........

Group Captain RICHARD NEIL KELLOWAY  AM

Richard on his entry into the RAAF flew fighters, both Sabre and Mirage.

In October 1968, he was posted to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller with the United States Air Force flying the  O-1 Birddog.

After further time flying Mirages in Butterworth and then Flying Instruction,  he was posted the 442^nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, USAF, Nellis Air Force Base on F-111As.  Following this, he became an F-111C, Aircrew Instructor at Amberley.

He then completed RAAF Staff College and became Staff Officer to Deputy Chief of Air Force

After that He then had a succession of postings:  Commanding Officer of No 1 Flying Training School, Personnel Plans (Officers),  Air War College with the United States Air Force; Director of Trainer Aircraft Project, Director of Studies, Joint Services Staff College.

He had a change of pace between 1989-1994 and joined the Department of Prime Minister and Australian Development Assistance Bureau.

This lead to Private Consultancy work specialising in Aboriginal Community Development.

Richard’s reflections say he is more a thinker than a do-er.   He likes being at the vanguard of organisational change.  Richard says “I sense intuitively the need for change and my mind winnows possible pathways of change from the complexities in the organisational environment.  As a change agent, I am committed to participatory change but reflexively pragmatic.