Ad Astra Aviator Podcasts

Ken Semmler - Happy RAAF Veteran of Many Adventures, Now amongst the Grape Vines.

Introducing Ken Semmler - Fighter Pilot, Vietnam Veteran and Aid De Comp.

Ken says he had10 happy years in the RAAF from 1963 to 1973.

Initially, after training, he was on Sabres at Williamtown.  He spent time in Darwin during Indonesian Confrontation before being posted to Mirages.

Ken then participated in Operation Fast Caravan flying Mirages from Williamtown to  Butterworth in 1967.

As an aside, in RAAF Base Butterworth and in Singapore, he had great experiences as ‘gear and flap’ man with Transport Support Flight on C-47 Dakotas.

Ken was posted as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron USAF from Jan - Nov 70.

Then a change of pace, he became ADC to His Excellency the late Sir Paul Hasluck to from Feb 71 to mid 72.

He resigned from the RAAF in late 1972 when his Dad passed away. 

Ken says he could never repay the Air Force for what it did for him in those 10 years.

He then became involved in Grape Industry and the community in the Barossa Valley when he now lives running Saint Jakobi Vineyards with wife Helen.

Bruce Mouatt. Fighter Combat Instructor and Bronco Forward Air Controller Vietnam

GROUP CAPTAIN (retired)  BRUCE MOUATT

Fighter Pilot, Vietnam Veteran, Fighter Combat Instructor.

In 68/69, Bruce flew  Sabres operationally in Butterworth, Malaysia and in Ubon, Thailand.

In 1969,  he transferred to  Mirages at Williamtown and also trained as a  Forward Air Controller.  As a result, in 1971, Bruce was posted to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller flying OV10 Broncos.

Returning to flying duties on Mirages, Bruce was posted to the UK for a Weapons Course followed by a Fighter Combat Instructors Course at Williamtown.  He then trained new fighter pilots.

Bruce then had a change of pace and did an exchange tour with the USAF flying A7D Corsair 2 aircraft out of Davis Monthan Air Force Base at Tucson Arizona.

In 1977, now a Squadron Leader, Bruce returned to Mirages, Williamtown and in 1979-1980, his skills were used to set up the RAAF Weapons School.

In 1981 Bruce completed the RAAF Staff College and was promoted to Wing Commander.

Then came a long association with F18 Hornets.  In 1982 to 1985, Bruce joined the  F/A18 Hornet Acquisition Project  and in 1986 became the Commanding Officer of the first RAAF operational Hornet squadron.  In 1988, he returned to Canberra as a Group Captain to run the F/A18 Hornet project, and finally in mid 1990, he commanded the new Hornet Base at Tindal in the NT.

Bruce left the RAAF in August 1994 after more than 30 years, and joined the world of private enterprise.

 

The Life of Norm Goodall. Fighters, Gunships, Around the World Sailor. Cattle Farmer. Motor Sport Competitor

Introducing Wing Commander (retired) Norm Goodall

Norm went solo at 16  years old and 10 days which was the youngest pilot in Australia at that time.

In  1962 , Norm joined the RAAF, graduated as a pilot and was posted to Williamtown on Fighters.  He was then attached to No 77 Squadron in  Malaysia in 1964 during Confrontation.

In 1965 he started flying Mirages.  A highlight of which was participating in 1967 “Operation Fast Caravan” .

He went to Vietnam in 1970 as a Flight Commander with Huey Gunships.

In 1972 he had a change of pace and became a Flying Instructor on Macchi’s at the Advanced Flying Training School in Western Australia.

From 1974, Norm had a series of significant postings:   Assistant Defence Attaché Thailand, Operations Officer No 77 Sqn,  Integrated Air Defence System Butterworth., HQ OPCOM as Staff Officer  Reconnaissance then posted to Recruit Training Unit, Edinburgh as Commanding Officer.

He retired from the RAAF on the 4^thJuly 1985.

He Joined Lloyd Helicopters and eventually flew twin engine helicopters with the Off Shore Oil Industry.

In 1990, he began a life as a sailor quote “in our yacht “Mirage” sailing from Adelaide to Darwin.  Then in 1992, he sailed heading West out of Darwin and eventually arriving in Bundaberg in November 1997.  He visited 36 countries and sailed 37,000+ nautical miles.

Norm now has a cattle farm in the Adelaide Hills and is involved with the Community.

Flight Sergeant Marion Hamilton: Loves an Adventure and Physical Challenges

Flight Sergeant Marion Hamilton is a Communications and Information’s Systems Operator, now known as Network Technician. Throughout her career, Flight Sergeant Hamilton has enjoyed a number of exciting and challenging roles and has been fortunate to have deployed on multiple operations abroad including one to the Middle East where she was responsible for providing technical support to the deployed elements throughout the Middle East.  

She has developed significant experience in the Combat Support environment.

Flight Sergeant Hamilton also has been an instructor in Deployable Local Area Networks and Cyber Security for Navy, Army and Air Force.

She is now responsible for the provision of technical support functions to air operations at No 2 Air Borne Early Warning and Control Squadron.

Flight Sergeant Hamilton enjoys endurance sports and has participated in a number of Ironman’s across Australia.

SGT Paul Gallaway. Air Force Enthusiast and Motivated Technician

SGT Paul Gallaway.  Air Force Enthusiast and Motivated Technician

Paul joined the Air Force 1996 after working in the horse, cattle and transport industries and a copper refinery.  Paul became a qualified Aircraft Life Support Fitter.  He then worked on C 130 Hercules before moving onto the Boeing 707.

Paul had a very interesting outcome when he volunteered for a Search and Rescue mission to try and find survivors from a sailing boat off the north of Australia.

He says he enjoyed working on the B 707 with 33SQN because he visited every capital city in Australia as well as a trip to Japan.  

2001 saw him working on the J model Hercules.

He joined the Combat Survival Training School in Jan 2006.  

Paul became the Life Support section head for Hawk, Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft.  

Paul became involved with the F35.  It was definitely a new way of doing business.

He says that at 53 years of age he needs to think about life after the Air Force.

He sometimes wishes he had joined earlier.

High Points

1. Search and Rescue mission to try and find survivors from a sailing boat .
2. watch air to air refuelling up close from the Fuel Tanker
3. Combat Survival Training
4. F35 Life Support – a new way of doing business
5. Training Recruits at Wagga

 

 

Phil Frawley. Guinness World Records: Oldest Active Fighter Pilot

Phil Frawley is a human who was truly born to fly. As a young boy he spent countless hours building model airplanes and dreaming of the day when he would get to control an aircraft.  After five years as an aircraft technician, he was accepted into the Royal Australian Air Force 92 Pilots Course in July 1974.

49 1/2 years later, Phil is retired from the RAAF.  He was inducted into the Guinness World Records as having been the oldest active fighter pilot in history.

Phil is also a qualified low-level demonstration pilot.  He also holds a civilian commercial pilots license with a civilian level two flying instructor rating.

Phil currently resides in the beautiful city of Newcastle and enjoys surfing the pristine beaches along the North coast of New South Wales.

My Life, My Air Force. Bernie Nebenfuhr

Joined the RAAF in Feb 1980  and trained as an Education Assistant.

After a posting to Officer Training School, he deployed to SINAI Desert with the Multi Force Observers in 1983.

Sailed around the Greek Islands with a boatload of Kiwis.

He then had a series of postings:  3 Control and Reporting Unit, 481 Maintenance Squadron, Amberley, School of Languages and Training Command.

In 1995, Bernie was commissioned to Flying Officer rank and had a series of Administrative Officer postings.

He again deployed to Middle East Area of Operations in 2004 as Executive Officer C130 Combat Support Squadron.

He was promoted to SQNLDR in 2005 and in 2007 joined the Air Force Active Reserve.

He then joined the Public Service in Nov 2010 working with Airborne Early Warning.  He then was appointed as Enterprise Manager AEWC in Jul 2017

He returned to the Active Reserve in Jan 2019 with the Air Force Centenary Team.

He is now the Manager of Fighter World, Aviation Heritage Centre at Williamtown. 

High Lights

1. SINAI Desert with the Multi Force Observers in 1983.
2. Sailed around the Greek Islands with a boatload of Kiwis.
3. Middle East Area of Operations in 2004 C130 Combat Support Squadron.
4. Fighter World, Aviation Heritage Centre at Williamtown

Fortunate Life. Steve Low. AM Fighter Pilot, Aerobatic Team, Farmer, Past Mayor of Dungog,

Steve Low AM  Wing Commander (ret).

Steve wrote some background for us so I will use his words to introduce him.

Aged 19 years, our pilots course at RAAF Pearce would do all our training on the newly acquired Macchi jet.    

It was very exciting strapping into the front seat on my first flight in full flight gear (G suit, helmet, oxy mask and life jacket).  It was great fun for a kid almost straight out of school.

The flying course was demanding and went at a pace that kept you studying and learning to put theory into practice.  We had excellent instructors and I loved playing pranks on them.

I wanted to fly fighters and in November 1969 when we arrived at RAAF Williamtown the thunderous sound of Mirages in full afterburner on take off hurt your ears.  What a blast to be strapped into such a beast that went so damned fast and had so much power!

Flying formation was amazing as you looked across at a beautiful sleek machine as it raced along whatever you were doing and felt solid and steady in the air. I was in heaven and it was hard to believe you were getting paid for doing it.

Eventually after I became experienced,  I joined a 77 Sqn four ship aerobatic team and I flew the slot.

In April 1972, I was posted to 75 Squadron Butterworth and spent two years there.  The Communist insurgency was still active in parts of the country.  One night a sub machine gun was fired at insurgents near the main gate across from our quarters.  

I was pleased to leave the place and was posted to Melbourne as Aide De Camp to the Governor of Victoria for two most interesting years in which we toured Victoria and met many visiting heads of state and members of the Royal family etc. It is the most impressive residence in Australia and I was treated like a Prince.

I was promoted to Sqn Ldr in January 1981 and was posted back to 77Sqn which put me in charge of the photo recon flying. One of my pilots had to eject when the undercarriage would not lock down.

For the RAAF Diamond Jubilee Air Show I was given the task of leading a two ship aerobatic team.

We flew out of RAAF Richmond for the Schofields Air Show and the public saw the red white and blue colour scheme for the first time.

The RAAF Diamond Jubilee Air Show was at Amberley on 5^th April.  We began the display with an opposed take off and hugged the airfield with gear down for an opposed garbage roll before synchronised aeros began. In some manouvres we passed each other at over 1000 kts closing speed.

At the end of that year I was posted to Directorate Air Force Safety and spent three months at USC Norton AFB Campus doing the USAF Flight Safety Officers Course.  I investigated three mid air collisions, two of which involved the deaths of each pilot, and I knew them.

For my efforts in this posting I was awarded a AM.

My final posting was CO 77 Squadron on Hornets but I left the RAAF after 20 year’s service. It was a very satisfying and enjoyable career but it was time for me to move on.  The people I flew and worked with made it very special and I can certainly state that I have lived a very fortunate life.

 

Life after RAAF Service.

in 1988 I began a new chapter of my life as a beef cattle grazier.

By 1999, Dungog Shire our local Council had become very unpopular with ratepayers demanding significant change. This prompted me to seek election. I felt compelled to participate and give something back to the community for all the wonderful things I had achieved in my life.

I had seven years as Mayor and two as Deputy; at State level I was Senior Vice President of the Shires Association, and served on two Ministerial Advisory Councils, the NSW Roads and Transport Directorate and numerous other committees.

After dedicating so much time and effort in local government I felt that I should get back on top of my own affairs. So I did not stand for re-election in 2008.

I watched with disdain as the Council gradually lost its way again and was very disappointed. I went back onto Council in 2017 and so we come to the present where I still enjoy helping people through the maze of ever increasing bureaucracy that has become such an essential part of life in Australia and NSW in particular.

I left the RAAF over 32 years ago and I am a member of the fighter branch of the RAAF Association. I have visited RAAF Williamtown many times with young people interested in a flying career and of course Fighter World with family and visitors.  One can never lose the effects on your persona of having been a fighter pilot, and nor would I want to.

Barry Kelly. Highlights of a life: F18 Hornets , US Aircraft Carrier Pilot, Low Level Displays, Cathay Pacific and Wedgetails

Listen to Barry relates his stories about Mirage Fighters,  and as a Fighter Combat Instructor, 

Capture his life as on F18 Hornets with carrier qualifications at Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-125, also known as the "Rough Raiders" based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.  And then Exchange duties at Marine Corp Air Station El Toro, California.

Listen to his reflections on being a RAAF Hornet low level display pilot.

Then a change of pace as he flies with Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong.

And finally,  Boeing E7A Wedgetail pilot trainer.

Bronwyn Marchant - Public Affairs Office, Air Combat Group

Bronwyn Marchant - Public Affairs Office, Air Combat Group

Bronwyn gives a motivating account of being new to the Australian Air Force and being an Air Combat Group Public Affairs Officer.

Bronwyn grew up in the small town of Bungendore, NSW. then a largely agricultural community. She attended school/college in Canberra, ACT, graduating in 2011.

After graduating college, she attended the University of Canberra for two years studying Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance. At the time she was also employed as a finance officer for a not-for profit organisation. She then made the decision she did not want to pursue a career in finance. Subsequently, she joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 2018 as a Personnel Capability Officer (PCO).

Bronwyn completed her initial officer training at RAAF Base East Sale in 2018 and was posted to Central Flying School, RAAF Base East Sale. She then completed her initial employment training for PCO in Feb 2019 at RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training at RAAF Base Wagga.

She says one of my highlights during my posting at Central Flying School as the PCO, was when I was fortunate enough to attend the Edinburgh Air Show, Adelaide in November 2019 with the RAAF Roulette Aerobatic team.

In January 2021, Bronwyn was posted to 464 Squadron as the Air Combat Group Public Affairs Officer, based at RAAF Base Williamtown.