ANZAC Day

[Neilster]

It's ANZAC Day; the day we remember and honour Australians who have served in our military in war and peace. I'm very proud to have served this excellent country as a gas turbine and aircraft technician. New Zealand marks this day too.

[Neilster]

76SQN has a fairly simple motto, "Attack", born of being thrown into combat against the rampant Japanese in 1942.

I had the honour of showing WW2 veterans around their old squadron (they were stoked it was still going and fascinated by the jets) and they told me that due to the desperate nature of the fighting, the original motto was "Always in the excrement (insert appropriate expletive)" and the emblem was an outhouse with wings. That was considered inappropriate by the authorities and we ended up with the black panther, which is cool The Maltese cross is because the squadron was based in Malto in the 1950s.

[rico21]

[&o][&o][&o]

[Neilster]

If anyone's interested, the photo of me above was taken at RAAF Base Williamtown, which is about 200 km North of Sydney, before I went in the backseat of that Hawk 127 on a simulated strike mission through the Great Dividing Range. I got to fly some of the mission, chucking the jet around the sky and pulled a sustained 7G (which, even with a G-suit on is getting fairly heavy). The attack part of the mission (on an old sawmill with imaginary bombs) was all at low level, hammering through steep sided valleys with heaps of hard manoeuvring. It's a strange feeling looking up and seeing trees race past, not very far away, at about 500 knots.

You're not just a passenger either. I spotted the fire tower that was our attack Initial Point and some high voltage power lines that caused the pilot to put the jet into an incredibly hard climb while radioing the two jets just behind us to warn them. He was very appreciative.

Here's a short video about RAAF Williamtown. The base is just North of Newcastle, which at the mouth of the Hunter River. The Australian Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHeNr2f ... anAirForce

[warspite1]

To those Aussies and Kiwis who have fought for their countries - I salute you [&o] [&o]

[Orm]

I hope you all have a nice ANZAC Day. [&o] [:)]

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

To those Aussies and Kiwis who have fought for their countries - I salute you [&o] [&o]

+1, [&o][&o][&o]

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Neilster

If anyone's interested, the photo of me above was taken at RAAF Base Williamtown, which is about 200 km North of Sydney, before I went in the backseat of that Hawk 127 on a simulated strike mission through the Great Dividing Range. I got to fly some of the mission, chucking the jet around the sky and pulled a sustained 7G (which, even with a G-suit on is getting fairly heavy). The attack part of the mission (on an old sawmill with imaginary bombs) was all at low level, hammering through steep sided valleys with heaps of hard manoeuvring. It's a strange feeling looking up and seeing trees race past, not very far away, at about 500 knots.

You're not just a passenger either. I spotted the fire tower that was our attack Initial Point and some high voltage power lines that caused the pilot to put the jet into an incredibly hard climb while radioing the two jets just behind us to warn them. He was very appreciative.

Here's a short video about RAAF Williamtown. The base is just North of Newcastle, which at the mouth of the Hunter River. The Australian Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHeNr2f ... anAirForce

A nice video, thank you.

Yes, I guess that pilot was thankful about those power lines. I guess that he did not want to knock them down and start a fire . . . [8|]
Something like that could have ruined your whole day.

But I am somewhat surprised that those power lines would not have been marked on a map and the flight briefing should have covered them.

[warspite1]

Just two fine examples of selfless heroism [&o][&o]

Charles Upham (New Zealand)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Upham



Edward Sheean (Australia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Sheean

[Anonymous]

[Deleted by Admins]

[goodwoodrw]

Here is my son today as a part of Catafalque party at an ANZAC Day Service in my rural community. He did 3 Services today. He is a member of Prince of Wales Light Horse, one the older Regiments in the Australia Armed Forces. One of PWLH battle honours is the battle of Beersheba, one of the last successful cavalry charges in modern warfare. onyo son.

[goodwoodrw]

Just another note you might notice, above my son's right breast pocket is the U.S. Unit Citation that was awarded to a ARA element of the unit in Viet Nam.

[warspite1]

Proud dad eh goodwoodrw? You have every right to be [:)]

[Neilster]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Neilster

If anyone's interested, the photo of me above was taken at RAAF Base Williamtown, which is about 200 km North of Sydney, before I went in the backseat of that Hawk 127 on a simulated strike mission through the Great Dividing Range. I got to fly some of the mission, chucking the jet around the sky and pulled a sustained 7G (which, even with a G-suit on is getting fairly heavy). The attack part of the mission (on an old sawmill with imaginary bombs) was all at low level, hammering through steep sided valleys with heaps of hard manoeuvring. It's a strange feeling looking up and seeing trees race past, not very far away, at about 500 knots.

You're not just a passenger either. I spotted the fire tower that was our attack Initial Point and some high voltage power lines that caused the pilot to put the jet into an incredibly hard climb while radioing the two jets just behind us to warn them. He was very appreciative.

Here's a short video about RAAF Williamtown. The base is just North of Newcastle, which at the mouth of the Hunter River. The Australian Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHeNr2f ... anAirForce

A nice video, thank you.

Yes, I guess that pilot was thankful about those power lines. I guess that he did not want to knock them down and start a fire . . . [8|]
Something like that could have ruined your whole day.

But I am somewhat surprised that those power lines would not have been marked on a map and the flight briefing should have covered them.

I thought they would be too but the pilot said they often aren't, especially in remote areas. That area is almost unpopulated and and is basically a series of rugged valleys and ravines. At first I thought it was a formation of large birds (another hazard) but then I realised it was those large white balls they put on high voltage power lines to make them more visible. Another thing I was watching for was ultralight aircraft that may be cruising around at about 50 knots.

With regard to birds, one of our jets hit a pelican once and the damage to the wing was incredible. What was left of the bird was shoved into a big hole in the leading edge. I also saw a seagull that was basically atomised on the front of a canopy. All that was left was an opaque smear of blood and guts with a few feathers in it. The pilot had to land on instruments and another jet talking him down because he couldn't see where he was going.

A split second after I forcefully said "power lines" the pilot put the jet into the climb. The overwhelming impression of fighter pilots for me is quick reactions and the ability to multitask. They're flying, observing, navigating, planning, calculating and communicating; often all at the same time.

I used to socialise with the younger ones and the women involved were often stunners. Having said that, a lot of the local girls had been burned by these hotshots before and could be a bit wary. Also, many people don't believe you when you say you're a fighter pilot. As a result, they'd often say they were firemen or "marital aid" designers or something [:D]

At squadron dining-in nights, the pilots would turn up with swimsuit models and the like and even the senior officers had milfy wives [;)] Mind you, we did alright too [:)]

[goodwoodrw]

Warspite yes I am. He is a third generation soldier. My father an A.I.F. WW2 soldier 2 brothers ARA another brother, my wife and myself with almost fifty years in the reserve. My sister was married a serviceman as well. Around ninety years combined service.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: goodwoodrw

Warspite yes I am. He is a third generation soldier. My father an A.I.F. WW2 soldier 2 brothers ARA another brother, my wife and myself with almost fifty years in the reserve. My sister was married a serviceman as well. Around ninety years combined service.

warspite1

[&o]

[Trugrit]

Thanks for your service.

And to all all the freedom fighters from your great countries.

http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/o ... s_in_wwii/

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Trugrit


Thanks for your service.

And to all all the freedom fighters from your great countries.

http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/o ... s_in_wwii/

To absent companions.

[Erik Rutins]

Thanks to the ANZACs!

[Greybriar]

Here's to the ANZACs!