Celebrations Confirmed for December 2010
 
 

As advised in our previous story (below) and in the Spring edition of the Fourays Journal, the Australian Army Aviation Association will be hosting a gathering on the Gold Coast in December to celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of the formation of 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron. The establishment of the Squadron on 1 December 1960 marked the first time since 1921 that the Army had owned and operated aircraft and is regarded as the birth of modern Army aviation.

We are planning to meet at Twin Towns Resort at Tweed Heads over the weekend 10-12 December 2010. All who have or have had a connection with Army aviation over the years are invited to come along; Army, Navy, Air Force; AAAvn, RAEME, RAAOC, etc; civilian, contractor; serving and ex-service, you are all most welcome.

The gathering kicks off on the Friday evening (10th December) with an informal get together at the Resort followed by dinner under own arrangements. On the Saturday there wil be the opportunity to take a bus trip to Amberley to see where 16 Squadron all began and on to Oakey to tour the base and visit the Museum of Australian Army Flying. This will be an all inclusive tour with morning tea and lunch provided. Saturday evening will be the Anniversary Dinner, a coat and tie, sit down affair back at the Resort. For those who don’t want to avail themselves of the bus trip there are plenty of activities on the Coast to fill in the day.

On Sunday morning we will hold a commemoration service at the local RSL (next door to the Resort) to remember all those who have lost their lives during their service with Army aviation. That will complete the organised part of the weekend, however, those attending may also wish to take in the “Heroes of the Light Horse” show currently running at the Outback Spectacular venue near Movie World on the Coast. There is a Sunday matinee at 12:30pm that includes lunch and from all accounts this is a show not to be missed. Bookings can be made on many of the Gold Coast tourist websites and if there is sufficient interest, the Association will examine arranging transport to and from the Resort.

Registration forms for the gathering are available for download and accommodation can be booked at Outrigger Twin Towns quoting Australian Army Aviation 50th Anniversary.

For questions and additional information please contact 16ALASQN50@fourays.org

Bill Mellor

President FOURAYS

Australian Army Aviation Association

 

 
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December 2010 marks fifty years since the raising of 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron
 
 
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The raising of 16 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland in December 1960, marked the first time since the formation of the Australian Air Force in 1921, that the Australian Army operated its own aircraft. In the late forties and through the fifties, the Army had Air Observation Pilots and with the formation of the 1st Aviation Company in 1957, an Army flying unit in which non-artillery pilots were employed, however the aircraft and logistic support in both instances were provided either by the Australian Air Force or by chartering of civil aircraft.

The formation of 16 Squadron represented the birth of modern Army Aviation.

The Squadron was equipped with Cessna 180 fixed wing and Bell G-2 helicopters and in the early days all of the maintenance personnel and some of the pilots were provided by the Air Force, but the significance was that it was an Army unit flying Army aircraft that was providing direct and intimate support to Army units.

 
An integral part of Australian Army Aviation during those early years was Training Squadron. Pictured here is the 7/66 Rotary Wing course.

Top row, staff: Lieutenant James Campbell, Captain Kevin Gosling GC, (Senior RW instructor) Major Neil Harden (OC) Lieutenant Glenn Maynard.

Graduating class: 2nd Lieutenant Mike Meehan, Lieutenant Ross Hutchinson

While the first two squadron Commanding Officers were from the RAAF, in 1964 LTCOL Bill Slocombe, RAA, became the first Army CO. During his tenure the Squadron changed titles first to 1st Divisional Aviation Regiment and then, in 1966, to 1st Aviation Regiment. In the early days the Squadron/Regiment operated across the length and breadth of Australia as well as in West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and, of course, South Vietnam.

 
Graduation Parade circa 1965, Capt R.F.Smith leading
 
 
 
Sioux 720, Oakey area 1972

 

 

161 Officers Nui Dat flight line, September 1967

From the 161 Recce Flight Collection

 
 
Videos from the last 50 Years...
 
         
Cessna from 161 Recce Flight on Recon
 
C-123 sprays Australians
 
         
   
Recon Vietnam 1967 Agent Orange spraying Phuoc Tuy Province Tribute to the late Glen Duus
 
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Spitfire low pass...
 
Join the Australian Army Aviation Association
 
 
If you're a serving member of the Australian Army Aviation Corps or a former member - or you've served with an Australian Army Aviation Unit in Australia, overseas or just been associated with Australian Army Aviation during your career, you should consider joining either as a full or an associate member.
 
Click here to download the Membership Application Form
 
Latest on the 50th Anniversary Celebrations
 
View web article in (PDF)
 
Registration Form
 
A Special Request to All
 

To help create the atmosphere at the gathering and to support the stories in the next edition of Fourays, we are collecting as many photos and newspaper clippings as we can. In particular we are looking for graduation, unit or group photos and clippings, as well as photos of the Cessna and Sioux, and later the Porter in operation and maintenance.

 
Wing Commander Ken Robertson and Major Ross Harding in the US in October 1960 prior to the formation of the Squadron


We are happy to receive them as digital images (300dpi resolution or better) with a description of location, time, identities, or we can arrange to have the photos or clippings scanned and returned.
 
Cessna 180 of 16ALA Training Squadron over the Southern Training Area (STA) 1966.
 

There must be old photos in shoe boxes and cupboards somewhere, so start digging. Shown here are just a few we've received.

 
16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron Sioux G2 Wewak, PNG, Feb-Mar 62

It's important we recover as many of these photos before they're lost forever. If you find any please email them to 16 ALA Photos using our email submit form (click link below). You can attach photo and document files to this online form.

If sending multiple photos or other files the simplest way is to bundle them using WinZip or WinRAR to create a single package.
 
 
On Fourays
 

Shot down!

...and survived

Lessons here for all military aviators. Listen to this digitally restored mission report by a US Army Huey Cobra pilot made just hours after his aircraft was hit by a heat seeker that severed the tailboom. Yet he and his co-pilot survived.

And you think you've had C of G problems!
 
Listen to this mission report by the pilot
 
 
 
Movie on Line
 
 
The Target for Today
 

Filmed in 1943, this movie portrays what bomber crews of the period had to face on an almost daily basis. (approx 20 mins) It also shows some of the planning for bombing raids during some of the heaviest operations of the war. The movie was part of a campaign designed by US Army PR to help allay growing public alarm at the heavy losses being incurred at that time.

Interesting to compare this with current day campaigns.

 
 
 
 
POSSUM 45 is COMING
 
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The 45th anniversary of the deployment of 161 Recce Flight to South Vietnam, will be held in Townsville from 8th-10th September 2010.

For details download the registration form

Download (PDF)

 
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