Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

35 Squadron C-27J personnel unload supplies at Buka Airport, Bougainville, during the first detachment of air-lift support in Papua New Guinea. Story by Tastri Murdoch.

RAAF C-27J Spartan aids PNG

11/10/202314/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1294 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, PNGDF

Rotational deployment of a RAAF C-27J Spartan under the Defence Pacific Air Program is providing additional aviation support to Papua

RAAF Sergeants Connor O'Neill and Ryan Pedder, 7th and 8th from left, facilitated the Building Blokes program for aviators from 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story and photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Vulnerability takes courage

11/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 736 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown, Top Blokes Foundation, World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day As an awkwardly tall and skinny teenager, Sergeant Ryan Pedder struggled with his masculinity. CAPTION: RAAF

A recruit from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Operation Kudu in the UK. Story by Major Carrie Robards. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

Aussies witness the will to win in Ukraine

10/10/202312/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3314 Views 1 Comment Armed Forces of Ukraine, Operation Kudu

As storm clouds roll over a training area in the south of England, new recruits wind their way through the

Sergeant Andrew Summers in front of a F-35A Lightning II at 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW. Story by Squadron Leader Bruce Chalmers. Photo by Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Thought provoking

Breaking the stigma of PTSD

10/10/202328/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1245 Views 0 Comments No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, PTSD, RAAF Williamtown, World Mental Health Day

Sergeant Andrew Summers, of 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW, is an example of how proactive

Australian Army Gunner Max Hood, of 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, sets up an M777 howitzer at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army News

Rockets on the horizon

10/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1368 Views 0 Comments 8th/12th Regiment RAA, HIMARS, M777 Howitzer

In the days following Exercise Talisman Sabre’s firepower demonstration in July, when American high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and

271 ADF Pilots’ Course members assemble at dawn on the flightline with a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft at RAAF Base Pearce, WA. Story by Stephanie Hallen. Photos by Chris Kershaw.

ADF People News

Graduates soar to new heights

10/10/202315/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1571 Views 1 Comment ADF Pilot's Course, Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter, No. 2 FTS, PC-21, RAAF Pearce

Exciting new careers await 13 RAAF and Navy student pilots from 271 ADF Pilots’ Course, who graduated from 2 Flying

RMAF Brigadier Ben Khedda presents the Gary Haynes trophy to Pilot Officer Pearl Jeong, at RAAF Base East Sale. Story by Flying Officer Rowan Crinall. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Daina Sawade.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

RMAF brigadier reviews ATC course graduation

10/10/202313/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1356 Views 0 Comments School of Air Traffic Control (SATC)

On the mark of almost 40 years, honoured alumni Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Brigadier General Ben Khedda Adnan bin

Wreaths adorn the foot of the Loxton Avro Anson Crash Memorial in Loxton, South Australia. Photos by Sergeant Nicci Freeman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Veterans

Lost airmen remembered 80 years on

10/10/202310/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1131 Views 0 Comments RAAF Edinburgh, WWI, WWII

RAAF Edinburgh aviators joined the Air Force Association (South Australia) in commemorating the 80th anniversary of a crash that resulted

Chaplain Abdul Kader (left) and Chaplain Majidih Essa during a visit to Bangladesh as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by LAC Ryan Howell.

ADF People

Faith, friendship and family in Bangladesh

10/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 817 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Navy Chaplain Majidih Essa recently had the honour of leading Friday prayers at Sheikh Mujib Mosque in Dhaka, the capital

Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd (Australian) Division prepare their weapon posts for MAG 58 machine guns during a Direct Fire Support Weapons course in the Singleton Military Area during September 2023. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photos by Private Sarah Fisher.

Australian Army News Videos

DFSW returns to 2 Div

10/10/202310/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3941 Views 0 Comments 11th/28th Battalion, 25th/49th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, 2nd Division, 4th/3rd Battalion RNSW Regiment, Army Reserve, Carl Gustav 84mm, DFSW, MAG 58s machine gun

The Direct Fire Support Weapons (DFSW) capability, including anti-armour weapons, has returned to the 2nd (Australian) Division after an absence

RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet and Republic of Singapore Air Force, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15SG Strike Eagle aircraft fly in formation over Singapore. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF Super Hornets in Singapore

06/10/202308/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2073 Views 0 Comments F-16, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 1 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

At the invitation of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), 1 Squadron deployed F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and supporting

Historic aircraft from 100 Squadron prepare to take part in flying displays at the 2023 Tocumwal Airshow. Story and photos by Flying Officer Kristi Adam.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF returns to Tocumwal

06/10/202308/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1818 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, RAAF Point Cook, Temora Aviation Museum

The Royal Australian Air Force returned to the site of its largest base during World War 2, to support the

Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Bradley Galvin, left, and Commanding Officer HMAS Toowoomba Commander Darin MacDonald during a blessing ceremony for the embarked MH-60R helicopter Valkyrie. Story and photos by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

News Royal Australian Navy

Blessing of the Valkyrie

06/10/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1746 Views 1 Comment Chaplains, HMAS Toowoomba, MH-60R Seahawk

HMAS Toowoomba’s embarked aviation team, Flight 607 Valkyrie, received a blessing from the ship’s chaplain during recent preparations for regional

Third-year trainee officers Samuel Woods, Matilda Roberts and Emily Lewis during the ADFA Leadership Challenge Three exercise in Majura training field in Canberra. Story by Chelsey Ballard. Photos by Officer Cadet Mikaela Cox.

Uncategorized

Cadets face final leadership test

06/10/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1536 Views 0 Comments ADF Cadets, ADFA

Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) trainee officers embarked on a final test of character, leadership and ethics before they graduate

Cairns High School students participate in a series of science and engineering challenges at HMAS Cairns, as part of a collaboration between Defence Work Experience Program and ADF Careers. Story by Lieutenant Claire McIntosh. Photos by Nel Archer.

News Royal Australian Navy

STEM challenge encourages career in Navy

06/10/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1583 Views 0 Comments Defence Work Experience Program, HMAS Cairns, Schools Engineering Challenge

Engaging with the next generation of science and engineering professionals was the order of the day at HMAS Cairns for

Two RAAF F-35A Lightning II's from 75 Squadron fly with two TNI-AU F-16 Fighting Falcons during Exercise Elang Ausindo 2023. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Corporal Kieren Whiteley.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF F-35s in Indonesia

06/10/202308/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2700 Views 0 Comments Exercise Elang Ausindo, F-16, F-35A Lightning II, No. 75 Squadron, TNI-AU

RAAF aircrew have built confidence sharing knowledge and developing tactics with their Indonesian counterparts. CAPTION: Two RAAF F-35A Lightning II’s from

Ship's company line the upper decks of HMAS Maryborough II during its decommissioning ceremony. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photos by Petty Officer Leo Baumgartner.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Two Armidale-class patrol boats decommissioned

06/10/202307/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1993 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, HMAS Coonawarra, HMAS Larrakia, HMAS Maryborough

Ship’s company, family members and an extended Navy community said goodbye to two Armidale-class patrol boats in September. CAPTION: Ship’s company

Commander 1st (Australian) Division Major General Scott Winter and delegates at the official opening of Regional Exercise Longreach and South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Story by Captain Peter Nugent.

Australian Army News Pacific

Pacific leaders plan disaster relief strategy

06/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1201 Views 0 Comments HADR, Papua New Guinea, Regional Exercise Longreach

Operational planners, gender experts and disaster responders from Pacific military forces and non-government organisations gathered in Papua New Guinea for