CONTACT BLOG SPOT Archives - CONTACT magazine

Wing Commander Aarian Birch pilots his CAC Winjeel from 100 Squadron at Point Cook over the cliffs of Point Addis during the 80th commemoration of the ditched RAAF Mitchell Bomber in 1944. Story by Flying Officer Rose Gigliotti. Photo by Warrant Officer Don Kenny.

Sacrifices commemorated at 80 years on

20/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 121 Views 0 Comments RAAF Laverton, WWII

On December 11, 1944, a B-25D Mitchell bomber crashed off Point Addis, marking a tragic chapter in Australia’s wartime history.

Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Richelle Turner, left, with the Governor of Peleliu Emais Roberts and Republic of Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr, at an exhibition of the life of Damien Parer. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Honouring the legacy of WW2 photographer

18/12/202418/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 397 Views 0 Comments Palau, US Marines, WWII

This year marks 80 years since legendary Australian war photographer Damien Parer was killed filming US Marines in action on

Army medics from 2nd Health Battalion provide medical care to simulated casualties at the point of injury during Exercise Viper Walk 2024. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Shake-up for Army medical trades

13/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1108 Views 1 Comment 2nd Health Battalion, Army Logistic Training Centre, Army Medic, Exercise Viper Walk

Under one of the biggest shake-ups to the health workforce, medical trades will be rolled into a new Army medic

Nursing officers at the Bangka Island Massacre memorial service on board HMAS Adelaide hold photos of those who lost their lives in 1942. Story by Commander Steven Grosser. Photos by Leading Seaman David Cox.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Memorial service to honour fallen nurses

13/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 971 Views 0 Comments Australian Amphibious Force (AAF), HMAS Adelaide, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Maritime Operational Health Unit, Singapore, Vivian Bullwinkel, WWII

On its return home from Singapore after Indo-Pacific Endeavour, HMAS Adelaide sailed to Bangka Island where personnel commemorated sacrifices made

Members of the Royal Air Force's (RAF) 601 Squadron with the Flying Sword overhead at a summer camp at RAF Lympne in 1937. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photos courtesy of Royal Air Force Museum.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Air Force sword flies back to the UK

13/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 573 Views 0 Comments Combat Support Group (CSG), No. 24 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAF

An Air Force treasure has returned to the United Kingdom, having been a Royal Australian Air Force centrepiece for 65

Invictus Games 2025 Team Australia captains, Caz Gladysz and Doug Griffiths proudly wear the new team polo shirt. Story by Flying Officer Tina Langridge. Photos by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games Veterans

Invictus team captains named

10/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 686 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games

Former ADF personnel Doug Griffiths and Kaz Gladysz have been named team Australia co-captains for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025,

The Invictus Games 2025 Team Australia competitors receive the new team polo shirt during a uniform unveiling event at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra. Story by Flying Officer Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Veterans

New Invictus uniform a symbol of connection

10/12/202410/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 642 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, Invictus Games

Loss of connection has been an issue for some of the 33 members of Team Australia heading to Invictus Games

Attendees of a memorial service for the late Wing Commander Peter Krieg with a static display of E-7A Wedgetail aircraft at 2 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Remembering the legacy of ‘Cowboy’ Kreig

06/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1166 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, No. 2 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown

On Friday November 8, about 300 family and friends travelled from around the globe to gather in the 2 Squadron

Royal Australian Artillery Head of Regiment Brigadier Damian Hill and Lieutenant Colonel Matt White, of the Defence Preparedness Branch, at the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery National Memorial on Mt Pleasant in Canberra. Story and photo by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Plan to extend gunners’ memorial

05/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 541 Views 0 Comments Canberra, Royal Australian Artillery

Two 64-pounder cannons stand silently atop Mount Pleasant in Canberra, flanked by stone walls reminiscent of a fortress the cannons

HMAS Canberra personnel conduct a freedom-of-entry parade through Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Jonathan Wills. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Canberra exercises Freedom of Entry in capital

04/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1834 Views 1 Comment Freedom of Entry, HMAS Canberra, WWII

Steady rainfall and gloomy skies did not dampen spirits as Navy personnel paraded through Canberra on 30 November in a

Two cranes return Neptune A89-280 back onto its plinth at the RAAF Base Townsville entrance. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell.

ADF People History News Royal Australian Air Force

Townsville’s iconic Neptune resumes duty

04/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 807 Views 0 Comments Neptune, No. 10 Squadron, RAAF Reserve, RAAF Townsville

Reserve personnel used professionalism, pride and impressive trade skills to restore RAAF Base Townsville’s iconic Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune A89-280 gate

Veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment participate in the Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Story by Captain Adrienne Goode. Photos by Corporal Adam Quinn.

Australian Army History News Veterans

1st Armoured Regiment marks last Cambrai Day with M1A1

03/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1296 Views 1 Comment 1st Armoured Regiment, Battle of Cambrai, Edinburgh Defence Precinct, M1A1 Abrams

M1A1 Abrams tanks echoed through the Edinburgh Defence Precinct during the Cambrai Parade for the final time, as 1st Armoured

Editor's Blog News

CONTACT sets new readership record

02/12/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 475 Views 0 Comments

CONTACT web site broke last year’s record of 6,519,714 page views for the calendar year today, 2 December. The new

Adam Bourke, left, and Major Dan Nailer fix their position during a reconnaissance of the Kapyong battlefield in the Republic of Korea. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

Search continues for digger on Kapyong battlefield

27/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 939 Views 0 Comments 3rd Battalion RAR, Korean War, Unrecovered War Casualties – Army

An Australian Army soldier presumed to have been killed in the Korean War’s battle of Kapyong on April 24, 1951,

World War 2 RAAF veteran Cyril Rothall, who served with 3 Airfield Construction Squadron, celebrates his 100th birthday. Photo by Nicholas Gunn.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

WWII veteran ‘Flying Shovel’ celebrates centenary

26/11/202404/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 567 Views 0 Comments No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, WWII

On November 16, several RAAF Base Edinburgh aviators, including an airfield engineer, shared in the 100th birthday celebrations of a

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell and Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clinton with Leading Aircraftwoman Sarah Gardner, Corporal Melany Stummer, Leading Aircraftwoman Riley Biedermann and Leading Aircraftwoman Rachael Hoey. Story by Flying Officer Jody Blakeley.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Bonding for breast cancer charity

26/11/202403/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 571 Views 0 Comments 3 Control and Reporting Unit (3CRU), Chief of Air Force, Surveillance and Control Training Unit (SACTU)

Units from the Royal Australian Air Force’s Eastern Region Operations Centre joined forces throughout October to raise funds for the

Navy welcomes charity organisation Tackling Leukaemia on board during the annual Navy versus Victoria Police rugby match at HMAS Cerberus. Photo by Leading Seaman Jack Codner.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Navy

Joining forces to tackle leukaemia

22/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 782 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus

HMAS Cerberus recently welcomed charity organisation Tackling Leukaemia on board during the annual Navy versus Victoria Police rugby match, to

Corporal Matthew Johnson watches over a recruit trialing the new fitness test standard Wattbike at RAAF Base Wagga, NSW. Story by Pilot Officer Timothy Sullivan. Photos by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force

Watts new with the Air Force fitness test

22/11/202402/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 591 Views 0 Comments No. 1 Recruit Training Unit, Physical Fitness Test (PFT), RAAF Wagga Wagga

Recruits at 1 Recruit Training Unit are among the first aviators to be tested under the new Air Force Physical

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Jenkins, staff officer at Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division, thanks staff at the Enoggera Health Centre, Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, after his recovery from cancer. Story and photos by Captain Peter Nugent.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

It takes an army to defeat a deadly adversary

22/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 779 Views 0 Comments Gallipoli Barracks

How do you thank someone for saving your life? CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Jenkins, staff officer at Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division,

Army Major Wendi McAdie and Warrant Officer Class One Andrew McAdie are presented their Federation Star medals by Major General Michael Krause alongside their daughter, Clancy McAdie. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Michael Banovic.

ADF People History

A life of love and service

15/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 790 Views 0 Comments Army Logistic Training Centre, Federation Star

The Federation Star for 40 years of service is a great achievement for any Defence member, but to receive it

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