RAF Archives - CONTACT magazine

Flight Lieutenant Tom Breadon, of RAAF’s 36 Squadron, briefs mission details before a joint air-drop mission over Alaska. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nicole Thomson-Pride. Photos by Senior Airman Mark Sulaica (US Air Force).

Sky-high teamwork in Alaska

15/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 717 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC), No. 36 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force, US Army

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III took part in a joint air-drop mission over Alaska, which involved about

Firefighters from the Royal Air Force, RAAF and Royal New Zealand Air Force at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Annabel Francis-Jones. Photo by Aircraftwoman Campbell Latch.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Triple the fire power on Ex Pitch Black

02/08/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 899 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, fire, RAAF Amberley, RAF, RNZAF

Fire fighters from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Air Force seized the opportunity

Staff Sergeant Ian McLain from the United States Air Force monitors the E-7A Wedgetail from 2 Squadron before its next mission during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Matthew Edwards. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

AU UK US perspective on commanding the battlespace

31/07/202403/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 892 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Pitch Black, No. 2 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Scanning the skies as part of Exercise Pitch Black is nothing new to 2 Squadron but, for this year’s activity,

From left, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clifton; Saskia Hobbs and Reverend Mark Perry take part in the lighting of the candle ceremony. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander John Thompson.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Lighting a candle for fallen aviators on London trip

19/07/202430/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1311 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, RAF, United Kingdom

Australia’s new Chief of Air Force has embarked on his first overseas trip, arriving in London for a series of

Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton (L) and Royal Australian Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman shake hands at the 80 Squadron re-formation ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rachael Blake. Photos by USAF Samuel King Jr.

News Royal Australian Air Force UK USA

Two air forces re-form an 80 Squadron together

03/05/202404/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1702 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, F-35A Lightning II, No. 80 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

In a significant move for allied air capability, the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force have re-formed their

The E-7 Trilateral Working Group at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photo by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

News Royal Australian Air Force

E-7 Trilateral Working Group convenes at Williamtown

23/02/202424/02/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1243 Views 0 Comments Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), E-7A Wedgetail, RAAF Williamtown, RAF, US Air Force

For the first time, air force experts have gathered in Australia to share solutions on airborne early warning and control

A RAAF F-35A Lightning II pilot gives the thumbs up during Exercise Red Flag Nellis in Nevada, US. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

F-35s fly back from Nevada

02/02/202403/02/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1782 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag, F-35A Lightning II, No. 114MRCU, No. 3 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 has concluded after three weeks of high-intensity air combat training at Nevada and airspace in

Members of the Australian Army's 2nd Commando Regiment conduct a free-fall parachute jump from a RAAF C-17A Globemaster III to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Nadzab Landings in September 1943. Story by Flying Officer Aarron Dann. Photo by Senior Airman Mackenzie Cooper.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Free-falling into PNG

08/12/202311/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2204 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, C-17A Globemaster III, Exercise Global Dexterity, Nadzab Landings, No. 36 Squadron, PNGDF, RAF, US Air Force, WWII

Australian Army commandos from 2 Cdo Regt parachuted into Papua New Guinea to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the World

View from a United States Air Force C-17A Globemaster III cockpit of a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A about to conduct an assault landing at RAAF Base Townsville during Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2. Photo by Senior Airman Mackenzie Cooper.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

International heavy lifters exercise down under

05/12/202311/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3210 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Exercise Global Dexterity, No. 36 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAF, US Air Force

Exercise Global Dexterity has brought together C-17A Globemaster aircraft from the US, UK and Australia for a series of air

91-year-old Mr Derek Olley volunteers in the Restoration Support Section of Air Force’s History and Heritage Branch. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

ADF People History

Fond memories of an RAF career

27/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1531 Views 0 Comments Heritage, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, RAF

When Mr Derek Olley started his apprenticeship with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1947, George VI was the King

RAAF Leading Aircraftman Thomas Clarke-Kelly, right, and UK Royal Air Force Air Specialist Class One Declan McTrusty, centre, work together to refuel a Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG Eagle aircraft. Story by Flying Officer Connor Bellhouse. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

News Royal Australian Air Force UK

Fuel on demand and on time

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1069 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, RAAF Darwin, RAF

Nearly a hundred aircraft have been flying in and out of RAAF Base Darwin for Exercise Pitch Black and the one

An air battle manager from No. 2 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown conducts surveillance operations on Exercise Coalition Virtual Flag 22-1. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nat Giles. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Catherine Kelly.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Multi-national air-force exercise held in synthetic battlespace

09/11/202113/11/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1616 Views 0 Comments canada, RAF, USAF

Royal Australian Air Force personnel and their allies from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom were challenged on

The final RAF crew to hold operational search and rescue standby commitment in the UK: (left to right) Sergeant Doug Bowden, Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom, Flight Lieutenant Christian 'Taff' Wilkins and Flight Sergeant Chris Scurr. Image by Corporal Peter Devine,RAF.

New Zealand News Overseas

Last RAF Search and Rescue mission

05/10/201516/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5979 Views 0 Comments RAF, Sea King, search and rescue

More than 74 years of continuous life-saving search-and-rescue operations by the Royal Air Force in the UK came to an

Veteran aircraft of past and present RAF combat missions paid tribute to the heroes of Bomber Command. Two Tornado GR and the Avro Vulcan 'The Spirit of Great Britain' fly over Lincolnshire in order to send off the Vulcan bomber before her retirement. Britain’s only flying Vulcan, which this year completes its final flying season, was the first B2 bomber delivered into RAF service on 1 July 1960 and at 55 years old is the last and oldest of its type anywhere in the world. Despite 24 years service in the RAF the Vulcan was only once used in anger – against Port Stanley in the Falklands in the famous ‘Operation Black Buck’ mission to deny the Argentines use of the airfield.

Europe News Overseas Veterans

Modern bomber vets on WWII mission

03/10/201516/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5411 Views 0 Comments GR4, RAF, Tornado, Vulcan

Modern bomber vets of past and present RAF combat missions paid tribute to the heroes of Bomber Command in a

Europe News Overseas Science & Technology

Britain takes delivery of third A400M

06/07/201516/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4339 Views 0 Comments A400M, Atlas, RAF

The UK Ministry of Defence announced it has taken delivery of its third A400M Atlas. The next-generation transport aircraft took

The repatriation British civilians killed in the Sousse attack in Tunisia.

Europe News Overseas

Eight Britons killed in terrorist attack repatriated

02/07/201516/02/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3440 Views 0 Comments RAF, Tunisia

Eight Britons killed in the terrorist attack on a tourist resort in Tunisia last week have been repatriated by the