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In Memory of: |
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Stuart “Sadie” Linton.
John Cridland advises the passing of Sadie on the 31st July 2021. Sadie was a regular at the Djinnang reunions for many years but never seemed to have got over the death of his wife, ex-WRAAF Kathy Williams.
Sorry, no further details.
Kevin “Woody” Hurman.
Arthur Rennick advises the passing of former WOD Kevin Hurman on the 26th July, aged 85. Kevin served with 2 Sqn in Phan Rang from Jan 1970 to Jan 1971 as the Sqn’s WOD. He was the President of the Kawana Waters RSL Sub-Branch (Qld) and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in September 2020 for service to Veterans and their families.
Kevin was laid to rest on the 2nd August 2021.
Ken Wootten.
We’ve recently learned than a bloke we got to know well while working on PNG in the 1970s, Ken Wootten, had passed away on the 18th July 2006. Ken was on 44 Pilot’s course back in 1961 and had quite a colourful career in the RAAF, first at Richmond flying Hercs then down at Sale flying the DC3. After his departure from the RAAF he joined the then DCA, was posted to PNG and was given the Department’s Piper Aztec to play with.
We had many a trip with Ken and the then Airport Inspector when they would survey the many small strips in the Madang FIA. Ken could handle the Aztec like it was an extension of his right arm which was just as well as terrain and weather conditions in PNG can make VFR flying quite interesting, especially in the afternoons.
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After PNG, Ken returned to Queensland and lived in the West End area of Brisbane but sadly fell on bad times. He was laid to rest at the Mr Cotton (Qld) cemetery on the 21st July 2006. He was only 67.
Reg Ward.
Paul Bamford advises the passing of Reg Ward on the 25th July 2021. Reg, who lived in Coffs harbour, was an Framie and ended his career as a WOE. He was only 75 but had endured many years suffering oesophageal, stomach and lung cancers. His main postings were Williamtown, Butterworth, Amberley and Support Command.
Tom Green.
Ken Hillebrand advises us that Tom Green has passed away. Sorry, no further details.
AVM Alan Reed (Ret’d).
We have been advised that Air Vice-Marshal Alan Raymond Reed AO, DFC (US) (RET'D), who graduated on 13 Pilot’s Course, passed away on Saturday 24th July 2021. He was 87 years old. AVM Reed was a former Air Officer Commanding Support Command and Air Officer Commanding Logistic Command. He retired from service in November 1990 following a career extending over 37 Years, including operational service in Vietnam, (May 1968 – 20 Nov 1968) where, as a SqnLdr, he completed over 100 operational missions flying the RF4C Phantom on exchange with the US Air Force.
During his distinguished career, Alan Reed was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air, the US Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service as Air Officer Commanding Support Command.
Alan was a long-term member of AFA-Vic and a great supporter of Vietnam Veterans - he will be remembered as such and surely missed.
A service funeral was held at the Point Cook Trinity Chapel at RAAF Williams for Alan at 1100 hours on Thursday 19th August 2021. Due to Victorian COVID-19 restrictions for funerals, attendance was limited to family, close friends and invited guests. The funeral service was live-streamed through the link: Air Vice-Marshal Reed's Funeral
Alan Reed was born in Albany Western Australia in December 1933. He grew up in East Fremantle and attended Fremantle Boys High School. He was interviewed for his first job as an Accountants' clerk by Sir Charles Court and he worked with accounting firm Hendry, Rae and Court until he was called up for national service training in the RAAF in June 1952. Having "become airborne" for the first time in a Dakota (DC3) he decided that a flying career was more exciting and suited him better than auditing and getting purple ink on his fingers and he applied for pilot training in the RAAF.
He was selected for No 13 Pilots Course which began training at Archerfield in Queensland on Tiger Moths in May 1953 and he was one of the thirteen (out of 26 who started) who was awarded his wings in July 1954. As a brand new Sergeant Pilot, Alan was posted to the maritime role flying long nose Lincoln aircraft with No 10 Squadron in Townsville. Whilst there he was commissioned, assessed as "above average" and made Captain of his own crew. In 1958, jets called and after a jet conversion on Vampires, he began a long and very satisfying period flying the beautiful "lady of the sky" the Canberra bomber, firstly in No 1 Squadron at Amberley. Highlights included becoming with his navigator, the first A category crew in the Wing and participating in several overseas deployments including flying one of three Canberras around the world to participate in the Nigerian Independence celebrations in October 1960.
He was then selected for an exchange tour on Canberras in the Royal Air Force but shortly before planned departure (and marriage to his Scottish sweetheart Aileen) the posting was cancelled and he returned to Amberley and later to Malaya still flying Canberras. A tour as a flight commander at the RAAF Academy followed and after completing Staff College in 1966, he was promoted to squadron leader and selected for the first pick up of the F111. During refresher training, he was advised that he had been selected for exchange with the US Air Force to fly the then top fighter aircraft in the world, the Phantom RF4C. He was very lucky as the F111 was delayed for several years. At that time, the Phantom held most aviation records including, altitude, speed and time to altitude. It was a major leap from a Canberra and on arriving at Shaw Air Force Base, beginning training on the Phantom and realizing that his job was to train US pilots and navigators to fight in Vietnam, he decided that he needed to get some combat experience himself to give him experience in reconnaissance and credibility in his job. He approached the senior USAF officer at Shaw as well as the Australian Embassy in Washington and put in process, gaining approval from both governments to do an assignment flying Phantoms in Vietnam.
After several months, approval was finally granted and he was assigned to the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Tan Son Nhut base (Saigon) to fly for six months temporary duty as the only Australian pilot in the entire wing of five squadrons. As the USAF could not order him as a foreign national to Vietnam, they issued "Invitational Orders" with the Secretary of the Air Force inviting him to proceed on operational duty to Vietnam. He thus claims to be one of the few people to be "invited to attend a war!"
The USAF was not going to let him go to a war zone unless he was well prepared and he completed the USAF Survival Course which included snow survival, the Sea Survival course and the Jungle Survival course in the Philippines before arriving for his tour of operational duty in Vietnam. What followed was excellent experience flying low level reconnaissance missions in all of South Vietnam and as the RAAF had advised USAF that the only constraint on him was not to fly into Cambodia, the USAF assigned him to "out country" missions including North Vietnam and Laos. After returning to Shaw with this excellent experience, he quickly became a training flight commander and had an enjoyable and rewarding time as an instructor.
For his service with the USAF in Vietnam, he was awarded the US Forces
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster. On return to Australia, he
paid his dues as Staff Officer for the F111 followed by command of No 6 Squadron
which by then was equipped with Phantoms to fill the gap left by the delayed
F111l. He was selected as a student on Joint Service Staff College and this was
followed by a tour as an instructor at the College. A
On completion of this marvellous tour, he was promoted to Air Commodore and posted as Commandant of the RAAF Academy at Point Cook. A most enjoyable tour as Air Attache in Washington came on completion of this assignment. After three years in Washington, his final posting on promotion to Air Vice Marshal was as Air Officer Commanding Support Command in Melbourne. Alan was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia in 1989.
He retired from the RAAF in November 1990 and established his own consultancy business. Alan considers he had a wonderful career flying the most advanced aircraft of their time. He believes the RAAF is a vastly different service to the one he joined nearly 60 years ago and he had the best of it. Having started his career on Tiger Moths he got a big kick out of flying his restored Tiger which he recently donated to the Temora Air Museum. His philosophy was that if you don't have a F111, a Tiger Moth is the next best thing.
Alan was married to Aileen Purvis. They had recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. There are two sons and five gorgeous granddaughters.
Alex Taylor.
Peter Gilvarry advises the passing of SqnLdr Alex Taylor on the 2nd September. Alex was an AEO who served a long time in the maritime world. He was on number 2 AEO Course in 1967, back in the days when their initial training was conducted at Radschool. Later after Gough reduced the number of crews flying the P-3, Alex instructed at Radschool.
In the early 80s he was detachment commander for the 92WG operations at RMAF Butterworth. He was also an avid ham radio operator.
He passed away in Kerang, Vic, after a long illness.
Col Ely.
Bob Bennett advises that Col Ely passed away on Saturday the 4th September. Col was on 3 Radio Appy and retired as a CpCapt. He was a young 87 year old. Col was buried on the 18th September 2021.
23Mar49 - Enlisted in the RAAF as a Radio Apprentice
01JAN60 - Commissioned as ENGRAD
03JUL84 - Retired as Group Captain
Brian Hammond.
Arthur Rennick advises the passing of Brian Hammond , aged 84 on the 25th August 2021. Brian flew Caribous with RTFV in Vung Tau from Aug 1964 to May 1965 then back again with 2 Sqn from Oct 1969 to Jun 1970.
Brian Patten.
Andrew Turner, the Treasurer of the Vietnam Vets Association in Bendigo, advises the passing of Brian Patten on the 4th September 2021. Brian had an aggressive cancer that only a matter of weeks since diagnosis, claimed him. He was single and lived alone. His funeral will be held in Bendigo. Sorry, no further details.
Noel Sullivan.
We’ve been advised that Noel “Sully” Sullivan sadly passed away on Thursday the 16th September after a very short illness with cancer. He was only 75 years old.
His funeral was held on Thursday the 23rd September in Townsville.
A mere 12 weeks ago, Sully was diagnosed with cancer and sadly he succumbed very quickly. And old Mirage bloke, he will be sorely missed.
Sorry – but we have no further details.
Malcolm “Buggs” Rose.
Buggs Rose passed away on the 12th September, 2021, he was 82 years old.
Buggs was a framie and became a loady on the Caribou early in his career. He was one of the first into Vietnam spending nearly 3 months in Vung Tau with RTFV in 1965/66, then went back again from Jul 1966 to April 1967.
Returning to Australia, he was posted to 36 Sqn which at that time operated the A model Herc and he had two further trips to Vietnam, one in Oct 1968 and again in Nov 1969.
Buggs had suffered with Alzheimers for some years and sadly it finally got the better of him. His funeral was held on Friday the 17th September and as is usual these days with Covid restrictions, his funeral was videoed and you can see it HERE.
Calvan Evans.
Jan Jenkin advises the passing of Calvan Edward Hinkler Evans on the 17th September, aged 83 years. Calvan was a Motor Transport Fitter, Ex 2 SQN Vietnam from April 1967 to April 1968 and back again to 1 OCU from September 1970 to September 1971. His funeral was held at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery on Thursday, 23rd September 2021.
Graham Dyke.
Arthur Rennick advises the passing of Graham Dyke DFC on Saturday 25th September. He was 2 months shy of his 86th birthday. Graham was the Ops Officer of 2 Sqn in Phan Rang from Oct 1968 to Sept 1968 and on returning to Australia was the CO of 2 Sqn at Amberley in the 1970s.
AVM Dave Rogers was a friend, he says: “AIRCDRE Graham Dyke a great man and a great friend. He was a very popular and admired friend of many older RAAF folks but sadly he had been ill for some time but kept his sense of humour to the end! A former ATC cadet with a flying scholarship in Brisbane, he enlisted to join the RAAF College but then saw the light and joined 19 Pilots Course.
He flew Lincolns in Tengah during the Malayan Emergency, then did 12 months with the RAAF Antarctic Flight where he lost his Dakota as it was blown, relatively intact, eight miles away in an overnight blizzard! After this adventure, he flew Canberras at Amberley before becoming a highly regarded flying instructor on Winjeels at Point Cook. During this tour he was a member of the short lived ‘Yellow Streaks’ Winjeel aerobatic team.
He returned to Canberras at 82WG Amberley and then completed another operational tour as a FLTCDR in Vietnam with 2SQN for which he was awarded the DFC. He was later CO2SQN, staff officer in AFO, Defence Attaché in NZ then OC RAAF East Sale. His final job before retirement was DG Personnel.
GD, as he was widely known, became a farmer in Sutton on the highway north of Canberra for 20 years then moved back to Gunghalin with his lovely wife Pam, whom he has now joined again today. Everyone from AC to AIRMSHL in his day knew GD and respected him, enjoyed his company and jovial personality, especially with his big grin. He was just a nice bloke!”
Roger “Hap” Pryor.
We’ve been advised that Hap Pryor, who just spent 3 days in Caloundra’s Palliative Care Hospital had sadly passed away last Wednesday 13th October.
Hap was a very active member of the 3Sqn Association and always attended their get togethers.
He will be remembered at a ceremony at the Caloundra RSL’s Memorial Gardens on Friday the 22nd October at 12.30pm.
Alfred John Green
Mike Matters advises the passing of Al Green on Thursday 7th October. He was 89 years old. Al was a navigator and served in Vietnam with 2 Sqn from Oct 1967 – Apr 1968.
His funeral will be held at the Garden Chapel at the Albany Creek Memorial Park, Bridgeman Downs, Qld, on Wednesday 20th October.
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Cedric George Holland.
John McDougall advises the passing of Cedric Holland on the 18th October 2021. Cedric was a Sqn. Ldr. Radio Officer at Amberley late 70's early 80's at 482 Sqn. After leaving the RAAF he became a tax agent at Sherwood doing tax returns. He was one of the co-founders of Holland & Holland, He was 81 years of age. He was very well regarded and respected by his family, friends, work colleagues, clients and the Sherwood Community. He will be sadly missed.
Cedric's funeral was planned for the 1st November (10.00am) at St Joseph's Catholic Church, 18 Clewley St, Corinda (Brisbane) |
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tour in charge of flying training in the RAAF followed promotion to group
captain and then selection as the senior officer flying the F-111 at Amberley
was the real and very satisfying end of his operational flying of high
performance aircraft. 
