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.
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| 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.
Celebration Plannned
The committee of the Australian Army Aviation Association is examining options to celebrate this important milestone and the suggestion has been put that we sponsor a gathering on the Gold Coast over the weekend 10/11 Dec 10. We have picked the Gold Coast as most of our members reside in SE Queensland and it is well serviced by the airlines and trains. We are considering the Twin Towns Services Club at Tweed Heads as the venue and would kick things off on Friday 10 Dec with an informal get together at the hotel. There are plenty of things to do on the Gold Coast, so we don’t want to be too prescriptive on the Saturday, but we would offer the opportunity of a bus trip up to Oakey to visit the Museum and drive around the base. On Saturday evening we would have a coat and tie dinner at the hotel to mark the birth of modern Army Aviation. Perhaps on the Sunday morning we would have a small commemorative service at a suitable location to honour those Army aviators who have lost their lives in the service of the nation.
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161 Officers Nui Dat flight Line, circa September 1967
From the 161 Recce Flight Collection
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We need your help
To organise an event such as this we need to know that we are on the right track. If we are going to commit to a venue we have to be sure that we can attract sufficient numbers and we want to develop a program that will meet the desires of those who will be attending. To that end we have set up an email link (see the suggestion box below) and we would love to hear what you think about the proposal.
Specifically we would like to know if you would be inclined to come to the event and your thoughts on the program outlined. An indication that you would attend would not be taken as an obligation, we will go through a formal registration process after we have sorted out prospective numbers and likely costs.
Contact Us
So send us your thoughts and ideas.
Bill Mellor
President Australian Army Aviation Association
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