Currently in Darwin staying at the Skycity , Flew in Thursday and is it bloody hot and humid. I served here in the early 60's then through Cyclone Tracy 74 and again in the 80"s and we lived on base both times . I remember the base well but was a little taken back when I went to my old MQ in Coolabah Street up near the RAAF Golf Club my home for 5 years in the 80's is about to be pushed over and the area redeveloped by the Civies as low cost housing ( Housing Commission), All the homes are gone but for a few waiting the wreckers. Very Sad to see so much RAAF heritage go as many of the houses up on the base proper were built back before WW2 and outstood many cyclones and family disputes and growing kids
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Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
It is sad, Williamtown where I spent most of my time has also changed. All the married quarters are gone and most of the singlies live off base now. It is the civvies and wowsers who think they know best who have ruined the Esprit De Corps that once existed with in the service, and to mind especially the RAAF that has now become an elitist club.
At least the old main gate (the one I staggered through many times) at Darwin is still there. I first went to Darwin on exercise in 1968. Way back then the base was way out of town, now it seems like it is almost in the middle of the place
I spent a few years at Sale, Pearce and Edinburgh. The same old story there as well, although Pearce will never change I suspect. Our old MQ at Sale on Mathieson Street is an old timber house I believe still stands (google Earth) Edinburgh has been taken over by the locals and ruined. I agree about the esprit de corps Neil, every morning at Pearce I would jog with a group of Pilots, first names on the road, sir on the base.
Keep the faith lads, nothing will ever take away that spirit, its embedded in our genes
Cheers
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Yes I went to Darwin in 85 with the RAAF for 2 year posting,,, served 8 years full time there and 7 in the active reserve, BUT I resigned ther and stayed for 22 odd years till we left in 2007.
Lived in Adina Cres and I think those houses were staying but not sure as this was a circuit from kindy to the main drag area and had some of the first house built.
Yes it has changed but the houses were run down a bit and Defence Housing was determined to integrate all into the community with exorbitant cost to defence.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Hey Wombat if you drop in at the aviation museum and ask for Owen. He's ex RAAF and a Darwin local who runs that museum. We served together during the 70's in Richmond NSW.
They have one of our F111's up there, probably the only one to survive the bulldozer.
Aaah, kindred spirits.
G'day lads, I served as an engine fitter (sumpy) from 1958 to 1969, 12 years, as a newly wed I was posted to Darwin from 1AD Laverton in May '64, we had to bring our marriage forward so we could both go up there. Not easy to obtain accommodation, but eventually the dear ole Padre helped us out and the beloved was able to fly up and join me two weeks after my arrival.
That was the time ole Doc Sok in Indonesia was doing a tad of sabre rattling, our RAAF mates had Sabres and Canberra's on stand by, the Poms came down with their Victors and Vulcans from Changi, my role, with my fellow sumpies was to keep the Daks flying, which we did and had many great trips across Arnhem Land and WA, as well as collecting marriedies from Tindal every weekend and taking them back.
Our skipper, Eric Miller, liked to have a sumpy on board as an aircrew fitter for these trips, and a couple of us who loved flying got most of the trips.
We have revisited Darwin many times, it sure has changed since the cyclone, and on one visit to the museum I discovered half of A65-104 lying out the back, that number rang a bell, one of my "babies" from the years I spent at Pearce after Darwin. Apparently she got destroyed in the Cyclone Tracy.
I have pics of Canberra 213 which crashed on take off one day, in a group of four she was the last one and got a belly full of hot air, creating engine surge, missed the arrestor barrier and plowed across the donga leaving a burnt trail of bombs and wheels and whatever.
The young guys were out over the wing and running before she stopped sliding, or so the legend goes. No one hurt, thankfully.
As Pearce made the transition from Vampires to Macchi's there was never a dull moment as the Vamps fell out of the sky with regular monotony, sadly a few fatalities whilst I was there, most baled out safely.
A great life, hey guys!
Bevan
(A42936)
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Bevan
Friendship is not a relationship with someone whom you've known for a long time, but with someone you trust, under any circumstances.
Went out to the Museum a few days back been there many times, the display has grown and yes the F111 is there in all her glory. Must be absolute Murder working in that hanger in the heat I almost went to melted down on the pavement . Yeah the homes a not to the liking of todays troops no ensuites , aircons , or pools in the yard .
I must agree todays services has been reduced to a bloody gold plated aero clubs or yatch clubs and the army ihas less troops than the boy scout movement . Today the services are treated like a 9 to 5 job no real commitment to the 24/7 mantra anymore , My first posting to Darwin was 1965 to 68 then Oct 1974 got blown out at xmas 1974 then the posting was converted to "B" grade once the wife and kids were evac out. Stayed another 4 months as part of the rebuild team then posted back to the family at Glenbrook.. Posted back in 82 left in 85 and discharged in 1995 , just before they made homosexuality complusory rather than discharge the guilty ones. Would do it all again god willing
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Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
I served with 5 Airfield Construction Squadron in Darwin from December 1957 to September 1980. Was a very demanding time but enjoyable. At that time Darwin was still considered a 'frontier' town and was a bit rough and the RAAF base was almost in the bush, the trains still ran to Adelaide River and I was attached to the Darwin River Quarry for a couple of weeks and would have a weekend in town and catch the train back on Sunday night. The rail line ran right through the middle of the RAAF detachment there and the train stopped to let us off.
I had a second tour from 1976 to 1981. On that occasion I worked in the base housing section and was responsible for inspecting houses when the tenants vacated them. So in all probability I once inspected your old married quarter.
When I first arrived the tenants used to leave their houses in a mess, claiming that it was like that when they moved in. It took about four years for the turnover of personnel before we were able to bring the standard up. I used to reduce wives to tears - the stove was pulled away from the wall to check behind, I would run my hand over the top of the oven, check the fridge drip tray, and even stand on a chair to run my hand over the tops of the fan blades! If the house wasn't clean then the incoming tenant would complain then I would be in trouble - I much preferred for the outgoing tenant to be in trouble!
By the way, remember the c*ckroachs? I used to think they were mice when I caught a glimpse of them out the corner of my eye. Of interest, when a tenant vacated a house we would tell them "do not spray the shelves with deldrin." They would think that they were doing a favour but when the house was empty for a week or so then the c*ckroachs would come in and die, without the spray if there was nothing to eat they would go away. The incoming tenants would freak out when they opened a cupboard and saw a dozen or so very large dead c*ckroaches!
Incidentally, for the first couple of years I was there the RAAF Base had the most cyclone damaged houses in the town. Tourists used to stop on Bagot Road and take pictures of the wrecked houses. They were left like that because it cost too much to knock them down.
Murray (A53163)
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Thursday 17th of March 2016 10:54:43 PM
