R.A.A.F. Heritage

[@adamstokes]

That was awesome. What an honour to have served.

[@johndolby9439]

I worked as an electrician fitter on the Canberra, F4E as an environmental tech and the F111C as an Environmental Tech and Electrical Fitter, before being selected for pilot training in 1974. I was lucky enough to get a flight in the Canberra and F4E.

[@SpawnofChaos2010]

Wow mate, that's simply awesome. I always appreciate when a 'back-seater' graduates to the front seat but going from ground crew to pilot training is another level above. Guessing you didn't get your wings (coz you probably would have mentioned types you flew if you did) but even so, sounds like you would have some fascinating experiences to share. Insights into RAAF F-4's alone would entertain me for hours!

[@franklee3800]

The music sure isn't "Danger Zone" Lol. Love ya Australia!🇦🇺

[@kevinstow3694]

I remember the 50th anniversary celebrations quite well. I also enjoyed the film and saw people whom I served with and whom I haven't seen for more years than I care to remember. One part of the celebrations was the issuing of a book covering the history up to then. It was called "The Golden Years." I've just checked and I still have my copy on my book shelf. I was also serving during the 75th anniversary celebrations which I remember well. Watched the best solo display of the Sabre jet that I've ever seen flown by Flying Officer Jack Lynch. And here we are about to celebrate the centenary of the RAAF. I'm pleased I'm here to have seen these milestones and to have been part of great organization. Wonderful memories and great times.

[@timorvet1]

Would that be, the Jack Lynch former Mirage pilot with 77 Sqn who landed one when the nose wheel collapsed on landing / didn't extend, cant remember which, and flight tested the PC-9 trainer? I became friends with him in the early 80s when he was a Wing Commander at Command & Staff College Queenscliff in Victoria.

[@MrCalman65]

I'm old enough to remember seeing F4's at an airshow when I was a kid in the early 70's

[@baird55aus]

I can remember buying spares for them!

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

1971 50 year celebration nation wide. Those F4Es were wicked aircraft. Oft thought we could have bought them; F111s were the choice. Got our money’s worth, that thing was the duck’s gut.

[@philliphawkes4039]

My father served there during the conflict in the 50s - at the airstrip on a bofors aa gun with a multi national gun crew. He was Australian artillery.

[@MrAndrew1953]

A very good visual record of the planes the RAAF has flown since its inception.

[@wavecentral]

Some fantastic reference material here

[@rokuth]

At age 8 or 9, I was a Primary school student in Klang, Malaysia. I remember vividly, to this day, a RAAF Mirage buzzed our school at low altitude. It may have been participating in an exercise out of RAAF Butterworth.

[@markbowman2890]

At 7:17 there is a sequence where a JU-88 fighter is attacking a Sunderland. I know of one Australian crew, that fought off 7 of these fighters in one engagement, shooting down 3-4 of the enemy. This was after one fighter took out one the engines and the front gunner in its first pass. It was not the first time a Sunderland crew had survived against the odds, which is why they got the name of 'Flying Porcupine'.

[@NathanChisholm041]

Very cool to see! I always liked the Mirage jet but the F111 is still king!

[@MrLunithy]

As a kid I saw a Mirage at night fly down gulnare road in Darwin .. all I could see was a huge tail flame lol and bang the sound caught up.

[@stevedavis381]

Two great aircraft that served well in the RAAF but can't compare as two totally different roles

[@luckyduck146]

My dad was a gunny with mirages in Butterworth and Williamstown in the 1970/1980s

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

Our family up there 73 - 76. Armourer

[@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc]

And what a posting! Three year holiday, with school.

[@12345fowler]

Nice recovery at 1:20 - notice the front aircraft leans on the right side of the runway just about when he anticipate the following aircraft must have landed - This is to prevent a collision in case the following aircraft has a chute malfunction as he wouldn't be able to stay behind the first aircraft. I guess all aircraft in that sequence except the last one will have to do this.

[@peterkirgan6850]

Mirages were the best ever

[@alphasixfive1658]

Mirage - They were Loud!!!

[@petercarroll5874]

Who are the two senior officers at 26.50 in the video, (an Air Vice Marshall and a Group Captain), behind the Governor General, Sir Paul Hasluck, giving a very poor example of a NAVAL, salute? There is a very good chance I was serving at Point Cook, as an Aircraft Engine Fitter with 1FTS, when this was filmed. However, I do not recognise either of those two officers.

[@sharpshooter_Aus]

Fun fact, those helicopters you see in Vietnam that are armed were made in country by our soldiers, the RAAF refused to supply gunship helicopters stating they weren’t needed but the troops wanted them so they traded slouch hats and beer for some armament from the Americans and build a few gunships, one is in perfect condition in the Australian war memorial.

[@stevedavis381]

The armament on the Iroquois Huey serving in 9sqn Vung Tau Vietnam were designed and built mostly by RAAF serviceman..the RAAF and Australian Army asked the Americans to help supply weaponry but were told we would have to go it alone hence the working together to create the Bushranger

[@richardstewart6160]

I do wonder where the RAAF would be if the F104 was chosen over the Mirage 3 - would we have (later on) been given the F-16 before the F-18? or F-15?

[@markw95]

They don't teach the significant impact Australia had in WWII in Australian schools!

[@richardsawyer5428]

I thought that 10 Sqn was based in Wales, not England with their Sunderlands?

[@adamstokes]

Different 10 SQN

[@EAFSQ9]

19:55 - Coburg Josias march (in English tempo, pace)

[@stevedavis381]

In1967 the Australian Army asked the RAAF to develop Huey helicopters as gunships in Vietnam..the RAAF agreed and asked the U.S. for assistance and told they ( the RAAF) will have to go it alone. The RAAF and Australian Army boys got together and traded tools slouch hats beer and what ever they could get there hands on to get the equipment needed. The RAAF blokes then designed and built the gunships..re Bushrangers..not the Army

[@fox-3407]

Good thing the maintainers were wearing their safety shorts, otherwise who knows what might've happened... a more relaxed time for sure.

[@FreshYoungLeaves]

mirage jet figther with france flag. Airforce military cooperation between RAAF and France air force in Caledonia.

[@evanf111og]

thats not a French flag thats the raaf colours

[@tinto278]

LOL French flag! Nothing to do with the french. RAAF will never buy another French aircraft ever again after the Mirage sale.

[@iangodfrey4518]

First time I have ever heard Dickie Williams voice.

[@pseudomys1]

I need George Dreyfus' number!!

[@banarcus]

I couldn't think of anyone better lol

[@anniepooo_o]

I'm wondering how they recorded on the battlefield

[@gperrin9050]

It largely depends on what conflict we are talking about but combat footage is usually from Journalists embedded with troops, a lot of (but not all) combat footage from the first and second world war was 'mock' battles with real soldiers and these films were often shown in cinemas to boost the war effort (recruitment) to sell war bonds and boost civilian morale. A lot of the air footage would have either been made to serve reconnaissance or kept and studied to evaluate aircrew performance and combat scenarios :D

[@venderstrat]

Video producers: Wrecking great vision with annoying music for 50 years!

[@NFSAFilms]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Ecstaticgoat]

Some of th6ose mirages are still flying for Pakistan airforce.

[@Turf-yj9ei]

12:30 While the Spitfire performed spectacularly against Italian and German fighters Royal Navy Aviators found it wanting when up against the Zero. It wasn't until they got the Corsair that they were able to turn the tide against the Japanese.