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“PHOTO ESSAY”
3SQN's 108th Birthday...
- PERTH 3SQN OPEN DAY

A report by our member Peter TAYLOR, author and publisher of the books: “Introducing the French Lady – A Compendium of RAAF Mirages”; and “The RAAF Mirage Family”.

SIX “LIGHTNING STRIKES” HIT RAAF BASE PEARCE!


Our author Pete’s family group:  Retired FSGT ‘Sumpie’ Pete (left) with grandkids 10-year-old Max and his brother 14-year-old Zac;
and Pete’s son Aaron (a nine-year veteran with Army and a UN role).

Friday 13 Sep 2024 saw the arrival of six F35 Lightnings from 3 Squadron for a five-day visit to the Pearce base.

Commanding Officer WGCDR Adrian KIELY invited members of 3SQN Association who reside in WA to attend a meet-and-greet at the East Fremantle Yacht Club



– “Why that particular Yacht Club?” you might ask.  Well, a past Commodore of the Club was none other than Felix SAINSBURY, a 3 Squadron WW2 veteran who wrote a book about the “Ground Crew” in the Middle East and led the 3SQN Association in W.A.

With Felix’s passing a couple of years ago, his son John picked up the cudgel and when 3SQN announced they were coming to the West, contacted me to help round-up as many ex-3SQN members who reside in WA as I could find.  Being a member of the 3SQN QLD Branch, along with Bob COTTRELL, we put our heads together and came up with quite a few names to add to the list.  

- The 3SQN WA Assn is up and running again!


My two grandsons (10 and 14) were quite excited about attending.   They VERY happily donned “BIGGLES” goggles in front of the 3SQN aircraft.   The eldest boy Zac has ambitions to join the RAAF (following in Grand dad’s footsteps no less) as a hands-on ground crew.

The Squadron personnel could not have been more helpful in giving their time and knowledge to bunch of “Old Farts” (a big proportion from the Mirage era) about their pride and joy.

Safety Equipo (“SEW” - Yeh I know they call them something else these days...) Sarah SMITH was most informative and helpful. 
Here she adjusts the F-35 helmet for a nervous Max. 
[“Don’t drop it!  It’s worth half a million bucks!”  – But actually that demo-helmet is long-retired…]
As a family, we cannot thank the CO and his 3SQN members enough for the opportunity to meet them and to be present on the flight line to watch a couple of aircraft depart and return.  An unforgettable experience, so far removed from our beloved Mirage era.     
                                           
- One proud Grand dad, Pete.

CO3 ‘Kenny’ with Zac.


The happy throng at Pearce.


‘V.I.P.’ guest John McDONALD, who at almost 100 is the oldest living Spitfire pilot in Australia. 
John enlisted on 26 Feb 1943, training at Banela and Deniliquin before flying operationally with 451 SQN from Kent. 
When Kenny suggested that John might want to take a seat to watch the aircraft, John looked at Kenny like he’d forgotten he was talking to a Fighter Pilot, and duly pranced 150 metres down the flightline to get a photo in front of A35-003!  


Ray ‘Homer’ SIMPSON (centre), former 3SQN Hornet XO, labelled this pic: “Past (and future?) 3SQN Pilots:  Spence GG (left), Harry S-W (right).
[Any resemblance to ‘Maverick’ and ‘Goose’ is strictly coincidental.]


HOMER with WHEELZ.

19/20 September - NSW ASSOCIATION BIRTHDAY DINNER & VISIT TO 3SQN HEADQUARTERS, Williamtown.


“Under the Carport,” on ASSOCIATION DAY, 20 Sep.  Kenny’s interactive 3SQN update to all attendees was also very informative and enjoyable.
We were very grateful to the serving Squadron for all of their efforts in organising the get-together evening at the Bennett Hotel in Hamilton, on 3SQN’s official 108th birthday (19 Sep) and a fantastic ASSOCIATION DAY and BBQ on the following morning, at the Williamtown 3SQN HQ building.

Association Day attendees included: Vicky CRIGHTON; James OGLETHORPE; Gary & Wendy WHITBY; Anthony & Christine FARR; Simon MORRISON; Brent & Lorraine CROWHURST; Paul, Adam, Lachlan & Gregory MARTIN; Kieron BALL; Des and Sue WRIGHT; Annette & Anthony GUTERRES; Terry STAMP; Gregory CLOUGH; Mark ST LEON; Bill CHAMBERS; Terry & Margaret SHEAHAN; Don & Janet BAILEY; Bob & Marilyn TRELOAR; John RILEY; Terry VAN HAREN.


Our member Kieron BALL, from the Hunter Warbirds Aviation Museum,
enjoying ASSOCIATION DAY beside the Williamtown 3SQN "31-Year" Hornet Tail.

This evocative oil-painting shows a 3SQN Kittyhawk Mk.I that has shot down an enemy single-seater over the desert. 
- Generously DONATED by Kieron BALL to 3 Squadron's HQ Collection, on ASSOCIATION DAY.

3 Squadron EVENTS

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