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CAF welcomes VIPs, and SLT

Men and women of the Air Force, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the RAAF

Memorial Grove to mark the 91st anniversary of the formation of Australia’s Air Force.

Gathering together on occasions such as this are an important part in sustaining any

organisation’s culture and identity. There is real value in being here today, and in the

services that are occurring across Australia and in Air Force detachments around the

world. Celebrating the Air Force’s anniversary provides us with an opportunity to pause

during our busy lives in order to reflect on the achievements of our Air Force, not just

over the past year, but over all the years of our service to Australia. It also gives us time

to remember the men and women who have served before us—those whose

contributions have forged the values and traditions that have shaped the Air Force of

today.

I have always enjoyed coming out to the RAAF Memorial Grove. This small piece of

bushland provides an ideal setting for contemplation and for remembrance. For me the

main strength of this memorial is the holistic way in which it commemorates the

achievements of the Air Force. The Cairn behind me here is dedicated to all of the men

and women of the Royal Australian Air Force and their achievements—while around the

Grove are memorial plaques dedicated to specific formations and units as well as to

individuals. Viewed collectively, the Memorial Grove reflects both the complexity of our

organisation as well as the very heart of the Air Force—on one hand we see recorded

the many units and capabilities needed to sustain the force, while on the other we see

commemorated the people essential to Air Force’s success. The Grove’s embrace of

RAAF 91st Anniversary 2012 Memorial Grove Address

- Chief of Air Force: Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO -

Friday 30 March 2012

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both the commemoration of the organisation and of its people is at once both interesting

and evocative.

When we consider the many units and formations that have served the Air Force over

the years since 1921, we get a sense of transformation and progress. The Air Force has

throughout its history evolved and changed in response to the demands of war,

humanitarian need and national security, and it continues to do so. Yet at the same time,

the organisation responds to the impact of technological change and the adoption of

new capabilities that enable Air Force to deliver air power with new and improved

efficiencies.

The stories reflected in this Memorial Grove trace many of these changes. As a living

memorial, future generations will see commemorated here the elements of today’s Air

Force that have served well and have now become part of the history of the force we will

be in years to come.

Part of today’s commemoration celebrates the achievements of the Air Force in the past,

and reminds us of our duty to maintain the proud traditions established and enhanced

since 1921.

While the Air Force as an organisation may change, the constant element that stays the

same, the basis of our every success, and the unfailing bedrock that the Government

and Australians have come to rely on, is the people who have served in the Air Force.

The cairn here at the Grove is dedicated to the memory and the achievements of men

and women who have served in the RAAF since 1921. Their achievements and, at

times, their sacrifices have established the valued reputation of the Air Force. We have

served Australia’s interests around the Globe and succeeded. We have garnered the

respect of our allies in times of war and the thanks of multitudes in times of peril. In all of

the 91 years of our existence it has always been our people, both civilian and uniformed,

who have been at the heart of our endeavours and the cause of our achievements.

Sadly, it has also been our people and their families who have paid the highest cost in

time of conflict and in times of peace.

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The World War II experience of the nearly 39 000 RAAF personnel who served in Royal

Air Force squadrons during the war illustrates just how much Air Force people have

made a difference. Flying with the RAF as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme our

people flew in all theatres of the war and served with particular heroism and dedication.

For 23 Australian airmen flying with the Bomber Command’s 149 Squadron this service

cost them their lives in the skies over Europe as they flew dangerous night time raids.

One of these airmen, Rawdon Middleton, was flying a mission to bomb Turin in Italy

during November 1942 when his aircraft developed problems that would have justified

returning to base—yet he pressed on to his target. Hit by flak and severely injured,

Middleton and his crew still managed to release their bombs over Turin. Bleeding from

multiple wounds and his right eye destroyed, Middleton piloted his crippled bomber back

to the United Kingdom to get his crew safely home. Hit again by flak over the French

coast, Middleton managed to keep his aircraft airborne until approaching the English

coast. Losing height and running out of fuel, he ordered the crew to bail out. Five

members managed to get out before the aircraft was forced to crash into the sea with

three crew, including Middleton, still on board. For his determination to press on to the

target and his refusal to allow his crew to fall into enemy hands, Middleton was awarded

the Victoria Cross.

Middleton is not alone—in all nearly 10 000 Air Force members died while serving

during World War II. Not all were awarded medals, and for many there is no known

grave. Yet everyone of them has a story to tell—as do all our casualties suffered in 91

years of military aviation, in peacetime and in war. All are an important part of our

shared heritage. Today we remember our fallen and the price paid by their families.

Just as today is set aside to pay our respects to the men and women who died in the

service of Australia, today is also about renewal. A time we celebrate how far the Air

Force has come in 91 years and acknowledge our responsibility to continue reshaping

Air Force into the future. It is a day when we can reaffirm our commitment to maintaining

the highest standards set by the men and women who have served before us.

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In closing, let me thank you again for being here. Days like today are important – our

cultural identity has taken years to grow into what it is today. A vision of who we are and

what we stand for is the basis of our military ethos. We have a responsibility to foster

that ethos and pass it on to the next generation of Air Force members. This is the

expectation of our forebears and of all Australians.

Thank You