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The Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) hosted a black-tie reception at the FAA Museum in Nowra, NAW, to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Guests included former Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett; local Indigenous Elder Uncle Sonny Simms and Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley.
Commander Fleet Air Arm Commodore David Frost said the FAA has contributed to Australian Defence Force operations in war and peacetime, including the conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East.
“More recently, it has contributed to humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Fiji and Tonga, and also bushfire and flood relief in eastern Australia,” Commodore Frost said.
“While we reflect on the distinguished service of our naval aviators, I’d also like to express our gratitude for the enduring support we’ve received from the public, in particular the Shoalhaven Community, in which we live and work.”
Commander (retd) Ian Maxwell ‘Max’ Speedy, who joined the Navy as a midshipman in 1962, said his most challenging flying was in the famed Bell UH-1H Iroquois ‘Huey’ in Vietnam.
“I think the remarkable thing is the way we transitioned from essentially sitting out over the ocean in the hover with an anti-submarine mission in mind, to going into a red-hot and steamy landing zone, having people killed and proceeding to doing your best to stay alive.”
The retired Commander said the FAA remained a critical arm of the ADF.
“Having reached 75 years is a matter of history, and the next 75 years will be just as important.”
Korean War veteran Commodore (retd) Norman Lee, who joined the Navy as a recruit rating pilot in 1948, joked, “Only claim to fame, 254 Firefly accident-free axial deck landings.”
The FAA consists of 723, 725, 808, 816 and 822X Squadrons, and flies Seahawks and Taipans.
