• RAAF Airman Aircrew ~ Simply The Best ....
  • Boeing Globemaster C17-A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Alenia Spartan C-27J ~ 35 Squadron ....
  • Airbus A330 ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 707-338C ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing E-7A Hawkeye ~ 2 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130J ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130H ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130E ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Pacific Aerospace CT4 ~ 1 Flying Training School ....
  • Bombardia Challenger CL604 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Beechcraft King Air 350 ~ 32 Squadron ....
  • BAC1-11 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 737 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Bell Iroquois UH-1H ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • De Havilland Caribou DHC-4 ~ 38 Squadron ....
  • Boeing Chinook CH-47 ~ 12 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Orion P3 ~ 11 Squadron ....
  • Sikorski Blackhawk UH-60 ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • Douglas DC3 ~ Aircraft Research and Development Unit ....
  • Pilatus PC9 ~ 2 Flying Training School ....
  • Aermacchi MB-326H ~ Roulettes ....

Vale, John William RIDOUT ′Bung′ A216447, Loadmaster ....









Vietnam Service Record.
Statement of Service.
Funeral Order of Service.

Honours and Awards

  • Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with Clasp ′Vietnam′.
  • Vietnam Medal.
  • Australian Service Medal with Clasp ′PNG′ and ′SE Asia′.
  • Defence Force Service Medal with First and Second Clasps.
  • National Medal with First Clasp.
  • Australian Defence Medal.
  • Royal Australian Air Force Australian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with First Clasp.
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
  • Return for Active Service Badge.

John William ′Bung′ Ridout joined the Royal Australian Air Force under the Junior Equipment and Administrative Training (JEAT) Scheme on 25 January 1954 and discharged at Richmond on 29 January 1981.   John had a multitude of postings and attachments throughout his 27-year RAAF career including a tour of Vietnam from June 1966 to June 1967.  In addition, he is recorded as having completed two missions to Vietnam as a loadmaster with 36 Squadron in July 1970 and in January 1971.

John had broad experience as a loadmaster on both the C-130A and C-130H Hercules aircraft with 36 Squadron, and in March 1979, he was rewarded for this experience with a posting to 37 Squadron as loadmaster leader for the newly acquired Boeing 707 aircraft; 37 Squadron being the host squadron for the aircraft until the formation of 33 Flight, and later, 33 Squadron.   He remained with 33 Flight until his retirement in 1981.

Until his passing, John resided at Gosford West, New South Wales.